Given below are statistical details of the twenty runners expected to line up for the 78th running of the “Blue Riband of the Indian Turf”:

1.CONSIGLIORI b g March 19, 2016

By AIR SUPPORT[USA] out of CAPRESE, by BURDEN OF PROOF[IRE]

Breeder: United Racing & Bloodstock Breeders Ltd. at the Kunigal Stud Farm (Karnataka)

Owner: United Racing & Bloodstock Breeders Ltd.  & Mr. Aditya P. Thackersey

Trainer:L.V.R. Deshmukh in Hyderabad 

Jockey:P. Trevor

Race Record: 11 starts, 4 wins, 4 places, ?95,32,639, from 1200 m. to 2400 m.

Major victories:Deccan Derby[Gr.1]

Draw #: 9

Pros: Well-bred; game as they come, stays the trip

Cons: A notch below the expected level; will need to improve to win; should be in the leading bunch    

2. DADDY'S PRIDE b c February 12, 2016

By OATH[IRE] out of CANNON JET, by ROYAL GLADIATOR

Breeder: Pratap Stud Farm at the Pratap Stud Farm (Gujarat)

Owners: M/s. Vivek Lalwani and Subhag Singh

Trainer:Subhag Singh in Bombay

Jockey: T.S. Jodha

Race Record: 7 starts, 2 wins, 2 places, ?9,73,187, from 1000 m. to 1600 m.

Major victories:J. RustomjiSoparivala Trophy     

Draw #: 20

Pros: Should stay comfortably; has experience of the track

Cons:Lowly rated; had the misfortune of drawing the outside post which effectively ruins his chances

3. IMPAVID dk b c February 16, 2016

By AIR SUPPORT[USA] out of POLENTA[IRE], by SUNDAY SILENCE 

Breeder: United Racing & Bloodstock Breeders Ltd.  at the Kunigal Stud Farm (Karnataka)

Owner: Dr. Nevill R.Devlaliwalla

Trainer:Arjun Mangalorkar in Bengaluru

Jockey: David Egan

Race Record: 9 starts, 5 wins, 4 places, ?1,28,72,824, from 1200 m. to 1600 m. 

Major victories:South India 2000 Guineas [Gr.2], Deccan Colts Championship Stakes [Gr.3], Governor's Trophy     

Draw #: 18

Pros: Extremely consistent (never unplaced), he is amongst the best of the 2016 crop

Cons: Has been found wanting on a couple of occasions plus his wide draw doesn’t help 

4. JUSTIFIED b c February 8, 2016

By MULTIDIMENSIONAL[IRE] out of SECRET GARDEN, by RAZEEN[USA]

Breeder: Greentree Stud & Agricultural Farms Pvt. Ltd.  at the Usha Stud Farm (Haryana)

Owners:M/s HomiF. Mehta&Jehangir Mehta, Mrs.HomiF. Mehta, Mr. Milan Luthria& Mrs. Liane Luthria

Trainer:Imtiaz A.Sait in Bombay

Jockey: A. Imran Khan

Race Record: 6 starts, 1 win, 1 place, ?3,61,313, over 1800 m.

Major victories: None

Draw #: 13

Pros: Should see out the trip; racing on home track; trainer has won this before

Cons: The lowest rated runner in the field

5. LIGHTNING BOLT ch c February 24, 2016

By EXCELLENT ART[GB] out of SHAMAAL, by RAZEEN[USA]

Breeder: Poonawalla Exhilaration Stud Pvt. Ltd. at the Poonawalla Exhilaration Stud (Maharashtra)

Owner:Mr.Zavaray S. Poonawalla & Mrs.Behroze Z. Poonawalla (rep. Poonawalla Racing & Breeding Pvt. Ltd.), Mr. Vijay

Kumar Gupta (rep. Vijay Racing and Farms Pvt. Ltd.)&Mr. Aditya P. Thackersey

Trainer: L.V. R. Deshmukh in Hyderabad 

Jockey:Akshay Kumar

Race Record: 6 starts, 3 wins, 3 places, ?40,51,673, from 1200 m. to 1600 m.

