Manitou won the Indian Turf Invitation Cup the first time it was held at Hyderabad in 1978. His dam Dusty Marta traced to the well known broodmare Paraffin on her tail female line. But Manitou was better known for getting his sire Grey Gaston(GB) off to an epoch-making start than for advertising his dam line.

Ranjit V. Bhat, joint-owner of Manitou with Yogesh M. Shah, was believed to be fond of cowboy novels. He was therefore said to have named the bay bred by Major Pradeep K. Mehra at his residential complex in the President`s Estate at New Delhi after the spirit of the Commanches. Rashid Byramji, who was as obsessed with conformation as Major Mehra, trained Manitou.

Manitou was partnered on most occasions by Vasant Shinde. The colt claimed Bangalore`s summer Derby and Mumbai`s Indian Derby among other races before he ran in the 1978 Invitation Cup.

Ivanjica set off first in this race with Beloved Prince, Bright Law, Manitou, Chianti, Ipi Tombi and Muffin following. Beloved Prince then took over with Ivanjica, Ipi Tombi , Manitou and the rest behind. Manitou moved up behind Beloved Prince after passing the 1,200 metre marker and hit the front a little later. Ipi Tombi followed him home in vain.

Considering Manitou`s pre-Invitation Cup credentials, his victory was no surprise. But Columbia`s in 1983 was a different matter. The 8:1 shot was trained by D. Pandole for J.P. Vazifdar, P.J. Vazifdar, M.N. Thakkar and R.N. Thakkar. Bred at the Poonawalla Estates, he was by Duke of Marmalade(USA), a Group I winner in Italy, out of Scalaris(IRE) who also produced Indian St. Leger winner Menorah.

Columbia ran second in the Indian Derby and was up against his vanquisher Nelston and other classic winners at Hyderabad. But he had Wally Swinburn in the saddle and that made all the difference.

The chestnut colt went down to his knees about 1,400 metres from home when a runner in the closely bunched field violently cut across in the front. K. Sundar Rajan of The Hindu used to laud the presence of mind that Swinburn displayed at that moment. “He,” said Sundar Rajan, “allowed Columbia to get up on his own. He never did anything to hustle Columbia. When Columbia got his rhythm back, he pushed him hard.”

Columbia easily overtook Nelston in the home stretch but had to hold off a determined Almagest in the final stages of the race. This led to Columbia winning in a course record time of 2 minutes and 32 4/5 seconds.

Five years later the race threw up another surprise result when Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy`s Own Beauty won. Indian Derby winner Cordon Bleu was withdrawn from the Hyderabad race due to veterinary problems but the field retained its sheen. It contained classic winners like Brave Dancer, Enrico, Kir Royale, Au Panache and Noble Quest.

Own Beauty had finished second to Cordon Bleu in the Arc de Triomphe at Bangalore and placed in other classics. When her more fancied rivals did well in their pre-Invitation Cup track work, it was difficult to believe Own Beauty`s rider Lloyd Marshall when he asserted two days before the race that she would win.

But Marshall was able to send the chestnut filly from Jai Govind Stud and Agricultural Farm into the lead soon after the start and keep her there till the winning post. Kattimore and Brave Dancer fought out the minor placings eight and a half lengths behind.

Own Beauty had been selected as a youngster by trainer Khalander. But Khalander died before she ran her best race and it was left to A.B. David to do the needful on Invitation Cup day.

La Santafiora(GB), Own Beauty`s dam, was also responsible for the noteworthy performer Adam`s Glory. Own Beauty`s sire Thaumaturge(IRE) is best remembered now for getting Stayers` Cup winner Arctic Light and Northumberland Trophy winner Volcan apart from Own Beauty.

Adler, winner of the Invitation Cup in 1993, hailed from a classy dam line that went back to Aileen, a hurdler who was bought for Lord Derby`s studs to induce toughness. His sire Riyahi(IRE)`s reputation for getting classic winners was also well established.

But for a collision with the rails after passing the winning post first in the Indian 2000 Guineas, Adler would have carried Vijay Mallya`s colours to victory in the Indian triple crown at Mumbai. The resulting injury kept the Bangalore-based Poona Stud product out of the Indian Derby.

His preparation for the Invitation Cup was further affected by a stable employees strike at Bangalore. He had never run before over 2,400 metres and trainer Byramji felt that the bay colt would win the country`s premier event purely on class.

Adler raced with the backmarkers till the 1,000 metre marker. Pesi Shroff improved his position as the field negotiated the final turn. When Thumbelina and Diamantaire began to fight for the lead in the home stretch, Shroff sent Adler through a gap between Diamantaire and the rails to win.

When asked to compare Adler with the other Invitation Cup winners he had ridden, Shroff pointed out that they had not suffered the setbacks he had. Adler then won the Indian St. Leger and the R.W.I.T.C Ltd. Invitational Trophy before leaving for the US to notch up a win there.

Like Adler, Forest Fantasy had a pedigree that pleased the pundits. The winner of the Invitation Cup in 1998 was by the Northern Dancer stallion Razeen(USA) out of the Habitat mare Lady Harriet(FR), representing a highly valued cross.

The Doaba-bred filly owned by Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy won the Indian 1000 Guineas and Indian Oaks at Mumbai, the Derby at Pune and placed second in the Deccan Derby at Hyderabad while faring well in other major races. Jim Foley trained her before Dallas Todywalla took over. Her syce Abusif fought with everyone in the stable but Todywalla kept him on. This was because Abusif simply adored Forest Fantasy.

Indian Derby winner Star Supreme was fancied most to win the Invitation Cup. But he had been suffering from a capped elbow and a loss of appetite. Referendum and Imperial Scholar set the pace with Forest Fantasy and the others following.

Jockey Sathish Narredu sent Forest Fantasy to the front on entering the home stretch and she galloped away to win in a national record time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds for 2,400 metres. Second favourite Archimedes and Star Supreme followed in her wake.

Zurbaran broke the national record when the Invitation Cup was held in 2003. His grandsire Mt. Livermore stood for speed. But what stood out more in Zurbaran`s pedigree was the in-breeding to Wild Risk and the English triple crown winner Nijinsky along with the presence of the famous matriarch Black Ray.

The Dhunjibhoy colour bearer`s career had its peaks and valleys throughout his life. But he had one quality that his trainer Padmanabhan labelled as “tactical speed.” In other words, the colt with quality speed and stamina in his pedigree could stretch out even after galloping strongly all the way. He could also sustain a gallop that made things difficult for others.

A slightly overweight Zurbaran blew a little after a trot and a canter at Hyderabad five days before the Invitation Cup. With the track additionally offering some “give,” Zurbaran had a 1,000 metre gallop the very next day.

English jockey Martin Dwyer had been out of action for some time and he began to work on his own fitness from that day. This meant six spurts of one minute each on the mechanical horse at the club till Cup day.

The idea was to use Zurbaran`s tactical speed in the Cup. Slackness in the Indian Derby had helped rank outsider Noble Eagle surprise everyone by taking a small lead and slowing down the pace. Having run second then, Zurbaran was now set to pressurise Noble Eagle from the start and prevent him from taking a breather.

Noble Eagle led as expected in the Invitation Cup only to fade about 400 metres from the finish. Zurbaran followed him closely till then and sped away to clock a new national record of 2 minutes and 28.84 seconds. The highly consistent Fabulous Star was second.