A leading popular and sporting owner, Ashok Ranpise is on cloud nine. And he deserves to be there simply because the top owner on the Indian racing circuit has registered a unique feat in the annals of the century old Indian racing. The big gun in the game has led in four Derby winners in four different centres, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai in a span of four months and after recording the never done before racing Grand Slam, Ashok on Super Sunday at Guindy raised his hand and thumped his palm the moment Redefined flashed past the post first in the Champion Of Champions event, the HPSL Royal Arion Indian Turf Invitation Cup and the big high-five set the ball rolling and bubbly flowing and it was time for song and dance all night long.

It is true that after leading in four straight Derby winners, the spotlight was on the unassuming owner at Chennai. And he knew he was in with a definite chance to create history. Two fancied runners including  the piping hot favourite Ranquelino in the 13-horse field provided the confidence and Ashok Ranpise stayed calm and composed before he let go, shouting and screaming, while cheering in the champion Redefined who donkey-licked his dozen rivals in the mega event.

“I was confident that my two horses will finish 1-2 in the classic. Unfortunately it proved to be one bad day at the office for Ranquelino, the winner of the Bengaluru and Mumbai Derby and Redefined came to the party and galloped to fame,” said Ashok lauding the effort of top trainer Prasanna Kumar who sent out Redefined spot on for the marquee event.

Bred at the famed Manjri Stud Farm, Redefined had beaten the Bengaluru summer Derby winner Santissimo from Pesi Shroff’s yard in the blue riband at Pune before going down to Ranquelino in the top winter classic on Republic Day. Smarting in defeat at the hands of Ranquelino, the Prasanna schooled Redefined was systematically and more importantly, judiciously prepared for the big fight and Prasanna satisfied with his preparations was confident that his star performer will settle the score and stand tall at the podium.

“Well I always rated him high and I knew that he would make a classic winning comeback. And nothing better than winning the Indian Turf Invitation Cup with my first runner. Redefined has not only made me proud, the champion has catapulted me into the Hall Of Fame,” said the champion  trainer who scaled a new high leading in four winners in the two-day racing extravaganza.

Irish pro David Allan who guided the fortunes of the top horse in the Indian racing circuit produced an exemplary effort, which provided an object lesson to the young riders donning silks hoping to make the big league in the years ahead. David had lost out on two on-money favourites, Emphatic and Siege Courageous before he produced his best in the big one, judging the pace to a nicety before detonating his rivals at the top of the straight.  It was a classic ride and the owners of Redefined, Ashok Ranpise, RWITC chairman, Surendra Ramachandra Sanas, K Kamesh and Prasanna Kumar simply loved it. Second in demand at the betting ring, DYF followed Redefined home, while Duke Of Tuscany piloted by English ace Oisin Murphy took the third spot ahead of Positano.

“This is my best moment in the game and it is needless to mention that I will cherish it most. I cannot believe that I have won four Derbies and an Invitation Cup on the trot and I want to take a small portion of the Guindy race track home,” signed off Ashok Ranpise raising a toast to the champion performer.