Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy: Amadeus has a tough task

PUNE: The prestigious Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy, the feature event of the Saturday's Pune Races, to be run over a distance of 1200 metres, looks wide open. At least three contenders in a field of eight horses seems to have good chance of hitting the winning post first. Two horses from the champion trainer Pesi Shroff's stable, four-year-old Amadeus and five-year-old mare Bespoke and Mansoor Shah-schooled ageing warrior Ancient Wonder are capable of winning it.
Amadeus, a winner in his previous three starts, including a lung opener in Pune last month, appears in good touch and looks most likely winner. However, Bespoke and Ancient Wonder have been doing well in the morning workouts and will not go down without a fight.
The Odds On Trophy, a race for highest class horses, has just five competitors lined up for the event to be run over a distance of 1400 metres. Pesi Shroff-trained gelding Scarlet Pimpernel and Altaf Hussain's mare Dancing Glances are expected to fight it out for the top honours.
Scarlet Pimpernel is on a hat-trick having won his last two starts. Dancing Glances had gone down narrowly to Rajasthan Royals in her last race by a very close margin and looks good enough to merit attention. Dear Henry is a dark horse in this race.
In the Champagne Gold Plate for class II horses, it looks like a straight fight between speedy Agni Baan and Limitless Hills. Cooji Katrak's Agni Baan had won very impressively in his last outing over the same distance of 1600 metres and may sustain the momentum on Saturday.
There are nine races scheduled for Saturday at the Pune Race Course. The first race will start at 1.30pm.