One of the top owners in the game, Ashok Ranpise recorded a Grand Slam in racing. The unassuming and ever-smiling owner from Mumbai registered a rare feat, very few have achieved in the annals of Indian racing, winning four Derbies at four different racing centres in a span of four months. This achievement in the century old Indian racing is huge and Ashok Ranpise is standing tall in the Hall Of Fame. 

Ashok first led in Redefined, the winner of the Pune Derby on Oct 13. The winner from the stables of champion Bangalore trainer Prasanna Kumar was piloted by top gun Akshay Kumar. The winner had to win the blue riband again second time out in the Stewards room following an objection lodged by Trevor Patel, the rider of the second-placed Santissimo which was overruled. Next in Chennai on Jan 14, Pongal Day at Guindy, Ashok was confident that he will lead in his second straight Derby winner, Knotty Legend owned by the eight-member syndicate including Ashok Ranpise touted a 'moral certainty' in the Chennai blue riband. Well the on-money favourite Knotty Legend partnered by leading pro Sandesh despite suffering from a suspensory rupture during the mega event bravely lasted the mile-and-half Derby trip to make his trainer Prasanna Kumar and owners proud, while remaining unbeaten from his seven career starts. It was a tremendous effort from the champion performer and all the 'Knotty 8' delighted with the South India Derby success, understandably were dejected that the champion was out of the Indian Derby scene.

"Knotty Legend was the best and he was the horse they all had to beat in the Indian Derby. He injured himself at the wrong time and we really felt bad for the game galloper," said Ashok pointing out that the star performer had peaked right and his trainer Prasanna was very confident. 

Next on Republic Day at Bangalore, Ashok was a partner in the both the frontline contenders, Redefined, the overwhelming favourite and the second choice Ranquelino for the HPSL Bangalore Derby. Ashok didn't really need to shout and scream on the big day, Ranquelino from leading trainer Darius Byramji's yard and the Prasanna schooled Redefined finishing 1-2 in the mega event to the delight of the popular owner. "Well honestly I didn't expect Ranquelino to win in a manner in which he did. I knew I was in line for a Derby hat-trick and I was aware that this will be my biggest moment considering both my horses were head and shoulders above the rest and they proved me right," said Ashok adding that the moment Ranquelino emerged champ, all the six owners including RWITC chairman SR Sanas decided to book his passage to Mumbai, never mind the high cost late entry, 15 lakh plus GST and the travel fatigue the champion would need to overcome, knowing that he needed to again produce his best over a similar trip in less than a week and more importantly against higher ranked and higher rated rivals.

Darius Byramji who had played a stellar role in shaping up Ranquelino for the big kill on Republic Day, pleased with the colt's success in the blue riband was not keen to take him to Mumbai. "Well he had excelled and produced his best career effort on the big stage and I didn't want to subject him to another big test in such a short-time, but with all six sporting owners ready to provide him the big opportunity, I just had to pick up my ticket for the big-ticket event in Mumbai on Feb 2," said Darius.

After his resounding success in the Bangalore Derby, Darius revealed that he knew Ranquelino was in with a big chance taking into account that he had comfortably beaten Redefined, who had beaten Santissimo in the Pune Derby. "The line was there and the mile-and-half trip was wellwithin the compass of my mainhope, while the favourite from Pesi Shroff's yard, Santissimo according to most racing pundits and many old hats in the game was suspect over the classic Derby journey," said Darius. Well the pundits and the knowledgeable were proved right, Santissimo in the hands of one of the leading jockeys in the world, Osin Murphy failing to successfully negotiate the Derby trip. 

"Apart from the six owners and the top 'Knight' Sandesh, who again guided the fortunes of the Darius ward after his success in Bangalore, Darius disclosed that Sarosh Mody played a big part in helping Ranquelino travel without a break from Bangalore to Mumbai. "There was no horse float available to ferry Ranquelino directly to Mumbai from his parent-centre. The floats stationed at Bangalore were eight years old models and no heavy duty vehicle more than eight years old is allowed entry into Mumbai. The connections then thought it fit to travel Ranquelino to Pune and shift him in another new model float from Pune to Mumbai. With time running out this looked good, but Sarosh offered something better which proved decisive at end. "Sarosh told me that he will send a new float from Mumbai to Bangalore which will return to Mumbai after picking up Ranquelino. "Don't think about the cost involved, we only need to facilitate his journey and I totally agreed with him," said Darius and rest as they say is history. 

Well this was champion trainer's third Indian Derby success after Supervite in 1999 and Psychic Flame in 2004. And the bubbly started to flow the moment the Derby sash was placed on Ranquelino and from that moment it was time for song and dance all night long for the famed Shapoorji Pallonji family, RWITC chief SR Sanas, leading owner Ashok Ranpise and popular and sporting owners, Mukul Sonawala, Kishore M Dingra and DR Thacker.