From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Saturday, 25th August 2018 - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 24 Aug 2018
From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Saturday, 25th August 2018
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The War Command Plate – Div. III – Class V, 4 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1400M
MAGICAL BLOSSOM -:-Well bred 4 year old filly who hails from the small stable of Jockey C. Rajendra and has yet to be seriously tried in her 6 runs till date. She has been given easy runs so far to get her fit and last time out ran suggestively over 1000M to finish 5th just outside the frame. She was withdrawn on her intended reappearance a month ago but has been working quite well and S J Sunil is a decent jockey booking. She is an unexposed 4 year old running in the lowest grade and finding some improvement then she could be a factor and is worth considering each way. Dark horse.
ETERNAL DANCER :- Versatile 5 year old mare trained by Rehanullah Khan who finally gained her maiden victory at the 18th attempt last time out, holding on grimly over 6 furlongs to prevail by a head over Divine Spark. She has run well over a mile in the past so the additional furlong should not be a problem and she only has a 4 kilo penalty to contend with for the win. N.S. Parmar who rode her last time out keeps the ride, she comes into this race in good form and if running upto that same level, she stands a strong chance for a quick encore.
WHOOPSIDAISY :- Front running maiden 4 year old from the Faisal Abbas yard, she has run 13 times till date without any success but looked like she was coming to hand towards the end of the Mumbai season where she ran two good 2nd s over middle distance, on the second occasion beaten 1 ¾ length by Dazzle N Daze over a mile when attempting to make all. She has run poorly both starts this season but may have needed those runs to get her fit and has a strong jockey up for the first time with P. Trevor booked to ride today. She is likely to make a bold bid from the front today and looks to have a good chance to earn her maiden success.
ALLEGRIA :- Another 13 race maiden who has finished 3rd on a few occasions but looks quite exposed and may not have the scope to improve that much. This 5 year old mare trained by Zadmal Singh who has a limited string nowadays did finish a fair 3rd over this trip on her last run in Mumbai, half a length behind Forever Free who was 2nd that day with Angel Coin back in 5th. She had a lung opener over 1800M earlier in the season so should strip fitter and C.S. Jodha is an encouraging booking. She looks to have each way claims if running upto her best but the percentage call is to oppose her.
FOREVER FREE :- Another erratic maiden 5 year old, this one from the yard of Adil Dajee, she has gone 15 starts without a win and lacks consistency but has run a couple of decent seconds over this trip in the past. She finished on to be 6th over an inadequate 1000M on her reappearance run here and this longer trip will be much more suitable. Akshay is an unusual jockey booking but is a decent front running rider, she has been working well and may attempt to make all so is worth considering.
STAR SCHOLAR :- Well bred 5 year old gelding from the Dallas Todywalla yard is a veteran of 32 races and has managed to win on 2 previous occasions, his last win coming a little over a year ago over 9 furlongs on this track off a mark of . He has run several poor races since then although he did manage to finish 3rd over this trip back in Mumbai behind Fencing which was the last time Neeraj Rawal was up. He has had a lung opener on this track to blow away the cobwebs, has been working quite well and Neeraj Rawal gets the leg up on him again. He looks a strong each way contender in this field and should be in the firing line.
CONCLUSION :- In races like this usually being in form is a plus and hence the ones to focus on appear to be last outing winner Eternal Dancer and the 4 year old Whoopsidaisy who has the services of P. Trevor in the saddle. Star Scholar has been working well and is also considered with Neeraj Rawal up.
Race No. 2 :- The Timeless Beauty Plate – Class IV & V – Distance :- 1800M
SMART N NOBLE :- Well regarded but under performed 5 year old from the stables of Karthik G, he has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and has been raced sparingly over the last couple of seasons and appears to be working his way back to full fitness. He was very highly regarded in his youth and scored his maiden victory over a mile before contesting some regional classics in his 4 year old days. He ran a decent race in the Independence Million 10 days ago, plugging on to finish 6th in the large field and this 1800M trip should be right up his alley. He looks to be relatively well weighted on his best form and although he is not totally reliable, he looks to have a good chance in this small field with A. Imran Khan in the saddle.
