The Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) internet hosting the 62nd operating of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup couldn’t have come at higher time. It has given the membership the supreme alternative to showcase the exceptional progress and turnaround that it has made in the quest to take racing again to it’s aggressive greatest in Kolkata.
Dispelling all doubts that had arisen six to seven months in the past, the Board of Stewards, working in conjunction with a devoted workforce of officers, has put collectively a weekend that has raised the bar and made it one in all the memorable ones ever. This is RCTC at it’s best.
The HPSL Indian Turf Invitation Cup has 4 4-year-old colts, one 4-year-old filly and simply two horses representing the older technology of which one is 5-year-old and the different is known as Juliette.
Record beckons
Running in her fifth Invitation Cup, eight-year-old Juliette is rewriting the document books by bidding for a hat-trick in the marquee occasion. Racing is certainly the winner as one has had the alternative to observe one in all the biggest horses nonetheless competing as a substitute of being retired to stud.
Juliette will tackle 5 horses who’re half her age when she traces as much as face the starter on Sunday. They’re not there to take a look at the picturesque Kolkata racecourse and can fancy their probabilities.
Will age prevail, or will younger weapons like Synthesis and Jamari be the villains of the piece and deprive Juliette of what is going to in all probability be her ultimate second in the solar? One must wait till slightly after 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to search out out.
But earlier than making up your thoughts on whether or not to go with age or youth, right here’s an intriguing little snippet of knowledge. In Kolkata, when there are two greys in a race, one in all them wins. There are two greys immediately and one in all them occurs to be named Juliette!
WHAT THE PROFESSIONALS SAY:
SUPER MILE
Suraj Narredu: After his hat-trick of wins in Kolkata, we felt that the mile would go well with A Star is Born higher than a mile and a half. He’s by no means been higher and we now have dwelling benefit.
Rajesh Narredu: A Star is Born has bee in nice coronary heart ever since he has come to Kolkata. We determined to convey him right here throughout the Monsoon season realizing that the RCTC can be internet hosting the Invitation weekend. He has thrived and is at his greatest. The method wherein he gained the Calcutta Gold Cup over a mile is what prompted us to maintain him at this distance.
Prasanna Kumar: Evaldo could not have run since the twenty eighth of September, however he’s in the similar kind as he was then when he beat A Star Is Born by 3 lengths in Mysuru. Don’t write him off.
M.Okay. Jadhav: Mojito, one in all the most constant horses that I’ve ever skilled, has a contact of sophistication. The blinkers he sported for the first time in his final begin have helped him significantly and he gained that basically effectively. Mojito is available in with an excellent probability.
Patrick Quinn:Destroyer is a top-class miler and we now have the dwelling benefit. Though he’s taking on the greatest there’s immediately, I’m positive he’ll run one hell of a race.
Prasanna Kumar:Knotty Charmer has by no means been out of the first three and the mile is his greatest journey. Older horses like A Star Is Born, Mojito, and Evaldo have plenty of class and we’re assembly them for the first time, however Knotty Charmer is certainly there.
INVITATION CUP
Karthik Ganapathy:Juliette has carried out all the pieces requested of her. She is in addition to she may be and inside herself. I don’t suppose the quick straight in Kolkata will pose an excessive amount of of an issue as she is a mare with a fantastic coronary heart who all the time provides off her greatest.
Satish Narredu:Champions Way, who gained the Golconda Derby in type, will get the journey and can run a fantastic race.
Yash Narredu:Champions Way will run a giant race.
Rajesh Narredu:Synthesis ran a fantastic race in the Indian Derby, bouncing again after a poor run in the Ruia, the place he in all probability picked up a stone and got here again sore. That was a little bit of a setback, however he got here out of it properly. He will spearhead the problem of the 4-year-olds.
Suraj Narredu: Synthesis is my pick of the Narredu-trained trio. He ran a fantastic race in the Indian Derby and I’m positive will do effectively right here additionally.
Sathish Narredu:Touch of Grey is as real as they arrive. Won eight races and twice second from 11 begins. Winner of the Mysore Derby and the South India Derby. Don’t underestimate him.
Pesi Shroff:Jamari is a filly with enormous expertise and has had a extremely powerful marketing campaign. Though taking up the marvel mare Juliette and renewing her battle with Synthesis, she might be proper there when the race involves a boil.
