Pioneer, Excellent red hot

Representational Image

The S A Poonawalla Million (Gr 3), the feature event of Sunday's seven-race card, has attracted a quality field of seven horses, including New Moon, trained by Bangalore-based trainer Neil Darashah, who will take on a pair of budding champions from western india--Pioneer and Excellent.

Both Pioneer and Excellent have won their opening races of the campaign in style, clocking almost identical times, and it looks like a toss up between the two, with New Moon capable of making the finish interesting.

My vote goes to Pioneer as I believe the mile trip will be more advantageous to Pioneer (PS Chouhan up) who takes a bit of time to really get going, but once he does, he acquires critical velocity at the wire.

First race at 3 pm.
Selections:

Jaidev Plate (For 5y&o, class IV; 1000m)
Furiosa 1, Bidstone Hill 2, Sporto 3.

Dr. P. K. Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy (Class IV; 1200m)
Run Forest Run 1, Enchanted 2, Bonafide 3.

Villoo C. Poonawalla Million (For 3y, maidens; 1200m)
Excellent Times 1, Outrageous 2, Excellent Sorrento 3.

S A Poonawalla Million - Gr 3 (For 3y; 1600m)
Pioneer 1, Excellent 2, New Moon 3.

Serum Institute of India Trophy (Class III; 1400m)
Costa Brava 1, Forest Fairy 2, Celestial Light 3.

Kumar R Dalal Cup (Rated 50-76; 1000m)
Iron Edge 1, Colombiana Princess 2, Malawi 3.

Rao Saheb Kedari Gold Trophy (Class IV; 1600m)
Fleur De Lys 1, Smart N Noble 2, Valegro 3.

Recommendations
Best bet: Costa Brava (5-2)
Upsets: Kingston Heath (1-4) & Zanzibaar (7-1)

Today's pools
Super jackpot pool: 2,3,4,5,6,7
Jackpot pool: 3,4,5,6,7
Treble pool: 5,6,7
Tanala pool: All races.

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