had problem of plenty, Supervite won the most
prestigious races of the Indian Racing Calendar,
namely the Gr 1 McDowell Indian Derby and the Gr 1
Kingfisher Bangalore Derby. Fortune favours the brave
and certainly Supervite also had the luck in her
favour. She was in the same year as some celebrated
horses of Indian racing like Saddle Up, Running Flame
and Continual, the last one unfortunately breaking
down with an injury when he was destined for greater
glory after having won the Gr 1 Mysore Derby and Gr 1
Indian 2000 Guineas.
Supervite did not strike a good rapport with Pesi
Shroff. Somehow, the Darius Byramji trainee failed to
deliver the goods when the champion rider was astride
her and it was lesser-known Ruzzan who was catapulted
to fame thanks to Supervite. Supervite went into the
Kingfisher Bangalore Derby as the least fancied of the
runners, as Priceless Asset was the firm favourite.
Things appeared to be going according to the script,
with Priceless Asset taking charge in the final
furlong and shaping to win. However, Supervite flew on
the wide outside and snatched the verdict by a
whisker. The victory gave her owner Dr Vijay Mallya; a
heady moment because he had struck a lean patch and
perhaps his waning enthusiasm was re-charged. Things
changed for the good, Continual and later Saddle Up
also proving to be an outstanding horse.
Supervite was also not fancied to win the Indian Derby
as Saddle Up and Running Flame had everything going
their way. As luck would have it, Running Flame ran
below par to finish third behind Supervite while
Saddle Up was a runaway winner. Saddle Up, however,
was disqualified as he tested positive for a
painkiller and Supervite was awarded the race.
Supervite thus retired to the stud as the dual Derby
heroine who had surpassed the expectations of even the
most ardent of her supporters. Her best was reserved
for the Derby and her performance otherwise was
nothing exciting.
Supervite is one of the many Derby heroines to stand
at the Kunigal Stud Farm. Supervite has had one
progeny, three-year old Fantabulous Prince, who is
currently racing. A two-year old is in training. There
is a great deal of expectation that she may turn out
to be a champion mare as well.
Supervite is by Line In The Sand, out of Matchless
Miss, by Dust Commander, out of Royal March, by
Turn-to, out of Cosmah, by Cosmic Bomb. |
