A PREVIEW TO THE INDIAN TURF INVITATION CUP WEEKEND

Hyderabad (2^nd Saturday & 3^rd Sunday 2019)

The running of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup returns to the land of the Nizam this year, and despite mounting pressures on all race clubs in India, it promises to be a great weekend of competitive racing and bonhomie. It is the meeting ground of Champions vying for the ultimate crown in the category for which they have been invited, and off track, it is a mingling of friends and business associates from across the world offering interaction on racing, breeding and everything under the glorious sunshine. A special Award Nite is also planned, so racing by day and entertainment by night makes for an interesting weekend ahead.
In the four Group I contests, three of the four events have the defending champions fighting to retain their titles; Ruffina in the Sprinters’ Cup; Whomakestherules in the Super Mile and Kangra in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup.
Total stakes for the weekend is expected to be over 4crore rupees. Over 250 horses are expected to participate in this carnival of racing, with all ready to put in a big fight for the spoils.
We review the potential of the candidates for the four Group I races in order of their rating.

RUFFINA (Excellent Art-Miss Danehill) 5yo dk b f rated 122
The highest rated horse in the field has won 12 of her 14 starts and is defending her title, having won this race last year in Kolkata. A minor hiccup, saw her being withdrawn from the Dr S C Jain Sprinters’ Championship, but since then her preparation has been on cue with the sole purpose of retaining her title. She may not have her regular partner David Allan in the saddle, as he has to ride Mauritania in this race, for he is primarily retained by that stable. She will do what she knows best, and the field knows what they are up against.  

MAURITANIA (Excellent Art-Classic Sky) 5yo b g rated 121
The winner of six of his 13 starts, has won thrice over the 7f trip, the Bangalore 2000 Guineas over the mile, and his last two wins have been over the 6f trip where he beat Tutankhamun on both occasions, as well as Smile Stone, Subah Ka Tara and Accolade. In the New Year Cup over 7f Tutankhamun beat him by 3¼lengths while conceding one kg as well. His connections have opted to run this race with Ruffina’s favourite partner David Allan in the saddle, with the hope that that will give Mauritania the edge.

ACCOLADE (Burden Of Proof-Alnasreya) 6yo b h rated 120
Finishing second to Corfe Castle in the Kakatiya Million over 6f in his last start earned him a berth in this race. The winner of five of his 22 starts has won over distances ranging from 6f, the first race of his career in 2015, to the Pune Derby in 2016 that is run over 10f.

TUTANKHAMUN (Phoenix Tower-Dancerllon) 5yo b g rated 118
This gelding has won nine of his 20 starts, thrice over 6f, five times over 7f and once over the mile. In the Mysore Dasara Sprint he finished fourth to Flying Show, with Accolade finishing ahead of him in second and Cavallo Veloce just behind him. In the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy he finished a length behind Mauritania, giving the winner 1½kgs. Smile Stone, Subah Ka Tara and Accolade followed them home. He was then sent for the Sprinters Trial Stakes to Chennai which he won with ease. He looked a winner in the Sprinters Trial Stakes in Bangalore before Mauritania got him on the line by a short neck. He also holds a nomination for the Super Mile.

SMILE STONE (Juniper-Alam Jehan) 9yo b g rated 110
He has raced 76 times over his career, winning 13 races. He won his last race over 6f in Bangalore and has since then run three Group races without success. He finished third to Mauritania and Tuthankamun in the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy, then sixth in the New Year Cup to Tutankhamun, who was followed home by Mauritania and Subah Ka Tara, and finally fifth in the Sprinters’ Trial Stakes. To be nominated for this race at this age is an honour, so running it should bring immense satisfaction.   

CAPTAIN COURAGE (Admiralofthefleet-Celestrella) 7yo br g rated 109
The winner of the Dr S C Jain Sprinters’ Championship made quite a comeback winning this race in style, albeit in the absence of Ruffina. He had last won in September 2016 in Pune over 6f and had been without success in his last eleven starts. He certainly chose to get going in the Group race that gives him an opportunity to try and add a Group I to his kitty. He was withdrawn from this race last year. Standing in his way is Ruffina, who has given him weight and a beating on several occasions in the recent past.

