The countdown for the showdown at sundown for the Kingfisher Ultra Derby has begun and the hype and hoopla surrounding the blue riband of the season has generated maximum interest and excitement among the sporting buffs in the city who are looking forward to get on the high horse for the appointed date with the winner on Super Sunday.

On a day when the rich and famous and the bold and beautiful including the many fashion cats donning the designer hats will seek to gain a ring side seat to watch the dozen best in the campus strut their stuff in their effort to wear the Derby sash, the regular railbirds are working on the many permutations and combinations to land the riches on D-day.

The fact that local hero Serjeant At Arms under the care of the unassuming local boy Sulaiman Attaollahi  is the firm favourite for the mega event will prove to be the biggest draw card and the attendance on D-day is expected to record a new high going by the big buzz and ready response the event has generated among the railbirds and the elite social circles.

The second richest Derby in the Indian racing calendar will be telecast live on Neo Sports and the prime channel has roped in two young pros, top saddle artiste Trevor Patel and the talented young trainer Neil Darashah who are fast changing the pecking order of the leader board in the game.

Trevor and Neil will offer an expert opinion, analysing and discussing the prospects of the Derby contenders while providing the professional inputs, be it strategy, track condition and the pressure cooker situations in a big race.

The D-day telecast is scheduled from 2.30 to 5.00 p.m. on Sunday.

A preview on what the professionals say, which in the racing circles is known as `hot tips from the cool pros’ will be telecast on winning Post and Neo Sports on Friday 10 p.m. Saturday at 7.30 p.m. and on Sunday at 7.00 a.m.