From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Friday, 30th March 2018
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The Manyatta Plate – Class IV – Distance :- 1600M
ANGELS TOUCH :- This 4 year old filly from the Karthik G yard was once thought to be a Classic contender but she ran a dismal race in the Indian Oaks and reappeared 2 weeks ago to run 5th to Harmony of the Sea over 1400M. Still a maiden after 9 starts, she did go very close earlier in the season over this trip when going down by ¾ length to King of Killen. She appears to need a little bit more time to return to her best and with Bhawani Singh in the saddle today, looks to be more of a minor berth contender and can fight it out for the frame placings.
HUZZAH’S GRACE :- Unexposed 4 year old from the in form stable of Imtiaz Sait, she has run 9 times till date and had a couple of 3rd place finishes to her name previously but was fancied for this first time this term on her last run when dropped into Class V and she came with a powerful late run to nab Angels Harmony who was being hailed as the winner. She has only been penalized 4 ½ kilos for that win and is sure to gain some confidence from the victory and Dashrath Singh who rode her that day retains the ride. She needs to find a little more improvement as she is 3 lengths worse off with Angels Harmony on the last run but looks capable of progressing further and is given a good chance for a quick encore.
EBONY :- Another lightly raced 4 year old, this one from the yard of Altamash Ahmed, she has had only 4 runs so far, 3 of them this season and she returned from a long break to run a creditable 2nd to Reds Revenge back in January over 1400M. She was again runner up when strongly fancied next time out but beaten by the vastly improved Star of Thea but her last run was a shocker where she ran well below par to finish 9th. She has to bounce back from that poor run but is worth forgiving one poor run as this is just her 5th start. She steps up to a mile for the first time today, S. Zervan takes over in the saddle and she is quite capable of making amends and must be considered.
MOMENTUM :- Fashionably bred debutant from the powerful Pesi Shroff yard, he catches the eye as being a half brother to Indian Oaks winner Tiger Tops and looks a smart sort on pedigree. He has only had a couple of workouts so is expected to need this experience and may be a touch short on fitness but makes his debut in a relatively lowly grade and could be much better than his current mark. The booking of P. Trevor catches the eye and he could be a dark horse who could spring a surprise first time out and is worth checking out in the paddock.
ANGELS HARMONY :- 4 year old filly from the Altaf Hussain yard who has run 9 times previously and was strongly fancied last time out over course and distance but was pipped by Huzzah’s Grace close home. She is now 3 kilos better placed than her rival on the scale with K. Nazil taking over from H. Zeeshan in the saddle. She is upped into the higher class without a win but looks fit and well at present and stands an excellent chance to make amends today. She deserves to be a frontline contender and although not certain to reverse the form, looks to have a very good chance and is strongly fancied.
STAR BRIGHT :- Very attractively bred 4 year old from the MaleshNarredu yard, she is a half sister to Sherman Oaks who finished 2nd in the Golconda 1000 Guineas and the Bangalore Oaks and Leading Legend, who was 3rd in the Deccan Colts Championship Stakes and was very well backed on her racing debut over 1200M but failed to raise a gallop and ended up a poor 7th behind Checkmate. She is likely to have learnt from that experience and stripped fitter for the run and the step up to a mile looks to be in her favour. C.S. Jodha replaces Yash Narredu in the saddle and she is expected to leave her debut running well behind and figure much more prominently today.
CONCLUSION :- A tricky opener with Angels Harmony appearing to be the form pick but there are a couple of well bred types from big yards on display here and it may be profitable to side with Star Bright here. She was well backed on debut but possibly needed the experience and should be seen in a better light over this longer trip with a better rider up. Huzzah’s Grace can also improve from her last win and should not be ignored for an in form stable
Race No. 2 :- The J. Robinson Plate – Maiden 3 Year Olds – Distance :- 1200M
GOLDEN HIND :- Nicely bred debutant from the Vishal Gaikwad yard coming from a good staying family with half brother Nicaragua finishing 3rd in the Golconda Derby and the South India St. Leger and the other half brother Normandy a winner over 9 furlongs in Western India. This trip appears to be plenty sharp for him on debut but he has been working extremely well with some of the yard’s good horses and he appears to have been judiciously prepared to make a winning debut. P. Trevor takes the ride and he looks a leading contender to score at the first time of asking.