CAVALLO VELOCE (Lucifer Sam-Mink Kitten) 5yo b c rated 120
This seasoned traveller has won 6 out of his 19 starts. He comes into this race after two wins in Chennai, the Guindy Gold Cup over the mile, where he beat Prevalent Force and Kangra, while receiving 4½kgs from the former and 3kgs from the latter, and then over 7f beating Accolade and Cambridge while receiving 4½kgs from the former while giving weight to the latter. He finished fourth in the Sprinters’ Cup last year to Ruffina by 2¼ lengths while conceding 1½kgs to the winner. He has a nomination for the Super Mile as well. 

ST ANDREWS (Phoenix Tower-Machrinhanish) 6yo b g rated 104
He has won four of his 19 career starts. In the Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy in Pune, he received 7½kgs from Ruffina and finished 2½ lengths behind her in second, a short head ahead of Captain Courage in third. Receiving 8½kgs from Ruffina in the Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million he finished four lengths adrift in fourth, 2½lengths ahead of Captain Courage who finished in seventh position in the race. With Ruffina missing from the Dr S C Jain Sprinters’ Cup, Captain Courage turned the tables on St Andrews finishing 2¼ lengths ahead of him. He has earned his place in this line up and will try to make the most of it.

CORFE CASTLE (Excellent Art-Miss Danehill) 4yo b c rated 104
This full brother to Ruffina has won five races from his 10 starts, winning over distances ranging from 1100m-1600m. The winner of the Golconda 2000 Guineas over the mile has won over 1100m once, 7f twice and recently won the Kakatiya Million over 6f beating Accolade by 1¼lengths. Rahuls Pet finished 2¾length away in fifth. Timing for the race was 1:11.59sec. He also holds a nomination for the Super Mile.

STAR BARON (Total Gallery- Soviet Angel) 4yo b c rated 103
The Chennai based sprinter has won six races from nine starts, once in Ooty and the rest in Chennai. He won his last four starts before coming up against Tutankhamun in the South India Sprinters’ Trial Stakes, where he finished three lengths behind the winner while receiving 8kgs from him. He will find the going tough.

TITUS (Green Coast-Sabakh) 5yo b g rated 99
This Hyderabad challenger has won six of his 11 starts, having pulled out a hat trick of wins over 6f, his best timing over the distance being 1:11.38secs. Subsequently he finished in third to Corfe Castle in the Kakatiya Million, 1¼ lengths behind Accolade.

SUBAH KA TARA (Juniper-Ashwa Prabha) 4yo dk b c rated 98
This Bangalore challenger has won four of his nine starts, twice in Bangalore and the same number of wins in Mysore. He finished in fourth to Maurtiania, Tutkhamun and Smile Stone in the Bangalore, 3¼ lengths off the winner, a short head in front of Accolade, while receiving chunks of weight all around. In his last start he was third to Tuthankhum and Mauritania while receiving weight again. He has an impossible task ahead.

RAHULS PET (Green Coast-Singing Speed) 6yo gr m rated 97
The winner of eight of her 23 starts, she finished 2¾lengths in fifth to Corfe Castle in the Kakatiya Million in Hyderabad, 1½length behind Accolade who finished second in the race. She will find it hard to match strides with the seasoned sprinters.

LIKE WISE (Dancing Forever-Farha) 6yo ch m rated 111
This local contender has won eight out of 24 starts finishing last of four in the Nizam’s Gold Cup last year, a race won by Kangra. In her last two starts, she first won a race over 9f before winning again over the mile. She has never been tested over the distance and will find the going tough against seasoned campaigners that can stay well over the distance. 

REUNION (Dancing Forever-Ambos) 5yo ch g rated 110
This local challenger has won five of his 16 starts, possessing sufficient experience and prowess to stay the distance. He was ½length away in second to Sea King in the South India St Leger; 1½length behind Desert God in the President of India Gold Cup; 3¼lengths behind Caprisca in the Indian St Leger, a far-away third to Kambaku in the Mayors Trophy over 10f, and 6¾ lengths behind Desert God in third, in the Bangalore St Leger. He won his last two starts, first over 9f and then the South India Stayers Trial Stakes over 2800m beating Saving Grace by a nose while conceding 3kgs. With the home base advantage, he should be taken seriously.  

