Miracle hot favourite for Indian Derby

Mahalaxmi racecourse in Mumbai. Pic/Shadab Khan

The first Sunday of February is here again, and the Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby (Gr 1) will be run at the Mahalaxmi racetrack as the feature event of a trophy-studded eight-race card.

This is the 80th edition of the most prestigious horse race in the country, and 11 thoroughbreds - three of them fillies - from the crop of 2018 will contest for the top prize. All eyes will be on Miracle, the Pesi Shroff-trained multidimensional - Khalila filly, who goes into this race as a hot favourite.

Miracle has so far won all her eight races, the last one over the Derby trip of a mile-and-a-half. She will be ridden by jockey PS Chouhan.

It is difficult to look beyond Miracle, but no race is won until it is run, and if the unthinkable really happens, the one who may go close to Miracle will be none other than her stable mate Zuccarelli (P Trevor up) who has returned to his home circuit after winning the Bangalore Derby by 15 lengths on the Republic Day.