Major victories: None

Draw #: 17    

Pros: Admirably consistent; amongst the leading members of his crop

Cons: Stamina is doubtful, exacerbated by his wide draw

6. NORTHERN ALLIANCE b c April 15, 2016

By: GUSTO[GB] out of ALLONIA, by LOCAL TALENT[USA]

Breeder: Mr. Jagrup Singh Sandhuat the Bishan Stud Farm (Punjab)

Owners: M/s. Clinton Miller, Sujay Chandrahas and Dean Stephens

Trainer: Neil B.Devaney in Bengaluru

Jockey: Yash Narredu

Race Record: 8 starts, 3 wins, 2 places, ?46,98,839, from 1400 m. to 1600 m.

Major victories:Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club Mysore 2000 Guineas [Gr.3], Bangalore Summer Million [Gr.3]     

Draw #: 11

Pros: Likeable sort; has run WAR HAMMER close in December

Cons: More likely to be a miler rather than a stayer

7. ROYAL CRYSTAL b c April 11, 2016

By WESTERN ARISTOCRAT[USA] out of SPARKLING CRYSTAL[IRE], by DANEHILL DANCER

Breeder: Highgrove Stud and Agricultural Farm at the Track Supreme Stud (Rajasthan)

Owner:Dr. Suresh Chintamaneni

Trainer: ArjunMangalorkar in Bengaluru

Jockey: S. John

Race Record:13 starts, 2 wins, 7 places, ?85,10,856, from 1200 m. to 2400 m.

Major victories: Golconda Derby [Gr.1] 

Draw #: 16

Pros: Has experience of the track, stays well

Cons: Has proved to be no match to WAR HAMMER, TROUVAILLE, WELL CONNECTED; drawn wide    

8. SIR SUPREMO b g March 14, 2016

By SPEAKING OF WHICH[IRE] out of COOL MOVER, by RAZEEN[USA]

Breeder: Usha Stud & Agricultural Farms Pvt. Ltd. at the Usha Stud Farms (Haryana)

Owners: M/s. Daulat  Chhabria, Dr. C.A. Prashanth and M/s. Gautam Basapa& Apana Subaiya

Trainer: Satish Narredu in Bengaluru

Jockey: N.S. Parmar

Race Record: 10 starts, 2 wins, 5 places, ?68,45,964, upto 2400 m.

Major victories: South India Derby [Gr.1] 

Draw #: 8

Pros:Already a Group 1 Classic winner, has essayed the trip successfully

Cons: Has followed a route here – via South India Derby – that has not proved fruitful in the past three decades

9. SOUTHERN RULER ch c February 9, 2016

By SAAMIDD[GB] out of FARHA[USA], by NUREYEV

Breeder: Hazara Stud Farm at the Hazara Stud Farm (Haryana)

Owner: Dr. A.C. Muthiah

Trainer: S. Ganapathy in Bengaluru

Jockey: C.S. Jodha

Race Record: 11 starts, 1 win, 4 places, ?72,56,453, over 2000 m.

Major victories:AVR Group And Catalyst Properties Mysore Derby [Gr.1] 

Draw #: 4    

Pros: Already a Group 1 winner; both trainer and jockey know how to win this

Cons: The level of form of his Mysore Derby win is highly suspect

10. SULTAN SULEIMAN b g February 28, 2016

By ARAZAN[IRE] out of SAFFRON DANCER[IRE], by BIN AJWAAD 

Breeder: Poonawalla Astonish Stud Pvt. Ltd. at the Poonawalla Astonish Stud (Maharashtra)

Owners:M/s.Dinsha P. Shroff, Munchi P. Shroff, Mrs.Aban N. Chothia& Mr. Saleem Fazelbhoy

Trainer:Altaf Hussain in Mumbai

Jockey:Neeraj Rawal

Race Record: 5 starts, 2 places, ?16,62,225, from 1400 m. to 1600 m. 

Major victories:S.A. Poonawalla Million [Gr.3], Southern Command Gold Trophy     

Draw #: 12

Pros: Highly thought of by his connections

Cons: Appears to have fitness issues as judged from his belated debut

11. TOPNOTCH b g March 10, 2016

By TOP CLASS[USA] out of ELZAAM, by TIROL[IRE]

Breeder: M/s. Pritam Singh Sandhu & Sons at the Mukteshwar Stud (Uttar Pradesh)

Owners:M/s. Pankaj Chhawcharia, Sourav Chhawcharia, DivyaChhawcharia& Sanjay Kumar Agarwal

Trainer: Shafiq Khan in Kolkata

Jockey: Imran Chisty

Race Record: 12 starts, 1 win, 6 places, ?19,18,670, over 1400 m.

