It's bookies versus Sir Cecil at Indian Derby this Sunday

David Allan with Sir Cecil. File Pic/BTC

How times change. And with them, opinions. And with them, the odds.

Sir Cecil, who was always quoted at cramped, on-money odds during all his eight victories, may, for the first time, touch the price of even money in the Derby.

Sir Cecil, the ante-post favourite for Sunday's Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby (Gr 1), was once touted as a horse that would make the Derby a one-horse race. The super horse, trained by the Bangalore-based trainer S Padmanabhan and owned by breeder Tegbir Singh Brar of Dashmesh stud farm, went on building up a solid reputation for himself as he went on winning race after race, demolishing rivals at Bangalore, Mysore, and Mumbai, and now enjoys an unmatched record among the current Classic crop: 8 runs, 8 wins.

Growing fan club

With each successive win, Sir Cecil also won legion of fans, until after the seventh win every racing fan in the country, including racing professionals--trainers, jockeys, horse owners--were unanimous in their opinion that there was not a single four-year-old left in the country who could even hope to beat the champion horse.

And then came the eighth race: the grade 1, Villoo Poonawalla Indian 2000 Guineas. The head count went up substantially at Mahalaxmi as Mumbai racegoers thronged the paddock to set their eyes on what many swore was bidding for a place among the all-time greats.

Too many hints

The moment Sir Cecil entered the paddock, eyebrows went up. For the first time in his career, Sir Cecil sported red bandages on the front legs! That was the first hint that all was not well with Sir Cecil. The second hint came soon, during the running of the race. Though he won the 2000 Guineas, there were anxious moments for his supporters midway in the homestretch when David Allan astride Sir Cecil had to work rather hard to stave off Suraj Narredu's spirited bid on Star Superior.

The third hint came when Sir Cecil was taken back to Bangalore, his home base, but strangely, was not given a race despite the Bangalore winter season going on in full swing. The fourth hint came when he was all the time kept in light work at Bangalore and was never really stretched for a sparkling gallop. Sir Cecil will be the first Derby favourite in history who will attempt to win the big race after being off the shelf for 48 days.

Always odds-on

Here is a look at the odds quoted on Sir Cecil during his eight victories so far: 45 paise to a rupee, 25 paise, 35 paise, 68 paise, 90 paise, 15 paise, 25 paise & 45 paise. It just shows how petrified--and miserly--the bookmakers were to lay Sir Cecil.

However, the bookmakers are a shrewd community. So far, Sir Cecil has made them pay out every time without exception, and they must be waiting for their chance. It is my feeling that they may be emboldened this time to offer, for the first time, the odds of even money or better on Sir Cecil. As a fan of the horse, I just hope he takes the bookies for a royal ride yet again and lets his backers laugh all the way to the bank.

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