From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Friday, 31st August 2018
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The Yana Plate – Class III & IV – Distance :- 2000M
IN IT TO WIN IT :- Rapidly improving 4 year old who was fancied on a couple of occasions but did nothing of note in his first few starts. However, he has shown marked improvement this year once stepping upto middle distance trips and has been successful in his last 3 starts. Securing his maiden success in Mumbai back in February over a mile beating Admo by ¾ length, he went on to score a convincing victory over Tar Heel and Yellowstone over a mile and a quarter in April. Reappearing over 1800M earlier this season, he went on to score a most impressive 4 ½ length win over Kimberella and seems to have maintained his form and fitness since that run. He has been fortunate to be able to have won all his 3 races in the same class and has now been upped a further 7 kilos. He appears to be progressing at a rate of knots and may have further improvement left in him still. C.S. Jodha who has ridden him on all his wins takes the ride again today, he looks in great heart at present but has to concede plenty of weight to another progressive filly Star Aligned so he is likely to face his most serious test today. Expected to be in the first two.
GLORIOSUS :- Sparingly raced 4 year old trained by Imtiaz Sait, he does not appear to be totally straightforward but clearly does have ability and is a winner of 2 of his 11 starts having placed on 5 other occasions so he seems quite consistent. His last win came on Derby weekend over 1800M in this grade where he produced a strong late burst to stave off a strong challenge from Costa Brava and win in a fast time of 1.49.58. Since then he has run 2 modest races, disappointing when only 4th of 5 to Texas Gold and then ending a faraway 4th over a mile to Grand Accord. He most likely has been freshened up by the break and P. Trevor has been booked to ride. He clearly could be a threat if running upto his best but may just need this first run of the season and place seems a safer option today.
SAGITTARIUS :- 4 year old gelding from the Sanjay Kolse yard who is a winner of 2 of his 8 starts and looks to have the scope to improve further. Both his wins have come when dominating from the front and he seems to enjoy controlling the gallop and should be able to dominate in this small field. His maiden win came back in January over this trip in Class IV where he beat Adonijah comfortably by 2 ¼ lengths but then finished well down the field in the race won by Gloriosus. He was upped to 2400M for his next 2 starts, seemingly outstayed when finishing 2nd to Jager Bomb but then managing to score next time out over Lady Be Good. He has had a lung opener this season to blow away the cobwebs so should be fit and ready to go and Sandesh takes over in the saddle from S.A. Amit. He is likely to try and make all the running and must be respected and given a strong chance.
STAR ALIGNED :-Rapidly improving and well bred 4 year old filly from the powerful Pesi Shroff yard, she has had just 3 runs so far so stands the maximum chance to improve amongst this lot. She made her debut in Mumbai over 1400M in January and was given an easy educative run with her jockey not being hard on her and she ran well to finish a close 4th to Rain Dance, only beaten 2 lengths into 4th. She was again tried over the same trip next time out and showed some improvement when in the firing line and ending a close 3rd to Star of Thea again beaten only a length and a quarter. She looked very well when strongly fancied on her reappearance run over a mile 12 days ago and showed a neat turn of foot to win going away by 3 ½ lengths from Daughterofthesun with the pair pulling well clear of the rest. She has been handed a 6 ½ kilo penalty for that win but seems to have plenty of improvement left in her and has the advantage of receiving 8 ½ kilos from In It To Win It. S. Zervan who rode her that day keeps the ride and at the weights, she appears to have an excellent chance to win again.
CONCLUSION :- With Adhiraj entering two other runners to ensure the race goes through, it is clear that In It To Win It is very well fancied but he has to concede 8 ½ kilos to another very promising sort in the shape of Star Aligned. She looked to have furnished and improved considerably over the summer and was a very stylish winner over a mile 12 days ago. She is likely to improve and benefit from the run and is confidently selected to continue her winning ways. In It To Win It looks the next best although the front running Sagittarius also looks dangerous if allowed an easy lead
Race No. 2 :- The Mayor’s Trophy – Terms Maiden 3 Year Olds – Distance :- 1800M
CAVAROZZI :- One of 2 runners from the Pesi Shroff yard in this contest and looks the lesser fancied of the two judging from the jockey bookings with Kishore Kadam declared to ride him. He has had 3 runs till date, two in Mumbai and one in Pune over 6 and 7 furlongs and has failed to impress so far. He finished last of the 6 runners behind Iron Age on debut over 1200M but then made a little improvement when upped to 7 furlongs, finishing 5th behind Truly Epic with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th all closely grouped that day. He had a decent lung opener over 1200M on the Pune track when finishing on to be 4th behind Kilkarry Bridge and steps up to this more galloping trip for the first time today. His sire Makfi was a Champion Miler who won the English 2000 Guineas and the Jacques Le Marois (Group 1) over a mile in France so he could be seen in a better light over this longer trip. The booking of Kishore Kadam suggests connections may be testing him out over this trip but the field looks an ordinary one and he could score if the longer trip unlocks some improvement. Interesting contender.
