Dice loaded heavily in favour of four year olds - By Sharan Kumar
Posted on - 25 Feb 2015
Dice loaded heavily in favour of four year olds
By Sharan Kumar
The Indian Turf Invitation Cup is a national championship weight for age without penalties race. The first 50 editions of the Invitation Cup were restricted to four year olds only. More often than not, the Invitation Cup winner also happened to be the Indian Derby winner and as such, this race had nothing exciting to offer. The traditionalists did not agree for a long time to make the race open for four year olds and over, with their eligibility depending on their current performance. The votaries of change got their way after a long battle and thus the 51st edition of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Kolkata two years ago was thrown open to four year olds and over.
There are four Group I races held over the racing carnival held on rotation basis at six different turf authorities of India with Mysore being accorded the status of a turf authority last year. The Sprinters Cup, Stayers Cup and Super Mile have been open affairs though traditionally it is the older horses which have dominated these events. Though older horses are set to concede weight to four year olds in these three events, experience and physical maturity helped them to rule the roost. The same pattern was adopted for the Invitation Cup, with four year olds getting four kgs from older horses. It was believed that since Indian horses reach their physical maturity as they get older, four year olds should be given the weight advantage. Many experts were of the view that notwithstanding the weight difference, older horses would reign supreme in the Invitation Cup like the other three Group I races and it would take a really exceptional four year old to win this race under the new format.
The experience thus far has shown that older horses are not up to conceding four kgs to four year olds over the mile and half trip as among equals, every kg could be equivalent of a length. Internationally, there is no weight difference between four year olds and older horses in Group I races at this time of the year. They carry level weight. If this system was followed, the race would have become a true championship between different generations. A champion is one who asserts his supremacy over his peers as well as over his seniors. One is not sure how the older horses like Elusive Pimpernel who raced beyond the age of five would have handled the younger horses at difference of weights in a race of this nature. But recent experience has shown that older horses are not up to giving four kgs to younger champions and there is need for a re-think on this score in order to make this race much more challenging one for four year olds. And also to provide champions of older generation a realistic chance.
However, experienced people in the field believe that the existing weight for age should continue for some more years before coming to any conclusion. It takes a couple of years before we can see the best older horses in the fray for the Invitation Cup. The older horses will assert their supremacy over four year olds in course of time. Over the coming years, more champions will be targeted for this race as the concept itself is new. This year itself, Be Safe will not have things as easy as most believe. Two years is too short a time to come to value judgments, is the argument put forth by those who are supporting this weight for age type of inter-generation race.
Pesi Shroff trained Amazing Grace who was a late bloomer has been on the boil having won eight races in a row. Judging by the domination that she showed in all the races that she won, it was widely believed that she could become the first older horse to win this trophy and justify the weight difference that four year olds enjoyed. Though Be Safe was on the horizon, there were apprehensions about him displaying his undoubted brilliance over the Derby distance of mile and half. Be Safe not only proved that he could handle the trip well but showed that he was in a class of his own when winning the Indian Derby in the best timing achieved for this distance anywhere in India. Thus the scenario changed dramatically overnight with Amazing Grace downgraded as a challenger. The presence of Amazing Grace no doubt adds value to the race but it is difficult whether she would be up to conceding weight to an exceptional younger horse that is in peak form.
Then there is last year's champion Alaindair. The progeny of Multidimensional was quite a revelation for the surprising ease with which he won the Kingfisher Derby, Indian Derby and the Invitation Cup, the three biggest events of Indian racing calendar. During his sojourn at Bangalore for the summer season last year, he had an infection which prevented him from running in any race. Though he won the President of India Gold Cup at Hyderabad subsequently, he ran way below par in the Indian St Leger which he lost miserably. After that disastrous effort, Alaindair has had one lead up to this race in the second week of February which was the Eclipse Stakes of India. He gave weight and a thrashing to Circle of Bliss. He looked outstanding in the paddock and looked every inch the champion that he is. Since Alaindair has proved his champion qualities over mile and half trip, it would be interesting to see how he would tackle Be Safe.
The Invitation Cup this year no doubt will be between the brilliance of Be Safe and the experience of Alaindair and Amazing Grace. The others are there to add up the numbers though time and again racing has made an ass of any one hazarding an opinion without qualifying it.
Since performance has already proved the presence of highly quality pedigree, it is futile to look for any chinks in the armor of Be Safe though one cannot help speculate how he will perform in a truly run race where a champion is tested to the hilt from the word `go'. The comfort of the Indian Derby will not be there in the Invitation Cup as the race will be run at a frenetic pace with the cruising speed being of a higher order. There are horses of the ability of Alaindair and Amazing Grace who will be able to sustain their challenge right till the winning post. If Be Safe emerges unscathed, he would have passed the ultimate test.
The true test of a champion is overcoming all challenges in order to triumph. Be Safe has thrived on challenges and it would be no surprise if he competes not against the opposition but to best his own performance!
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)
