FROM THE HORSES MOUTH - RACE FORM ANALYSIS GUIDE FOR THURSDAY, 5TH JANUARY 2017 - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 04 Jan 2017
FROM THE HORSES MOUTH - RACE FORM ANALYSIS GUIDE FOR THURSDAY, 5TH JANUARY 2017
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 – The Aziz H. Ahmedbhoy Trophy – Class II – 1600M
PAPAKURA – is now 8 years of age but has been campaigning against much better opposition for a long time and has dropped back into Class II now. He has had a lung opener already this season and with the trip to suit, this looks an excellent opportunity for him to regain the winning thread.
SHADOWFAX :- Has been highly regarded but has failed to live upto expectations and his recent runs too have been disappointing. He has again worked exceptionally well but does not reproduce it on the track and hence, one is hesitant to support him.
EXODUS :- Is sparingly raced for his age and has an excellent overall strike rate. He returned from a 4 month absence to nose out Hedwig in the lower class last time out over a furlong shorter and both the runner up and 3rd place Charging Tigress have franked that form. He looks the form horse in this field and is the obvious first choice.
TRAHERNE :- He has been running consistently well over this short of trip but has looked in the handicapper’s grasp at present and will need to pull out some further improvement if he is to have a say.
CONCLUSION :-Exodus looks the form pick here but the demoted Papakura would be a big danger, tackling his easiest opposition for some time. Traherne too could be involved.
Race No. 2 :- The Allforfun Plate – Div.2 – Maidens 3 year old only – 1200M
ROTTERDAM :- appears to be the obvious starting point in this race consisting of unraced 3 year olds. Dallas Todywalla has his juveniles in forward condition and Rotterdam is working the best of this bunch. She is by Phoenix Tower who has being doing phenomenally well and her dam Anmol has thrown the likes of Starrer and Montreal. She looks set to make a winning debut with Suraj Narredu booked to ride.
SERENO :-also has a speedy pedigree with his dam Serenity having recently thrown the speedy filly Serenita. He has also been catching the eye in his prep work and would make the short list for this race. The yard is in good form and he is likely to go well.
SOLO MISSION :- is from the powerful MAM Ramaswamy yard and hence must be respected on that score alone. However, he is bred to do better over further eventually as his dam Age of Fable’s progeny have performed at distances of a mile and over. He too has been working fairly well and with P.S. Chouhan booked, the yard appear to be serious triers. He should not be ignored .
CHERISH THE MOMENT :- comes from the Malesh Narredu yard but looks a little short on preparatory work compared to some of the others and may need this run. She has a nice pedigree with her dam Extreme Contact having thrown some good horses like Silver Sands and Extreme Love – winner of 6 races apiece as well as Rich Revival and Golden Memory. She is likely to need the experience though.
PRETTY PEACH :- also comes from a yard whose juveniles tend to be forward and she has been given fair amount of prep work but has been pushed in most of her workouts. Her sire Surfrider is relatively new in India but won 3 races from 5 starts in France and the USA over distances of 6 and 7 furlongs and her dam having previously thrown maiden Angelina Star. She comes into consideration but looks more of a place contender.
CONCLUSION :- Rotterdam looks the most likely winner from the limited evidence available and is likely to start favourite. Sereno and Solo Mission also look relatively strong contenders.
Race No. 3 :- The Anmol Preet Plate – Class V – 1600M
GO MARISA GO :- seems an improving sort of 4 year old. She has raced thrice till date, unplaced the first two times over 5 furlongs but then finishing on late to be 5th last time out over 7 furlongs behind Dark Gold. The runner up Wild Jack has since run well with the 3rd placed Sporto winning next time out giving the form a solid look. She makes her handicap debut in Class V and further improvement would give her an excellent chance to score now.
CARE FREE:-is a 6 year old but began racing only in September. She had 3 runs in Pune to get her fit and was fancied over 6 furlongs last time out but got the hang of things very late in the day and finished on strongly. She is another who is likely to relish the step up to a mile and looks a strong contender with Neeraj Rawal now booked.
SECRET FLAME :- appears to have the best chance of Narendra Lagad’s 5 runners and has been in good form this season, finishing 3rd and then last time out getting up late to peg back Simona over this trip. 4 ½ kilo penalty looks reasonable but the form of that race does not look great and she may struggle against the lesser exposed types.
