From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Saturday, 1st September 2018 - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 31 Aug 2018
From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Saturday, 1st September 2018
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The Macchupicchu Plate – Class III & IV – Distance :- 1600M
STAR COMRADE :- 5 year old gelding from the Karthik G yard who was a one time Classic hopeful but failed to live upto expectations and has developed into a modest handicapper. He has only won 2 of his 22 starts so far although he had finished runner up on as many as 7 occasions. His last win was on this track a little less than a year ago over 1400M when he landed something of a gamble with S Jaykumar in the saddle, easily beating Dibaba and Divine Magic. He had a relatively quiet Mumbai campaign, running 5 times and managing one 2nd place finish over 1200M when an unfancied runner up to Chaplin. He was withdrawn on his intended reappearance run here and the booking of Bhawani Singh suggests that he may be needing this opening run. He has been working well though and could spring a surprise if in a galloping mood.
ARC SHINE :- 4 year old grey trained by S.N. Joshi who has done well for her small stable in handicap events, winning 2 races and finishing second on 6 of her 17 starts till date. She was in excellent form over 1400M towards the latter part of the Mumbai season and scored a wide margin success over Raise A Grand and Sandalphon before ending the season with a very close 2nd to Star of Thea. She has been given 2 runs this season already to get her fit and C. Umesh now takes over in the saddle from K. Nazil. She could possibly resume the progress that she was making during the Mumbai season and looks to have a good each way chance in this field.
GOLD BOND :- 4 year old gelding trained by Imtiaz Sait who has run 8 times so far and has been progressing steadily with his racing and appears to be on the upgrade at present. After a quiet start to his career, he picked up form readily in his last few starts and after returning from a 5 month absence to finish an excellent close 2nd to Dixieland, he went on to win back to back races, first over 2400M and last time out dropped back to 1800M where he beat Counsellor by 1 ½ lengths with the pair clear of the others. This underlines his versatility and he could have improved again over the summer. His recent track work suggests that he is not fully warmed up just yet and could be needing this first run but he appears to be very much on the upgrade and should not be ignored with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle.
HOPE AND GLORY :- 3 year old colt trained by Vishal Gaikwad who is a half brother to Tororosso and has performed fairly well in his 5 race career so far. Beaten by Octavius over 1200M on debut he went on to score a battling maiden success over Augustus Caesar next time out over 1400M before ending up a faraway 4th in the Breeders Produce Stakes behind Pioneer and Mozart. He then went on to finish a faraway 4th in the Shapoorji Pallonji Colts Championship but ran with some of the top colts like Spitfire and Van Dyke so his form looks strong. He was well backed on his seasonal debut over 1400M and was not given the best of rides, ridden wide throughout and ending up a close 3rd behind Frieze and Jetfire. The extra furlong is likely to suit him much better, he should be fitter after the run and P. Trevor takes over in the saddle from Y.S. Srinath. He is running in open company for the first time and looks a strong fancy to get back to winning ways.
ARTUS :- Well bred and lightly raced 4 year old trained by NosherCama who has run 9 times till date and seemed to struggle in her first few starts but seemed to be coming to hand in her last few runs. She won her maiden race on Derby Day over 1800M, scoring easily from Finest Moment and went on to finish a good 2nd to Khartoum over 2000M next time out. She made her reappearance in The Independence Million this season and was one of the co favourites but after racing prominently and leading till the bend, faded away and ended up 9th. She should be fitter and sharper after the run and is still open to further improvement. P.S. Chouhan her usual partner is up again today and with the benefit of the run and dropping back down to a mile, she looks a big danger to all if progressing again.
NOBLEMAN :- Trained by Pesi Shroff, this 3 year old son of Western Aristocrat comes from a good staying family, being a half brother to Germanicus and Phenomenal Memory and has had just 1 solitary start which came over 1400M back in March. He was a well backed favourite that day but found stable companion Kanchenjunga to be too strong and had to be content with ending up a faraway 2nd beaten by 5 lengths. He is sure to improve for that run and strip fitter today and has been given time to develop and strengthen over the summer. He has been well prepared for his seasonal debut, given plenty of work and also a Mock Race so he should be fit enough. He makes his handicap debut off a reasonable looking mark, S. Zervan has been booked to ride and he is an unknown quantity who could prove to be quite a handful. The amount which he has improved is an unknown so he could very well prove to be the dark horse here and bears close watching.
