Cooji-Pesi rivalry gives horse racing a spicy flavour

The five-month long Mumbai racing season is only two weeks old, but Mahalaxmi is already abuzz with speculation as to who will don the mantle of champion trainer in April 2010.

The five-month long Mumbai racing season is only two weeks old, but Mahalaxmi is already abuzz with speculation as to who will don the mantle of champion trainer in April 2010. This is the best thing that could have happened to horse racing.

Cooji Katrak

Over the years, I have seen that any contest between two giants whether it's horses or men has always ensured an upsurge in this struggling sport's following.

The Sir Bruce-Amorous Knight battle for the 'best horse' title in 1985-86, the Aslam Kader-Pesi Shroff tussle for jockey championship in 1989, or the contest on the election turf between Cyrus Poonawalla and Vijay Mallya for control of the club in 2006 all generated high level of interest for this sport from even the mainstream media, and perhaps gave a new lease of life to this sport periodically.

Two Parsee trainers Pesi Shroff and Cooji Katrak may be the next two gentlemen to breathe new life into this sport with their renewed, no-holds-barred rivalry.

They seem to be taking turns in stealing the day's honours, Shroff presently leading 3-2 out of 5 days of racing so far. The universally known fact that both these professionals don't see eye-to-eye will only make this contest more interesting.

Suraj Narredu unfurls India proud

Suraj Satish Narredu, the 24-year-old Indian rider who scored his first win at Mauritius racetrack on Saturday, added yet another feather in his cap and made India proud by winning the International Jockeys Challenge title on Sunday.

Unfurling the Indian tri-colour during the award ceremony, Suraj thanks God for "His blessings", and confessed he was overwhelmed by this "good fortune".

Interestingly, his first victory at Mauritius, astride Bourne Supreme, was also the 900th career win for him, and if this talented jockey continues at the same pace, he will soon become the youngest Indian jockey to reach the magic figure of 1,000 wins.

Xenophobia strikes local jocks

With over 70% of the races (31 of 44, to be precise) run so far having been won by foreign jockeys, the local jockeys find themselves in the grip of xenophobia, a term that means 'an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers'. And more and more people are empathising with the local jockeys' cause.

Jockeys, supported by some trainers and owners, are demanding re-introduction of the old rule that at least 50% of the races should be set aside exclusively for Indian jockeys.

However, with almost all the big yards, and owners associated with them, having invested in "importing" foreign riders, this demand is, understandably, facing stiff opposition.

The coming days will show where the sympathies of the club's new committee (scheduled to be elected this month) will lie.