 RAEES (Sedgefield-Lost Perfection) 6yo b g rated 109
A confirmed stayer, he has won eight of his 25 starts, most of them being distance trips.
He is the winner of the Suresh Mahindra Trophy run over 3200m in Pune in 2017, the Byculla Club Trophy over 2800m, and he has won thrice over the mile and a half. His last appearance in the Eclipse Stakes was dismal as he finished last in the field of eleven, and one has to hope that he is fit and fine for this gruelling race, for which he has the right credentials.  

 SMASHER (Multidimensional-Exquisite) 6yo b g rated 107
It took him a while to get off the mark, and on his fifth outing when extended over the mile and a half he won two in a row. He won again over 10f and 12f and was then withdrawn from the Byculla Club Trophy. He won his last start, the Eclipse Stakes of India beating Desert God by 4lengths, while receiving 10kgs from him. He is in top form and should run away with this race should he opt to run here, as he also has a nomination for the Invitation Cup.

 WATCHMYSCRIPT (Whatsthescript-Yas Marina) 6yo b m rated 105
She has won nine of her 23 starts, including the Threptin Fillies and Mares over 9f; the Chief Minister’s Trophy over 10f beating Kambaku by 3¾lengths and her last start over the mile and a half, the Stayers Trial Stakes in Bangalore beating Fabulous by two lengths while receiving 1.5kgs. She has raced in six cities, and is ready to give it her all to land the spoils.

KAMBAKU (Win Legend-Star Of The Crop) 5yo dk b h rated 104
He has won five of his 21 starts, twice over the mile and a quarter, once in Chennai and once in Bangalore, then came out and won the Governor’s Cup over the mile and a half in Bangalore beating Fabulous by 8 lengths. His last two outings were in Kolkata where he came fourth in the Indian Champions Cup over 10f and then fourth in a field of five in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2800m, over 20 lengths behind the winner Shivansh. He can stay the trip and will fight hard for honours.

 SAVING GRACE (Tazahum-Someone Special) 4yo b f rated 92
The winner of four of her fourteen starts has only won once over the mile. She was 2¾lengths in fourth to New Creation in the South India Oaks, then came out and won over the mile, and in her last start finished second to Reunion in the South India Stayers Trial Stakes by a nose, when receiving 3kgs from the winner. This Chennai contender has lots to do to make a mark.

FRIVOLOUS (Misremembered-Christmas Fever) 6yo b h rated 90
This Mumbai contender has won thrice from 16 starts, over the mile, 10f and finally the mile and a half in October 2017. In the Byculla Club Trophy he was well beaten by Raees by 5¾ lengths while also receiving 5kgs from the winner. Will have to turn the tables on Raees, and also has a tough field to take on.  

FABULOUS (Burden of Proof-Sunny Clime) 6yo b g rated 85
The winner of three races from 23 starts has had wins over 6f, 7f and 8f. He was last of four to Watchmyscript in a field of four over 10f. In the Stayers Trial Stakes he went closer to Watchmyscript, losing by 2 lengths when giving 1.5kgs to the winner. He could be in the thick of things.

STEINLIGHT (Steinbeck-Psychic Light) 5yo b g rated 75
He has won four of his 11 starts, just once over 10f. He has never been tried further and will find the test of stamina very demanding.

SACRED ROMAN (Holy Roman Emperor-Clicquot ) 4yo b g rated 66
On the reserve list but might be found facing the starter, this Mumbai contender has won two of his six starts. He came with a serious challenge in the R R Ruia Gold Trophy finishing ½length behind Star Superior in second, then followed that up finishing fourth to him in the Indian Derby, this time 10¾lengths behind him. If his stable mate Smasher opts to run the Invitation Cup, he may represent the yard in this race, with a good chance as he can stay the distance.

ULYSSES (Saamidd-Aldiora) 4yo b c rated 62
With just two wins from nine starts, the last being over 9f, he finished fourth in the Golconda Derby, 4¾lengths behind Indian Pharaoh.

SERJEANT AT ARMS (Ikhtyar-Rahy’s Serenade) 6yo b h rated 120
Returning home after a two year sojourn overseas, Serjeant At Arms is getting straight down to business. He got a slight injury and had to be withdrawn from his first race on his return to Bangalore, and then finished third to New England by 1½lengths in the Rusi Patel Trophy while giving the winner 8kgs. Cambridge finished ¾length behind him in fourth. They will now be running at level weights, so there is very little doubt that Serjeant At Arms will be back in the winner’s circle on the weekend. 

