Darwin's law will rule

No, there is no horse by that name running on the inaugural race card of eight races at the Pune racetrack today. But among the eight horses in the fray for the feature race, The Fair Haven Trophy, that famous principle--survival of the fittest--will certainly rule.

The start of the Pune season always sees large fields, more than half of them out only for the airing, and today's card is no exception With field strengths of 15, 17 & 18 in three races, and a total of 110 horses to be saddled, caution should be watchword for horse players.

For example, in the feature race the Faisal Abbas-trained Holy Smoke towers over the rest on the class factor, but how fit the five-year-old will be known only after the race. Because if fit, he will lord over his rivals including the classy younger horses like Germanicus and London, but if that's not the case, then this duo may be left to fight it out with Traherne as the dark horse.

First race is at 2 pm.
Selections:

A J Wadia Plate - Div II (Class IV; 1400m)
Comic Timing, Auroden 2, Mocassin 3.

Arts Plate - Div II (Class IV; 1000m)
Elysee 1, Juggernaut 2, Brooklyn Bridge 3.

Fair Haven Trophy (Class I; 1400m)
Germanicus 1, London 2, Traherne 3.

A J Wadia Plate - Div I(Class IV; 1400m)
Domination 1, Judicious 2, Furious N Fast 3.

Arts Plate - Div II (Class IV; 1000m)
Princess P 1, Yellow Diamond 2, God's Own 3.

Carbon Star Plate (For 3y, maidnes; 1000m)
Ascension 1, Shamwari 2, Victoriana 3.

P Hadow Trophy (Class III; 1200m)
Irish Bailey 1, Adeline 2, Shaoqing 3.

Bud Royale Plate (For 4y&o, class IV; 1200m)
Petronius 1, Adams Beginning 2, Untitled 3.

Best bet: Elysee (2-1)
Good bet: None
Chance bet: None
Upsets: Holy Smoke (3-1) & Free Speech (7-1)