SWIFTNESS :- Lightly raced 4 year old filly trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, she is bred to want distance trips and her solitary win in her 7 race career came over 2400M where she upset the odds on favourite Carnival. However, she has raced just twice since then, once in December in Mumbai and most recently in the Independence Million back from a 7 month break when finishing 12th well behind Smart N Noble so she appears to be coming out of a setback and may not have regained her best form. She will clearly benefit from the run after the long absence and although this trip looks the bare minimum for her she is likely to do better in this small field with D.S. Daman on board and may attempt to win from end to end.
KOMANDANT :- Aged 7 year old gelding from the S.A. Waheed yard he has run 25 times but has been in good form recently, taking advantage of his very lenient mark to score his 2nd career success on his penultimate run in Mumbai, easily beating Lucky Luciano over 2000M and showed he had retained his form and fitness when finishing on late over a mile on his reappearance to chase home Raise A Grand. He looks to be in good condition at present, P.S. Chouhan is an encouraging Jockey booking and he looks to have a strong each way chance and must be respected.
SAFDAR :- Well bred but unreliable 5 year old gelding trained by Rehanullah Khan who has only managed to win 1 of his 19 starts and looks well handicapped at present but needs to be more convincing. He has run a close 2nd over a mile on this track last season but subsequent efforts have been a little disappointing. He looked like he was coming back to hand on his reappearance over 1200M when runner up to Sporto over 6 furlongs but when well fancied last time out, he could only manage 4th to Angels Touch in spite of having Sandesh in the saddle. Sandesh keeps the ride, he is now stepped up to this much longer trip and although theoretically he is given a chance, he appears to be too consistent to side with and others are more convincing.
ADONIJAH :- Highly regarded colt who began his career with Pesi Shroff and was strongly fancied on numerous occasions but is still a maiden after 9 starts. He has been tried over a variety of trips ranging from 1400M to 2400M but while he has managed to place consistently, he keeps finding one or two too good. He had a lung opener this season over 1400M where he finished down the field but he may have needed that run and should strip fitter today. C. Umesh is an interesting Jockey booking but he his new trainer may be able to unlock some improvement in him and he does stay this far so comes into consideration.
CONCLUSION :- A trappy looking contest where there are question marks and doubts surrounding almost all the runners. Adonijah still looks to have scope to improve and is marginally the selection over the top weighted Smart N Noble.
Race No. 3 :- The Dr. K. Vasudevan Trophy – Class III & IV – Distance :- 1600M
GRAND ACCORD :- Well bred and improving 4 year old from the stables of Karthik G who appears to be best suited by this mile trip and comes into this race bidding for a hattrick having already won his 2 earlier starts over a mile convincingly. After being tried over longer distances unsuccessfully a couple of times, he scored decisively over a mile in Class III, easily accounting for La Magnifique and then went on to score on his reappearance here over a mile, beating Brabourne by 2 ¼ lengths in receipt of 2 ½ kilos. His penalty means he is 2 ¼ lengths worse off with Brabourne on todays terms but he appears to be progressing quite nicely with his racing and may be able to improve enough to offset the difference. A. Imran Khan who seems to get on well with him in the saddle is up again today and in spite of top weight, he looks to have an excellent chance to make it 3 in a row and is greatly respected.
BRABOURNE :- Sparingly raced 5 year old mare trained by Imtiaz Sait who has developed into a useful middle distance handicapper having won 2 of her 12 starts till date and placed on 7 occasions. She finished a decent runner up to Grand Accord on her reappearance run here last time out and is now weighted to gain revenge. Both of her previous wins have come off lower weights though and there is a suspicion that she is not a weight carrier although she has been remarkably consistent in her last 3 starts. P. Trevor who rode her last time out keeps the ride, she is likely to improve for the lung opener and looks a very strong contender to return to the winner’s circle.
SAWGRASS :- Aged 6 year old mare from the Bezan Chenoy yard she is quite lightly raced for her age having run 18 times till date and won on 3 occasions. All her 3 previous wins have been over 7 furlongs but she has run some good races over a mile in the past and should not mind the extra furlong. She has had 2 runs already this season so should be fit enough and stable apprentice Santosh G who knows her well takes the ride. She looks to have each way claims if running up to her best but may find it a little tough to get the better of the in form younger horses.
