The race promises to be extremely competitive as 18 three-year-olds will vie for the winner's rich over Rs 4 million, besides a glittering trophy valued at Rs 125,000.

Five of the 18 hail from ace trainer Pesi Shroff's yard, who has also imported two Irish riders in Richard Hughes & Joseph O'Brien who will be riding Franklin & Montezuma respectively. Trainer Malesh Narredu has pitched in three runners: Amazing Desire, Manyatta & Shivalik Hero, the last-named being the best of three, but being ridden by foreigner Liam Jones who has been struggling to read the Indian racetracks so far. Then there is Machiavellianism from Hyderabad whose connections just last week raided this center to bag the Indian 1000 Guineas with Vijay's Pride. The dark one is Commander, trained by Bezan Chenoy.