The Nakshatra Indian 2000 Guineas (Grade 1), the second Classic of the Mahalaxmi season, is slated as the feature event of Sunday's bumper ten-race card.
The race promises to be extremely competitive as 18 three-year-olds will vie for the winner's rich over Rs 4 million, besides a glittering trophy valued at Rs 125,000.
Five of the 18 hail from ace trainer Pesi Shroff's yard, who has also imported two Irish riders in Richard Hughes & Joseph O'Brien who will be riding Franklin & Montezuma respectively. Trainer Malesh Narredu has pitched in three runners: Amazing Desire, Manyatta & Shivalik Hero, the last-named being the best of three, but being ridden by foreigner Liam Jones who has been struggling to read the Indian racetracks so far. Then there is Machiavellianism from Hyderabad whose connections just last week raided this center to bag the Indian 1000 Guineas with Vijay's Pride. The dark one is Commander, trained by Bezan Chenoy.
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However, all of them will have to beat the Mansingh Jadhav-schooled Hachiko, who seems to have returned to his old form and is racing on his home track where he holds an enviable record of having won four of his five races. He will be ridden by jockey A Sandesh who will be looking for his first Indian Classic.
Whosoever wins, the race promises to be one of the most exciting contests in a long time. My first four are Hachiko, Shivalik Hero, Commander and Montezuma in that order.
First race at 1.00 pm.
Selections:
Cole Gold Trophy - Div II (Class V; 1000m)
Be Cool 1, Al Zamarud 2, Auraria 3.
Tribe@Turf Trophy (Class V; 2400m)
Flight To Freedom 1, Romantic Beauty 2, Danse Debonaire 3.
G Essaji Trophy - Div II (Class IV; 1600m)
Winning Destiny 1, Divine Inspiration 2, Il Moran 3.
Nawabzada Rashiduzzafar Khan Trophy (Class II; 2000m)
Clinton 1, Swift Memories 2.
P M Rungta Gold Trophy (Class III; 1400m)
Centerstage 1, Relic Hunter 2, Barringo 3.
Allah Rakhkha Gold Trophy (For 2y, maidens; 1200m)
Amistad 1, Veena's Star 2, Rekindle 3.
Kejriwal Trophy (For 4y, class IV; 1200m)
Seven Seas 1, Bongani 2, Masterofthesky 3.
Nakshatra Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr 1) (For 3y; 1600m)
Hachiko 1, Shivalik Hero 2, Commander 3.
Cole Gold Trophy - Div I (Class V; 1000m)
Riding Onthe Storm 1, Sheer Romance 2, Stella 3.
G Essaji Trophy - Div I (Class IV; 1600m)
Sophisticated 1, Winston 2, New World 3.
Recommendations
Best bet: Clinton (4-2)
Good bet: Centerstage (5-1)
Chance bet: Be Cool (1-3)
Upset: Hidden Goodness (7-7)
Today's pools
Super jackpot pool: 5,6,7,8,9,10
Jackpot pool: I - 4,5,6,7,8; II - 6,7,8,9,10
Treble pool: I - 3,4,5; II - 7,8,9; III - 8,9,10
Tanala pool: All races.u00a0
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