GOLDEN WEAVER :- Well bred and enigmatic 4 year old filly trained by HosidarDaji who is a winner of 2 of her 6 starts and while she appears to need things to go exactly her way, she clearly has plenty of ability when in a galloping mood. After having 2 poor runs during the Mumbai season, she looked to be recovering her form on her reappearance run in Pune when running a forward race over 1400M and kicking on to finish 4th to Angels Touch and duly built on that run next time out again over 1400M when held up off the pace and coming with a late run to beat Timeless Deeds and True Grit. She appears to have maintained her form and fitness since that run and K. Nazil who rode her that day is up again today. She appears to have scope for further improvement and if she is in a galloping mood again, then she stands a very good chance to repeat.
RAISE A GRAND :- Another progressive 4 year old filly, this grey daughter of Ravel from the small stable of trainer Vinesh has shown significant improvement this year and is another who is bidding for a hattrick after 2 fluent victories in her last 2 starts. Beginning to show improvement over a mile in March where she made good late headway to finish a close 3rd to Dixieland and Gold Bond, she went on to finish a distant 2nd to Arc Shine before scoring her maiden win over 1400M by a wide margin over Angel Coin. She showed she had made improvement over the summer when repeating her win over a mile on her last start, easily getting the better of odds on favourite Kanchenjunga who ran well below par. She is up a further 6 kilos now but H. Zeeshan claims 2.5 kilos in the saddle and she is open to further improvement so she is dangerous to ignore and has strong claims to complete her hattrick.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH :- Fashionably bred got abroad 4 year old trained by Altamash Ahmed, she has run thrice so far till date but is returning from a long lay off, having had her last run in September last year. Having had her first 2 starts in Bangalore, she was an impressive maiden winner over 1400M on just her 2nd start and travelled to Western India to contest a Class III handicap but could only manage to finish last of the 5 runners, tailed off behind Odessa and she was put away after that. She has been brought back steadily and been reasonably prepared including a Mock Race but is entitled to need this run after the long lay off and is probably best watched today. However, it is worth noting that connections have a very high opinion of her.
CONCLUSION :- A competitive event but a chance is taken that Golden Weaver will continue her progression after apparently having returned to form last time out. She won a shade cosily and looks well placed on the scales. The top weighted Grand Accord also seems to be progressing nicely and is feared along with the improving Raise A Grand
Race No. 4 :- The F.D. Wadia Trophy (Grade 3) – Terms, 3 Years Old Only – Distance :- 1400M
FRIEZE :- Unbeaten Excellent Art filly trained by Altaf Hussain and sporting the famous colours of the Poonawalla family, she has had a run already on this track, showing good resilience to hold off all her challengers in the straight to prevail by ¾ length over Jetfire with Hope and Glory back in 3rd. The timing was modest that day but she has traversed the distance already and has been working extremely well since the run. Suraj Narredu has especially flown down to ride her and although she does need to improve on the form, she looks in great heart and must be respected.
BARBARESCO :- Full brother to Sassy Lass who was a highly impressive winner on debut over course and distance just 10 days ago, looking a touch soft in the paddock, getting baulked for an opening once entering the straight but showing a smart turn of foot once getting in the clear and motoring home to win a shade cosily from Oriana and the race fit Navigator. He has been given a Final Entry for this race so clearly must have impressed connections a great deal and looks a very interesting unexposed improver who could score a quick encore in this prestigious event.
EXCELLENT :- Another promising and improving 3 year old he has not had a run on the Pune track which is a disadvantage but looked a smart prospect in both his runs in Mumbai and is likely to have improved further over the summer. Contesting an inadequate 5 furlongs on debut, he warmed up late on the scene to finish an excellent close 2nd to Columbianaprincess. He duly built on that run by scoring an effortless maiden victory over 1400M next time out, beating Awesome One who has gone on frank the form. He looks to be a smart colt in the making, has been working well on the Pune track and cannot be left out of calculations although the lack of a prep race is a bit worrisome. Neeraj Rawal takes the ride and he merits his place in the field.
ADJUDICATE :- Very highly regarded filly trained by Malesh Narredu she too is returning after a long lay off but appears to be the possible pick on form. She has run twice before, catching the eye when scoring a very impressive maiden win over 1200M in Kolkotta after which she travelled to Mumbai to contest the Breeders Produce Stakes over this trip where she was sent off favourite but was beaten by two smart colts in the form of Pioneer and Mozart with Truly Epic finishing 7th that day. That appears to be by far the strongest form in this field and she has been solidly prepared for her comeback and moved attractively in a recent Mock Race. C. S. Jodha has been booked to ride and although she has fitness to prove back from the long absence, she looks a leading contender and is strongly fancied to resume her upward curve. The one to beat.