LAMBRETTA :- This is another interesting contender from the yard of Karthik G who comes from a family which has thrown some decent types in the past most notably Hachiko in Western India and further back Diamond King who was a winner of 19 races. She was highly campaigned in her 2 starts in Mumbai, finishing last of 4 in the Gool S Poonawalla Million and finishing down the field in the B.K. Rattonsey Multi Million so this opposition looks decidedly easier and she too is tackling a new trip for the first time. She was given a lung opener over 1400M earlier this season where she ran a forward race racing wide throughout in the hands of an inexperienced claimer and A. Imran Khan takes over in the saddle today. She is an unknown quantity who could be anything and is another who could strike if suited by more galloping ground. Looks the dark horse here.
RED CARNATION :- Trained by Narendra Lagad, this full brother to Tar Heel appears to be the only one in this field who has some placed form to his name although he has not exactly been improving with every start. He made an eye catching debut back in Mumbai when finishing on nicely to be runner up to Between The Waters over what appeared an inadequate 5 furlongs and was fancied on his reappearance upped to 7 furlongs but could only finish 3rd to Awesome One with runner up Lethal Steps not really strengthening the form next time out. He then appeared to take a backward step when dropped in trip to 6 furlongs, finishing a poor 7th behind Bernice and he too now takes a marked step up in trip. His sister seemed to come into her own over a mile so this trip is likely to suit him better and he has been working very well for most of this season. The switch from Dashrath to T.S. Jodha is not exactly a positive but he should be suited by this longer trip and looks a strong contender in this company.
RETAINED ASSET :- Good looking Sedgefield gelding trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha who has run 5 times till date and has been well fancied on a couple of occasions but has run disappointingly and hopes are now pinned on this big step up in trip. 4th to Mozart over 1400M on debut when running a forward race, he finished last in the Breeders Produce Stakes and could only manage 4th behind Dazzling Star next time out when dropped to 1200M. His last run in Mumbai came back up at 1400M again but he faded away to finish a faraway 10th behind Excellent. He had been working well in Pune so was tried over 1000M but dropped away in the straight to finish 5th behind Shivalik Queen. He steps up to this much longer trip for the first time and Y.S. Srinath looks an interesting Jockey booking. He looked very well on his seasonal debut but is most likely best watched today over this new trip as he has disappointed so far.
SAVAGE KINGDOM :- The 2nd runner from the Pesi Shroff stable and another who is likely to be suited by the step up in distance. She has run twice so far, once apiece in Mumbai and Pune and seems to yet need some more time before she can come to hand. Outpaced on her debut over 6 furlongs in Mumbai when finishing last of the 7 runners, she showed a little improvement on her previous run this season over 1400M when making a little late progress to be 4th with Lambretta finishing 6th in the same race. Her trackwork since the run has also been modest but the step up in trip is likely to suit her and S. Zervan keeps the ride. She is expected to progress again and could run into a place but may need some more time before she looks ready to shed her maiden tag.
CONCLUSION :- A difficult puzzle to unravel with no clear form pointers and Red Carnation appearing to be the only one with some sort of form. It might be worth taking a chance on Lambretta. She was very highly campaigned on her 2 starts in Mumbai and last time out was clearly out for an airing when racing wide throughout in the hands of a whipless apprentice. The yard has been in good form recently and A. Imran Khan takes over in the saddle today. Cavarozzi could also find improvement on the step up to this trip and also looks interesting.