CONCLUSION :- Hope and Glory appears to have the best form and also should come on for his last run where he got going late to finish a close 3rd to Frieze. Up to a mile, he looks to be the form selection. However, the well bred and lightly raced Nobleman could prove to be a live danger, coming in at a low weight. He has been well prepared for his reappearance and has a lot of scope to improve.
Race No. 2 :- The Col. Kaikhushroo Maneckji Bharucha Memorial Trophy – Class III – Distance :- 1000M
PRINCESS P :- Speedy 4 year old filly trained by Dallas Todywalla, she is a speedster who is best suited by this stiff 5 furlongs and is a winner of 3 of her 11 starts. After needing a lung opener earlier in the season, she showed a good attitude to score last time out getting the better of Gallant Knight and the re opposing Wise Child to win decisively. She has been penalized 4 ½ kilos for the win which makes life tougher but looks to be in good form at the moment and a repeat performance cannot be ruled out although she is out handicapped against Wise Child and Malawi. P. Trevor retains the ride and she is dangerous to ignore in spite of the heavy impost.
GOD’S OWN :- One of 3 runners for the Narendra Lagad stable in this race but does not appear to be the most fancied of the trio although she is very speedy in her own right. Winner of 4 races from 20 starts till date, she was in cracking form on this track last season rattling off a hattrick of wins over this trip but she seems to have been handicapped upto the hilt after her last win and is nowhere near that form this season. She did begin the season with a good 2nd to House of Commons with Princess P 5th that day but while Princess P has improved from that run, she seems to have gone backwards. Yard appears to have a stronger prospect in Impala and she looks likely to fight it out for minor honours.
WISE CHILD :- Small in stature but clearly with an engine, this 4 year old gelding from the M.K. Jadhav yard is a solid 5 furlong handicapper but it is a bit disconcerting that he keeps finding one or two too good for him and he has been unable to add to his debut maiden win although he has been placing consistently in similar contests. He began the season by ending a close runner up to Columbianaprincess and was well fancied next time but again made late progress to be 3rd behind Princess P with the same rider up. He seems to have maintained his form and fitness and is now much better placed on the scales especially with his rider’s allowance. However, there is some trepidation in backing him given his past record and although he looks to have a tremendous chance on the handicap, he may just play bridesmaid again today.
MALAWI :- Speedy Bangalore raider who has won 2 of her 9 starts so far and ended up 5th on her debut run on the Pune track behind Princess P and Wise Child. She may have needed that first experience on this track and is likely to strip fitter and run better today. H. Zeeshan takes over in the saddle from Y.S. Srinath and although she has work to do to reverse the form with Wise Child she is likely to run better today and should figure in the finish.
IMPALA :- Improving 3 year old gelding from the Narendra Lagad yard, he appears to be the most fancied of the yard’s 3 runners in this contest with Dashrath Singh taking the ride. He has won 2 of his 5 starts so far and was an impressive winner over this trip in the lower class on his seasonal debut, winning decisively from Nextstar in a smart time. He has been kept fresh since that run and is likely to progress again and a 5 ½ kilo penalty seems fair. He has the most scope to improve against these seasoned handicappers and although he is taking on stronger opposition, he is a leading fancy to score again.
CONCLUSION :- The 3 year old Impala seems to be improving nicely with his racing and is selected to get the better of the consistent Wise Child who looks well placed on the scale. Princess P can upset in spite of being out handicapped and may be worth chancing at a long price
Race No. 3 :-The Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw Memorial Trophy – Class II and III – Distance :- 1400M
PERFECT STAR :- Well bred Classic contender from the yard of Karthik G, he seems to have relished the drop down to shorter trips as he showed last time out while sprinting home over a sharp 6 furlongs and back from a long break to score a resounding win over Glyndebourne and Excellent Gold in what looked a competitive Class II field. Campaigned in all the Classics in the early part of his career he finished runner up in the Bangalore Colts Trial Stakes and 6th in the Summer Derby. 4th in the Hyderabad Colts Championship and 4th in the Pune Derby followed before he finished a gallant 3rd in the Indian 2000 Guineas to Castlebridge and Rochester before running a poor race in the Indian Derby. This was his first start since then so he is expected to improve and the extra furlong should suit him much better. He is clearly a Group Horse in the making and is still running a handicap so in spite of top weight, he is very strongly fancied to repeat with A. Imran Khan in the saddle again.
