Trainer Ganapathy has won every big race that should be won in his impressive classic tally but surprisingly hasn`t won the Gr 1 Mysore Derby. This year Ganapathy should add this race to the list of his big wins as he has a formidable contender in Southern Emperor. The premier event has several runners who have good credentials but by virtue of his two successive wins in group races as also his ability to tackle the mile and quarter trip of the Derby more effectively, he is fancied ahead of the rest to win this rich race.

The Derby was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday (October 20) but had to be put off to Friday due to heavy overnight rains which rendered the track unsuitable for racing.

There are several things that enhance the credentials of Southern Emperor. He has beaten almost all the contenders in the race barring Racing Ahead who finished third in the Deccan Derby as he has not faced him in any race thus far. Southern Emperor scored a narrow last stride win over Czar of Romance who with a stronger jockey could have pulled it off. Sreekanth rode a powerful race to enable Southern Emperor to win by a whisker. Southern Emperor is bred to stay the trip and has done everything that is indicative of the fact that he can only improve further by his two exploits during the season. Despite Czar of Alexander capable of breathing down his neck on the basis of their last clash, all things considered, Southern Emperor may be more assertive this time out. If Southern Emperor were to win the Derby, the Poonawalla Stud Farm which has hit a rare bad patch would have the thrill of picking up all the three classics of the season, the other classic winner of the season for them being Isn`t She Special who won the 1000 Guineas.

Charlatan who is a final entry for this race has everything going for him. His game second behind Jeremiah in the Deccan Derby was a good effort. The former went on to smash the field in the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby. The temperamental son of Burden of Proof has this negative trait of expending his energy from the saddling time to reaching the starting gate. Also he may find the final stages of the 2000 metres trip rather taxing. But the Mysore track, with its sharp bends ensures that the horses don`t hit the top gear till entering the straight. As such, brilliant milers can always mange extra two furlongs on this course. Charlatan is indeed a live threat though his jockey Trevor Patel has been unable to punch for home and lost a few big races he should won by heart-breaking margins.

Vittal Deshmukh`s Racing Ahead is a well bred son of Shamardal. He held off two others to claim the third spot in the Deccan Derby about a little more than four lengths adrift of Charlatan. The reason why Racing Ahead should be considered as an upset prospect is because of the fact that Racing Ahead lacked experience and with the benefit of running in the Deccan Derby, he can be a live contender if he shows improvement over that effort. The trainer appears confident as he has preferred to bring him to Mysore to find out where his ward actually belongs.

Turf Striker should have been the favourite for this race after his exploits in the Bangalore Summer Derby. However, a setback kept him out of training for some time and when he showed up for the Mysore 2000 Guineas, he appeared far from ready. Added to this, jockey John also rode an inexplicably bad race, racing him very wide all the time and giving no chance for him to make a serious challenge. Since then he has been in regular work and shown improvement. Suraj Narredu will be guiding Turf Striker this time out. Whether Turf Striker can overcome his bad run and win the Derby is something hard to say at this moment. But given the talent that this son of Sedgefield has, anything is possible.

Czar of Romance has been working well since his brilliant second behind Southern Emperor in the Mysore 2000 Guineas. His regular jockey Imran Khan will be astride the horse. He has lost three classics for trainer Dominic by narrow margins. The jockey is hoping that he would be able to break this jinx. If he does so, it will provide Dominic the first classic success in his long career.

Ace Bucephalus, Perfect Soul and Beauty Is Truth haven`t built on the promise of their impressive start to their career.

There is an interesting horse in Irfan Ghatala`s Ace Badraan. The big made horse lacks experience but the trainer believes that he is his best hope during the winter classics. As such he has not hesitated to throw him at the deep end. Ace Badraan definitely lacks experience but there is no doubt about the fact that he has talent proportionate to his frame. His half brother Shivalik Star (Shamardal) has proved to be an outstanding sprinter and has to his name the course record for six furlongs. This is surprising given the fact that the dam of Shivalik Star has foaled stout stayers with the best performed horse being Eastern Aria who excelled over grueling trips in Europe. Ace Badraan thus has the capability to get the mile and quarter trip with great felicity. If Ace Badraan makes quantum jump in his performance capability, then he could be the surprise as well as the find of this year`s Mysore Derby.