 WHOMAKESTHERULES (Multidimensional-Pricewise) 6yo b h rated 118
He is the winner of this race last year and is keen to retain the title. Since then he has raced without success, till his last appearance in the Indian Champion Cup run over 10f where he beat Kangra by a short head while giving weight. Timing for the race was good at 2:02.87. He is in good nick and can make the end interesting. The worrying factor is, Serjeant At Arms.

PABLITO (Kingda Ka-Bravissima) 7yo b g rated 114
This contender from Chennai has had seven wins from 25 starts in Chennai and Ooty, and has only a solitary win over the mile in his last start. He is in for a real tough time.

CAMBRIDGE (Burden Of Proof-Chimerique) 5yo ch g rated 112
This Mumbai contender has won nine of his 13 starts winning six in a row, twice over 7f and four times over the mile, with every run last year being a winning one. He finished sixth in a Terms race over 7f and then fourth in the Rusi Patel Trophy to New England, Costa Brava and Serjeant At Arms, with very little separating the last three at the wire. Should be able to stir things up.

NEW ENGLAND (Arazan-Autumnal) 6yo b g rated 112
He came third in this race last year to Whomakestherules by 2½lengths, with Castlebridge edging him into third by a neck. He was third to Cambridge in the A C Ardeshir Trophy by a length while receiving 3.5kgs from the winner. He then came out and won the Ranjit V Bhat Memorial Gold Trophy giving Costa Brava 10kgs and a beating. He then put a great performance to win the Rusi Patel Trophy over the mile beating Costa Brava, Serjeant At Arms and Cambridge while receiving weight from all three. He will now be facing the same adversaries at level weights and they will not make things easy for him.    

 NAZAAN (Whatsthescript-Quiet Lane) 6yo b rig rated 104
He has won eight races from 27 starts with six of them being over the mile. He won the Bangalore Race Course 156^th Year Commemoration Trophy by four lengths. He will be in robust company this time round and that will be tough.

 IRIS (Lord Admiral-Copper Bracelet) 5yo b m rated 98
This Bangalore contender has had five wins from eight starts but none have been beyond 7f. In her last outing, over the mile, she finished four lengths behind Naazaan in The Bangalore Race Course 156^th Year Commemoration Trophy. 

 COUNTRY MUSIC (Roi Maudit-Essence) 6yo ch g rated 93
This southern contender comes into this race with two Class 2 wins over the mile in Mysore and will find the calibre of the contenders too hot to handle.

PHENOMENAL CRUISE (Declaration of War-Firebird) 5yo b g rated 91
With five wins from 16 starts, only two have been over the mile in Class 2 company. Will find the going tough.

RIKKI TIKKI TAVI (Excellent Art-Stravella) dk b g rated 77
This local challenger has had only one win from seven starts; was fifth in the Bangalore Derby; third in the Golconda 2000 Guineas to Corfe Castle; and in the same position in the Golconda Derby.

ISN’T SHE LOVELY (Excellent Art-In The Spotlight) 4yo ch f rated 76
The winner of the Mysore 1000 Guineas has won four of her eight starts. She finished fifth in the Indian 1000 Guineas and in the Bangalore Derby was shaping up as a winner till The Invader blew her hopes away, coming with a strong challenge to win by 2¾lengths. She can make the end interesting.

DESERT GOD (Burden Of Proof-Running Flame) 7yo ch h rated 120
This veteran of the turf, who has blazed the track winning Classics since returning to the Indian track, is all set to claim the title he won in 2016. He had a hat trick of wins before going down to Smasher in the Eclipse Stakes of India while giving the winner 10kgs.
2¾lengths behind in third was Salazaar. Now at level weights Desert God holds the advantage and has a great chance to claim back his title.

KANGRA (Western Aristocrat- Georgina) 5yo b f rated 112
The defending champion, she won this race last year, with Salazaar, who was conceding 3.5kgs. in third 5½lengths away. Timing for the race run in Kolkata was 2:27.54secs. Since then she has won the Nizam’s Gold Cup; the Chamundi Million over 10f in Mysore and in her last start finished second to Whomakestherules in the Indian Champion Cup in Kolkata. With the amount of travelling this filly has done one images that a float must be kept readily available for her at all times, to take her where a challenge arises. She will fight hard to retain her title.

