Super Horse

away by the strong wind that calls the four-year-old mixed breed “the greatest horse ever to run on Indian turf”. There have been several horses with winning streaks longer than Southern Empire, but as veteran trainer Magansingh Jodha says, “What makes him invincible is that he has never been fully pressed. There is no competition when he is there in the line-up, it’s has always been a one-horse race”.

It is this prospect that has spoiled the race course economics as punters have heavily betted on Southern Empire and have never been disappointed. Though the bookmakers offer minuscule odds in favour of the hot favourite, still there is a huge queue to collect the winnings after a Southern Empire victory, and that hasn’t been good for them.

This off-spring of mixed parentage has the high-profile American stallion Placerville as his father while his mother happens to be a Classic winner, Stunning. It was this high pedigree that interested Southern Empire’s owner Dr MAM Ramaswamy to zero in on the horse from the Poonawalla Stud Farms. “Like always, I checked the pedigree and that was certainly impressive. But what clinched the deal was his overall structure. It seemed like a work of art and I saw a winner there,” says the man of few words who is unusually not tongue tied when one mentions his prize catch. Ramaswamy has been a big name in racing circles since the late 70s and besides owning several winners in the past, has at present a batch of 500 horses in his stables.

Ramaswamy is a master of underplay who rarely smiles even when leading his horses to the podium. Southern Empire has made even that stoic Ramaswamy excited before the Derby Day. “Without doubt, in my career I have owned thousands of horses and watched countless thoroughbreds, but no one who is as good as Southern Empire,” he says.

Trainer S Ganapathy, who has been on Ramaswamy’s pay rolls for many years, vividly remembers the day he saw Southern Empire for the first time. “The walk was flawless and the look breathtaking. The only problem I felt was his coltish behaviour,” he recalls. In the trainers’ dictionary coltish means a horse who is playful and frolicsome in female company and someone whose friskiness can make him lose focus during a race. After a couple of sessions with Southern Empire the vital decision to end the prodigal horse’s vitality was taken. “We decided to geld him,” he says, softly aware how that one decision ended the prospects of earning millions through stud fees of the ‘greatest horse ever’.

A check on the testosterone level brought a sea change in Southern Empire. “He became very quiet and started taking training seriously. That’s what we wanted,’’ informs Ganapathy hinting at the usual Catch-22 situation of gelding a horse.

Being at the high-profile Ramaswamy stable meant Southern Empire was raised in a very competitive atmosphere. Winners of Classic races like Secret Memory, Guest Connections, Diabolical, Ruben Star and Haunting Memories were around when Southern Empire showed that spellbinding acceleration for the first time. As trainer Ganapathy says, “Southern Empire was a cut above the rest despite being in such an elite company.” He was what Viv Richards was to the great West Indies cricket team of the 80s or even Michael Jordan of US basketball’s Dream Team. “He certainly is the best student I have ever had. His acceleration makes him a stand-out performer,’’ admits Ganapathy.

There is many a horse racing connoisseur who will give a stride by stride analysis of this famous acceleration but there is only one man who has actually felt it — jockey B Prakash, who has been riding the gifted horse on most of his wins. “It’s an amazing feeling when Southern Empire steps on the pedal. A feeling that can’t be described in words,” he says. But the one quality that Prakash can describe in detail is Southern Empire’s horse-racing IQ. “He is very intelligent. He knows his job and quite a few times I don’t need to remind him about the task ahead,’’ says the star rider, who has more than 90 Classic wins under his belt.

The Prakash-Southern Empire wins in adverse conditions and with varied strategies have proved that the wonder horse is versatile. “Whether it is a slow start and a late surge or a start to finish leading plan, Southern Empire has never disappointed. He seems to know when to accelerate and how much to accelerate,’’ informs Prakash.

Southern Empire’s presence has meant a disillusioned field. Jockey C Rajendra feels Southern Empire is so strong it is a waste of time for others. “Kuch fayda nahi hai, Kaun marega usko?’’ he asks.

Small-time trainer Hanumant Singh feels it is better to concentrate on other races. “Southern Empire is a near certainty, so why should one bother about contesting against him. Preparing for a derby is time consuming and energy sapping for horses. I would prefer to target other races.’’

Despite this record-breaking start to his career, the famous trio of Dr Ramaswamy-Ganapathy and Prakash expect more miracles from Southern Empire and also hope that he breaks their derby jinx. Last year, despite the hype around Ramaswamy’s Mystical, the lesser-fancied Velvet Rope won the Derby. But this time they expect to turn the tide.