Race No. 3 :- The Glasnost Plate – Div.II – Class IV & V, 5 Years and Over – Distance :- 1400M – No Whips allowed
RAIN DANCE :- Well bred 6 year old mare trained by M. P. Jodha, she has run 30 times till date, with 3 wins and 3 seconds to her name but appears to have been in good form in her last few starts. Her last win came just a couple of starts ago in a similar contest in Mumbai over 1200M where she got up late to beat Knight’s Quest and Make It Shine with the same rider on board. She ran well next time out when upped to this trip, finishing on late again to be 5th just in front of Eiger’s Tiger with Cosimo 2nd on that occasion. She had an introductory run over 1200M on the opening day and again made late progress to finish a close 6th behind Grey Flannel and she should strip fitter for that run. She has been working well since the run, D.R. Shubham gets along with her well and in spite of being top weight, she seems in good order at present and looks a strong contender to succeed.
RED’S REVENGE :- Well bred China Visit 5 year old from the stable of Rehanullah Khan, one suspects we have yet to see the best of him as he was relatively untried while in the care of C.D. Katrak in the early stages of his career. He has had 17 runs till date and managed just a solitary success which came over this trip back in January where he beat Ebony and Sassy Lass which looks decent form. However, he failed to impress and build on that win in his 4 subsequent starts in Mumbai and although not running badly, did not really show much improvement. He has been given a lung opener this season with K. Nazil up and the booking of A. Sandesh today suggests that connections fancy their chances.
COSIMO :- Another experienced and established 6 year old handicapper who began his career with Altamash A Ahmed as Master of Trinity before moving to Narendra Lagad and having his name changed. He has run 21 times in total and also has managed just a solitary success, coming over this trip in April 2017 where he had Rain Dance comfortably held in 3rd. He looks well placed on the scale with Rain Dance on subsequent form as well and although he has not managed to earn a further success, he has gone close on a couple of occasions. He has already had 2 runs this term both over longer trips so should be fit enough now and Zervan who rode him in the Independence Million last time out keeps the ride. He looks to be on a handy mark at present, and looks to have a strong handicap chance if he is in a galloping mood.
EIGER’S TIGER :- 2nd runner from the Lagad yard and another who looks extremely well handicapped on the pick of his form. A veteran of 37 starts he has won twice before but has placed on several occasions including when finishing 3rd the last twice. He has already run twice this season, on the first occasion ending a faraway 3rd behind Angels Touch and Sandalphon and last time out ending a very close 3rd in a 3 way photo with A. Sandesh up, going down narrowly to Aberlour and Arrecife. The switch to inexperienced claimer Aniket Karande who is yet to win a race is a deterrent though so although he should run well and can be involved in the finish, the yard seems to have a better chance on Cosimo.
FABIO :- Enigmatic and unreliable 5 year old gelding trained by Sanjay Kolse, he won his maiden race over 1000M as a 2 year old on his debut run but has failed to add to that success since then with his career tally now standing at 20 runs. He has managed to place on a couple of occasions but has been generally inconsistent and his last decent run was way back in December when he finished 3rd behind In The Stars over 1200M. He had a lung opener this season again over 1200M with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle but ran poorly and K. Nazil takes over today. He does appear to have come down substantially in the scales and does appear to be well handicapped but needs to show a little more spark on the track and can be considered as a rank outsider today.
CONCLUSION :- All things considered, Cosimo is the selection in this open looking handicap as he looks well placed on the scales, should be fit after 2 runs already this season and will be suited by the drop to this trip. Rain Dance appears to be the main danger while Red’s Revenge also merits consideration.
Race No. 4 :- The Idar Gold Trophy (Grade 3) – Terms – 4 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 2400M
SELFIE STAR :- Strapping grey half sister to Silver Beauty, she was the Classic hopeful from the yard but came up short in most of her Classic attempts although she did emulate her sister by finishing a fair 3rd in the Indian Oaks behind Manifold and Themis and earned some valuable Black Type since. She ran disappointingly in the Hyderabad Oaks and Bangalore Derby and was no match for Caprisca when the pair met over 1800M back in Mumbai. She has shown good improvement this season though and after finishing runner up to Auburn under top weight over a mile, she produced a career best performance last time out in the Eve Champion Trophy to defy the handicap and score a fluent win over B Fifty Two, breaking the course record in the process. She is yet to convince that she stays a truly run mile and a half and 2000M clearly appears to be her best trip but there is a chance in this small field that the race will be run at a slower pace. She looks out handicapped with Caprisca on the face of it and it is hard to see her defeating him but she looks vastly improved of late and should not be ignored with Neeraj Rawal keeping the ride.
