While the Derby fever is fast catching up, the Maharaja’s Cup slated to be run on Sunday is the highlight of the Summer Season for older horses. The Gr.2 Maharaja’s Cup once enjoyed bigger importance than the Derby. This race has always had its own fascination for race goers as the best four-year olds and older horses in the country line up for the coveted trophy to be run over 11 furlongs. This is the only graded race in the country to be run over such a distance. The field includes many Derby winners and the race has a history of favoring classic placed horses as they enjoy a distinct pull in weights vis-à-vis the terms of the race. Rashid Byramji trained Andreyan fits the bill well on all counts for this year's event and is fancied ahead of his more illustrious rivals. Andreyan’s career was interrupted by niggling physical problems which kept him out of action in the early part of the last winter season and he was far from ready when he went down narrowly to Forever Elegance in the Gr.1 Poonawalla Bangalore Derby. Subsequently, he ran within striking distance of Southern Regent in the McDowell Indian Derby (Gr.1). He is receiving weight from his main adversaries and has had a good lead up race in the 1800 metres Justice Cup (Gr.3) which he won despite being slightly rusty. He is in the pink of condition and has been blazing the track unlike the other protagonists who haven’t impressed in their preparatory workouts. If everything goes well and he is given a quality ride, it is hard to visualize Andreyan’s defeat. The son of Razeen out of Vision of India is well within himself to land the prestigious trophy. Ganapathy trained Southern Regent was a late bloomer who won the coveted Gr.1 McDowell Indian Derby and the Gr.1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup. Both wins were achieved with ease with the win in the Invitation Cup being something special. However, he subsequently lost to Warsaw Pact in the Indian St.Leger (Gr.1) and the filly had always proved to be his nemesis. He ran a game second to Full Speed over a mile earlier in the season and incidentally, he hasn’t won a race over 2000 metres in winter and his best has always been over longer trips. Though he has not worked to the satisfaction of all, there is no denying the fact that he has tons of talent and cannot be ignored. Often horses which don’t show out in their workouts have proved to be transformed horses on the race track. It remains to be seen if Southern Regent belongs to such a category though in the past he had excelled on all counts. Vijay Singh’s Aperitivo deserves healthy respect. The son of Diffident won the Gr.1 Calcutta Derby Stakes and finished second to Southern Regent in the Invitation Cup. He won his lead up race over seven furlongs quite capably and can stay every inch of the trip. He has the ability as well as the class to defy the handicap incurred for his Derby success. Aperitivo is one which goes into the race as a well fancied outsider. Full Speed, the Poonawalla Mysore Derby (Gr.1) winner, has received two kilos penalty for winning a graded race earlier in the season. He is being tried over a trip which may not be to his liking as he may be short on stamina. However, the connections are optimistic as they are aiming to run Full Speed in the Gr.2 Bangalore St.Leger later in the season. Whether their optimism is misplaced or not will be borne out by how well he fares in this race. Star of Windsor and Adolfito are both seasoned performers and they have often proved to be tricky customers, coming up with tremendous performances when they are taken for granted. The well bred Formidable Force who is carrying a feather weight is another who is capable of making everyone struggle hard. Randsberg, without being spectacular, has been consistent and considering the fact that he is assigned to carry 50 kgs, he can cause a flutter or two!