Barring the odd year when an exceptional horse has been pitched against inferior horses, the Indian Derby hasn`t favoured the public fancy. The last favourite to win this race was Jacqueline in what was a match race with Becket. Jacqueline could pull through because Becket was beset with so many problems and missed more of the early part of his racing career owing to one injury or the other. He ran in the Indian Derby within 10 days of winning the Bangalore Derby and the travel, lack of acclimatization on the unfamiliar track put paid to his hopes. The fact that there was little to differentiate the two was proved when they clashed next time out in a month when Becket measured Jacqueline in a thriller.

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File picture of Wind Stream

The pressures of expectations are such that even the best horses haven`t made it to the summit. Mystical who by universal opinion was an outstanding horse failed to produce his best on the big day and finished third. Mystical proved that he was an outstanding horse by winning back to back races at Dubai the next year. Though Mystical lost, he was not beaten by run of the mill horses. Velvet Rope had proved his credentials and Holding Court who finished second was an outstanding horse who had several major wins to his credit. Set Alight was another who did everything right leading to the Derby but faltered on the crucial day. In recent years, these two horses can be said to be worthy horses but did not win because of human failings. The horses had the substance but the package for not right on the D day. Some horses like Adler who went on to win a race at USA could not take part in the race due to a freak injury suffered while pulling up after slamming the Indian 2000 Guineas field. The injury forced him to skip the Indian Derby but this unbeaten champion won everything except a Derby at any centre because he did not race in anyone of them! He won the Indian Turf Invitation Cup and Indian St Leger but will remain for ever, one of the best horses not to have won the Indian Derby as circumstances conspired to prevent his participation. Continual, the son of Indian Derby winning Cordon Bleu looked all set not just to win the Indian Derby but to trounce the opposition the way he was shaping up. However, in his final gallop, he perhaps overextended himself being the champion that he was and broke down.

File picture of Machiavellianism

India`s one of all-time great horses Elusive Pimpernel was a horse who won everything without any hiccup. He trained on brilliantly for the Indian Derby and won it with a measure of comfort and then smashed almost the same field in the Invitation Cup in a record time. Last year In The Spotlight was expected to win the Indian Derby but not in the manner she did. She did not have the invincible aura till the time she proved her credentials in the Indian Derby.

The one important ingredient that is a must for winning the Indian Derby is that the horse should have been a first season performer or at least made its presence felt during the following season. The importance of the Bangalore summer season is something that has been proved year after year while determining classic performers all over India. Rarely has a horse shown up during the winter season and won the Indian Derby. The Indian Derby has always been won by a seasoned horse with proven credentials. Storm Again was one of the few horses who won the Indian Derby without winning a classic prior to that big event but then the potential of the horse was always known. It was one of the few horses in which a half share was bought by Dr Cyrus Poonawalla from Dr Vijay Mallya a few days before the race for a fancy sum. The potential was always there and it got reflected in the easy manner in which the son of Alnasr Alwasheek won the Derby in resplendent style at lucrative odds. Sometimes the connections may not share the optimism of others which may be the reason why Storm Again was sold prior to Indian Derby just like Dr Ramaswamy sold Mystical to race at Dubai after a matter of victory of the champion in the President of India Gold Cup.

File picture of Borsalino

The loosely used word to describe the Indian Derby this year is that it is an ``open`` Derby. Every Derby is one till the conclusion is reached. There are horses with potential in the race but none of them have been ultra-consistent to get the tag of being a favourite. There are half a dozen horses which have more credentials than the rest. With some of the best jockeys in the world guiding the fortunes of these fancied runners, a battle royal is on cards. There are horses like Wind Stream, An Acquired Taste, Shivalik Hero, Snowscape, Machiavellianism, Borsalino, and Ceaser`s Star who could be bracketed as horses with the best chance of winning. The rest come in the realm of possibilities given the uncertainties associated with the sport.

The will to win, the desire to succeed are the keys that will ensure success in any endeavour. Only those who make an attempt even if thwarted by repeated failure are the ones who ultimately succeed. Some may get in first attempt while others may have to wait eternally. This is the saga of this biggest race of Indian calendar.

Who will win the Indian Derby? Possibly a horse whose goal had been set right from the time it began racing and how the journey has progressed thus far.