FROM THE HORSES MOUTH - RACE FORM ANALYSIS GUIDE FOR FRIDAY, 6TH JANUARY 2017 - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 05 Jan 2017
FROM THE HORSES MOUTH - RACE FORM ANALYSIS GUIDE FOR FRIDAY, 6TH JANUARY 2017
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The Fiddle Faddle Plate – Class V – 2000M
THOR OF ASGARD :-Was sent off favourite in a competitive Million race on debut so clearly is held in high regard by connections. He has taken his time to come to hand and made the frame last time out over a mile. His recent workouts have been good and now eased in Grade and upped in trip, he looks a strong contender.
RAEES :- Is another with a similar profile. He has run 6 times till date without making the frame but did run suggestively on a couple of occasions and has been working quite well. The booking of Sandesh for the first time catches the eye and he merits serious consideration now.
DANSE DEONAIRE :- is a tough 8 year old handicapper who is effective over this trip and likes to dominate. He finished 2nd to Nutcracker over this trip last time out but looks vulnerable unless all the younger horses flop. He can make the places.
RED FORT :- Is an enigmatic 6 year old who has won 1 of his 16 starts. He was very highly regarded as a juvenile but has been plagued by injury through his career. His last win came off this sort of mark and he looks a possible upset horse.
FRISKY WHISKEY :- is the only other 4 year old in the field and has no form currently to recommend her chances. Hence hoped are pinned on the huge step up in trip which is expected to unlock some improvement and her recent improved track work. Again she looks a long shot.
CONCLUSION :- Thor of Asgard seems to have found a good opportunity to get off the mark with Raees looking a big danger if he decides to gallop
Race No. 2 :- The Magic Touch Plate – 3 Year Olds only – 1400M
RAIDEN :- is one of two horses in this field with prior experience which is a significant plus point at this stage. He ran well on debut when chasing home Ruffina and is sure to improve for the run. His dam Badiat Alzaman was a winner of 1 race over a mile so she was moderately performed and has thrown Arctic Convoy who has raced 4 times so far with a win and 2 places. He looks a strong fancy.
TIMELESS DEEDS :- was the rank outsider of the 7 on debut and was probably unfit that day but showed a willing attitude once hitting the front and held on well to shock at 30/1. She has to carry a winner’s penalty now and runs within 10 days but has won over this trip and stands a good chance to repeat.
GLYNDEBOURNE :- carries the well known Dhunjibhoy colours and hails from a very strong yard so warrants respect immediately. She has only had 3-4 workouts so may not be fully wound up and is sure to improve on whatever she does today. She is the first foal of Portia also owned by the Dhunjibhoys who won 3 of her 9 starts in a limited career including 3rd in the Indian 1000 Guineas and a close 2nd in the Bangalore Summer Fillies Trial Stakes. Her sire Western Aristocrat was a winner of 4 of his 7 starts and was Listed and Group 3 placed in the UK. Partnered by the in form A. Sandesh she looks a danger to all.
PERFECT STAR :- is another fashionably bred Debutant from a powerful yard who catches the eye on paper. His sire Excellent Art is a good influence for speed and his dam Free Radical won the Indian 1000 Guineas, placed 2nd in the Poonawalla Million and 3rd in the Fillies Trial Stakes in Bangalore and has thrown the likes of Nora, Mystic Quest, Rosalind and Equine Lover. He too has been working quite well and looks set for a bold show on debut.
LORD OF THE SEA :- Comes from the all conquering Pesi Shroff yard but he too does not look fully wound up for his debut run and looks like he is out for an airing. However, runners from the yard must be respected and mention has to be made of him although he looks to have just an upset chance today.
CONCLUSION :- Raiden is a tentative selection because of the huge benefit of experience and a good debut run but both Perfect Star and Glyndebourne catch the eye on paper, come from top yards and are fully capable of winning first time out.
Race No. 3 :- The Greater Mumbai Police Cup – Class IV – 2400M
SOVEREIGNSKY :- Has been running consistently well without winning over middle distance trips and now takes a step up to a more galloping one. Full brother to Multiglory, he has a nice pedigree and has worked well of late. He has 2 ¼ lengths to find on Normandy when finishing 3rd to him over 1800M and looks likely to stay the longer trip.
ROUSSEAU :- has been improving rapidly with every run and step up in trip, last time finishing runner up to Mathaiyus over 2000M. He looks just the strong striding type to relish this step up in trip and is very well handicapped with Normandy on a line through Sabiq. He has been working well and looks a leading contender to go one better now.
NORMANDY :- Is another who has been progressing nicely and has found improvement for the step up in trip. He put in a workmanlike performance to win from end to end last time out but runners from the yard often defy the handicap so although he is out on the scale, he is dangerous to ignore.
COVERT ACTION :- is another who seems bred to relish this step up in trip with his sire Sir Percy being the Epsom Derby winner and several of his progeny doing well over staying trips. He is winless in 7 starts till date but finished 3rd over 9 furlongs last time out and looks a good each way shot.
EIGER’S TIGER :- Is one of the most exposed amongst the 4 year olds with 1 win over 1800M from 10 starts. His form has an uneven look to it and it looks tough for him to concede weight. However, his last run over 2000M where he finished a close 4th in a blanket finish suggests he too will stay and hence comes into consideration as an outsider.
CONCLUSION :- This looks a very open contest with several of the 4 year olds taking big steps into the unknown. All things considered Rousseau should win this if he continues his progression with the dangers appearing to be Normandy and Sovereignsky
Race No. 4 :- The Ferrari Plate – Class III – 1000M
QUEEN CREDIBLE :- looks the logical starting point in this small field, with both her career wins coming over this trip in spite of raced at all distances upto a mile. She finished 10th in the 1000 Guineas, a couple of places behind Cataleya but the form of her earlier 5 furlong win is working out very well and she deserves pride of place here. She looks a strong fancy.