SANA:- Bred in the purple Multidimensional filly who is the Queen of Kolkotta and has performed with credit in her limited career so far. She has finished in the first two in 12 of her 16 starts winning on 5 occasions and was the winner of the Kolkotta Monsoon Derby, The Kolkotta Guineas and Oaks by wide margins and runner up to Aggregated in the Kolkotta Derby. She failed to fire in the Indian Derby where she finished down the field but has been running reasonably well during the Bangalore Summer, finishing a close 3rd to Dancing Dragon in The Maharaja’s Cup over 2200M and then runner up to Desert God in the Bangalore St. Leger. She comes here in the pink of condition, Y.S. Srinath has been booked to ride and she stays the trip well so looks a live danger to Caprisca.
CAPRISCA :- Well bred 4 year old from the Imtiaz Sait who really seems to be coming into his own and has an excellent record of 5 wins from his 11 starts till date including the last 3 in a row, the last of those coming over 2000M on this track although that looked a relatively dead field. 3rd in the Pune Derby on this track last season he finished mid division in the 2000 Guineas but has not looked back since and won with a bit to spare last time out. He is tackling this trip for the first time but is expected to stay well and P. Trevor keeps the ride. He looks to be progressing nicely at present and is a leading contender to earn himself a first Group success.
WINTER RENAISSANCE :- Stable mate of Caprisca who looks interesting over this trip and should be fit after 2 runs this season. However, she finished well beaten by both Selfie Star and Caprisca on her 2 runs this term and although the longer trip is likely to be in her favour, she looks unsuited by the Terms of the race and it is hard to see her reverse the form with either of the younger horses. She may have been entered to ensure a strong pace for Caprisca and looks an outsider at best
CONCLUSION :- This should be a straight fight between Caprisca and Sana with the colt enjoying the edge in home conditions and looking sure to improve for his facile victory first time out. Sana is a proven stayer over the trip and could make a fight of it.
Race No. 5 :- The Glasnost Plate – Div.I – Class IV & V, 5 Years and Over – Distance :- 1400M – No Whips allowed
PACIFIC DUNES :- BezanChenoy trained brother to Manifold but has come nowhere near the heights reached by his illustrious sister and has been a bit of an under performer overall. Winner of 2 of his 15 starts so far, his wins have come over 1000M and a mile so he appears to be quite versatile although seems to also lack consistency and rarely seems to run 2 similar races. His 5 starts in Mumbai yielded one decent effort when he ended a 1 length second to Centaurus over this trip but he then ran poorly next time out. Stable apprentice Santosh G takes the ride and while he warrants each way consideration if running upto his best, there is no guarantee that he will do so and he comes with plenty of risks.
RELENTLESS PURSUIT :- 6 year old gelding trained by Imtiaz Sait, he has a similar profile to Pacific Dunes with 2 wins from his 18 starts and he is effective over this trip. His last win came in a similar contest back in Mumbai where he narrowly got the better of Dibaba with Arabian Storm and Vengeance Is Mine also behind him that day. He did subsequently finished a close 3rd behind Golden Eclipse and Cosimo and has had a run already this season to blow away the cobwebs. C.S. Jodha has been booked to ride, taking over from J. Chinoy and with the yard in much better form at present, he seems to be a good each way contender.
SNOW BLAST :- Well bred but aged 7 year old mare who still seems to have zest for racing and pulled off a smart gamble over an inadequate 1000M last time out. Her previous win in Mumbai did come over this trip however, and she had been running quite consistently during her Mumbai campaign. She appears to be in good form at present, N.B. Kuldeep will claim a valuable 5 kilos which will mainly offset her winner’s penalty and hence back up at this trip, she looks to have a good chance to provide a quick encore and must be respected.
ARABIAN STORM :- Nicely bred 5 year old who was bought out of Pesi Shroff’s yard by Narendra Lagad who was managed to win twice with him both times over this sort of trip. He has been in good form this term, scoring a smooth success over 1200M earlier in the season, beating XoXo who went on to win next time out and last time, finished a close 4th to Domination again over 1200M in a strong field. The additional furlong is unlikely to trouble him, he seems to be in good heart at the moment and Dashrath Singh who rode him the previous 2 times is up again today. He is up in weight but has been eased in grade now and provided weight is not a stopper he looks a strong each way contender.
