Pronto Pronto Takes the Kingfisher

The Kingfisher Derby is one of the richest Thoroughbred flat horse racing events in India. With a purse of Rs 23 680 000, it means that the winner of this event walks away with Rs 14 208 000. It was hosted at the Bangalore Turf Club on Sunday 17 July 2011. With Speed Six, the favorite for the race, fracturing his right shin bone and being scratched from the race, the field was wide open and fully taken advantage of by Pronto Pronto, walking away victorious at this prestigious event.

The Kingfisher Stakes is a Group 1 event. Pronto Pronto was teamed up with jockey Y. Srinath for the big day. Trained by Imtiaz Sait, Pronto Pronto was up against seventeen deserving three-year-old contenders, as some of the best horses in the country lined up to participate in this year’s event. The pair started off in a not so favorable position, after drawing the outside post, but managed to move their way up into a winning position. The track was a little soft due to the previous day’s rain, and the light drizzle that fell on Sunday morning did not discourage almost twenty-five thousand spectators to who filled the stands.

The two thousand meter race came down to two horses within the final furlong, namely Pronto Pronto and Severstahl. Magnitude was setting the pace but was overtaken by Preordained, and soon after was also passed by Severstahl. While Lovely Kiss was trying to make her way down the middle, Pronto Pronto was fighting his way to the front from second last position.

At one stage it did seem that the race belonged to Severstahl, but Pronto Pronto was not giving up without a fight. His brave performance paid off, with him chasing down the leaders on the outside, while Severstahl ran on the fence. The moment Srinath asked Pronto Pronto for one last push, the three-year-old responded immediately and passed Severstahl by a neck to win the Kingfisher Stakes. Severstahl had to settle for second place, while Pronto Pronto’s stablemate, Romantique, stole third place away from Lovely Kiss, and fifth place went to Star Marquess.