FROM THE HORSES MOUTH - RACE FORM ANALYSIS GUIDE FOR THURSDAY, 12TH JANUARY 2017
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The Lady Madonna Plate – Class IV, 4 years old only – 1400M
TCHIBOUELA :- Has been working well from before his debut run but 4 runs in maidens yielded next to nothing so he showed dramatic improvement on his handicap debut last time out, coming with a strong run in the straight to score over 6 furlongs in the lower class. He may just have turned the corner now and 5 kilo penalty is practically negated by his rider's allowance so he looks a leading contender to score a quick encore
FABIO :- Appears to have the best form in this field but is not the most reliable and has not really gone on from his maiden win over 5 furlongs on debut. He has been tried at several distances and has run respectably over this trip. He has finished 4th in both his starts this season over 6 furlongs and a mile with the same rider up on both occasions. He can be involved but will need to pull out some improvement to score
CELESTIAL LIGHT :- Has raced 8 times till date, her solitary win coming over course and distance way back in April. She finished a promising 3rd on her reappearance over 6 furlongs but then ran a wretched race last time out when strongly fancied so she does not look totally straightforward. However, the booking of Y.S. Srinath is a positive and if she is in a galloping mood then she can be involved
PILATUS :- is a very interesting contender representing the powerful Shirke – Dhunjibhoy combination who is making a belated debut at the age of four. He has been pushed in most of his prep work and was also shaken up in a Mock Race where he was easily beaten by Forest Flair. His dam Kirov has thrown some useful types in Italy and Germany and although he may need this run, he could be classy enough to beat this lot first time out
VIKING :- is another unexposed type who is well bred and potentially useful. He made his debut earlier in the season finishing unplaced over 6 furlongs but has been working extremely well since that run and seems to have improved. His dam Olivia Valere has already produced the useful Hakkasan (6 wins) and he looks primed for a bold show now
CONCLUSION :- If Tchibouela has turned the corner and come right then he looks the form choice to prevail under practically no penalty for his last win. Both Pilatus and Viking are well bred and potentially useful types who are capable of outclassing this field, the latter having the benefit of a run and some excellent track work
Race No. 2 :- The General Obaidullah Khan Trophy – Class II and III – 2400M
PALATIAL :- A dickey legged and not totally sound 6 year old, he seemed to finally come right in Pune and looked way ahead of the handicapper when scoring by a wide margin over this trip in Pune. He warmed up for this with a solid reappearance win over a mile last time out and was pulling away at the finish. Back up to his preferred trip, he is clearly the form pick but he has to concede 8.5 kilos to an unexposed improver from the Shroff yard
MATHAIYUS :- Has a faultless pedigree by Multidimensional out of Indian Oaks winner Yana and he has been showing rapid improvement with every run and step up in trip. 4th on debut over 7 furlongs he finished a close 2nd over a mile and last time out trounced the opposition over 2000M, winning by a wide margin from pillar to post. He needs to improve on the bare form but has bags of potential although the booking of Y.S. Srinath is a puzzler as he will over carry 5-6 kilos.
