Gandharvi Adds Case Clay To Its Team As Business Consultant

Amid the speed-filled tempo of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale this week, it's all about equine and human partnerships for Gandharvi Racing as they add Case Clay as a Business Consultant to their team.

Mind you, this isn't about making a splash or just putting together some haphazard deal. No, the intent behind this organization's latest move tunnels much deeper into the recesses of history.

As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was a racing stable. Like city-planning in the ancient world or otherwise, success just doesn't come easy. When it comes to competing in international racing circles, it takes a multipolar pivot across continents.

The underpinnings of such a capital venture were stabilized for Gandharvi founder Kuldeep Singh Rajput the moment he found out that he had deep family ties to racing's past in India.

“I have the horse racing and breeding bug, which was probably given to me by my great-grandparents, who were breeders,” said Rajput.

Though he is based in Boston, Massachusetts, Rajput is just such an internationalist. He built a successful career in biotech, and now he's parlaying his good business sense by carefully assembling a team with the intent to draw in more fans into the world of bloodstock and racing partnerships.

Gandharvi, which invested in its first horse in 2021, has aspirations to build a very strong broodmare band and has made no bones that it will focus its operations on developing fillies, which could yield a farm in the future. For now, the tailwinds are behind Rajput. Considering the current equine climate across the poles of this sport, holding your line in this game becomes a tall order for a solo yachtsman, but he isn't going alone.

To get there, the outfit's vessel is fitted with a strong frame of experience. Led by the Lexington, Kentucky-based Kiwi, Mick Wallace as their full-time Chief Operating Officer and Godolphin Flying Start grad Caitlin Smith, who anchors several of their operations from her base in Sydney, Australia, they are lending a hand in the growth department.

As the team assembled this week in Saratoga Springs, Gandharvi is expanding their roster by announcing Clay would be coming on as a blue chip adviser.

“I want Gandharvi to be around for the long term, and Case [Clay] will help us with that, beginning with the development of our five-year-plan,” said Rajput. “Also, he has relationships all over the world in this business and we respect that he will service them as well.”

With his diverse background, which was honed while working for his family at the fabled Three Chimneys Farm and even after it was sold to the Torrealba Family as their Chief Commercial Officer, Clay made the move last year to go out on his own as the principal of Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, LLC. For Gandharvi, part of Clay's specialty will be to focus on building toward the future.

“I'm excited about the opportunity to lend a hand to Gandharvi with their strategic plan and advice from a business standpoint. My current clients and business relationships are very important to me, so I'm glad that Kuldeep and I could arrange it so my current Case Clay Thoroughbred Management will run as business as usual, while still being able to help his organization in whatever way I can.”

With the addition of Clay, Gandharvi is continuing to pursue expanding global partnerships. Rajput himself has connections who regularly reach out with interest, but they might not have the foggiest how they can participate. He knows that if you make racing fun for everyone, including friends, family, etc., you can offer them a high-quality experience with both racing and breeding. Gandharvi will be searching for partnerships with the more well-established Thoroughbred operations to share in this journey.

They've already accrued progress along the way down under and in North America. In New Zealand, Ulanova (Santos {Aus}), a 2-year-old chestnut filly who won a Group 3 back in February at New Plymouth before running second in the G1 Sistema S. at Pukekohe Park, is continuing to make a name for herself. She is a finalist for the Champion 2-year-old category for New Zealand's Horse of the Year Awards.

The stable also established part-ownership in Australia's MG1SW Forbidden Love (All Too Hard {Aus}). Also of note, at the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale, Gandharvi purchased Nomothaj (Snitzel) for $1.1 million. The Listed winner has produced only one foal so far, a colt by Exceed And Excel, who sold at this year's Magic Millions National Yearling sale for $575,000.

When it comes to their North American activities, Gandharvi Racing bought into GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Aloha West (Hard Spun) through a partnership with Eclipse Thoroughbreds, and in conjunction with Michael Dubb, they campaigned GSW Battle Bling (Vancouver {Aus}). The stable made news last year when they purchased 18 yearlings during the Keeneland September sale for $7.605 million.

Back at the Saratoga Yearling Sale on Monday evening, in the spirit of budding partnerships, Gandharvi got on the board with Brook Smith's Rocket Ship Racing to land for $900,000 a filly by Constitution (hip 118).

