Although rider B Prakash starts today coming off a 14-mount losing streak, he is amongst the top five jockeys at Pune so far and bids fair to make amends by piloting Gypsy Moth to victory in the Mayor's Trophy. This well-bred filly was a good second last week. Only Victoire (a quiet eighth over an unsuitably short distance last time) and Eastern Command have the credentials to topple her.

In the Chief Of Kagal Trophy, it would pay to stick with Sunflowers. She too started this season with a runner-up effort and has the leading rider of the season so far in Malcolm Kharadi on her back. Trainer Imtiaz Sait has a better record than most in sending out first time runners to victory, and hence his ward Pickpocket with Pesi Shroff up has a shot at picking up one of the minor placings, an achievement Wolf River can also aspire to. Sure to be fancied, Mistura Fina bled back at Mahalakshmi and hence a watching brief is advised.

An intriguing contest in the Fillies Stakes for three-year-olds is in prospect. A private handicapper rates Pure Spice very highly but the well-bred filly chipped a bone back in December and is hardly likely to be at her best after the eight-month-long period of rehabilitation. Zeisha will find it hard to concede weight. Accentuate ran above her initial effort when third in the Breeders Produce Stakes, then disappointed in the Poonawalla Breeders Million, but that failure need not be held against her and she is poised to take this well-endowed event aided by the irrepressible Aslam Kader.

Silent Fox has run only thrice in his life, but those efforts have resulted in two wins and a second-placed effort. The handsome son of Placerville has worked well but is drawn widest of all in the 15-runner Class III race. He also has to concede weight to Sonalika, who missed the kick in her introductory effort across the Ghats. Given that outsiders have been running prominently, one could profitably couple this pair with a few others in Tanala combinations.

Sunday's fields are small by comparison. Commodore is long in the tooth but game as they come. With a prominent effort under his belt already, he could topple his mostly uninspiring rivals in the Class II sprint here. As a winner of only two races, Am Capable has been harshly treated in the ratings but is in sparkling form.

In the Colts Stakes, just five three-year-olds clash, of which Alderney is the one to follow. He has hoisted a winning flag at his last two outings, including one of the kind that last week's results have shown to be all-important--a victory on the Pune track. Sampagio is a good one, but has his sights set on a bigger engagement at Hyderabad and this "prep" run will probably be too sharp for him. Intel is very speedy and is one of a host of talented juveniles from Dallas Todywalla's stable, which have been in scintillating form. Yet, one feels he will need the run.

The Class III race has a rare challenger from Delhi in Twist Afleet, who has been most consistent in the capital but unable to add to his debut success there. One reason could be that he has found the longest trip available there (that is 1600 metres) too short for his needs. Still, it would be wise to watch him in action here before plunging in. Bottom-weighted Ancestry has several factors in her favour and should make it a start-to-finish affair.

With 24 acceptors, the maiden race is being run in two divisions. Sad to say, a majority of the runners are devoid of talent. In the upper division, Along All, Musical Melody and Josh King have at least earned a few rupees in their earlier efforts, suggesting some ability. The last-named led for a long while in his opening effort and can do the trick here. A better lot populate the lower division. Heartbreaker led for a long while a few days ago before settling into third in the July Stakes, behind better-class rivals. He shapes as the day's best here, and should account for La Primavera and Timeless Appeal.