The Gr 1 Kingfisher Ultra Pune Derby has an intriguing look if only because there is no clear cut favourite. There are many who have performed well but have one limitation or the other in terms of not having the requisite experience of running in a quality graded race or bred to get the extended trip in a race of this nature. The highest rated horse in the fray is Hyderabad challenger Lady In Lace. The local sentiment is firmly with Pure Zinc who has an impressive string of wins to his credit.

Adhiraj Jodha trained Pure Zinc has been impressive in his lead up to this race. The progeny of Sedgefield will have no issue about getting the mile and quarter trip. Jockey Srinath believes that Pure Zinc is the horse everyone must beat. One must give respect to his views because he is well aware of the potential of the contenders having also been associated with final entry from Hyderabad Lady In Lace. Pure Zinc has been working well and has proved to be a very talented horse who has done nothing wrong. One should wait and see whether he will take a quantum jump and win the biggest prize of the season. If he does so, it will be the first classic success for the young trainer while for jockey Imran Khan who will be piloting him, this will also be the first classic success outside of Hyderabad.
M K Jadhav trained Themis scored an outstanding win at Bangalore over 2000 metres trip but the got-abroad filly disappointed in her lead up race on the local track by going down tamely to New England. Themis has since been working well. If the filly reproduces the spark that she displayed at Bangalore, there is no reason why Themis cannot pull it off. The shortage of jockeys has surely been affecting the big races and Imran Chisty who was not seen in action at Pune for a very long time, has been summoned to ride Themis.

Prasad Raju from Hyderabad rarely ventures out in chase of classics. But in Lady In Lace, he has a quality horse which has the potential to win a race of this nature especially since the quality of contestants is anything but great. Lady In Lace beat Bangalore Kingfisher Derby winner Manifold comprehensively over a mile which indicated the filly has great talent. Though the mile and quarter trip may test her stamina limitations to the hilt, her class can carry her through. In the Deccan Derby, her jockey Neeraj Rawal rushed her from way off the pace and the filly put up a big resistance before weakening close home. She has a short but effective burst of speed which must be harnessed. Jockey Suraj Narredu can provide good saddle support for the Hyderabad based filly to aim for glory. She is a strong contender for the race.

Karthik Ganapathy trained Perfect Star has loads of talent but has rarely been consistent. His two runs haven`t been alike. Given the fact that he ran a splendid second to Castlebridge in the Colts Championship Stakes, he has the potential to be a force in this race where lesser quality horses than the one he faced at Bangalore are in the fray. Kangra is another optimistic final entry.

The Derby is contested by a big field of 14 runners and if the winner emerges from outside of the horses discussed above, it can only be attributed to the glorious uncertainties of the sport.