“Gandharvi is all about bringing partners together and having fun racing,” said Rajput to TDN's Jessica Martini after the ticket was signed. “And I think it's a match made in heaven. We agreed on the same filly. It's all about partnerships and we are looking forward to it.”

Hopeful that North American success will come with a budding equine portfolio that will likely include a boutique broodmare band, Gandharvi will look to continue to add fillies and colts to race within a bevy of expanding partnerships. Now with Case Clay's assistance, the future is looking even more bright, but Gandharvi is always mindful that a racing stable isn't built in a day.

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Battle Bling, Off Claim By Atras, Rallies From Last To Win Ladies

Michael Dubb's Battle Bling was a last-to-first winner of Sunday's $100,000 Ladies for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going nine furlongs over the fast main track at Aqueduct Racetrack at Ozone Park, N.Y.

Battle Bling made her first start for trainer Rob Atras in the Ladies after being claimed for $62,500 out of a game second at 10-1 in an optional claimer on Dec. 19 at the Big A, defeated a neck by next-out stakes winner Maiden Beauty.

“When we claimed her, I was just happy she ran so well that day because she was longer odds,” Atras said. “Mike Dubb picked her out, and I liked her, but it was a great claim. We nominated and it looked like we had a shot with the short field. The weather has been tedious lately and training has been interrupted, but she's a nice filly. I've liked her since Day One. I'm glad Mike decided to claim her.”

Breaking from post 4 in the Ladies, Battle Bling emerged well under Trevor McCarthy while the Gary Sciacca-trained Exotic West stumbled at the start from post 1 and unseated rider Dylan Davis. Exotic West ran riderless behind the field before the outrider collared her and safely escorted her off the track while Davis sprung quickly to his feet.

Longshot Vienna Code was unbothered by the commotion to her inside and bounded away to take the lead in the first turn from Its Cold in Dehere while Battle Bling was shuffled back to last of five under Trevor McCarthy through an opening quarter-mile in 24.97 seconds.

With no change to the running order through a half-mile in 50.91, McCarthy began to get to work on the 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver, closing in on her rivals as the field passed the three-quarter marker and made their way into the final turn.

As Its Cold in Dehere faded from second approaching the top of the stretch, post-time favorite Miss Leslie and Battle Bling both made their run at the lead. Vienna Code continued to dig in along the rail and battle with Miss Leslie to her outside as Battle Bling took command in the center of the racetrack.

With a sixteenth to the finish, McCarthy gave Battle Bling a strong ride with right-handed encouragement as Miss Leslie continued to gain ground on her inside with late-running Kiss the Girl looming to her outside.

Battle Bling had something left in the tank and fought on gamely to hold off Miss Leslie by a neck with Kiss the Girl a half-length back in third. The final time for the nine furlongs was 1:57.11.

“On paper, it set up so beautifully,” McCarthy said. “I was able to follow the five [Miss Leslie], get the jump on her at the quarter-pole and fight them off. The track is a little tiring. We had some nice cover and we were able to get her going, open up a few lengths and make those guys really earn it.

“My filly is a big, long striding filly,” McCarthy added. “She doesn't have much punch, but when she does you got to get her rolling and she'll keep on going.”

Atras praised McCarthy's ability to adapt his ride to the slower pace.

“He sent and then noticed there was a little bit of speed and dropped back. They were going moderate – not slow, but not too fast,” said Atras. “He made a real bold move in the turn and I thought that was a great move that he made. Trevor is a strong rider and she held on.”

Angel Cruz, the regular rider of runner-up Miss Leslie, was proud of the 4-year-old Paynter filly's effort after entering the Ladies on a three-race win streak.

“My filly kept fighting and tried her best,” said Cruz, “At the top of the stretch, she came back with a fight. Trevor's horse came with a big kick. The longer she goes, the better she does. She's a better filly going long.”

Completing the order of finish were Vienna Code and Its Cold in Dehere.

A general steward's inquiry was conducted to review the start of the race regarding Exotic West, resulting in no change to the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Royal Oak Farm and E. Kiely, Battle Bling's win in the Ladies was the first stakes victory of her career, taking home $55,000 to increase her total purse earnings to $203,867 and improve her record to 3-4-1 from 13 starts. A $2 win wager on Battle Bling paid $8.70.

Live racing returns to the Big A on Thursday with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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