The Pune monsoon racing season begins today with an eight-race card. The feature event is the Gamble For Love Trophy for class I horses. There are 11 top class sprinters in the fray, and at least five of them--Holy Smoke, Timeless, Summer Rays, Mygrator and Excellent Gold--are expected to be in razor sharp condition.

While a close finish cannot be ruled out, I personally feel Timeless, whose hat-trick chance at Mumbai was ruined because of a slow start, has the best credentials to make amends. He is trained by SK Sunderji and will be ridden by CS Jodha. More than his fancied chief rivals, he may have to be wary of the unfancied, top-weighted Holy Smoke on whom rookie K Nazil will claim a useful allowance of 3.5 kg.