BERNICE :- Possibly the dark horse in this field, trained by S.K. Sunderji and the mount of P. Trevor, she was given an educative run over 1000M back in Mumbai and was not given a hard time when finishing 3rdbehind Rose Gold. She looked vastly improved when reappearing over 1200M in Pune, coming with a devastating turn of foot to swamp as decent field and win by a large margin of 6 lengths. She should not be troubled by the extra furlong as she comes from off the pace and is likely to make further progress on just her 3rd start. She is preferred over Eden Rock by P. Trevor and looks an unknown improver who could have the potential to upset.
CONCLUSION :- A fascinating contest and one that is probably worth enjoying without a wager but in spite of the lack of a race run, Adjudicate is the selection having probably the best form in the field and looking fit in a recent Mock Race. Impressive maiden winners Bernice and Barbaresco look the main dangers out of those with a run but almost all the runners can stake a claim.
Race No. 5 :-:- The War Command Plate – Div. II – Class V, 4 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1400M
QUESTIONABLE :- Smartly bred China Visit gelding who has been run 4 times and has been making steady progression with each of his starts. Trained by S.A. Waheed, he made his debut over 1000M on this track back in October and was given an easy educative run. After a couple of easy runs over 6 furlongs in Mumbai with Amyn Merchant in the saddle, he was earnestly tried for the first time over this trip with P.S. Chouhan up but was no match for the winner Arc Shine and ended up a disappointing 4th. He has been eased in grade now down into the lowest class and appears to have improved again as he has been working extremely well. P. S. Chouhan takes the ride again, he looks to be in good heart at present and is worth giving another chance to on just his 5th start. Danger to all in spite of top weight.
HUZZAH’S PHOENIX :- Maiden 4 year old gelding trained by Imtiaz Sait he untried in his first several starts and dropped down in the scales as a result of a string of poor efforts but seemed to have come to hand on his penultimate run when unlucky not to score over when just failing to catch Highland Woods by a neck. He made a modest reappearance over a mile on this track when finishing on to be 3rd behind Aloha who has gone on to frank the form. He looks open to further improvement, should be suited by the 1400M trip and C.S. Jodha now replaces P. Trevor in the saddle. The yard has not had the best start to the season but he looks a good each way contender in this field and should be involved in the finish.
BEWITCHED :- Well bred 4 year old filly who began her career with C.D. Katrak before moving to M. K. Jadhav and again has been largely untried and is quite unexposed. She has run 8 times so far without a win but has run suggestively on her last 2 starts over sprints and is likely to be more at home over this more galloping trip. 3rd to Royal Blood and Abraxas on her last run in Mumbai over 1000M, she had a lung opener on this track again over 1000M when finishing on to be 4th behind Skysurfer in a race which seems to be working out well. P. Trevor who rode her that day keeps the ride, she has been given plenty of work since that run so should be fit and upped to this trip, she looks to have an excellent chance to show her true worth.
HIGHLAND WIND :- Another maiden 4 year old, this one from the stables of Rehanullah Khan, he has run 10 times so far without much success over distances ranging from 1000 – 1600M, managing to make the frame on a couple of occasions without ever going close to scoring. He had a lung opener over 1000M earlier this season and should strip fitter for that run and the only sign of encouragement is the switch from Kishore Kadam to A. Sandesh. He is another who has the potential to improve and looks to have each way claims.
CRISTO BOSS :- 5 year old gelding trained by Vijay Kasbekar he is still a maiden after 21 starts although he has gone close on a number of occasions but is still searching for that elusive first success. He has already run twice this season, finishing a close 2nd to Angel’s Harmony on his reappearance run and not beaten a long way next time out although finishing 5th to Aberlour but only 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner. He appears to be in decent form this season and N.S. Parmar who has ridden him both times this season keeps the ride. A leap of faith is required to support him for win purposes but he should win one of these contests very soon and cannot be discounted.
