Sent over from his home base in Bangalore is The Royals, who has come to Pune via Hyderabad, where he ran an excellent second in the Deccan Derby over the identical trip on October 2. In that race, the beat Ray Of Light comparehensively, as also Legal Steps (not a runner here), who, in turn, had beaten Ronaldo and thrashed Inglenook at his previous outing. On a bare reading of that form, The Royals should live up to his illustrious bloodlines and annex the prize. His owner Dr MAM Ramaswamy has won the last two runnings of this race with shippers and bids fair to complete a hat-trick.

From among those who have been in station for some time, Star Fortune is clearly the best. The diminutive filly has been well-rested since her gusty win in the FD Wadia Trophy in August. Of the seven horses she beat then, four of the five that have run have come out and won their subsequent starts, so the form has been franked in a decisive manner. Hosidar Daji conditions the daughter of Steinbeck. There is not much to choose between Inglenook, Jeweller, Ronaldo and Starsinhereyes, who will vie for a place on the board.

There are several supporting events over the weekend, in fact, a surfeit of races, although nothing that is poised to be of much significance for the long-term development of the breed. In today's Class III race, Sorrentina is a free-running speedy sort who goes well for an apprentice and should provide fair value in place, with F Aaron claiming a 5 kg allowance. He has ridden her before.

In the juvenile event, recent winners EI Cid and Source Of Light are aiming to provide an encore, with the former appearing to be of better class. The son of Young Senor toppled the highly-rated Anthalia last time out and must surely go to Class 1 with the efflux of time. Meanwhile, Family Fortune should turn the tables on Fin-De-Siecle who rudely interrupted that runner's progress when they last clashed.

The long distance race tomorrow sees last week's winner, Clean Barrister, trying to strike again while the fire is hot. However, he may find it tough to trackle Champagne Polka, who has been improving with every run, and who shapes as a ``good thing.'' Both find the 2400 m trip to their linking. The remaining runners are an uninspiring bunch.

One supposes the presence of Star Concert in the Prudential Champ Stakes has scared away much of the opposition. As many as 13 of the 17 entrants have defected! The talented Placeville filly from Shiraz Sunderji's yard is returning to action after a setback, but is far too good for the modest trio that has remained to clash with her.

For decades, the Indian racing season has been considered to run from November 1 of one year to October 31 of the next. Members of the new crop, ie, two-year olds, begin their racing from the start of the new season. For some reason, the RWITC Ltd insists on framing two or three events for two-year olds before this agreed date, which inevitably draw poor fields. Such is the case here, with only six of the approximately 500 two-year-olds ready to face the starter. There is little to go by as source material for choosing a winner, but Zeta Jones has caught the eye in her morning track work and this Katrak trained filly could make a winning debut.