Besides, there is talk gathering that Southern Empire could be the horse to bring India on the international horse racing map. Dubai is seen as the next possible step where Southern Empire is expected to canter and the odds of that happening are quite bright.

Bookmakers living on a prayer

Frivolous betting and a long-running jinx are the two things that give the bookmakers some hope for the Derby where Southern Empire is the overwhelming favourite. “Derby ka mazaa hi khatam ho gaya hai. When Southern Empire is there, we can’t dare to offer good odds. So will banking on the socialites and their quirky betting style and the also those who believe that a favourite never wins a Derby,” says Afzal of leading bookmakers firm Baazi.

Derby has always been associated with unparallel excitement as books are open early to avoid rush at the last minute rush. But two days before the race, the usual anticipation is conspicuous by its absence. “The collection is badly hit. It has gone down by 60 to 70 percent. Only good money on offer can fuel the collection, but that is out of question here,’’ says Afzal.

But there are some bookmakers who firmly believe that all is not lost. “Look what had happened to Mystical,” points Vizak Irani of leading bookmakers firm Farisha. He takes heart from the upset defeat of Mystical last year. “Velvet Rope spoiled Mystical’s party and we made money. A deja vu can never be ruled out,’’ says Irani.

Irani also banks on newcomers who turn out in large numbers on Derby day, also considered to be biggest social event during winter in Mumbai. “There are many first-timers and they have their own set of calculations to bet on a certain horse. Some are carried away by fascinating names, while some go after lucrative odds on offer on other horses. This ensures we get our profit,’’ informs Irani.

On the other extreme are those bookmakers who are seeking divine help. One of them on condition of anonymity said that he will get a tantrik and pray for Southern Empire to lose. “That’s the only way out it seems, otherwise I don’t think he is going to lose.”

Favourite curse

Many believe that wonder horse Southern Empire’s biggest hurdle at the Indian Derby will be a turn of the millennium jinx. Ever since Southern Empire’s full brother Smart Chieftan won the big race in February 2000, no other favourite has been able to win the Indian Derby in the new millennium (see box).

The most dramatic was Mystical’s upset last year. Velvet Rope winning the Derby was like Zimbabwe winning the cricket World Cup! On the back of some impressive performances, Mystical was seen as the No.1 favourite.

But as the scene unfolded, Mystical was seen struggling with about 300 metres from home and looked very much a spent force as 50/1 Velvet Rope stunned everyone by claiming the crown in the last strides.

While Mystical’s defeat was most shocking, pace setter Noble Eagle’s win in 2003 was a fascinating fairytale.

Noble Eagle was asked to set pace for favourite Zurbaran. So he set a scorching pace and was more than seven lengths ahead of the field. None of the other rivals took him seriously as they were busy tracking the progress of Zurbaran. But to everyone’s surprise, Noble Eagle, who was expected to fade away in the home stretch, cantered on. Before others could realise what was happening, Noble Eagle was way beyond their reach. The win of this pace setter paid Rs 900 for a bet of Rs 10.

A family of winners

If one organises a family portrait for Southern Empire, he will be in elite company. His father happens to be the most-sought after stud in the country Placerville and the mother happens to be Stunning — a classic winner. Southern Empire’s full brother Smart Chieftan was a triple-crown winner in Mumbai in 2000. He won the Indian 2000 Guineas, the Indian Derby and the Indian St Leger in the same season. In fact, Smart Chieftan was the last favourite to win the Indian Derby. He also won the Indian Turf Invitation Cup, the second most prestigious race after Indian Derby in India.

Southern Empire’s other full brother, Classical Act, was second favourite in the Indian Derby in 2003 which was won by rank outsider and pace-setter Noble Eagle.

But it is his link with Placerville, who has produced many champion horses over last decade who have dominated the racing scene across the country, that many say is the main reason for his meteoric rise. Placerville was a champion thoroughbred in America. Out of five races that he ran in his short career, he won three and was second in other before a serious injury put an end to his small but illustrious career. A post-race examination, which Placerville won, revealed that he had fractured his left- fore cannon bone during the race. He couldn’t recover from that injury. One can only speculate what future peaks Placerville might have scaled, had his racing career not ended prematurely. But from the look of things it seems, what the father couldn’t achieve the son will.