Pune is one monsoon summer/centre that does not have a fillies' race and a colts' race as a prelude to its Derby. (Mysore has a slight variation with their 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas where the fillies also eligible to run in the latter race). The traditional lead-up races to the Pune Derby have always been the F.D. Wadia Trophy (1400m.), S.A. Poonawalla Multi-Million (1600 m.) and the General Rajendrasinhji Trophy (1800 m.). Over the years, the leading lights of western India have found it more attractive to venture out and this in turn has affected the quality of juvenile racing in Pune. F.D. Wadia Trophy and S.A. Poonawalla Million have been down-graded to Gr.3 from Gr.2 status while the General Rajendrasinghi Trophy has lost its graded eminence. To top it all, the Pune Derby offers a smaller purse to the wining connections. It is no surprise hence to find that the average field rating of Pune Derby is below that of the Derbies run at other centres. The average field rating is just 51.9 whereas the average for previous five years is 60.5. In the last five years, only one favourite and one top rated horse -- Jeremiah -- has scored.

Though the field this year has a lower average rating than last year, there are two black-type winners-- Accolade (Burden of Proof - Alnasreya) and Germanicus (Whatsthescript - Phenomenale) -- in the contest. Accolade was discussed -- especially the doubts about his ability to stay -- recently in connection with the Deccan Derby, Gr.1. He travelled to Malakpet, refused to be stalled and was withdrawn. His unruly behavious has truly perplexed the connections and he goes into Sunday's race as an afterthought. There has been the needless travel but happily he has got Starting Stall Certificate back. Apparently, he walked into the gates like a lamb back at his home track. Afterthoughts don't always provide the anticipated results and in Accolade's case, a question mark about his gate manners has been added to his unproven stamina. If he starts at odds-on, it will take a brave man to back him. That said, there is absolutely no doubt that on available form -- if not on ratings -- he is the best 3YO in training. He is facing a comparatively weaker set of rivals and while the stamina question will come into play over 2400 m., it may not be so relevant over 2000 m., especially if the race is run at a slow pace.

Germanicus, too, has not won beyond a mile so far. He is unbeaten at Pune and is seeking a hat-trick. None of his three previous wins have been recorded with more than a length to spare to the second horse. His sire Whatsthescript is the Champion Freshman Sire designate who has produced a host of winners at all centres but there is no guarantee about his being able to sire a Gr.1 winner over 2000 m. at this stage. He himself  was a very good miler in U.S.A. and he did win once over 1800 m. but the American racing over tight, turning tracks is not the best indicator of distance aptitude. His own DI of 3.44 is in keeping with his sire line -- Royal Applause, Waajib, Try My Best -- which is a speed-oriented branch of Northern Dancer.  On the other hand, Phenomenale, daughter of ultra-staying influence Montjeu,  won this very race in 2008. Phenomenale's first foal, Phenomenal Memory (by Glory of Dancer), won thrice over 2400 m. This is the family of Aga Khan's Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sinndar that has abundant stamina. If Whatsthescript is the kind of sire -- we don't know for sure yet -- who melds well with staying mares, Germanicus should get 2000 m.

A filly who has paid  a final entry fee to run is Silken Eyes (Multidimensional - Silken Star) who was a neck second to Germanicus in the S.A. Poonawalla Multi-Million, Gr.3 last month. Mr. Vijay Shirke's colt had skipped away rounding the Turf Club House turn and had a break of about three lengths early in the straight. Silken Eyes was gaining ground on him in closing stages and she is certain to appreciate the additional 400 m. that she will get on Sunday. Her two half-sisters, Capriole (by China Visit) and Simply Stylish (by Steinbeck) are both black-type winners with the former winning the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing R.W.I.T.C., Ltd. Gold Cup, Gr.2 (2000 m.) and the latter claiming the Golconda Oaks, Gr.2. She won't be beaten for lack of stamina though it has to be said that Germanicus will be better off by 3kgs. in the Derby. Of more recent significance is the fact that Silken Eyes is a sister-in-blood to Star Nijinsky who won the Deccan Derby, Gr.1 at the start of the month. Her handler, C.D. Katrak, has saddled four previous winners of the race.