GANDALF:-Another maiden 4 year old, trained by Asad Siddiqui he has run 12 times so far without a win but did show a glimmer of ability a couple of starts ago when making eye catching late headway from the rear over 1200M to finish a ¾ length runner up to Golden Horde. He came up against the well backed Transform on his next start and his rider did not appear to be too interested when making leisurely late progress from the rear to finish up an uninterested 3rd. He has had a lung opener on the Pune Track so should be fitter and sharper for the run and the switch from Bhawani Singh to K. Nazil is a positive. He is another relatively unexposed type who could strike if reproducing his promising earlier effort.
CONCLUSION :- Very open looking contest and it may be profitable to take a chance on Gandalf. He finished an excellent close 2nd to Golden Horde back in Mumbai and should be suited by the 1400M trip. The well bred Bewitched with P. Trevor up and Questionable also make the short list.
Race No. 6 :- The War Command Plate – Div. I – Class V, 4 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1400M
HUZZAH’S GRACE :- 4 year oldhandicapper trained by Imtiaz Sait, she has managed one previous success over a mile in her 13 starts but has not quit built on that win and appears to be handicapped upto her level at present so she will need to find some more improvement if she is to progress further. She has had 2 runs already this season, both over a mile when ridden by C.S. Jodha and she did manage to make the frame last time out, finishing 4th behind Raise A Grand. D.S. Daman now takes over in the saddle and she is likely to be thereabouts but appears to be more of a contender for minor honours and seems more likely to place today.
LILBETH :- Lightly raced 4 year old filly from the Narendra Lagad yard, she has only had 10 starts so far and managed to score a maiden victory on this track last season, coming with a strong late run to score over 1200M. She did finish a faraway 3rd next time out on the only other occasion that she was tried over this trip, finishing 7 ½ lengths behind Costa Brava and she has raced exclusively over sprints since then without making much of an impression and is stepped up to this trip again now. Her mark has come down to one not too high above her last winning one and the presence of Dashrath Singh suggests that she is fancied. She will need to show some spark though as she has been out of form and is probably a rank outsider today.
TRUE GRIT :- Has an excellent pedigree being a brother to the brilliant Ice Glacier and after having been raced mainly over sprints early in his career, he showed improvement when stepped up to this trip for the first time, running a forward race and ending up a good close 3rd to Golden Weaver who runs earlier in the card. He is still quite unexposed over this trip and has the scope to improve further over it. The in form C.S. Jodha takes the ride again today and with the yard in red hot form, he looks to have a great chance to get off the mark if he can unlock further improvement over this trip.
LORRAINE :- Another 4 year old with an attractive pedigree, this half sister to The Unicorn is trained by Mansoor Shah and there is a suspicion that we have yet to see the best of her after 6 runs. She went very close to scoring over this trip a couple of starts ago in Mumbai, going down narrowly to Fencing but then flopped when an odds on favourite next time out ending up 3rd to Make It Shine. She was given a run in Pune over 1200M with S J Sunil up and the step up to 1400M and the booking of P.S. Chouhan catch the eye. She is another unknown quantity who is yet to give off her best and could be seen in a different light today.
DRAGONMOSS :- Relatively exposed 4 year old gelding trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, he has run 13 times till date and his solitary success coming over this trip in a maiden contest in Mumbai but he has run below par in several starts since then albeit quite consistent for most of his runs but he was beaten a very long way on his last appearance and needs to show that he has recovered from that. It could be possible that he goes well fresh as he has been blazing the track in his preparatory work and the booking of Neeraj Rawal to ride is a big positive. He is likely to be in contention if he has returned to his best and is one of several potential winners in this field.
CRAY CRAY :- Well bred and potentially unexposed 4 year old filly trained by young A.M. Jadhav, she has run only 5 times till and the first 4 runs came over the minimum trip with a disinterested rider on board and were used to get her fit. She was upped to 1800M for the first time and N.S. Parmar took over for the first time and she ran a good forward race and kicked on to finish 3rd to Pathan. She is likely to improve for that run and should be suited by the drop down to 1400M. She has been working well since the run, N.S. Parmar keeps the ride and she has the scope to do much better if she is able to build on that last effort.
CONCLUSION :- A very competitive finale and tough to make a selection but the winner should emerge from among the trio of True Grit, Lorraine and Cray Cray.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
