Fourteen talented three-year-olds, four of them fillies, are in the fray for the richest juvenile race of the country, the grade 1, Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million (PBMM), which is slated as the prime attraction of a seven-race evening card on Sunday at Mahalaxmi. The race promises to be an exciting contest thanks to four of them having won their last starts on this track in a sensational manner.
The quartet includes Ruffina, the Excellent Art – Miss Danehill filly who will race in sponsor Poonawalla’s silks, and is blessed with both excellent speed and good acceleration; Perfect Star, by Excellent Art out of Free Radical, who improved by leaps and bounds in second start after narrowly losing on debut; Tutankhamun (Phoenix Tower – Dancerllon), who did what very few youngsters do–win a race on first show at Mahalaxmi after coming in from Bangalore; and Awesome Hooves, by Phoenix Tower out of Dance To The Tune, who displayed absolutely amazing turn of foot when making a sitting duck out of a highly regarded Benefactor who had carried the public purse on debut.
There are three more worth a mention–Autocratic, the Bangalore colt who narrowly lost a million race in Hyderabad prior to coming here; Lincoln, who registered dramatic improvement in his run after a lackluster debut; and Phoenix Falcon, a top juvenile from Bangalore who is unbeaten in two starts so far.
I expect this race to culminate in a thrilling finish with Ruffina and Awesome Hooves likely to fight unto finish. Going by my Dynamic Ratings, corrected for track variant, Awesome Hooves seems to have a thin edge, but when I check out both these horses through the class lens, Ruffina comes out decisively superior on the class factor. My money, therefore, will ride on Ruffina.
First race at 4.30 pm.
Selections:
HELLO! Classic (Class I; 1400m)
Rule Downunder 1, The Champ 2.
Dr Goolam E Vahanvati Gold Trophy (For 3y, maidens; 1200m)
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