The stage is set, the turf is primed. As the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) prepares to host the Zavaray S. Poonawalla Bangalore Summer Derby (Grade 1) on Sunday, July 13th, anticipation crackles in the air. Day 18 of the Bangalore Summer Meeting brings with it the crown jewel of the season, a 2000-metre classic that pits the finest 3 year old Indian thoroughbreds against one another in a high-stakes test of stamina, speed, and heart.
The Derby, open exclusively to Indian horses foaled in 2022, carries a prize pool of ₹2.5 crore, with the winner slated to take home a glittering trophy and ₹1.48 crore in cash. But beyond the numbers lies prestige, the kind that defines careers and cements legacies.
At the center of this year’s contest is Sovereign King, the colt who has dominated the early season classics. Trained by Adhiraj Singh Jodha and to be ridden by Antony Raj S., the son of Speaking of Which captured the Karnataka Juvenile Million in early June before delivering a dramatic last-stride victory in the Colts Championship on June 22nd. A horse with both tactical speed and a punishing finish, Sovereign King has earned his place as a leading Derby contender.
But he faces formidable opposition in Fynbos and Red Bishop,two stablemates from the yard of champion trainer Pesi Shroff, both of whom arrive with strong credentials and peak form.
Fynbos, to be ridden by Trevor Patel, turned heads with a commanding performance in the Juvenile Fillies’ Championship, where she outclassed her rivals by more than eight lengths. Though narrowly behind Sovereign King in the Juvenile Million, she’s believed to have progressed significantly since and is expected to relish the Derby trip.
Red Bishop, the second Shroff-trained entrant and to be partnered by A. Sandesh, finished a close third in the Colts Championship and has been working impressively since. His fluent stride and relaxed gallops have drawn praise, and many believe he could turn the tables on Sovereign King this time.
Stormy Sea, trained by M. K. Jadhav and to be ridden by N. S. Parmar, adds another layer of intrigue to the race. A winner of the Breeders’ Juvenile Colts’ Championship, he nearly toppled Sovereign King in the Colts Championship and has been showing sharp workouts since. With a stronger finish and a little racing luck, he remains a live threat.
Other major contenders include Prokofiev, trained by Prasanna Kumar and to be ridden by Suraj Narredu, who has a notable win over Stormy Sea to his name. His stablemate Charismatic, trained by Prasanna Kumar and to be ridden by Y. S. Srinath, is expected to improve over the longer trip and represents steady form.
Elysium, trained by S. S. Attaollahi and to be ridden by Akshay Kumar, made an impressive maiden debut and enters the Derby as a potential dark horse. Mindful, trained by Deepesh Narredu and to be ridden by Yash Narredu, Matisse, trained by Pesi Shroff and to be ridden by A. Prakash, and Gunsmoke, trained by M. Narredu and to be ridden by Mukesh Kumar, round out the list of well-prepared and well-fancied contenders.
Among the outsiders with upset potential are Moon Star, trained by Aravind G. and to be ridden by Vivek G., a long-striding type with encouraging trials; Sunshine, trained by Irfan Ghatala and to be ridden by S. Saqlain, who continues to improve with each run; Miracle Star, trained by S. Padmanabhan and to be ridden by Neeraj Rawal, bred to stay and showing stamina in work; Walking Thunder, trained by L. V. R. Deshmukh and to be ridden by Ashhad Asbar, flying the Hyderabad flag; Supreme Success, trained by V. Lokanath and to be ridden by Darshan R. N.; and Northern Waves, trained by G. Shashikanth and to be ridden by K. Sai Kiran.
With sixteen contenders, elite trainers, top-class jockeys, and a lucrative purse at stake, the 2025 Summer Derby promises a race for the ages.
Will Sovereign King confirm his dominance? Can Fynbos carry the fillies’ flag all the way to the top? Will Red Bishop time his charge to perfection? Or will Stormy Sea turn the tide? Perhaps a dark horse is waiting in the wings, ready to write its own chapter in Derby history.
In the next 24 hours, the answers will thunder down the Bangalore straight. Until then, the question lingers like a challenge: Who will wear the summer crown?
