Industrialist Vijay Mallya’s top filly, Set Alight, is all set to take on real-estate developer Jaydev Modi and corporate lawyer Zia Modi’s colt, Autonomy, this Sunday at the Mahalaxmi Race Course here. Both horses, hot favourites among punters, are competing at the Royal Western Turf Club (RWTC) in the most watched racing event, the McDowell Indian Derby.
Also called the crown jewel of the triple crown, this race fields colts and fillies not more than four years of age. Normally held on the first Sunday of February, it was delayed this year due to an out-break of equine influenza (horse flu).
The stakes are high for the 2,400 metre (1.5 mile) race. The winner takes home Rs 1.87 crore — the highest prize offered for a horse race in India.
The red-hot four-year-old Set Alight, trained by legendary jockey Pesi Shroff, rider of eight Indian Derby winners, seems to be the best bet. The bookies are giving odds of not more than ‘10 to 6 on’ (60 paise on every rupee bet).
Undefeated in nine starts, Set Alight’s most eye-catching run had come in the Bangalore Derby, where she won by more than 10 lengths, a record of sorts.
As for owner Mallya, the last time he was seen leading a horse to the podium was at the end of the Indian Derby in 1999.
“This time if Mallya wins, he has an ambition to race Set Alight in Europe, too,” said a bookie. Earlier, Mallya’s horse Saddle Up had participated in races at Malaysia and Singapore,while another horse of his, Adler, had won a race in the US.
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While 15 horses would compete, bookies say it’s going to be a two-horse contest, between Set Alight and Autonomy. However, the latter’s chances of winning are much lower, bookies feel.
They are offering odds of 7.5 to 1 (Rs 7.5 on every rupee bet) on Autonomy. Trained by Bezan Chenoy, the horse had earlier won the Johnnie Walker Gold Label Indian 2000 Guineas.
The event kicks off on Saturday, to set the mood for Sunday. Apart from racing, also scheduled is performance by renowned Ariel ballet artists, slated to dance off the ground by latching on to ropes.
Tribute performances to the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard plus salsa performance by Kaytee Nimghal will be other highlights.