One such beacon in a sea of black was a big, gangly youngster of impeccable lineage who was named Continual and was sent into training with the country's leading schooler, Rashid Byramji, at Bangalore. He had `Indian Derby' written all over him when making his breathtaking debut on July 11 last year. For he scored by some 20 lengths! Byramji mapped out the same route for his promising ward as he had employed for another superstar some years ago Elusive Pimpernel. He campaigned Continual at Mysore before coming to Mahalaxmi for a tilt at the McDowell Indian Derby.

Alas, it was not to beContinual pulled up lame with a fractured limb after a work out on the morning of January 24 just 14 days short of his target. From prime derby contender, he was suddenly flung into pink and white bandages, throwing a googly into all calculations made by owners and trainers.

Many a plan was hastily altered and some four-year-olds entered as `final entries' paying a huge sum of Rs. 2,96,250 apiece! While this may ultimately end up doing no more than swell the prize and the field to twelve runners, the fact is the owners of these horses are demonstrating a great deal of faith in them by dipping so deep into their pockets.

Without a doubt, the favourite will be Kingfisher Indian Oaks winner, Running Flames. The Bangalore challenger has been consistent of late and comes into the race off a four race winning streak. Seven previous winners of the Indian Oaks have gone onto victory in the Blue Riband, the most recent being Amazing Bay. Running Flame's tally reads 12-6-1-2 and Rs 50,086,997. It is trained by SPadmanabhan and to be ridden by R Hughes.The one most likely to give her anxious moments is the Vijay Mallya hope, Saddle Up. A Karnataka-bred, he comes off a win in the Bagpiper Gold Bangalore Derby on Republic Day and is trying to emulate the same connections' Cordon Bleu. With five wins from seven starts, his record is impeccable, but its worth remembering that its been 25 years since a horse bred in South India has won the Indian Derby. The earner of Rs 21,72,712 is trained by Imtiaz Sait and will be ridden by Pesi Shroff.

The Mallya camp goes into the race double-headed, as it is also fiedling Supervite, runner-up to Running Flame in the Oaks, but victress of the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby last summer. With Continual hors de combat, the Poonawalla farms will be looking to Priceless Asset (Jimmy Fortune), Final Authority (Niall McCullagh), Stormy Warrior (C Rajendra), Armoury (Sinclair Marshall) and Masked Pandit (K Gopal rao) all off-spring of Placerville - to provide them with recompense. Allforum(Mark Gallagher), Montabella (Mallesh Narredu) and Treasurer (KPG Appu) are good horses in their own right, but are making a huge a step up to Grade I company. That leaves only one wild card for punters to consdier in their search for a dark horse Ace of Spades.

There was talk even of toppling Continual, but this dried up the moment Ace of Spades had his own downfall last time out, believed to have been caused by an internal problem. Should that recur, the Dallas Toddywalla trainee, who is earmarked for the very best talent in the saddle (Kieren Fallon, reigning champion jockey in England), might just add spice to the finish of what promises to be a heart-stopping event. Be there!

(Professional Management Group)