Traditionally known as the graveyard of favourites, the PRA Independence Million race has all the indicators in place to turn out a nail-biting thriller. As many as 16 horses are in the fray, most of them with chequered form. It's difficult to predict who among them--from the top-weighted Unforgettable you (Trevor Patel up) carrying the Poonawalla silks to the bottom-weighted Carnival (Neeraj Rawal up) hailing from trainer Pesi Shroff's yard--will put his or her best foot forward.

While it cannot be denied the top and bottom horses mentioned above will be most in demand in the betting ring--as much thanks to their high-profile connections as the popularity of the jockeys riding them--also in with a chance are Eiger's Tiger and Celestial Light (both having had a lung-opener on this track recently) and Othello, a relatively well-performed four-year old at Mumbai whose stamina is not at all in doubt. The joker in the pack is Star Comrade who kept fit by summering at Bangalore and despite streaking ahead in a nine-furlong race in last start there, managed to stay only five lengths behind a vastly superior Mathaiyus.