UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM - Preview of the C.N. Wadia Gold Cup (Grade 2) - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 11 Mar 2017
UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM – Preview of the C.N. Wadia Gold Cup (Grade 2)
By Cyrus Naterwalla
The C. N Wadia Gold Cup has been a traditional mid season celebration of flair and elegance and has been supported by Mrs. Maureen Wadia and the Wadia family for several decades now. The race which is contested by older horses used to be run over a mile and a quarter but was upped to a mile and a half and given Grade 2 status. The previous winners of this race include Azzurro (2016), Shivalik Showers (2015), Keukenhof (2014), Monet (2013), Azzurro (2012) , Native Knight (2011) and Icebreaker (2010). C.N. Wadia Day always combines the thrill and grandeur on the track with excellence in flair and fashion with the Glad Rags models strutting their stuff in the paddock in between the races. Being a mid season event and slotted just after the Invitation Cup weekend, the fields are traditionally small and select and this year's renewal is no exception with 6 runner lining up to face the starter. An assessment of the chances of all the runners is given below :-
CAMERON :-(Admiralofthefleet x Camarioca)
TRAINER :- S. S. ATTAOLLAHI
JOCKEY :- P. TREVOR
RATING :- 112
Cameron has travelled here from Bangalore with an outstanding chance and S.S. Attaollahi has an excellent strike rate of his runners that come to Western India. The same combination of owner Vijay Mallya, Jockey P. Trevor and Trainer Attaollahi claimed this race last year with the gutsy Azzurro and they seem to have an excellent chance to repeat. Cameron has already proved herself to be a solid stayer, having won 9 of her 16 races and finished 2nd on 4 occasions for a terrific overall strike rate. Her last start in Western India was when chasing home Chef D'oeuvre in the Fillies & Mares in Pune and she has had a busy schedule since then. She travelled to Hyderabad to claim the Golconda St. Leger in October and then went to Mysore to claim The Chamundi Million, both races from Let The Lion Roar. Returning to Bangalore she warmed up with a win over a mile before running 2nd to Jersey Wonder over this trip in The Stayers Trial Stakes. Stamina is certainly not an issue for her and she looks a strong contender to add another feather in her cap
B FIFTY TWO:- (Phoenix Tower x Baileys On line)
TRAINER :- IMTIAZ SAIT
JOCKEY :- SURAJ NARREDU
RATING :- 113
B Fifty Two has raced 21 times till date, winning on 6 occasions and gained a deserved first Group Race success last time out when out witting Alaindair to claim the DeltinEclips Stakes of India last time out over 2000M. He has always looked a little suspect previously at this level and a true run race at 2400M may just stretch him slightly. However, he was given a masterful ride from the front to outwit the Multi Classic winner Alaindair last time out and with no confirmed front runner in the race, he may be able to employ the same tactics again. He could only finish 3rd to Azzurro in the Idar Gold Trophy in Pune so the trainer of Cameron should have a line between the pair. He has previously looked at his best upto 2000M but if he is able to make the running and slow it down from the front again, then he stands a realistic chance to gain another Group Race success
VERONESE:- Bushranger x Verbania
TRAINER :- LAXMAN SINGH
JOCKEY :- J. CHINOY
RATING :- 87
Veronese is the only representative of the Classic Crop and still looks to be improving having won 3 of her 7 starts and is making her debut on the Mahalaxmi track, having raced only in Hyderabad previously. Her maiden success came over a mile in Class III and she continued a sequence of 3 wins on the trot culminating in a glorious success in the Hyderabad Oaks where she scored an upset 20/1 win over Frosty and Aster Rose. She then showed good improvement to chase home Germanicus in the Hyderabad Derby proving that she stays the trip well. Her last run was on January 2nd so in contrast to almost all the others, she comes into this race fresh and also has the maximum scope to improve. Although she has miles to find on Official Ratings, she looks progressive and it would not be the greatest surprise were she to emerge triumphant
COMMODORE :- (Danehill Dancer x Antioquia)
TRAINER :- PESI SHROFF
JOCKEY :- NEERAJ RAWAL
RATING :- 94
Commodore looks a typical improver from the yard and quickly worked his way up the handicap ranks, winning 3 races on the trot. On his first attempt at this level in the Idar Gold Trophy in Pune, he was clearly found wanting and finished last of the 5 runners, way behind Azzurro and about a length adrift of B Fifty Two. He was then given a break and returned over a 2000M trip in a handicap where he was no match for Severus. However, in his next start, he showed significant improvement to upset his odds on stable companion Arlene, winning well in a fast time and showing he had improved. He is progressive and worth taking another crack at a race like this although he does need to improve on the bare form as he is rated 94, and prove that he decisively stays the 2400M trip. He has been working well and again could prove to be better than his rating
ALAINDAIR :- (Multidimensional x God's Grace )
TRAINER :- ALTAMASH A AHMED
JOCKEY :- Y.S. SRINATH RATING :- 115
The highest on Official Ratings and easily the Class act in this field, he is a multiple Group Race winner, scoring on 12 of his 23 starts till date and was a brilliant winner of the 2014 Indian Derby. However, he is getting on in age and it is beginning to show in his performance, as last time he was no match for B Fifty Two in spite of having beaten the same rival comfortably earlier in the season on the same Terms, and was found wanting when it mattered most. Suspicions that he was not at his best were confirmed when he could only manage to finish 10th in the Invitation Cup over this trip and it is a big ask for him to redeem himself after just a week. This is already his 5th run this season and comes just a week after a hard race and travel back from Bangalore so this is clearly a very big ask of him. If he can somehow produce his best form, then he will be hard to hold back but he looks up against it all things considered
JACK FROST :- (KingdaKa x Breeze and I )
TRAINER :- VINESH
JOCKEY :- A. SANDESH
RATING :- 108
He is a winner of 5 of his 16 starts till date but has never travelled beyond 2000M and is attempting this trip for the first time in his career. He had developed into a solid middle distance performer earlier in his career but had a setback and returned to racing in Pune after a year off the track. He has slowly been working his way into form and has placed in all his 3 runs this season last time out finishing 3rd to Alaindair and B Fifty Two in the Eclipse. B Fifty Two's penalty would give him a theoretical chance on the handicap but there are too many unknowns to be able to support him with a lot of confidence.
CONCLUSION :-Cameron looks likely to continue connections' good run in this race and give them back to back victories. B Fifty Two would clearly be a danger if he repeats his tactics last time out of going to the front and slowing the pace down although Trevor who engineered those tactics is aboard Cameron and will be wise to them. Commodore is an unexposed improver who could prove to run above his rating while Hyderabad Oaks winner Veronese also has plenty to find on ratings but stays the trip well.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