There are two other contestants with a rating above the average field rating. One is Highland Breeze (Ace - Fervent Wish) who is from the same Mumtaz Mahal family -- but a different branch -- as Accolade. Trained by Rehanullah Khan, Highland Breeze has won over a mile and 1800 m. and has been fairly consistent. His sire Ace covered no mares in 2014 and only two in 2015 so has clearly fallen out of favour. The other is the southern raider Namid (Phoenix Tower - Aquila Oculus) who was a faraway third to Sergeant At Arms in Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Course Mysore 2000 Guineas, Gr.3. Namid had won his other two previous starts, one over a mile and the other over 1800 m. His black-type placed dam won four  consecutive races in Ireland at three including two over 2400 m. She then went hurdling and added three more at longer distances. At stud, her first two foal  was by Montjeu and the next by Galileo. She was then covered by speedier Invincible Spirit and came to India. Her three earlier foals in India -- Mountain of Joy (by Invincible Spirit), Rocketeer (by Senure) and Odysseus (by Phoenix Tower) have won 10 races between them, one at a mile and others at shorter distances. Bold March, who finished almost two lengths ahead of Namid  last time out, was five lengths adrift of Accolade in Mumbai earlier.

Horses whose rating is below the average field rating have a Herculean task in winning this kind of a race. Unforgettable You (Arazan - Change of Luck) is rated just 46. She is also the least experienced runner in the race having run twice and won once She is hence most likely to show greater improvement.. Her dam won the Casino Royale Indian St. Leger, Gr.1 from stable-mate Becket when the race was last run at Mahalaskhmi. The next dam is Stunning, one of the finest, all-time great broodmares in India. This is the Schiaparelli family which has finished on top in India more than any other tap-root. Inexerience may be her undoing and Arazan does not inspire much confidence but her trainer Malesh Narredu has won this race two years ago with Quasar. Ten fillies have triumphed in the race with Hills and Stars being the last one to do so. Hills and Stars later ran in the same colours as those that will be carried by Unforgettable You.

Mention of Quasar brings to mind the fact that 'got-abroads' have won this race half a dozen times in 32 renewals. The lone 'got-abroad' in the field this year is Covert Action (Sir Percy - Sancia). He is a son of an Epsom Derby winning sire but is still a maiden after five starts and his mission appears to be to lead the way for Germanicus. Vulcan (Sedgefield - Shining Force) is a course and distance winner; the much travelled Smart N Noble is a son of Ace with just one victory from 11 starts; Zanzibaar (Chavelier - Delta Port) is bred on the same lines -- by a son of Danehill out of a Razeen mare -- as Silken Eyes while Eiger's Tiger has a DI of 5.00 so his lasting the distance -- despite a win over 1800 m. - is difficult.

PAST THE POST

In the backdrop of this rather insipid race, there is another thrilling contest unfolding. That is the race for the Champion Stud Farm honours. While the average racegoer is neither aware of it not interested in its outcome, the breeding community follows it with great anticipation. At the end of the last month, Kunigal Stud enjoyed a lead of more than 100 points over Usha Stud. Victory of Whomakestherules at Calcutta and the Star Nijinsky-Aster Rose 1-2 in the Deccan Derby enabled Usha Stud to claw back some of the lost ground and Kunigal's lead has been reduced to 48 points. A victory for Accolade on Sunday will almost certainly clinch the Championship for Kunigal for the race ends on 31 October and only three high value races will be run in the last fortnight. On the other hand, if Silken Eyes finishes ahead of Accolade, the race could almost go to the wire.

Some years back, there was a similarly close contest. The chasing stud farm had bred a filly which appeared likely to win some big races during the summer/monsoon seasons and narrow the gap further. The leading stud farm bought that filly and kept her in the stables when the those races were run. (Previous and subsequent form suggests that the said filly would indeed have won those races). The subterfuge was totally unnecessary as the leading stud farm won the Championship rather easily. No rules were broken; however, that act of gamesmanship left a somewhat sour taste in the mouth.

In that context, how refreshingly sporting it is to see URBB Ltd. running Adam, bred at Usha Stud, in the Noshir and Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million, Gr.3. That is true sporting spirit and deserves an accolade or two !