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Indian Derby 2021 set to be a sedate affair
Updated On: 26 March, 2021 09:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash Gosavi
Exactly 78 years later, when the whole world is forced to fight an invisible enemy of a different nature, the great race is restricted to have maximum 600 spectators, who will watch the 2021 edition of the Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby (Gr 1) that will be run this Sunday (March 28) at the same Mahalaxmi racecourse.
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P S Chouhan astride Immortality (blue shirt, gold cap) swooping on P Trevor astride Forest Flame (red shirt, white cap) at the winning post in the Indian Oaks (Gr 1) three weeks ago.
In 1943, when World War II was at its peak, a filly named Princess Beautiful won the inaugural edition of the Indian Derby at the Mahalaxmi racecourse in Bombay, as the city was then known. The giant stands at the Mahalaxmi racecourse were filled to capacity, the bloodiest war in the history of this planet could not dampen the spirit of racing enthusiasts who wanted to witness the great event. Exactly 78 years later, when the whole world is forced to fight an invisible enemy of a different nature, the great race is restricted to have maximum 600 spectators, who will watch the 2021 edition of the Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby (Gr 1) that will be run this Sunday (March 28) at the same Mahalaxmi racecourse.
Fillies to the fore
There are only four fillies in the Derby field of 13 runners, but two of them--Immortality and Forest Flame, winner and runner up of the grade 1, Indian Oaks--are likely to be fancied more strongly than the nine colts (or geldings), including the R R Ruia Cup winner Lagarde, and those who followed him in that race: North Star and Roaring Tiger. Interestingly, both these races were run on the same day (March 7), albeit over different trips, so the underfoot condition was nearly identical, and comparison of their performances, based on the dynamic handicapping principles, is possible.
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