Punekars all set for racing season

The Pune racetrack is all set to receive the pounding of hooves during the monsoon racing season that will begin on Thursday. There will be 27 race days held in the entire season which will feature nearly 250 races.

Thanks to the 1,200 thoroughbreds, including the two-year-olds some of whom will make their debut in October, stationed here to earn their corn bills besides some racing glory, fields are expected to be extremely well-filled and therefore competitive.

Racegoers can hope to witness a keen battle for the trainers' championship title. Narendra Lagad, almost a habitual champion at Pune, is likely to fight tooth-n-nail to guard his numero uno position.

He has already engaged Ladjadj Stephane, the Frenchman who had a lion's share in Lagad's points tally last year at the same venue, and who has been relishing rides in India if his current rousing success at Bangalore track is any indication.

Mumbai champion trainer Pesi Shroff will be the main threat to Lagad, along with Cooji Katrak. The one who can add pep to the contest is veteran Imtiaz Sait, who after some lean seasons, seems to have regained his old touch.

His raid at Bangalore recently proved extremely successful when he picked up some plum events through Mistry's Manjri stud-bred horses, including the plum event -- the grade 1, Kingfisher Bangalore Derby -- with Pronto Pronto this Sunday.

Among Indian jockeys B Prakash, Dasrath Singh, C Rajendra, Imran Chisty and P Kamlesh will be seen in action, along with Suraj Narredu, YS Srinath who will me making frequent trips to Pune. These experienced riders will have to watch S Zervan, A Sandesh and Trevor Patel who are getting better by the day with more exposure.