SIR SONG :- is another inconsistent 6 year old but he is best over this trip and looks to have dropped to a very lenient handicap mark. He ran two promising races over a mile towards the end of Pune suggesting he was getting ready and is worth considering each way now.
GOLDEN ORCHID :- is a well bred and sparingly raced 4 year old who is also making her handicap debut. She has done nothing of note in 3 runs so far but her half brother Roswald was a late maturing type who eventually won 4 races over distance trips so she could be a well bred outside to keep an eye on.
SIR DESMOND :- is another very interesting contender with a decent pedigree. He has run 6 times till date all unplaced but was quite highly regarded by connections and has done some decent work on the morning track. A leap of faith is required to support him but he could just spring a surprise.
THE OTHER SONG :- is a 35 race veteran who has won twice before but is largely inconsistent. He finished on late to be 4th last time out suggesting that he was coming to form and off the low weight, he could run into a place.
CONCLUSION :- A tough looking Class V contest. Go Marisa Go and Care Free are the two tentative choices but there are a host of others who could stake their claim and rise to the occasion
Race No. 4 – The Tiger Tops Plate – Div. II – Class IV – 1000M
BENEFICIAL :-Has raced in 7 maidens till date and has looked progressive in his last 2 starts. He finished 3rd to Quixotic over 6 furlongs in Pune and then followed it up with a good 2nd to Yellow Diamond on his seasonal debut with the same rider on board. He has been handed the plum No. 1 draw and looks to have an excellent chance to open his account.
SHINNING NOON :- made a promising debut last month when finishing on leisurely to be 4th to Charming over course and distance and should improve appreciably for the run. Neeraj Rawal replaces Sandeep Jadhav in the saddle and with normal progression, a big run is expected from her.
ROYAL SAPPHIRE :- is an inconsistent 6 year old from the Narendra Lagad yard who seldom runs 2 similar races but suddenly found his galloping shoes last time out to collar Alfredo close home. He is not certain to turn up in the same mood but merits each way thought if running upto his best.
SPEEDO :- Is a fully exposed 5 year old but he has been running quite well over this trip of late and finished a close 4th in a blanket finish last time out. He seems in good form at present and could possibly be involved again.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR :- has an attractive pedigree by China Visit out of Romantic Liaison and he showed some improvement from his debut effort when finishing on well to be 5th over 1200M last time out. He has scope to improve on just his 3rd start, is working well and looks an unexposed sort who could be a danger to all.
PROMINENCE :- Made her debut in Pune over this trip with the same rider finishing up 6th. She has worked with some speedy customers in Mumbai but looks a touch short on fitness and is probably out for an airing here.
CONCLUSION :- Beneficial looks the most likely winner here withthe unexposed pair of Shinning Noon and Romantic Warrior looking the main dangers
Race No. 5 :- The Blue Horizon Plate – Class IV, 4 Years Old only – 1200M.
GOLDEN ECLIPSE :- showed good improvement last time out over course and distance when coming with a strong late run to score maiden victory in good style. She will no doubt improve for that run and strip fitter and with just a statutory 6 kilo penalty to tackle, she looks to have a solid chance to repeat.
HONEY DEW :- Is still a maiden after 6 starts but has finished 2nd thrice and has some excellent juvenile form to her name. She flopped miserably as an odds on favourite last time out in Pune but could have been freshened up since then and her last couple of workouts have been outstanding. She should go well fresh and looks a strong fancy here.
PETRONIUS :- is a well bred debutant from the Malesh Narredu yard who seems a little short on fitness and is probably going in for an educational run but is worthy of consideration and could be good enough to win first time out so he is worth keeping an eye on.
VOULEZ VOUS :- She has raced 7 times till date, only over 5 furlongs till date but after finishing 3rd in each of her first three runs, she seems to have lost her way. She steps up to 6 furlongs for the first time now and could run into a place if showing some improvement.
KOOKABURRA :- Another maiden who ran promisingly over this trip on the opening day but then looked very flat when upped to a mile next time out, showing no turn of foot and appearing one paced. Drops back down to this trip and working well so has chances.
CONCLUSION :-Golden Eclipse and Honey Dew should fight it out for premier honours here with the unraced Petronius looking the dark horse
Race No. 6 :- The Allforfun Plate – Div. I – Maiden Indian Horses 3 years old only – 1200M
CERRADO :- Looked green and inexperienced on debut but finished on well to be 2nd once the penny dropped and is sure to improve plenty for that run. Has been working very well lately and looks a leading contender to go one better and score.
