Set Alight tipped to win Indian 1000 Guineas at Mahalaxmi

QUEEN filly Set Alight begins her assault on the Mahalaxmi Classics on Sunday.

Set Alight tipped to win Indian 1000 Guineas at Mahalaxmi

QUEEN filly Set Alight begins her assault on the Mahalaxmi Classics on Sunday. The Pesi Shroff-trained four-year-old filly, who is unbeaten in eight starts, takes on nine rivals in the Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas (grade 1), the first of the four Classics to be run in the next month-and-a-half. Among the nine is Icebreaker, the best from trainer Padmanabhan's yard, who will don Captain J Appoo's colours.

Icebreaker comes to Mumbai after reeling off four races in a row in Bangalore, which include the Bangalore 1000 Guineas, Oaks and the Poonawalla Bangalore Derby. At any other time, a filly with such extraordinary achievements would be talked about as a strong contender.

But Set Alight has such awesome reputation, thanks to her eight spectacular victories that even the most ardent supporters of Icebreaker know their horse needs a wing and a prayer to topple the present superstar.

Another horse in the fray that is bound to run a good race is Dr MAM Ramaswamy's Originality. But like Icebreaker, her chances to stun Set Alight amount to zilch.

Selections: Running Flame Trophy - Div II (Class V; 1600m): Nyala 1, Elegante 2, Desert Dynamite 3.
Running Flame Trophy - Div I (Class V; 1600m): White Heart Lane 1, Saddlers Rule 2, Falcon Crest 3.
H H Tapia Trophy (Class II; 1600m): Flashing Flame 1, Star Crusader 2, Balance De Power 3.
M N Nazir Trophy (Class III; 1400m): Clarion Call 1, Misschevious Trot 2, Gentle Knight 3.
BJETS Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy - Gr 3 (For 3y&o; 1800m): Diego Rivera 1, Ruben Star 2, Cotswold Arms 3.

Tirol Million (For 3yo; 1200m): Forest Flair 1, Versaki 2, Tora Bora 3.
Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas - Gr 1 (For 4yo; 1600m): Set Alight 1, Icebreaker 2, Originality 3.
Seth Ramnath Daga Trophy (For 90+ rated, class I; 1200m): Avec Plaisir 1, Spica 2, Kiara 3.
Maharashtra & Gujarat Area Trophy (Class IV; 2000m): Chevron 1, Indian Summer 2, Thanda 3.

Recommendations: Outstanding: Set Alight (7-10); Best bet: Nyala (1-3); Good bet: Clarion Call (4-10); Chance bet: Avec Plaisir (8-3); Upset: Eagle Mountain (9-3)

Today's pools: Super jackpot pool: 4,5,6,7,8,9; Jackpot pool: I u2013 2,3,4,5,6; II u2013 5,6,7,8,9; Treble pool: I u2013 3,4,5; II u2013 6,7,8; III u2013 7,8,9; Tanala pool: All races.