There are only four runners in the fray for the Velvet Rope Trophy, a class I race which is billed as the feature event of the New Year Day's seven-race card. Among them is Arlene, the Pesi Shroff-trained five-year-old mare, who produced a scintillating gallop on the Mahalaxmi racetrack when she added another victory to her winning Pune campaign and completed a hat-trick. Through these three victories, she has risen from the class IV to the highest class, where she is assigned the bottom weight of only 50 kg. On the current form and condition, she is expected to continue her winning streak in the hands of jockey Trevor Patel, though she faces seasoned horses from the top class as her rivals. In fact, Arlene shapes as a good betting proposition of the day, if the price offered on her is reasonable.

First race at 2.15 pm.