INTENSE STYLIST :- One of two runners from the S.K. Sunderji yard and the one who appears to be better fancied judging from the Jockey bookings. Spica was a moderately performed mare in Western India trained by Narendra Lagad and this is her first foal. He has only had a handful of workouts and is likely to need this debut experience. However, he comes from an in form yard and must be considered.
PONDAROSA :- Excellent Art gelding from the small stable of trainer Vinesh, he has been given plenty of preparatory work for his debut run and should be fit enough to go first time out. The yard is not known for many juvenile winners but he should be fitter than most of the other runners in this field and with T.S. Jodha booked to ride, is worthy of each way consideration.
RETAINED ASSET :-Twice raced Sedgfield gelding from the stable of AdhirajsinghJodha who probably sets the form standard in this field on his debut run over 1400M where he finished a decent 4th behind Mozart and Oomph. He looked out of his depth next time out in the Breeders Produce Stakes but this is decidedly easier and he drops back down to 1200M today. Good stable apprentice S.A. Amit has been booked to ride, he has been working well and appears to be the best of the already raced horses.
DAZZLING SKILL :-Debutant from the stable of Rehanullah Khan who catches the eye on pedigree and looks a smart sort on paper. She is a half sister to the brilliant Striking who won the Kolkotta 1000 Guineas and Godolphin Barb Million and runner up in the Kolkotta Oaks, The North India Derby, The Mysore 1000 Guineas and the Nizam’s Gold Cup. She has been showing out well in the morning trials and should be fit and ready to go. The booking of Bhawani Singh tempers enthusiasm somewhat but she looks a promising sort and is expected to run well.
EXCELLENT ELLA:-Half sister to Zanara who makes her debut from the MaleshNarredu yard and is another who has been working extremely well in the build up to her debut run. She has had a Mock Race to sharpen her up and her recent few workouts have been pleasing so she too looks a smart sort and with Dashrath Singh an interesting booking for the yard, she is another who must come into consideration.
CONCLUSION :- With none of the experienced runners having earth shattering form, this looks likely to go to one of the debutantes and Golden Hind is selected to make a winning debut for Vishal Gaikwad. He has been well prepared and should be able to tackle this trip first time out. Dazzling Skill and Excellent Ella also look good types and are considered along with Retained Asset.
Race No.3 :- The Behram A. Engineer Cup – Class III – Distance :- 1400M
STAR COMRADE :- Enigmatic 5 year oldgelding from the stable of Karthik G, he has run 20 times so far and although he has been runner up on as many as 7 occasions, he has managed to win just twice. He pulled off a smart gamble over this trip to gain his 2nd success in Pune and hinted that he was not far away from that form last time out when finishing on to be runner up to Chaplin over an inadequate 6 furlongs. He is not the most reliable or straightforward sort but if able to progress from that last run then he can be a factor over this more suitable trip with stable rider Bhawani Singh taking the ride.
CLASSICUS :- Sparingly raced 5 year old who appears to be recovering from a setback having been off the track since last April and reappearing last month where he was clearly in need of a run after a long lay off. He should be fitter and sharper after the last run and his form last season was quite progressive. A paddock check is advised to ascertain his well being but if returning to his earlier form, he stands a strong chance to score with C.S. Jodha in the saddle and looks one to keep an eye on.
INVICTUS MANEO :- Lightly raced and improving 4 year old from the stable of Adhirajsingh Jodha, he has raced exclusively over sprints upto now and is stepping up in trip for the first time today. He was a winner over 1000M on his first 2 starts but then ran disappointingly in the bid for the hattrick ending up only 9th to Oracle. He showed that was not his true running last time out when again finishing on rapidly from the rear to be a close 4th to Chaplin when tried over 1200M and his come from behind style suggests that this longer trip will probably work to his advantage. He is open to plenty of improvement on just his 5th career start and with Dashrath Singh in the saddle, looks set to run a very big race.
GLYNDEBOURNE :- Lightly raced 4 year old filly trained by Vishal Gaikwad who has done fairly well in her 6 race career so far and there is a suspicion that we have yet to see the best of her. All her runs so far have been over this trip and she is returning from a long lay off having run 3rd to Forest Fairy on the opening day of the season and not raced since then. She has been working extremely well of late but was injured at the start and withdrawn at the gates a couple of weeks ago. She has had a little more time to improve and get fit and with P.Trevor in the saddle, she looks to be the one to beat here and should be the most likely winner.
CONCLUSION:- This appears to be an excellent chance for the lightly raced Glyndebourne to return to the winners enclosure and she is the confident selection. Invictus Maneohas the scope to improve over this longer trip and is feared most.
