It pays to be bold and brave. And the managing committee of the Mysore Race Club (MRC) spearheaded by chairman, G Venkatesh decided to stick to the Derby week-end schedule despite the fact that torrential showers on Tuesday and intermittent drizzle the next day had cast doubt on the final two-day racing program in the royal city. Mercifully no rain on Thursday provided big relief and the mandarins of the club praying and hoping that the weather will improve and sun will shine brightly, next three days chose to go through with the declarations and stay on course to stage the blue riband of the season, the Mysore Derby on Sunday. 

"We employed wait and watch approach before we chose to go ahead after ascertaining the condition of the track. It is soft at the moment, but it will dry up and will be fit to race if the dark ominous clouds stay away and sun starts to shine tomorrow," said Venkatesh pointing out that all the committee members have played a stellar role to raise the bar before MRC scales a new high, while hosting the Champion Of Champions event, the Indian Turf Invitation Cup on the first Sunday of March next year.

"The fact that we have framed 17 races including the blue riband over the week-end and the fields are big in most events only confirms that the professionals have immense faith in our ability to provide a silver lining to the mega event, which offers 64.55 lakh to the winner," said Venkatesh adding that it will be a full-house on Super Sunday.

The Derby on cards promises to be an intense struggle for supremacy despite the fact that only four colts and three fillies including the two top fillies Miracle Star from James McKeown's yard and Maana from the stables of Darius Byramji are in good nick, ready to upset the applecart of the Mumbai raider Red Bishop under the care of champion Mumbai trainer Pesi Shroff. Red Bishop is the favourite of the bookmakers too. A couple of senior bookies disclosed that the Pesi Shroff trainee will garner the maximum support in the extravaganza and on current form, he will be hard to down. Top gun Trevor Patel, who is listed to guide the fortunes of the hot favourite is confident that his mount will put the big stride ahead in the 2000 metres classic journey. 

Pesi Shroff revealed that all is well with Red Bishop and that he will make his presence felt in the big event. "He is a game galloper and he should do well, " said Pesi, bullish of Red Bishop's chances in the richest classic of the season.

A couple of old hats in the game are of the view that it could turn out to be 'Ladies Day Out' at the MRC on D-day, taking into account that Miracle Star and Maana have the credentials to pose a serious threat to the overwhelming favourite Red Bishop in the big show-down at sun-down on Sunday. Miracle Star to be piloted by Suraj Narredu impressed most in her final preparatory gallop and Suraj is satisfied with the preparations ahead of the big event. Maana after winning her last start by a `street' at Guindy retains form and fitness and more importantly the bred in the purple contestant will be partnered by the red-hot Antony Raj, who to his credit has guided home the winner of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas and is looking to record a classic hat-trick on the final day.

"The Mysore Derby has long stood as a proud emblem of our racing tradition-where excellence, elegance and equine sport converge. We welcome all contenders and connoisseurs to this grand occasion," said Venkatesh adding that the stage is set to gallop to fame. "A free contest of skill is framed and that will prove to be a big draw taking into account that the individual, who rightly forecasts the first four in order in the Derby will drive home a Maruti Alto and the next two winners will ride home Hero motorcycles. 

Contest of skill apart, the carried over Jackpot amount, Rs, 3,37,212 is another big attraction. Punters have already started working  out the many permutations and combinations to crack the big five-horse puzzle on the celebrated day.

So all said and done, the stage is set and bar the rain God playing spoil-sport, railbirds will enjoy the competitive action on the final two days of the season.