DIBABA :- Tough and consistent 5 year old mare trained by Sanjay Kolse, she is a winner of 2 of her 20 starts with her trainer skilfully bringing her back down to her previous winning mark after which she gains her success. She looked like she was ready to get back to winning ways on her last start in Mumbai where she just failed to reel in Sumaaq over this trip and she should be fit after having a lung opener already this season. A. Sandesh takes over from S. Zervan in the saddle she appears to be well handicapped with several of these and is likely to be in the thick of things.
CONCLUSION :- A tricky older horses handicap but Dibaba looks well placed on the scales and is selected to get the better of Relentless Pursuit and Arabian Storm
Race No. 6 :- The Spearhead Plate – Class V, 4 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1000M
BRAVE :- Appears to be the more fancied of the two runners from the Narendra Lagad stable but this nicely bred son of Varenar has already been an expensive failure for his yard on 2 occasions in his limited career. Having run just 5 times till date, he was well backed on his 2nd run over 1200M back in Mumbai but could only finish up 4th to Wilshire and this season he was again a strong favourite on his seasonal reappearance and was being hailed as the winner with P. Trevor up but was collared right on the post by I Am The Way over 1400M. He now drops back to the minimum trip and rookie apprentice P.S. Kaviraj has been booked to ride. He has been working extremely well since the beginning of the season and may be more effective over this minimum trip so warrants serious consideration.
BLITZKRIEG :- 6 year old gelding trained by AdhirajsinghJodha who is a speedy sort and although currently out of form, looks to have come back down to a workable mark and will relish the short Pune straight. Winner of 2 of his 26 starts, both wins have come over the minimum trip and he has been showing out quite well in the morning trials at present. He has run 2 forward races already this season and Kavraj Singh now takes over in the saddle from whipless apprentice. He looks to be reasonably handicapped a present and can blitz them all from the front if he has his galloping shoes on.
BEE QUIRKY :- 5 year old mare with a speedy pedigree who comes from the yard of the shrewd Vijay Kasbekar having been recently acquired from H.J. Antia. She was largely untried and brought down in the scales for much of her career and gained her maiden success over this trip back in December holding off the more fancied stable mate Bohemian to win from end to end. She has only raced 12 times so has scope for some improvement and 3 of those runs have been trial runs for her new connections. New apprentice rider Niranjan Parmar has been booked to ride but she is another who looks well handicapped at present and could threaten from a decent draw
ADELE :- Well bred 5 year old trained by NazakChenoy but is still a maiden but has run just 10 times so like Bee Quirky has the potential to improve still. She did go close on a couple of previous occasions but is returning from a long lay off, her last run coming towards the end of February so she does have fitness to prove back from the long absence. She appears to have been quietly prepared as there is no track work which has been reported and the booking of A. Imran Khan catches the eye. A paddock check is advised to ascertain her condition but if she is looking well, then she stands a strong chance to claim an overdue maiden success with the yard’s limited string looking in good touch at present.
GOLDEN TOWER :- Improving Phoenix Tower 4 year old trained by Imtiaz Sait, she has had 6 starts so far and appeared to be finding some form towards the end of the Mumbai season with two good thirds over this trip. She finished a fair 3rd behind odds on favourite Optimum over 1000M and next time out, seemed to be undone by the wide draw when a close 3rd to Milwalkee and Arc of Passion. She has been given a lung opener already this season and has been working well since then. She has bagged the plum rail draw today which should suit her immensely but she has an inexperienced rider up in the form of claimer A.S. Peter. If he jockey can utilize her speed from her good draw, then the pair stands an excellent chance of gaining their maiden success.
EMOTIONLESS :- Nicely bred but largely untried 4 year old filly who used to be in the care of C.D. Katrak who had brought her down nicely to an attractive mark and she hinted that there was some ability when finishing on to be runner up to Multistar over course and distance last season. She had only 1 run during the Mumbai season and has been given 2 runs here to get her fit. She too has raced relatively less and if fit and ready to go, could spring a surprise with P.S. Chouhan up
CONCLUSION :- Best left alone from a betting standpoint. Golden Tower is a tentative selection if her rider can handle her well from Draw No. 1. Adele also looks a danger with A. Imran Khan up as does the speedy Bee Quirky
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