Race No. 4 :-The Kazakh Plate – Class IV, 5 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1000M
BENEFICIAL :- Consistent 5 year old gelding from the S.K. Sunderji yard who has 2 wins to his name from 18 starts till date but is usually quite consistent over this trip and off his current mark. He has been running fairly well this season and also has been working well for some time now. R. Ajinkya has won on him in the past and in spite of conceding weight all around, he appears to have a strong chance to get back to winning ways.
GREY FLANNEL :- 5 year old mare trained by Dallas Toydwalla who has a similar profile to Beneficial having 2 wins to her name from 18 starts with 5 second placed finishes as well. She is usually more effective over 6 furlongs but does have the speed to tackle this trip and has been eased in grade into the lower class. She has been out of form mainly this season, running twice without success earlier in the season and then returning from a break 3 weeks ago where she probably needed the lung opener. She has been working well since the run and P. Trevor now takes over from H. Zeeshan in the saddle suggesting that connections are fancying today. She can win this if back to her best and must be considered.
BLITZKRIEG :- Aged 6 year old gelding trained by AdhirajsinghJodha, he is a winner of 2 of his 21 starts so far and took advantage of his very lenient mark to score his 2nd success a couple of runs ago in the lower class, and looked like he was ready to progress again last time out when running a close 4th over 1200M just a length and a half behind the winner Untitled. He appears to have maintained his form and fitness quite well and with S.A. Amit in the saddle, looks a good each way contender.
WIND CRAFT :- Now 9 years of age and a veteran of 68 races, he has won 4 times so far all the wins coming over this trip. He showed that he still has zest for racing when scoring on his penultimate run in a similar contest to today but could only finish 6th last time out when upped into this grade. K. Nazil who had ridden him in his last couple of starts is up again today but the draw has been unkind to him in Stall 10 and although he can run into a place, he may find one or two to be too strong today.
ROYAL MEWS :- Lightly raced 5 year old mare from the yard of Faisal Abbas, she has taken her time to come to hand and did nothing of note in her first several starts but showed signs of some ability this term with a couple of 4th placed finishes and showed a smart turn of foot over 1200M last time out to win convincingly. She has been turned out again quickly under a 5 kilo penalty most of which is negated by her rider’s claim. The drop to the minimum may not necessarily suit her but she is probably still well handicapped at present and with in form apprentice G. Amit in the saddle, looks a leading contender to continue her progression and go in again.
BIDSTONE HILL :- Speedy 6 year old mare from the stable of trainer Vinesh, she too is most effective over this minimum trip and has come down a lot in the weights with a string of poor efforts. Both her previous wins have come over this distance and her mark has slipped from a high of 44 down to 28 so she looks well placed on the scales. She has run poorly in her 4 starts this season as well so a leap of faith is required to back her but she has a good draw today in Stall 2 and with H. Zeeshan in the saddle, could attempt pillar to post tactics
CONCLUSION :- An open looking older horses sprint contest and the winner should emerge from between Royal Mews, Beneficial and Grey Flannel. The first named has the most scope to improve and is marginally preferred
Race No. 5 :- The Bejan Bharucha Plate – Div. II – Class V – Distance :- 1200M
AQUARIUS :- Maiden 5 year old from the stables of M.K. Jadhav, he has run 14 times till date without success but has run some decent races over this trip and advertised his fitness last time out when finishing on nicely to be a good 3rd to Alyaties who has gone on to frank the form. That run came in the higher class so he is eased in grade and should have attained fitness on his 3rd run this season. T.S. Jodha who rode him last time takes the ride again and if building on that last effort, he looks to have a good chance to gain a maiden success.
STAR ANISE :- Relatively unexposed 4 year old filly trained by Faisal Abbas, she has run 6 times till date without success and gave her best performance yet last time out when finishing on late to be a distant 2nd behind Hudson over this trip. She is expected to improve for that run and has been working quite well of late so with G. Amit in the saddle he looks to have a strong each way chance if progressing again.
SAFFRON FLOWER :- Comes from the stable of M.P. Jodha and this 4 year old filly is an 8 race maiden but has run a couple of promising races over sprints in Pune and is still quite unexposed. She was just given one run early this season and has not been on the track since then so appears to be returning from a reasonably long break and fitness could be an issue. D.S. Daman takes the ride today and she could be a dark horse who could spring a surprise if fit and well.
