For a filly who had been collecting more “better-luck-next-time” slips than victories in Mumbai and Pune, Heart’s shift to Kolkata turned out to be the best transfer since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United the first time around. After seven fruitless attempts to break her maiden, she suddenly discovered what her legs were meant for—running fast and leaving others gasping. In fact, she had trailed nine lengths behind Arrived at Pune not too long ago, only to show up in Kolkata and win the Gr 2 Calcutta Monsoon Derby over a distance of 2000 metres on Sunday, like she had been doing it all her life. Switch in time, as they say, really did save Heart.

Whether her form flatters Arrived or just exposes the shallow gene pool around her is a debate best left until the Pune Derby. For now, the Shroff twins can pop the bubbly, because Heart made the Calcutta Monsoon Derby look like child’s play.

The field was big, giving the illusion of a democratic Derby—“every horse has a chance.” But let’s be honest, Derbies are dictatorships where talent rules, and Heart ruled with an iron hoof. Having already pulverized her lead-up race over nine furlongs by 12 lengths (with the third horse in a different post code, Heart had hinted she was ready to show off.

Her sire Gusto deserves a toast too. For a stallion supposedly wired to churn out pocket rockets, he’s been moonlighting as a Derby factory—producing Evaldo, Knotty Legend, and now Heart. Once again, proving that breeding theories may look glamorous on paper but often belong in the fiction aisle.

The betting ring had Hyderabad’s Racing Ruler a whisker ahead of Heart, while Arabesque—who deserved more respect—drifted out to generous odds. Shine, meanwhile, redeemed her reputation at the gates by walking in without drama this time, only to play Houdini on the track—leading them into the straight before vanishing from the contest as if she had an urgent appointment elsewhere.

Enter Trevor Patel, who has made a habit of grabbing classics if not handicaps. Producing Heart wide and late, he cut down Racing Ruler (who was busy drifting out like a confused kite) and Arabesque (who had slipped through smartly on the rails) with clinical ease. Once Heart hit top gear, it was curtains. Arabesque settled for second, Racing Ruler third, and the rest were reduced to spectators with saddles.

For trainer Deepesh Narredu, this was his maiden Derby triumph—ironically with brother Yash Narredu not in the saddle. The win was all the sweeter for owners Ram and Raj Shroff, the latter being physically present to get the thrill of leading in the Derby winner, Raj looking like he’d just discovered a new adrenaline drug.

The real plot twist? Heart was still fumbling around the maiden ranks less than three weeks ago in Kolkata, only to suddenly reinvent herself as a Derby diva in her ninth start. From finishing nine lengths adrift of Arrived at Pune to strutting home as a Derby winner—Heart hasn’t just rewritten her destiny; she’s practically ghost-written a fairytale nobody saw coming.

The Royal Calcutta Turf Club wrapped up their monsoon season with a bang—an 11-event marathon that went off smoother than anyone dared hope. This, mind you, just days after the city had been drowning under relentless rain. For once, the weather gods decided not to play spoilsport, graciously holding back the downpour so RCTC’s big spectacle could shine without umbrellas stealing the show.