No excuses. No hard luck stories. The best horse won the blue riband of the season, the HPSL Bangalore Derby. And his stylish victory earned him a passage to Mumbai to compete against the best in the Indian Derby at Mahalaxmi on February 2. The fact that his six proud owners including Royal Western India chairman, SR Sanas and leading owner Ashok Ranpise, who is enjoying a hot streak, leading in three Derby winners, Redefined (Pune), Knotty Legend (Chennai) and Ranquelino on Republic day at Bengaluru in a span of four months, provided the deserving champion from trainer Darius Byramji's yard an opportunity to race against the best at Mahalaxmi confirms the sporting and rewarding attitude of the owners, who never mind the cost or the risk involved, travel fatigue simply believe that the best need no rest and the champions are only seeking platforms to catapult to fame.

Ranquelino was the star and he provided the silver lining on Republic Day. The star performer looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring before he confidently walked out to prove that he now is the big boy in the Bengaluru campus. Top saddle artiste Sandesh produced an exemplary effort on the winner which provided all the youngsters hoping to don skills in the years ahead an object lesson. All through the mile-and-half trip Sandesh and Ranquelino travelled nice and easy choosing a trouble free and importantly a safe path and that proved to be road to glory at end. All credit to Darius Byramji, it was clear that he had left no stone unturned in his effort to send out Ranquelino spot on for the big event and Ranquelino paid back, making his master proud. Darius disclosed that this certainly was a proud moment since he had not led in a Derby winner for more than eight years and now that he is back in the Derby league he hopes to continue and remain in the big circle in the years ahead.

The Pune Derby winner Redefined was the overwhelming favourite in the mega event which offered a rich purse of Rs 74.8 lakh to the winner thanks to HPSL head honcho Suresh Paladugu. The favourite, back after a minor setback in training did produce his best, but that was just not good enough to stop Ranquelino from galloping home to wear the Derby sash. The moment Ranquelino shot past Redefined approaching the distance post, it was all over bar the shouting. Sandesh knew he had the biggest plum of the season in the bag and Ranquelino, well he had just booked his ticket to Mumbai. It was a superb effort and the 2;29.8 seconds exercise puts him in the fancied list for the richest and most glamorous Derby on the first Sunday of February.

On a Derby winning streak Ashok Ranpise revealed that this Derby success brought the smile back after Knotty Legend's sad story after winning the South India Derby at Guindy on Pongal Day. It was a big loss. He was the horse they all had to beat in the Indian Derby and he was out following the bad suspensory injury he suffered during the race in Chennai. "We are providing Ranquelino a well deserved opportunity and hopefully he will do what War Hammer did on the big day at Mahalaxmi," said Ashok  Well whatever be the result on Sunday at Mahalaxmi, Ranquelino is true blue champion who has helped Darius walk the talk on the big stage.