Severus for Suresh Mahindra Trophy

Pune: The Pune Derby weekend is finally here, and the grade 1 event to be run over the trip of 2000 meters, sponsored by Kingfisher Ultra, will be slated as the prime attraction of the Sunday card which features nine races.

But even the Saturday card, comprising of nine extremely competitive races, promises to be as interesting as Sunday's Derby card.

The Suresh Mahindra Trophy, the longest race in the entire country, which is run over the grueling trip of two miles (3.2 km), chooses itself as the prime event of today's card for which only four runners have accepted to run: Jigsaw, Rodeo, Severus and Square Moon. Horse for horse, I feel Rodeo is the better horse, but having to give nine kg to Severus over every inch of the two-mile trip may adversely tell on the stamina of the seven-year-old, and this may help Severus, trained by B Prakash and to be ridden by A Sandesh, to wrest the issue opposite the judge's box.

First race at 2 pm.

Selections:

Crowne Plaza Pune Trophy - Div II (Class IV; 1400m)
Rainbow Dash 1, Erdemir 2, Dancing Lord 3.

Lufthansa Senator Trophy (Class II; 2000m)
Bullrun 1, Magnificence 2, Jordana 3.

N K Pudumjee Trophy (For 3y, maidens; 1600m)
Frivolous 1, Mrs Patmore 2, Jubilant 3.

Roedl & Partner Trophy (Class V; 1200m)
Shape The Scape 1, Amicus Curiae 2, Espresso 3.

Crowne Plaza Pune Trophy - Div I (Class IV; 1400m)
Shaoqing 1, Lord Arazan 2, Adeline 3.

F A & K A Irani Trophy (Class III; 1200m)
Sparkling Eyes 1, Squash 2, Champagne 3.

Jamshed Dalal Trophy (Class V; 1600m)
Glorious Hymn 1, Secret Flame 2, Avakraz 3.

Suresh Mahindra Trophy (Class I; 3200m)
Severus 1, Jigsaw 2.

Recommendations
Best bet: None
Good bet: Severus (8-3)
Chance bet: Shaoquing (5-6)
Upset: Country Music (1-8)

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