TURNING POINT :- Enigmatic 4 year old filly trained by S.K. Sunderji she has developed into a very useful middle distance handicapper winning 4 times and finishing runner up 3 times in her 11 races so far. She is clearly quirky and is often slowly away in her races but has a strong finishing burst and won back to back races towards the end of the Mumbai season over 1400M and a mile. She tends to idle in front so never wins by a large margin and was probably in need of the lung opener when 4th to Auburn on reappearance in a race which has worked out well. She has shown improvement in her trackwork since the run and with a fitness advantage is expected to give a much better account of herself today. C.S. Jodha has been booked to ride and she looks a strong each way contender.
BRAINSTORM :- Typical 4 year old improver from the powerful Pesi Shroff stable he has been progressing nicely with his racing and is a winner of 3 of his 5 starts so far. After having an educative run on debut he went on to win back to back mile races in Mumbai in good fashion before travelling to Bangalore for the summer season. After needing the run on his first outing, he bounced back to winning ways scoring over 1400M in Class I. He has been well prepared this term including a good Mock Race and looks to be very much on the upgrade. P. Trevor has been booked to ride and he looks a very serious contender to continue his upward curve and is a strong fancy to win again.
TEXAS GOLD :- Sparingly raced 4 year old colt who has an impressive win record of 4 wins from his 11 starts till date and was a highly impressive winner over 1800M on his last start in Mumbai. He has a telling turn of foot and needs to be delivered at just the right time although he is running after a long lay off and this trip may be a touch on the sharp side for him. He has been working very well though, K. Nazil who has been booked has been riding well in Pune and although he is entitled to need this run after the long absence, he cannot be ignored and must come into consideration.
CHAPLIN :- Another progressive 4 year old gelding from the in form yard of Dallas Todywalla, he has been steadily making his way up the handicap ranks winning 3 races during a productive Mumbai campaign and overall a winner of 3 of his 9 starts. He has been campaigned almost exclusively over sprint trips, all his 3 wins coming over 1200M and the only time he was tried over 1400M he ended up runner up to Celestial Light. He was given a lung opener over 1000M earlier in the season so should strip fitter now and this trip will clearly be more suitable. He has been working well since the run and merits respect with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle but clearly has to prove that he is in the same form as he was in Mumbai. Each way contender.
CONCLUSION :- This should be between the top weighted Perfect Star and the improving Brainstorm who is progressing with every run. The former looks a Group Horse in a handicap and is just preferred in spite of the weight difference. Turning Point is the dark horse who can upset.
Race No. 4 :- The Southern Command Gold Trophy – Terms, Maiden 3 Year Olds – Distance :- 1400M
INTENSE STYLIST :- Once raced gelding from the yard of S. K. Sunderji he made a pleasing debut over 1200M back in Mumbai at the end of March, finishing on nicely from midfield to end up a close 3rd behind Dazzling Star and Golden Hind. Those who finished ahead of him have not exactly done wonders for the form but he is sure to have improved for the experience and he has been moving well in the morning gallops and has been working along side some good horses. The yard’s runners appear to be in good form at the moment, S. Zervan who is also riding well has been booked to ride and he is expected to appreciate the additional furlong and looks to have a good chance to have a say in this open looking contest.
JETFIRE :- More experienced than many of these, this gelding from the yard of young trainer A.M. Jadhav has run 4 times already but seems to have improved over the break. After getting an educative run over 1000M on debut, he ran 2 forward races over 1400M finishing 4th to Spitfire in a strong maiden and then 5th behind Excellent on his last run of that season. Reappearing over 7 furlongs on this track, he showed marked improvement when finishing on strongly from the rear to be a close 2nd to Frieze beating Hope and Glory into 3rd which is much improved form. He has been working well since that run and is likely to be involved if building on that last effort while Hope and Glory who runs in the opener, can give a pointer to the strength of the form. Jetfire has less scope to improve that some of the more lightly raced types but seems to be well within himself and is expected to be in the fight.
ROGUE ONE :- Probably the more fancied of the yard’s 2 runners and the pick of stable jockey Dashrath Singh, he too has had 4 starts till date all over middle distance trips and has managed to finish 3rd on 2 of those occasions. He finished 3rd on debut behind Hope and Glory over 1400M and appears to have the measure of Jetfire on that line and was tried in the Shapoorji Pallonji Colts Championship on his 2nd start but found that to be a very tough ask and ended up 6th of the 8 runners. Back in an ordinary maiden over 1400M, he showed a little improvement to finish 3rd behind Truly Epic and just ¾ length behind Non Plus Ultra who was runner up that day. He was gelded soon after so his last run here on this track is best ignored and he is another who has been working quite well of late. He is closely matched with Non Plus Ultra on form and looks another who could prove value at his projected price. Interesting.