TRANSFORM :- Improving 4 year old filly trained by Mansoor Shah, she is winless in 7 runs till date but appears to be slowly coming to hand and has run suggestively the last twice. She first showed signs of some ability on her penultimate run over 1000M where she finished on strongly to be a close 4th to Southpaw with subsequent winner Fine Tune just ahead of her and last time out, again finished a close 4th to Tenerife in the higher grade. The yard has been in good form of late, she looks likely to improve and with in form H. Zeeshan in the saddle and the rail draw to help her, she looks a strong each way candidate and can strike if showing more improvement.
GANDALF :- 4 year old maiden from the Asad Siddiqui yard who is winless in 10 starts but has essentially been untried so far and showed some zest for racing last time out when making good late headway to finish a close 2nd to Golden Horde. That was his first run of some substance and he could build on it as he is still unexposed. Amyn Merchant who was in the saddle that day keeps the ride and he looks to have the scope to go one better if turning up in the same mood.
CONCLUSION :- A tricky contest and a chance is taken that Transform will continue the good recent form of his stable and win a race consisting mainly of maidens. Aquarius and Star Anise appear to be the main dangers.
Race No. 6 :- The Bejan Bharucha Plate – Div. I – Class V – Distance :- 1200M
BEWITCHED :- Well bred and largely untried 4 year old who used to be trained by C.D. Katrak but has now moved to the yard of M.K. Jadhav. She has only run 6 times till date and ran one race of promise in Pune where she finished on to be 2nd to Kramer over 1400M. She has had 2 trial runs for her new yard and last time out over 1000M a couple of weeks ago, finished on strongly to be just outside the frame suggesting that she was getting ready. Her trackwork has been quite decent of late, she appears to be on a handy mark at present and with T.S. Jodha in the saddle again, looks a dark horse who could upset and could be dangerous to ignore.
HIGHLAND WOODS :- Improving 4 year old gelding from the small string of Nazak Chenoy, he has run 5 times till date and has been progressing steadily with every run. He made an eye catching reappearance after a long break on his seasonal return when finishing on smoothly to be a late 4th over this trip and built on that next time out when a good 3rd behind Wilshire last time out. Both those runs came in the higher class, he has been eased in grade and P. Trevor now takes over in the saddle from T.S. Jodha. He appears to be going the right way at present and has an excellent chance to make it 3rd time lucky this season and emerge with a win.
SKYSURFER :- Good looking 4 year old filly trained by Narendra Lagad who has caught the eye in the paddock on a couple of occasions and is another who appears to be finding some form. Still a maiden after 6 attempts, she has finished 3rd in her last 2 runs over this trip, last time out ending up a very close 3rd to Towering Storm in a fighting finish. She looks to have maintained her condition since that run and K. Nazil will claim a useful 3 ½ kilos in the saddle. She looks to have the scope to improve further and is a strong each way contender in this company.
HUZZAH’S PHOENIX :- Maiden 4 year old gelding from the yard of Imtiaz Sait, he has done nothing of note in his 5 runs so far but had a feeble rider on for the first 3 attempts and has come down quite a lot in the scales as a result. He finished 7th on his last run over this trip about 3 weeks ago but has been working quite well since then suggesting that he has found some improvement. He is dropped into this class for the first time today and J. Chinoy takes over in the saddle from Raghuveer Singh. The yard has been firing in the winners of late so although he has no form to commend his chances, he could be a good outsider who can improve and spring a surprise.
SYNCHRONICITY :- Well bred 5 year old mare from the Faisal Abbas yard who is starting to become frustrating to follow and whose losing run has now stretched to 16. She went very close over this trip last time out when just failing to catch Montecasino over course and distance and Amyn Merchant keeps the ride. She has been working well since the run suggesting that she keeps her form but has not been able to pass the line first yet and there is a suspicion that she may find a couple too good for her again today.
ISINIT :- Another fully exposed 6 year old, from the S.N. Joshi yard who has had several near misses, many of them this season but still refuses to oblige and is now winless after 26 attempts. She is sure to turn up in one of these contests before too long and H. Zeeshan is a very encouraging jockey booking so although the percentage call is to oppose her, she may finally deliver at long odds and cannot be discounted
CONCLUSION :-As usual a tough finale but Highland Woods seems to be progressing nicely with his racing and with P. Trevor up for the first time looks likely to succeed. Skysurferalso look capable of scoring while a pair of unexposed types lurk in the form of Bewitched and Huzzah’s Phoenix.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
