Liquor baron Dr Vijay Mallya promises rechristened McDowell Signature Indian Derby to be fiercely competitive and glamorous
Liquor baron Dr Vijay Mallya promises rechristened McDowell Signature Indian Derby to be fiercely competitive and glamorous
It's no longer called the McDowell Indian Derby.
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Dr Vijay Mallya arrives at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse yesterday to address the media ahead of the Indian Derby on April 12. pic/vishal kelkar |
In its new avatar, the greatest annual event of Indian racing calendar will now be called the McDowell Signature Indian Derby and is packaged by the UB team as a 'bold & beautiful' event. The race will be run over 2,400 metres at the Mahalaxmi Racetrack on Sunday, April 12.
"It's bold because it's fiercely competitive. The horses, the jockeys, the trainers stake everything they have on that one run, and there is no room for error," explained Dr Vijay Mallya, the UB group boss, at a press conference in the city on Thursday.
"And it's beautiful because of the carnival-like ambiance, the fashion and glamour and high life that is on parade on the day."
Vivek Jain, chairman of stewards and chief of RWITC's marketing committee, announced that in view of the unusual heat in the air these days, Dr Mallya had agreed to erect an air-conditioned tent on the members' lawns.u00a0
"The two-day racing extravaganza (April 11 and 12) will be entirely sponsored by the UB Group," Jain added.
"There will be two 'million' races besides the richest race the Derby."
The fact that Set Alight, owned by Mallya himself, is the hot ante-post favourite for the first McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Grade 1), the UB group head honcho was asked if he planned to take her abroad after the Derby victory.
"I have never speculated about the result of any race," said Mallya. "I never say my horse will win the race or is the one they all will have to beat. I have not done it in 25 years and I am not going to do it now. I take one thing at a time. Let her first run the Derby, then I will take a call on that."
