Invitation Cup weekend preview: Stud Poker aims for Mysore Derby repeat; Time And Tide and Red Bishop top sprint and staying cards
Stud Poker, Time And Tide and Red Bishop headline the Zavaray Poonawalla feature races at Mysuru on Saturday (Oct. 24), the centrepieces of the Invitation Cup weekend, with false rails (width about 2m from 1,600m to the winning post) to be in position.
The meeting’s main attractions are the Zavaray Poonawalla Mysore Derby (2,000m), Sprinters’ Cup (1,200m) and Stayers’ Cup (3,000m), each carrying preview commentary on form and likely outcomes. The published card lists full fields, jockeys and weights for eight races scheduled through the day, plus selection tips for the placings. Race times range from 1-00 p.m. for the opening feature through to a 5-00 p.m. concluding Hyderabad Race Club Million; specific race-by-race predictions and notes accompany each entry.
The Zavaray Poonawalla Mysore Derby (2,000m), for 3-y-o only, is drawn as follows: Arc Of Life (8) Darshan 56; Black Irish (10) Trevor 56; Edison (11) N.S. Parmar 56; Garfunkle (3) Mukesh K 56; Stud Poker (7) Suraj 56; The Archer (6) Shreyas S 56; Tipped Off (5) Yash 56; Madante (4) Sandesh 54.5; Mahogany (9) G. Vivek 54.5; Royal Legacy (1) Akshay K 54.5; Yarra Yarra (2) Antony 54.5. The preview notes Stud Poker as the winner of his last two starts and capable of making it three in a row, and Black Irish as a good second to Stud Poker who may trouble the best. The suggested finishing order is: 1. STUD POKER, 2. BLACK IRISH, 3. MAHOGANY.
The Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Cup (1,200m), for 4-y-o & over, lists seven runners: Black Eagle (7) Gaurav S 57; Crown Drive (2) G. Vivek 57; Echoes Of Time (6) A. Asbar 57; Encino (4) Suraj 57; Money Bags (5) Trevor 57; Rieko (3) Akshay K 57; Time And Tide (1) Sandesh 57. Encino is described as an impressive winner last start at Pune and Money Bags as a rousing performer in fine nick, while Time And Tide is assessed as fit for the fray. The preview’s recommended order is: 1. TIME AND TIDE, 2. MONEY BAGS.
The Zavaray Poonawalla Stayers’ Cup (3,000m), for 4-y-o & over, features Dream Alliance (2) Akshay K 57; Dyf (4) Yash 57; Natural Diamond (1) S. Saqlain 57; Ramiel (—) (—) 57; Red Bishop (5) G. Vivek 57; Victor Hugo (3) L.A. Rozario 57. The notes state Red Bishop is the winner of the Indian St. Leger (2,800m) at Pune and is in great heart, while Dyf is described as a stout stayer who may trouble the best. The suggested outcome is: 1. RED BISHOP, 2. DYF.
Other features on the card include the Madras Race Club Million (1,600m, rated 20 to 45) at 1-00 p.m., headed by Golden Sabre (2) Neeraj 61 and including Versace, Desert Shield, Sensuous and others; form notes name Desert Shield as a comfortable winner over 1,400m who retains form and Sensuous as a faraway second to Moon Oracle over 1,400m. The Coromandel Gromor Juvenile Million (1,200m) for 3-y-o only at 1-30 lists Astraeus (6) G. Vivek 56 and 15 other juveniles, with Astraeus declared first run and judiciously prepared; the suggested top three are ASTRAEUS, CELTIC GODDESS, MANDALAY.
The Mysore Million (1,200m), for 5-y-o & over at 2-00, lists Master Way (7) Md. Talib 61, Tigerking (2) Prabhu K 61 and Mriga (9) H.M. Akshay 59 among 16 runners; form notes single out Satin Lass, Major Saab and Star Symphony and recommend MAJOR SAAB, STAR SYMPHONY, SATIN LASS. The Royal Calcutta Turf Club Million (1,200m) at 3-10 features Sicyon (5) Trevor 60 and a 16-strong field with the preview naming SICYON as a two-time recent winner; the suggested trio is STAR MAJESTY, EAGLE EYE, SICYON. The Hyderabad Race Club Million (1,400m) concludes at 5-00 with Money Fair (8) R. Pradeep 60.5 among 16 entries and the selection list giving SHINING WAYS, SEIZE THE GREY, REFINED AGGRESSION.
The published card also includes betting permutations and jacket selections: Double: ASTRAEUS — STORM MAJESTY; Jkt: 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; Mini Jkt: 5, 6, 7 and 8; Tr (i): 1, 2 and 3; (ii): 3, 4 and 5; (ii): 6, 7 and 8. The entire meeting is scheduled for Mysuru on Saturday (Oct. 24) with the false rails in position from 1,600m to the winning post as noted on the published card.