Maleficent for K M Munshi Trophy

The sport of horse racing in India, and particularly at Mahalaxmi, owes a lot Kanhaiyalal M Munshi, home minister of the Bombay presidency in pre-independence India, who was chiefly instrumental in gaining respectability for the Indian-breds by instituting the Indian Classics. Saturday's feature event, the K M Munshi Trophy, is named after the visionary.

It is reserved for class II horses, and will be run over a five-furlong sprint. Maleficent, trained by Pesi Shroff and to be ridden by Trevor Patel, is tipped to win the race from Ravello and Merchantofvenice.

First race at 4 pm.

Selections:
Jehan Numa Plate - Div II (For 5y&o, class V; 1200m)
Riposte 1, Secret Oath 2, Super Bolt 3.

Diego Rivera Plate (Class I; 1600m)
Melinda 1, Staristocrat 2, Mountbatten 3.

V R Menon Plate (Class V; 2000m)
Diablo 1, Jester 2, Secret Flame 3.

J Robinson Plate (For 3y, maidens; 1800m)
Covert Action 1, Eiger's Tiger 2, Synchronicity 3.

K M Munshi Trophy (Class II; 1000m)
Maleficent 1, Ravello 2, Merchantofvenice 3.

V P Koregaonkar Plate (Class III; 1400m)
Few Dollars More 1, Alishas Pet 2, Iridescence 3.

Jehan Numa Plate - Div I (For 5y&o, class V; 1200m)
Golden Glory 1, Rocking 2, Las Salinas 3.

Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy (For 3y, maidens; 1200m)
Airlift 1, Rock In Rio 2, Philadelphia 3.

Jayant M Shah Plate (For 5y&o, class IV; 1400m)
Divine Solitaire 1, Arsenal 2, Midnight Run 3.

Recommendations
Best bet: None
Good bet: Maleficent (5-1)
Chance bet: Covert Action (4-1)
Upset: Strawberry Crush (9-1)

Today's pools
Super jackpot pool: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Jackpot pool: I - 3,4,5,6,7; II - 5,6,7,8,9
Treble pool: I - 2,3,4; II - 6,7,8; III - 7,8,9
Tanala pool: All races.