Invitation Cup carnival returns to Mahalakshmi

The two-day Invitation Cup carnival, which tees off this afternoon, sees the cream of Indian thoroughbreds vying for supremacy in four Grade 1 events over different distances, replicating the practice of the past few years.

Two of these races are down for decision on Saturday: at 3:45 p.m., 15 of the fleetest competitors in India will face off in the Attila Sprinters’ Cup (Gr.1; 1200m). Just over an hour later, 11 stamina-laden runners will clash for the Deltin Casinos Stayers’ Cup (Gr.1; 3000m).

The first three home in the Sprinters Cup last year — Nefyn, Dancing Prances and Speed Six — separated by a mere three-hundredths of a second on that occasion, are back for another clash, with the first-named gallantly attempting a hattrick in this race at the age of nine. However, all three have been drawn wide, although that is not as much of a disadvantage at Mahalakshmi as at other Indian tracks.

Recent race record

Dancing Prances has the best recent race record — he comes into the event off five consecutive victories — and with leading rider A. Sandesh up, Altaf Hussain’s ward must surely go close. Un Un Un, with seven wins from nine starts, Brynhill and Invincible Prince are others in the mix.

Past results of the Stayers’ Cup show that older runners have the edge, but this year the classic generation fields an exceptional contender in the shape of Tiger Tops, runner-up earlier in the season in the McDowell Signature Indian Derby. A consistent performer in four consecutive 2400m races, she should stay the additional distance, with Colm O’Donoghue aiming to round off his successful stint in India this winter by going out in style astride Pesi Shroff's charge.

Successful in this event in 2014 and placed the previous year, Astapi has distance conditions in his favour, while Tintinnabulation, winner of the 2013 Invitation Cup, has been fielded here in preference to that event, which suggests confidence in his camp. Wind Stream has returned to something like his best form, while Authentic, in the same ownership, can add pep to the finish.