Major victories: None

Draw #: 5

Pros:Has plenty of experience; has been mixing it up with the best of the East

Cons: Outclassed by his home rivals; has an even bigger mountain to climb against all-India company

12. TRAFALGAR b c April 8, 2016

By WESTERN ARISTOCRAT[USA] out of BLUEGRASS PHENOM[USA], by BLUEGRASS CAT

Breeder: Broadacres Stud Farm at the Manju Meadows Stud (Maharashtra)

Owners:M/s. Joydeep Datta Gupta,Jayanta Mukhopadhyay, Sanjay Datta Gupta, Jeet Banerjee, Achuthan Siddharth,

Marthand Singh Mahindra, Shouryabrata Mandal & Sigma Scan Systems Pvt Ltd's

Trainer: James McKeown in Kolkata

Jockey: Y.S. Srinath

Race Record: 7 starts, 4 wins, 2 places, ?97,49,271, from 1400 m. to 2400 m.

Major victories:Calcutta Derby[Gr.1], Calcutta Monsoon Derby[Gr.2]     

Draw #: 14

Pros: Improving type, stays the trip, genuine and consistent, follows same route to Indian Derby as PSYCHIC FLAME, IN

THE SPOTLIGHT, DESERT GOD, HALL OF FAMER

Cons: Twice beaten easily by WAR HAMMER, has given trouble at starting gates, unfamiliar surroundings

13. TROUVAILLE dk b g March 14, 2016

By SURFRIDER[IRE] out of HIGHLY FASHIONABLE, by WARRSHAN[USA]

Breeder:Ruia Stud Farms Pvt. Ltd. at the Ruia Stud (Maharashtra)

Owner: Rajesh Monga

Trainer: S.K. Sunderji in Mumbai

Jockey: Nicky Mackay

Race Record: 9 starts, 3 wins, 5 places, ?1,12,47,700, from 1600 m. to 2000 m.

Major victories:Villoo Poonawalla Indian 2000 Guineas[Gr.1], Pune Derby [Gr.1], Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders' Juvenile

Colts' Championship[Gr.3]

Draw #: 6

Pros: Extremely consistent sort, only once out of the first two, comes in from the best local trial, has worked well

Cons:Often finds one too good 

14. VICTORIOUS SERMON b g January 11, 2016

By WHATSTHESCRIPT[IRE] out of CRYSTAL, by RAZEEN[USA]

Breeder:Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Pvt. Ltd. at the Nanoli Stud Farm (Maharashtra)

Owner: Chirag V. Shah

Trainer:Vishal Gaikwad in Mumbai

Jockey: A. Sandesh

Race Record:8 starts, 3 wins, 3 places, ?26,39,276, from 1400 m. to 2000 m.

Major victories:RamniwasRamnarainRuia Gold Cup [Gr.3], Nawab M. Arshad Ali Khan Memorial Cup 

Draw #: 2

Pros: Winner of the most significant trial in Western India, has beaten Gr.1 winners GIFT OF GRACE, SIR SUPREMO,

SOUTHERN RULER, TROUVAILLE. Diagonally inbred to DANZIG.    

Cons: A trifle inconsistent and could be short of class. May find 2400 m. off a hot pace too much.

15. WAR HAMMER dk b c January 19, 2016

By AIR SUPPORT[USA] out of SOVIET LAKE, by BOLD RUSSIAN[GB]

Breeder: United Racing & Bloodstock Breeders Ltd. at the Kunigal Stud Farm (Karnataka)

Owners: Dr. C.A. Prashanth& M/s. Gautam Basapa, B.S. Manjunath & Apana Subaiya

Trainer: P. Prasanna Kumarin Bengaluru

Jockey: Suraj Narredu

Race Record: 7 starts, 7 wins, ?1,46,06,878, from 1400 m. to 2400 m.    