SHE IS SPECIAL :- Is a winner of 3 of her 10 starts till date, mainly over middle distances but she looks likely to stay the longer trip. She comes into this in good form, having won over a mile last time out and is working well. Her yard is in red hot form at the moment and she can upset the applecart of all the others
VULCAN :- A workmanlike performer, he has shown marked improvement upon stepping upto 2000M but lacks a change of gear. He snuck home in a blanket finish last time out winning mainly due to his rider's persistence and on the face of things it looks a tough ask for him to win here
CONCLUSION :- Palatial is in great heart and being proven over the trip he gets the tentative nod over the unexposed Mathaiyus who is clearly a force to reckon with but offsets his weight advantage with Y.S. Srinath sure to overcarry several kilos. She Is Special would be a danger to them both
Race No. 3 :- The Ahmed I. Rahimtoola Trophy – Maiden 3 Year Olds – 1000M
STALLONE :- Is one of the 2 runners to have the benefit of experience, having finished 3rd to Summer Rays on debut over 6 furlongs. He is sure to have learnt plenty from that experience and is likely to be a leading fancy now dropped to the minimum trip
JUGGERNAUT :- is the other runner to have raced finishing 4th to Miss Money Penny being prominent until the bend before retiring. He too is likely to have stripped fitter and should run much better today
GENTILLESSE :- Is the one that catches the eye most of the unraced runners. She is a full sister to one time Classic hopeful Confiance as well as Mandy who has placed several times in Hyderabad and a half sister to Dhanyavaad who was also a useful sort. She has shown good speed out of the gates in practice jumps and with Trevor booked she looks set for a bold show on debut
HUDSON :- also looks to have a nice pedigree with Excellent Art having proved to be a good juvenile sire and Mystic Dancer the dam having already thrown Southern Emperor who won the Mysore 2000 Guineas and Derby and placed in the Bangalore 2000 Guineas and Hyderabad Derby and Mystic Romance who was a Class I filly in Calcutta. Hudson has been working reasonably well and is another expected to be in the firing line
PRINCESS P :- comes from the Dallas Todywalla yard who have been having plenty of juvenile winners although this one has not been working as well as some of the other debutantes. She is a half sister to Mahiki who won 2 races in Western India and looks reasonably fit on debut
CONCLUSION :- Stallone is given the edge here having run a forward race and working well since but both Gentillesse and Hudson look interesting future prospects and are fully capable of winning first time out
Race No. 4 :- The Riyasat Plate – Div. II – Class IV – 1200M
GREY FLANNEL :- Has been highly regarded by her Trainer from her first start but has not yet come into her own and is winless in 6 attempts. She ran a forward race to finish 2nd to Bounty Queen over this trip last time out and with normal progression, she looks to have a strong chance to gain an overdue maiden success. She has bagged the plum draw next to the rail and could win from end to end
PRISTINA :- Has a lovely sprinting pedigree with her dam Evatina a Class I sprinter in her own right and her half brother Soothsayer a winner of 8 starts over sprints. She won her maiden well enough in Pune with today's rider in the saddle and then finished 3rd next time out. She has been given a lung opener already this season and that should put her spot on for this. She looks a strong fancy
SNOWY PEAKS :- Has raced 3 times till date all over 5 furlongs and has finished 3rd on each occasion showing a modest level of form but not getting the expected improvement. The step up to 6 furlongs is hoped to unlock some improvement and she comes into consideration but looks more of a place contender
ABU AL BUKHOOSH :- Is fully exposed having raced 12 times and is yet to enter the winner's enclosure. He failed over 7 furlongs last time out and is now dropped back to sprints. He lacks the scope to improve much and again looks more of a place prospect
PRETTY ANGEL :- is another fully exposed 4 year old who has not really hinted that she is ready for a winning performance as yet. She has been tried over a variety of trips finishing a well held 3rd over this trip last time out. P.S. Chouhan takes over again but she too should fight it out for minor honours
PASS THE GLORY :- is an interesting runner in that he is untried in 6 starts till date but has run suggestively two of the last three times, running on casually to make the frame with weak claimers on board. He has a better rider on today in the form of S.S. Baria and could go well at a price
CONCLUSION :-Grey Flannel seems to have found a good opportunity to get off the mark with Pristina looking the most likely danger and Pass The Glory capable of causing an upset
Race No. 5 – The Rajpipla Cup – Class III – 1400M
PINK PANTHER :- Seemed to come into his own during the Pune season, running well on every occasion and winning once with the form of all his runs looking extremely strong. His preparatory work looks excellent and with Zervan up he looks set to begin this season on a winning note