CATALEYA :- has been contesting several of the regional Classics of late and has not run over this trip since her juvenile days although her last spurt over 4 furlongs was outstanding which probably prompted the drop in trip. She has to concede weight to Queen Credible and may yet find it sharp but she still looks a big threat.
GOVERNOR GENERAL :- Is another interesting contender running over a sharp trip. He was sent off favourite in spite of a long break and looked rusty when finishing 5th, the first time he has been out of the first two in his career. He should have benefitted from the break, and while he has been winning over 6 and 7 furlongs, he should possess the speed to tackle this 5 and makes it to the short list.
GOLDEN BELLE :- Won back to back races towards the end of last Mumbai season but has been in the handicappers grip since then and gets some welcome respite now. She has been working well but needs to show a bit more zip to become a factor.
CONCLUSION :- Queen Credible should resume her winning ways back to her pet trip while Cataleya could be a force to reckon with if taking to sprinting and Governor General also should not be ignored.
Race No. 5 :- The Indian Air Force Trophy – Class III 5 years old and over – 1000M
PHOENIX KNIGHT :- Bounced back to form earlier this season after 2 indifferent runs, running a gallant 2nd and worn done late in the day by a progressive 3 year old. He has been blazing the track since then, looks fit and well and is expected to run a big race with Suraj Narredu taking over in the saddle.
MIZILLA GOLD :- Pulled off a smart gamble last time out when edging out Mt Tianmen over course and distance and is practically without a penalty as her rider claims 3 ½ kilos. She is sure to improve and strip fitter and Akshay Gaikwad has been riding 5 furlong races particularly well so she is a strong fancy for a quick encore.
ZAHRAZAN :- is the 2nd runner from the Dallas Todywalla yard and appears the lesser fancied of the pair but she is not too high above her last winning mark and did finish much behind Phoenix Knight last time out. She is another who deserves each way consideration and can add some spice into the mix.
DAZZLING DANCER :- Has been consistently placing over 6 and 7 furlongs but is fully effective over this trip and Sandesh is always a danger in these older horse handicaps. She needs to pull out some improvement to win but definitely merits each way consideration.
BULLION EXPRESS :- is another who has been looking likely to pop up at some stage but has yet to enter the winners circle after several attempts. He is better placed than Wind Craft on the scale and running practically bareback at 44.5 kilos, he looks a value for money outsider.
CONCLUSION :- As is usually the case, competitive older horses handicap with Phoenix Knight and Mizilla Gold expected to fight it out for supremacy and Bullion Express the upset chance at the feather weight.
Race No. 6 :- The Avantage Plate – Class V – 1200M
ISINIT :- Has been knocking on the door since August with a string of placed efforts and warmed up for this with a good 2nd under Amyn Merchant last time out. Sandesh is an eye catching jockey booking now and in spite of conceding weight all around, she looks set for a maiden success.
WILDHORN :- is one of the rare horses owned by the Shirke-Dhunjibhoy combination who is languishing in this league and finished 3rd when fancied for the first time over 7 furlongs in Pune. He could have been freshened up by the break and is worthy of each way interest.
STAR SCHOLAR :- is a 10 race maiden from the Todywalla yard who should be fit enough after 2 lung openers earlier in the season. He has been working exceptionally of late and with Suraj in the saddle, should make a bold bid to shed his maiden tag.
SUPER BOLT :- is a fully exposed 28 race maiden for whom it is the percentage call to oppose based on his past record. He did finish on to be 3rd over 1000M last time out and Neeraj Rawal retains the ride so he has each way interest although it is unlikely he will earn his 1st win today.
KISS FROM A ROSE :- Is an unexposed 4 year old who showed some zest for racing for the first time on her last run and is expected to build on that on just her 5th start. She has a useful apprentice up and looks a dark horse who could upset.
DECCAN KING :- is another possible outsider who has been running some forward races of late and has dropped down to a very attractive mark now. He is untried till date has a decent draw and could spring a surprise at the low weight.
THE GIVER :- Has raced 3 times till date without showing any form but her last couple of workouts have been decent and she has scope to improve. Talented apprentice looks an interesting booking and she could go well at a price.
CONCLUSION :- This looks an extremely tough and unpredictable affair and the winner should emerge from Isinit, Star Scholar, Wildhorn and Super Bolt
Race No. 7 – The Byculla Club Trophy – 4 Years Old and Over – 2800M
SEVERUS :- Has been a remarkable servant to connections in his limited career so far with 6 wins and 2 seconds from 9 starts and he looked better than ever when outwitting subsequent winner Commodore last time out. He has won the Suresh Mahindra Trophy in Pune so does stay this far and looks hard to toss in this small field.
RODEO :- is now 8 years of age but can still raise a gallop and these gruelling races seem to be his target every season. He is better handicapped than Severus on their clash in the Suresh Mahindra Trophy and is capable of upsetting if in a galloping mood.
BOOKER JONES :-Has proven himself very adequate in Group I contests in the past but he is yet to win over a distance of 2000M and may find this gruelling trip to be too taxing. He could earn himself some valuable stake money but looks more of a place contender.
AL SHAMSHEER :- Looks out of his depth in this company and often spoils his chances by going off too fast up front. It has been over 2 years since his last win and although he should stay the trip he looks the outsider of the quartet.
CONCLUSION :_- Severus is expected to win this easily with Rodeo being the chief danger
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