Major victories:Shree Meenakshi Sundereshwara Bangalore Derby[Gr.1], Colts Championship Stakes [Gr.1], Bangalore

2000 Guineas [Gr.2], Karnataka Juvenile Million [Gr.3], Bangalore Juvenile Million [Gr.3] 

Draw #: 10

Pros: The undisputed leader of his crop, unbeaten, has a great turn of foot, champion jockey in the saddle

Cons: Racing for the first time outside his comfort zone, this race may come too soon after his last effort

16. WIZARD OF STOCKS b g April 27, 2016

By SPEAKING OF WHICH[IRE] out of MARGARITA RITA, by THUNDER GULCH

Breeder: Greentree Stud & Agricultural Farm at the Usha Stud Farm (Haryana)

Owners: M/s. Vijay B. Shirke, Rakesh R. Jhunjhunwalla,  Ashok Kumar B. Gupta &BerjisMinoo Desai    

Trainer: P. Shroff in Mumbai

Jockey: Leigh Roche

Race Record:6 starts, 1 win, 3 places,?17,13,651, over 1600 m.

Major victories: None

Draw #: 3

Pros: By a sire who is going through a purple patch; grandson of a Kentucky Derby winner

Cons: Has been walloped by TROUVAILLE (twice) and WAR HAMMER

17. ARMAITY b f March 31, 2016

By MULTIDIMENSIONAL[IRE] out of HILLS AND STARS, by RAZEEN[USA]

Breeder: Ms. AmeetaMehra at the Usha Stud (Haryana)

Owners:M/s. S.M. Ruia&BerjisMinooDesai

Trainer:P. Shroff in Mumbai

Jockey: Chris Hayes

Race Record: 5 starts, 1 win, 1 place, ?5,28,750,over 1200 m.

Major victories: None

Draw #: 7

Pros: Inbred to Northern Dancer; has essayed 2400 m. (finished on board), owners have paid steep entry fee to run and

summoned a rider from Ireland. 

Cons: Appears to lack class, no horse of her profile has ever won the Indian Derby

18. JULIETTE gr f March 17, 2016

By MUSKETIER out of GIMMESUMSUGAR[USA], by ORIENTATE

Breeder: Tohana Stud Farm at the Sohna Stud (Haryana)

Owner: Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Chettiar Of Chettinad Charitable Trust

Trainer: Karthik Ganapathy in Mumbai

Jockey: Colm O’Donoghue 

Race Record: 6 starts, 3 wins, 1 place, ?44,62,412, from 1400 m. to 2400 m.    

Major victories: Indian Oaks[Gr.1], Maharaja OfMorvi Trophy

Draw #: 1

Pros: Improving type, has a devastating turn of foot, consistent, racing on home track

Cons: Very small individual (~400 kgs.), vulnerable to a lack of pace, only 14 days between starts

19. THAILAND dk b f April 4, 2016

By TOP CLASS[USA] out of IMMORTAL STORY, by NOVERRE[USA]

Breeder: M/s. Pritam Singh Sandhu & Sons at the Mukteshwar Stud (Uttar Pradesh)

Owner: Dr. Suresh Chintamaneni

Trainer: Arjun Mangalorkarin Bengaluru

Jockey: S. Zervan

Race Record: 9 starts, 1 win, 6 places, ?26,04,141 over 1200 m.

Major victories: None

Draw #: 19

Pros: Has experience on the track, as well as over 2400 m.; a final entry

Cons: Has yet to get past WELL CONNECTED in 4 tries; would require half a dozen rivals to run below par; drawn wide

20. WELL CONNECTED b f January 17, 2016

By ARAZAN[IRE] out of GUEST CONNECTIONS, by PLACERVILLE[USA]

Breeder: Poonawalla Exhilaration Stud Pvt. Ltd. at the Poonawalla Exhilaration Stud (Maharashtra)

Owners:M/s. M. Rishad& P.J. Vazifdar& Mrs.Behroze Z. Poonawalla, Mr. Yohan Z. Poonawalla and Mrs. Michelle Yohan

Poonawalla (rep. Poonawalla Racing & Breeding Pvt. Ltd.

Trainer:S. Padmanabhan in Bengaluru

Jockey: David Allan

Race Record:8 starts, 4 wins, 2 places, ?2,16,40,838, from 1200 m. to 2000 m.

Major victories:Kingfisher Ultra Bangalore Derby[Gr.1], Fillies Championship Stakes[Gr.1], Deccan Fillies Championship

Stakes [Gr.3]     

Draw #: 15

Pros: Won her first four starts including the most prestigious event for three-year-olds in India; has shown a stunning turn

of foot; showed the glimmerings of revival last time out 

Cons: Lost her next four starts; could have gone off the boil; draw does not help.