ELEGANT BEAUTY :-heads a long list of dangers having shifted to Malesh Narredu's yard before her last run and scraping home narrowly from Fabio last time out in Pune. She could have improved and been freshened up over the break and has the potential to improve further. She merits serious consideration
JUDICIOUS :-Returned to winning ways last time out scraping home in a bunched finish. He has not received a very stiff penalty and is given a strong each way chance and can repeat although this opposition looks tougher
BOUNTY QUEEN :- Seems to go well fresh as she won her maiden on her first start in Pune and then after 2 indifferent runs, reappeared here with a decisive victory over Grey Flannel over 6 furlongs. She is likely to improve after just 5 runs and is given a good chance to score another win
ARAKAWAH :- Has often flattered to deceive and has just 1 win to his name from several starts in spite of being fancied on a number of occasions. He has had 2 runs already this season so should be fit enough and with talented apprentice taking over and yard in good form, he looks the upset horse
CONCLUSION :- A very competitive affair with Pink Panther a tentative selection but almost all the other runners capable of winning on their day. Elegant Beauty and Bounty Queen are feared most
Race No. 6 :- The Isn't She Special Plate – Class V – 5 years old and over – 1000M
GOLDSMITH :- Took advantage of his lenient handicap mark to score beating several of these over this trip in Pune on his penultimate start and has been given a lung opener in Mumbai to blow away any cobwebs. He has been working quite well of late and looks one to consider strongly in this competitive event
THE GIVER :- Seems to be improving after just 4 starts and her last effort when she finished a close 3rd looked promising. She ran a forward race that day so should not mind the drop in trip and if the race doesn't come too soon, she should be in the firing line
ZION :-is another 11 race maiden who has been threatening to strike for some time now and is in good form having finished a close 3rd to The Big Revival last time out. He has been handed an unfavourable draw at 16 but does possess early speed and should definitely be considered
HORSE POWER :- Is a very interesting character as she has dropped a long way in the scales since her maiden win over this trip and is looking extremely well handicapped. J. Pradeep, a non regular rider is an interesting booking and she should be closely watched, especially if smart money comes for her
FOREVER YOURS :- Is another speedy mare who has come down a long way in the weights and ran a forward race when dropped into this Grade last time out. C.S. Jodha retains the ride, she has the rail draw and is worthy of serious consideration in this field
GENEROUS LADY :- Has been placing consistently over 5 and 6 furlongs but is yet to taste her first success and does not seem to be progressing. She is likely to win one of these at some stage but it will be tough to catch her on the right day. She must be considered though
RICH N RARE :- Another who is not fully consistent but has gone close on a couple of occasions over this trip. She has the services of a better rider than she has been getting for some time now.
CONCLUSION :- An extremely competitive older horses sprint contest and it is impossible to make a clear recommendation here. Goldsmith, The Giver, Zion, Horse Power and Forever Yours would make the short list
Race No. 7 :- The Riyasat Plate – Div. I – Class IV – 1200M
SILK BABY :- Won her maiden at the 4th attempt with a pillar to post success over Mariska and Rain Dance in Pune and has held her form well in 2 subsequent starts. She finished a close 3rd to Masterofbalantrae over this trip last time out and with the winner franking the form, she looks to have an excellent chance to get back to winning ways
MAKINO :-Returned from a 3 month absence to finish a good 2nd to Shaoqing over this trip. He looks to be steadily coming back to the form of his maiden win last season and looks one to consider seriously here
AIRLIFT :- Was a very impressive maiden winner on this track in April and ran in good company in 2 starts in Pune finishing 3rd over 6 furlongs and then a modest 5th in a hot 7 furlong contest. He may be a bit short on fitness after almost a 4 month break and has top weight to defy so may just need this but is dangerous to ignore
TRAVIESO :- Has run 5 times till date with 4 poor efforts and only one sparkling performance, coming with a sustained late run to beat Sporto and Yellow Diamond. His recent trackwork has been encouraging and he has had a lung opener but he does not look totally straightforward
DUBROVNIK :- Did not quite build on his promising maiden 2nd but seemed to be on the way back to form when finishing a close 3rd last time out. He should progress from that effort and if he can build on that then he has a fine chance to earn himself a bracket with Yash Narredu in the saddle
DHISHOOM :- Returned from a year off the track to finish a good 2nd to Domination on the opening day of the season but then ran very poorly when fancied next time out. His recent workouts indicate that he has improved substantially since then and with Trevor now taking over, he looks a big danger to all if he can shrug off the last poor run
CONCLUSION :- A tough looking finale with several having strong claims. Silk Baby just gets the marginal vote from Dhishoom and Makino
(Disclaimer: Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