SALAZAAR (Burden Of Proof-Saddle Star) 6yo ch rig rated 111
The winner of the South India Derby Stakes in 2017 went on to win the Golconda St Leger that year. In the same race in 2018 he finished second to Desert God by 7¾ lengths. In his last start in the Eclipse Stakes of India he was third behind Smasher and Desert God, giving 8kgs to the former and receiving 2kgs from the latter.  

 SMASHER (Multidimensional-Exquisite) 6yo b g rated 107
He has a nomination for both the Stayers Cup and this race. It took him a while to get off the mark, and on his fifth outing when extended over the mile and a half he won two in a row. He won again over 10f and 12f and was then withdrawn from the Byculla Club Trophy. He won his last start, the Eclipse Stakes of India beating Desert God by 4lengths, while receiving 10kgs from him. He will now be running at level weights with the horses he beat, so it may not be that easy to repeat, although he is in raging form. 

STAR SUPERIOR (Excellent Art-Ramjet) 4yo b rig rated 106
He is on 7/11, seven wins so far and ready to add on another Group 1. The winner of the Indian Derby, has travelled well, worked well and is ready for the task at hand. In his way are some older horses that could trouble him and also the filly from Kolkata that has improved on her Mumbai condition and is ready to take on the colts. The question of whether he could stay the distance was answered when he won the Indian Derby by 5 lengths in 2:28.92 secs. This time round there are more horses to worry about, and the pressure will be on, so the fight to the line may just get harder.

INDIAN PHAROAH (Excellent Art-Running Flame) 4yo b c rated 100
The dam of this colt has left her Classic stamp on all her progeny, so when Indian Pharoah won the Golconda Derby it was not unexpected. On route to winning the Derby he took in the South India Derby Stakes finishing ¾ length behind Psychic Force in second. A short head away was My Opinion and in fifth, 2½ lengths away was Tudor Treasure. These four will meet again and the rivalry will continue with very little separating them. However they have more to contend with and that will not be easy.   

 MY OPINION (Dialed In-Love Me Good) 4yo ch c rated 99
The top horse in Chennai, finished ¾ lengths in third to Psychic Force in the South India Derby Stakes, Indian Pharaoh was a short head in front of him in second and behind him came Tudor Treasure. He then went on to win the South India St Leger beating Psychic Force by 3¼ lengths at level weight. The rematch will be interesting. 

 PSYCHIC FORCE (Multidimensional-Psychic Light) 4yo b c rated 96
The winner of the South India Derby Stakes had both Indian Pharaoh and My Opinion in close call as they passed the post in the Classic, and then My Opinion reversed the roles in the South India St Leger sending Psychic Force into second. They not only have themselves to contend with but also the veterans of the turf.

 ADJUDICATE (Multidimensional-Alvarita) 4yo dk b f rated 92
If you saw her condition when winning the Guineas-double and the Derby in the Kolkata, the ready comment was that she looked more like a colt than a filly, when she ran those races. She obviously did not travel to Mumbai for the Indian Derby as well as thought and said for she looked poor and not as good as she did in Kolkata. Yet she managed to finish second to Star Superior. Now she has had a chance to recuperate, is apparently looking good and feeling it too, so one can expect the challenge to go to the line.

 THE INVADER (Total Gallery-Dajolie) 4yo b rig rated 88
The winner of the Bangalore 2000 Guineas and the Bangalore Derby has invaded Hyderabad with the intention of proving his point there. Now racing against the best in the land may just advocate the fact, that this is the best arena to prove how good you really are, but it is also the toughest.

BRADFIELD COLLEGE (Teofilo-Luminous One) 4yo b c rated 78
This colt has had only one win over the mile from six starts and was second to Indian Pharaoh in the Golconda Derby. He needs more education to take on this experienced lot and maybe the pacesetter in the race.

 TUDOR TREASURE (Saamidd-Isola Tiberina) 4yo ch f rated 77
She has won four of her eight starts, was second in the South India Oaks to New Creation and fifth in the South India Derby Stakes to Psychic Force. She will be out of depth on the national scene and may set the pace for her owner-mate.