Pesi Shroff trained Maisha has an edge in the highly competitive Gr 1 Nanoli Stud Pune Derby, the star event of the season to be held on Sunday. The Pune Derby does not always attract top quality horses but this year has been exception as barring Be Safe and Tiger Tops, the rest of the top ranked three year olds are in the fray. Maisha, winners of Gr 1 Fillies Championship, War Command, winner of Mysore 2000 Guineas, Shivalik Storm, winner of Gr 1 Poonawalla Breeders` Multi-Million and The Myth, winner of Mysore 1000 Guineas are the classic horses in contention along with graded race winners Quasar and Zachary. You could not have asked for a better field for a monsoon Derby.

The daughter of English 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthsand, Maisha won the Fillies Championship during the Bangalore Summer Season in emphatic fashion. The trainer chose to rest for the Derby as she looked light subsequent to hard campaign during the winter season and her vigorous effort in the Fillies Championship. One thought that Pesi would keep her for the Indian 1000 Guineas but obviously he has changed his plans possibly because the filly must have made impressive strides since the Bangalore run. Maisha ran a mock ran with the experienced Quasar over nine furlongs where she travelled well within herself to finish behind the graded race winner. Derbys are rarely won by horses without a race run but then Maisha has been subjected to systematic preparation to overcome this lacuna. Maisha is an experienced horse, having won at Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore and has performed on all varying surfaces. Horses generally need a run on the Pune race track before they bloom to their potential. It is possible that Maisha will prove an exception to this rule as the filly has run a few lengths adrift of the vastly superior Be Safe close but beaten the likes of Shivalik Storm.


Karthik Ganapathy trained War Command has been an outstanding performer. He drifted out of a straight course in the Poonawalla Multi-Million but nevertheless was not far off from eventual winner Shivalik Storm. War Command has since shown greater maturity and won his opening race on the Pune track with a blistering effort. He showed greater maturity at Mysore while claiming the Guineas, his rider successfully settling the horse behind the pace maker. One noticeable trend of the progeny of Ace has been that they run their best races when racing freely in front. This has been the case with previous classic winners of Ace namely Equine Lover and Isn`t She special. The last named has proved an exception having won the Indian Oaks over a mile and half trip while the other progeny of Ace have struggled over longer trips. War Command is not stoutly bred to stay though the powerfully built horse doesn`t give that impression if one were to go by his performance in the Mysore Guineas. It remains to be seen how well he will settle in the early part of the race which will be crucial to his success.

Shivalik Storm has been a bit of a letdown having lost both his outings during the season. He has not built on his performances in Mumbai and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back to winning form after two runner up efforts during the season. On the last occasion, Shivalik Storm found Tiger Tops too good in front and plodded home to finish second best. The subsequent performance of Tiger Tops at Kolkata should be an encouraging sign for the supporters of Shivalik Storm. The three year old is no doubt bred to stay, his dam having produced solid staying horses abroad including Eastern Aria who excelled over staying trips. Shivalik Storm is by the now deceased Dancing Brave who has produced a fairly good lot of horses in his first crop.

Karthik`s The Myth surprised everyone when easily winning the Mysore 1000 Guineas. Both the efforts of The Myth during the season have been winning ones. What is more, The Myth clocked an excellent timing for mile and seemed to be enjoying the mile long trip. She was carrying on strongly even after crossing the post which suggested that over the Pune Derby trip, she should be a force to reckon with.

Malesh Narredu trained Quasar has proved to be workmanlike in his efforts having won the graded race over mile and then over nine furlongs showing great felicity. He seems to be enjoying more ground and the Derby trip should help him to do better than before. Quasar has been tuned to the minute and it remains to be seen if he is capable of delivering on the big occasion.

Janardhan trained Zachary recorded a sensational win in the S A Poonawalla Million in the manner of a classic type of a horse. The bloodless victory certainly brings Zachary into contention unless his last effort was a flash in a pan. Zachary`s both wins during the season have given great hope that the new resident stallion of Nanoli Stud Farm, Kingda Ka may get his first big race winner through Zachary.

There are other well performed horses like Royal Passion and Grenadine. But they have a lot of catching up to do.