Punters are more concerned with percentage suceess and here their best allies this term amongst trainers have been Bezan Chenoy and Zadmal Singh, both with a strike rate of 22 per cent. Amongst riders, Aslam Kader, with 47 per cent, has been scoring at a torrid pace, followed by SR Bhagwat (29 per cent) and C Rajendra (27 per cent). The silks of Deepak Khaitan and MAM Ramaswamy have been seen in the winners' enclosure on the identical number of occasions (10 apiece), followed by those of Khushroo Dhunjibhoy and Shapoor Mistry (six times each).

Those, then are the statisticsof bear in mind when attempting to solve the puzzle of this weekend's sporting action. Voices of Spring will be the obvious choice for the Class II event over 2000 m. The daughter of Razeen had and excellent lung-opener last time out, on improving type, hails from Chenoy's stable and will have Aslam Kader doing duty. What more could one want? Shaktik should follow her home.

As many as four runners in the three-year-old event attract attention. These are Double Impact, Prince Of Fashion, Eastern Command (who finished in that order last time they met) and Top Mover. On paper, one would expect Prince of Fashion and Eastern Command to turn the tables with Double Impact, because they are now five kg. better off. However, informed sources suggest that the last-named has struck a rich vein of form and can defy the burden. The last failure of Eastern Command does not wash easily and he must surely put in a better effort here.

One maiden stands out from the 15 of that ilk that will clash over 1200 m. This is therecently-renamed Gay Minstrel. When last seen, he was known as Aporto and had carried overweight of 2 kg. into the runner-up slot. With the in-form B Prakash replacing Mark Gallagher, he will not face that problem here. The lightly-raced but talented and well-bred Radiant might make her presence felt in an attempt to carry on the excellent recent run of juveniles bred at the Manjri Stud Farm.

With the weights raised, Cyclonic does not have too much weight to concede and shapes as a decent place prospect. She was an encouraging fifth last time, beaten only about 4 lengths and Malcolm Kharadi has switched from Crystal Girl.

That runner now has C Rajendra in the saddle and is likely to draw the bulk of the public exchequer. She is sure to be in the fighting line at the finish.

This Sunday's card must be amongst the dullest of its kind in recent times. Last week, Prince Nicholas scared away all his rivals in his intended race against fellow three-year-olds, leading to its being declared void. Here he facesmuch tougher company - all older runners in Class II - so much so that nine have dared to oppose him. His stablemate, Intel, almost made it against virtually identical company a few weeks ago. As Prince Nicholas is a superior performer to that runner, who may be used as a yardstick, he shapes as a near certainty.

The Class III race has been divided, as the number of acceptors exceeds the maximum of 15 at the 1400 metre trip. At the time of writing the exact composition of the field is not known. However, whichever division they compete in, Anarose, Ocean Breeze, Future Arrives and Midnight Charm are the ones to consider.

Eight stayers make up a healthy field for the 2400 m event, which normally boast of just four or five runners. Clean Barrister has been a sore disappointment to his connections and is still a maiden just about 100 days short of this fifth birthday! Since he ran an excellent second last time to Scarlet Emperor, who won again, he looks likely to atone for his past failures. Although Hope isbadly off at the weights, she has the pedigree to defy the penalty for her last win.

Only three are left to contest the September Handicap, and depending on how the race is run - it could well be a crawl - any of the three could win. Cymbidium has the best credentials.