“If there are two greys in a race, one of them will invariably win,” goes an old saying in racing. It’s a superstition with a fair number of followers, as it is backed up to an extent by results.
But what can one expect when five greys — Dyf, Touch Of Grey, Shubankar, Pyrite, and Galahad — line up to face the starter in the field of 13 for the HPSL Royal Arion Invitation Cup on Sunday? From 2021 to 2024, the Invitation Cup has been won by a grey — Alluring Silver in 2021 and then Juliette’s hat-trick.
For me, this year’s race boils down to a battle of the ages and a battle of colour. It’s between the six-year-old Dyf and the 4-year-old bays Ranquelino and Redefined.
Dyf won the Gr. 1 Indian Champion Cup in Kolkata and was the winner of the Stayers Cup last year. He was also triumphant in the South India Derby before that. Ranquelino is a champion in his own right and a gutsy one too. With two Derby wins in a span of seven days, it makes him the Rocky Balboa of the equine breed. He beat Redefined convincingly the last time they met, but that was Redefined’s first run after a three month lay-off. It could be a lot closer this time.
All three have a lot going for them but, if I had to put my neck on the line, I would go for Dyf and give him the edge over Ranquelino. He has oodles of class and experience and seems to be in his prime. Though Ranquelino has not put a foot wrong, he might find himself a little out of his comfort zone taking on opposition beyond his own age group. So to end, for me it looks as though a grey just could make it five in a row!
The Major P.K. Mehra Super Mile looks a carbon copy of the Invitation with the 4-year-olds Santissimo and African Gold taking on the 6-year-old Once You Go Black. Though tactics and the run of the race will play a major role, I would stay with Santissimo to prevail over the other two.
What the Professionals Say
MAJOR P.K. MEHRA SUPER MILE CUP
James McKeown: Once You Go Black is in great form after his last Gr.3 win in Mumbai. He’s got the class and will be right there.
Satish Narredu: Shamrock has always run top races in Chennai and am sure he will give a good account of himself.
Parvati Byramji: African Gold is fit and has travelled well. Will run a big race.
Pesi Shroff: Santissimo is back to his best trip and I think he has a great chance although he is meeting classy older horses for the first time.
HPSL ROYAL ARION INDIAN TURF INVITATION CUP
Satish Narredu: I have Champions Way and Touch Of Grey in the line-up and look forward to them giving a good account of themselves.
Adhiraj Singh Jodha: Dyf has done everything right and he is always been consistent and genuine. His last win in the Gr.1 Indian Champion Cup in Kolkata was a good lead up and I think he will be right there.
Warren Singh: Shubankar is going from strength to strength. This is the first time I have targeted over 2400 metres, and if he gets the extra 400 he could beat them all.
Pesi Shroff: Duke Of Tuscany only came to me a few months ago but proved that he is top class when winning the Golconda Derby and finishing less than four lengths behind in the Indian Derby. He comes in with a great chance.
Sulaiman Attaollahi: Positano was unlucky in both the Bangalore 2000 Guineas and the Indian Derby. He is very well and I hope the number plates on the board will be different this time.
Darius Byramji: Ranquelino is a gutsy horse who has shown his class when winning two Gr.1 Derbies in seven days. He has had a rest and is well, but is meeting older horses for the first time. All said and done, he will run a great race.
Prasanna Kumar: Redefined finished behind Ranquelino in the Bangalore Derby, but came into that race after a lay-off of almost three months. He’s going to be right there at the busy end in the Invitation.
Published – March 01, 2025 07:08 pm IST