TEXAS GOLD :- was also one to catch the eye on debut, racing prominently for a long way and coming with a 2nd run to finish up a close 3rd. Runner up Goldie’s Pet is a winner since, she is working well and looks to have an excellent chance.
EXCELLENT HEART :- Has a speedy pedigree and has arguably been working the best of these in the build up to his debut run. Looks a forward sort, has bagged the rail draw and looks set to give a good account of himself on debut.
GLORIOSUS :- Half brother to Flashing Colours and Glorious Eyes who comes from the Imtiaz Sait yard which traditionally does well with youngsters and has been showing out well in the morning trials. Looks a nice sort and worthy of consideration to make a winning debut.
MAJESTICAL :-Is a half brother to the well performed Solange, hails from the mighty Ramaswamy yard and seems to be fit enough to win first time out judging from his solid preparatory work. Sire should inject some speed into the pedigree and with P.S. Chouhan booked, he looks primed to run a big race on debut.
CONCLUSION :- An interesting 3 year old maiden which should throw up future winners. The experienced runners Cerrado and Texas Gold are given the edge but Gloriosus, Majestical and Excellent Heart are all capable of scoring first time out
Race No. 7 :- The Rao Saheb D.K. Parkar Trophy – Class IV – 1400M
MASTEROFBALANTRAE :- Proved himself to be an above average sort when in spite of looking gross in the paddock and running green, pounced late to make a winning debut unfancied. He is expected to improve appreciably for that run and now upped in trip, looks the one they all have to beat.
STAR COMRADE :-After a string of placed efforts, gained an overdue maiden success over this trip last time out, pegging back Sovereignsky in a battling finish. The win should have given him confidence and he is expected to make a bold bid to repeat.
THUNDER DOWN UNDER :- Has raced 4 times till date, making the frame on each occasion and maintaining consistency but not showing the desired improvement. She finished 3rd to Hedwig and House of Commons on reappearance but will need to improve appreciably to win this and looks to have more of a place chance.
FLY AWAY WITH ME :- is returning after a long absence having made her debut over 6 furlongs in August and finished midfield. She has been brought along steadily since then by her diligent trainer and recent work has been encouraging so she is expected to run a much better race.
ABU AL BUKHOOSH :- Is an 11 race maiden who is now beginning to look exposed and has run some decent races but does not look good enough to win this. He can figure in the frame but looks unlikely that he can show the spark to cross the line first.
ROYAL CLASSIC :- Is an older horse who was a winner on his penultimate run in Pune and has had a lung opener already this season. He looks to have a tough task against the younger horses but can be considered as an outsider.
CONCLUSION :-Masterofbalantrae should continue his progression and maintain his unbeaten record after his impressive debut. Star Comrade and Thunder Down Under look the main challengers with Fly Away With Me also looking interesting.
Race No. 8 :- The Tiger Tops Plate – Div. I – Class IV – 1000M
FURIOSA :- seems to be going the right way at present, stepping up markedly on her previous runs to win convincingly in the lower class last time out. She has been working extremely well on the Mumbai track suggesting that she has improved further and with stable jockey C.S. Jodha up, she looks a strong fancy to make it 2 in a row.
ROCK N RIO :- Won his maiden in Pune and subsequently ran two very good races in the higher class before going off the boil. He is now eased in grade into the lower class, should be fit enough after 2 runs this season and is likely to return to form.
ZADORA :- is a talented 6 year old who had a setback early in her career and has been trying to find her way back to form since then. She finished a good close 3rd last time out which was encouraging and if she can continue to progress then she should be involved in the shake up.
BLITZKREIG :- Speedy character who was a winner on debut over this trip but then lost his way subsequently and needs to bounce back. Last raced in March so he has a lengthy absence to overcome but has been blazing the track in his workouts and could go well fresh from the plum draw.
AINRA :- Rated much higher in her prime and has now dropped down to a very attractive mark so although she has been woefully out of form of late, she could spring a surprise if bouncing back.
CONCLUSION :- A tricky finale to round off the card with the winner likely to emerge from Furiosa, Rock N Rio, Zadora and Blitzkreig
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