UNIMAGINABLE :- Very highly thought of 3 year old gelding from the Vishal Gaikwad stable, he was a red hot favourite on his racing debut over a mile way back in February he found Van Dyke to be different class and ended up a hard ridden runner up, just about holding off Gold Medalist who finished 3rd that day. He was put away for the rest of the season and has been solidly prepared this term, given plenty of work and also won a Mock Race almost 3 weeks ago. He is expected to improve substantially from that debut run and the booking of P. Trevor catches the eye. However, he does need to reproduce his good work on the track but looks to have a good chance to do so today and should be primed for a big run.
NON PLUS ULTRA :- Daughter of English Derby winner Dawn Approach she is a beautifully bred got abroad who has had 2 starts so far both during the Mumbai season and seems to bring a strong level of form to the table. Making her debut over 1200M towards the end of February she had a nice introduction when picking up late to finish 3rd behind Steppenwolf and Shivalik Queen and then built on that effort next time out over 7 furlongs when runner up to Truly Epic, making the running that day and kicking on to finish 2nd ahead of the late finishing Rogue One. She too appears to have flourished over the summer and has been moving very well in the morning gallops as well as fluently winning a Mock Race so she should be fit and ready to go. She looks to have an excellent chance to open her account today with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle and looks a leading fancy.
CONCLUSION :- Non Plus Ultra appears to bring a good level of form to the table and is selected to get the better of the other lightly raced improver Unimaginable who is expected to give a much better account of himself today. Rogue One who finished just ¾ length behind the selection back in Mumbai could prove to be a good outsider.
Race No. 5 :- The Juventus Plate – Class IV and V – Distance :- 1200M
ORION’S BELT :- Has already run thrice this season and is beginning to look exposed although she has managed to finish 2nd in two of her 3 starts. Having run 16 times in all with 2 prior victories, this 4 year old filly trained by Narendra Lagad made a promising reappearance when a half length 2nd to Mount Mckinley in a bunched finish over 7 furlongs. Dropped back to a more favourable 1200M last time out she finished a close 4th to Epiphany in what looked a strong race for the grade and went on to chase home Angels Touch over this trip last time out. She does not appear to progressing as one would have liked and is likely to find one or two of the 3 year olds too strong again. T.S. Jodha has been her regular partner this season and gets a leg up again today and although she is likely to be involved in the frame, she appears to be more of a place contender and winning looks tough.
SHIVALIK QUEEN :- Speedy 3 year old filly from the yard of Faisal Abbas, she has run 4 times till date all over sprint trips and after a couple of promising placed efforts in Mumbai, broke her maiden on her seasonal debut on this track, showing no ill effects of the long lay off to score fluently over 1000M comfortably beating Falconette and Stormy Atlantic. She will no doubt improve for that run and strip fitter today and a 4 ½ kilo penalty does not seem unreasonable. A. Sandesh who was up last time out keeps the ride, she seems to have maintained her form and fitness judging from her recent workouts and in this field, she looks a strong contender to score a quick encore with the extra furlong unlikely to be a problem.
GODSWORD :- Another speedy 3 year old, this one from the yard of Narendra Lagad, he is slightly more exposed than Shivalik Queen with 1 win from 5 starts but has already run twice this term so looks to have less scope to improve and also appears to be a bit below her level on form. Finishing an eye catching 3rd on debut from the rear behind Columbianaprincess, she went on to shed her maiden tag next time out, beating Clark Kent and Buddy Holly. She was out of her league in the Bahrain Trophy on her final start of the Mumbai campaign finishing a well held 6th. She again ran promisingly on her reappearance here over 6 furlongs when 3rd to Eden Rock but was disappointing dropped to this trip last time out and not able to quicken when only 4th to Fine Tune down to this trip last time out. The field does not look to be a particularly strong one so she is expected to run well again but on the face of it, it will be hard for her to beat Shivalik Queen.
MONTECASINO :- Another well bred 3 year old from the stables of MaleshNarredu, he has had 7 runs so far and has not done much except for his last run in Mumbai where he stepped up appreciably on all his previous efforts to score a battling maiden win over Rio De Janeiro over this trip which was the only time he was seriously fancied. He has been given a lung opener this season to blow away the cobwebs and still appears to be relatively unexposed and untried so could be potentially better than his current mark. His last couple of workouts suggest that he has improved and with P.S. Chouhan in the saddle, he is an unknown quantity who shapes as a live danger.
STORMBORN :-Twice raced Phoenix Tower 3 year old from the yard of S.K. Sunderji, both his previous runs came on the Mumbai track and were decent efforts. Making his debut over 1200M, he finished 5th to Dazzling Star and showed a little improvement when dropped to 1000M next time out when ending up 3rd to Frieze and Baymax. He is having his first run this season so has fitness to prove and S. Zervan who rode him on his previous 2 starts has been booked to ride again. He looks likely to need this run today and is probably best watched.
WABI SABI :- 4 year old filly trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, she is sparingly raced for her age having had just 7 starts but is yet to taste success although she has been runner up twice. She appeared to have suffered a setback after finishing a good close 2nd to Aurelia on this track last October and ran some poor races during the Mumbai season as a result of which her mark plummeted rapidly. She was strongly fancied on her reappearance run here in the lowest class but was no match for XoXo and ended up a hard ridden 2nd. However, she did show that she had made progress over the summer and is entitled to improve some more with a run under her belt. She has been working well since the run and although upped slightly in grade now, is likely to be involved with S.A. Amit replacing D.S. Daman in the saddle
CONCLUSION :- Shivalik Queen was a fluent winner over 1000M on her reappearance and with further improvement anticipated and the additional furlong not thought to be a problem she looks a strong fancy to repeat and is the selection. Montecasino appears to be the main danger along with the bottom weighted Wabi Sabi.
Race No. 6 :- The Ismail Khan Plate – Terms, Maiden 3 Year Olds – Distance :- 1200M
ARROWFIELD :- Once raced colt from the Pesi Shroff yard who was given an educative run over 1000M in April and faced a tough introduction against previous winners in The Bahrain Trophy and finished tailed off understandably. He is sure to have learnt from that experience and stripped fitter and this looks a decidedly easier task. He has only been given a couple of workouts in Pune so in all probability will need this run as well with S. Zervan in the saddle. However, he has an attractive pedigree and if looking well in the preliminaries, could be a dark horse who could upset.
EL COMMANDANTE :- Another interesting looking once raced gelding, this one from the yard of Altaf Hussain, he too appears to be highly regarded and was faced with a tough task on debut when competing in the Banarsidas Million towards the end of the Mumbai season and finishing up a fair 6th behind Run Forest Run. He was gelded thereafter and his having his first run since his gelding but he has been given a solid preparation in Pune including 2 Mock Races and should be fit and raring to go. He looks an interesting prospect with A. Imran Khan in the saddle and is expected to run a big race today.
SHER KHAN :- Surfrider gelding from the stable of Narendra Lagad who was given an introductory run on this track a couple of weeks ago and put in a modest performance over 1400M when finishing 5th to Merlot. He should improve and strip fitter for that run and now drops back down to 1200M. He has been working well since the run, Dashrath Singh now takes over in the saddle from T.S. Jodha and with the benefit of experience, he looks an each way contender in this field and could add some pep to the finish.
EYES FOR YOU:-Beautifully bred filly by Multidimensional out of Margarita Rita with her brother Scarlet Pimpernel a Class I colt in Western India, she looks the part on paper and is another who is having her 2nd start having been given an educative run in Mumbai. Trained by Rehanullah Khan, she is obviously held in high regard by her Trainer as she made her debut in the B.K. Rattonsey Multi Million and was not disgraced when finishing 7th. She should have made further progress over the summer and has been working well in the build up to this race. A paddock check is clearly advised to ascertain her fitness but if looking well and with A. Sandesh taking over from J. Chinoy in the saddle, she looks a frontline contender to score on her first appearance on this track.
PRIMUM NON NOCERE :- Another filly with an attractive pedigree trained by Altamash Ahmed she has had 2 starts already and has had a benefit of a run on the Pune track which is a big advantage. Making her racing debut towards the end of the Mumbai season over 1000M, she was not given a hard time when finishing 4th behind Frieze and then went on to run 5th behind Bernice over this trip last time out on this track and the 4th placed Fleur De Lys has won since giving strength to the form. She has been working very well since that run and in this company and with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle, she looks a strong fancy to make it 3rd time lucky.
CONCLUSION :- Primum Non Nocere who has a fitness advantage over most of her rivals, is selected to prevail today over El Commandante who has been well prepared for his return. Both Eyes For You and Arrowfield are highly regarded and could upset the applecart if fit enough.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
