From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Sunday, 7th April, 2019- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 06 Apr 2019
From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Sunday, 7th April, 2019
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The M.D. Petit Plate – Class IV & V – Distance :- 2000M
BENEVOLENCE :- 4 year old filly trained by Imtiaz Sait who has won 1 of her 10 starts so far and just seems to be coming into her own. After running a couple of promising races in the 2nd half of the Pune season she has been in good form this term barring one poor run. She scored a decisive maiden win over course and distance on her penultimate run where she finished 4 lengths clear of Fanfare giving 1 ½ kilos with Arrecife a neck away in 3rd. Both Fanfare and Arrecife have gone on to win subsequently so it will be interesting to see who has improved the most amongst the three but Benevolence holds the clear handicap advantage on that run. She subsequently finished runner up to Rogue One last time out but appeared to be alerted a little bit too late and that run can be taken with a pinch of salt. She holds very strong claims on the bare form and with P. Trevor in the saddle today, looks the most likely winner in this field.
ARRECIFE :-Lightly raced 5 year old mare from the yard of Zadmal Singh who has been quite consistent in her last several starts and was rewarded when gaining a gutsy maiden success over a mile last time out, given an inspired ride by P.S. Chouhan to get up on the line and win a 3 way duel with Master of Studies and Whoopsidaisy. That win was her first in 13 starts but she had been placing consistently before that in similar contests and she does stay this far. She clearly needs strong handling so it is a good that she has a full jockey booked again although the switch from Bhawani Singh to P.S. Chouhan is a slight negative. She has work to do to reverse the form with Benevolence but should have gained confidence from the win and is dangerous to ignore.
FANFARE :-Well bred and improving 4 year old filly from the in form stable of S.K. Sunderji, she has been in rousing form this year, winning 2 of her 4 races and placing in the other two. Starting off her season with a distant 3rd ironically behind Kennedy and Retained Asset who reoppose today, she went on to score a gritty maiden victory over 1800M where she pipped Rogue One and Sylvester in a 3 way battle. She then went on to finish runner up to Benevolence before adding another success last time out, getting up close home to beat Romanesque by ¾ length over this trip. She too looks out handicapped against Benevolence on their earlier meeting and although she should have improved and A. Sandesh takes the ride today, it looks tough to reverse the form and she may have to settle for minor honours.
RETAINED ASSET :- Maiden 4 year old gelding from the Adhirajsingh Jodha yard who is winless from 11 starts but has showed some improvement when stepping up to distance trips, finishing runner up twice over 1800 and 2000M and actually comes out much better than Fanfare (improved since) on their earlier meeting over this trip. He has run disappointingly on his last 2 runs over 2400M but may be suited by the return to this trip and with Dashrath Singh in the saddle, looks a dark horse who can upset if he is in a galloping mood.
CONCLUSION :- The improving Benevolence looks well placed to return to winning ways after an indifferent effort last time out and she should add another winner for Imtiaz Sait. With Fanfare and Arrecife both looking held on the scale the danger may come from the bottom weighted Retained Asset who looks to have a chance to upset on the handicap.
Race No. 2 :- The Diego Rivera Plate – Maiden 3 Year Olds – Distance :- 1400M
BEEMER :- Well bred and highly regarded 3 year old colt trained by Dallas Todywalla who has had 3 runs so far and still looks to be coming to hand so we may not have seen the best of him just yet. Running a decent race on debut in a strong maiden when finishing 6th behind Thailand and Missing You, he was turned out again very quickly to contest the Gool S. Poonawalla Million and that run clearly came too soon for him as he finished last of the 5 runners behind Free Gold. Rested and given time to improve, he was then entered in the Juvenile Colts Championship over a mile where he ran a forward race before weakening to finish 4th to Trouvaille. This looks an easier contest than his last two starts, and with S. Zervan booked to ride today taking over from David Allan he looks a strong each way prospect and should figure in the finish.
GALLOPING GOLDMINE :- Improving 3 year old gelding from the yard of S.K. Sunderji he has run twice previously and showed a good level of form in both of his starts. Making a promising debut over 6 furlongs in The Usha Stud Million when making late headway to finish 4th to more fancied stable companion Dandi March, he showed improvement when upped to this trip next time out, finding the classy Mystic Bay too strong but finishing a good 2nd well clear of the rest. He appears to have maintained his form and fitness since that run and A. Sandesh takes over in the saddle today. He clearly looks good enough to win a normal maiden in due course and stands a strong chance today provided Wizard of Stocks turns out not to be above average.
ISTANBUL :- Once raced colt out of new sire Total Gallery who is in the care of Faisal Abbas and looks a decent sort. Given an educative run on debut over an inadequate 5 furlongs, he was not given a hard time to finish 5th just outside the frame behind Daddy’s Pride and is sure to have improved for the run and stripped fitter. He is likely to be suited by more galloping ground so should enjoy this longer trip and is expected to have come on from the experience. He has been working fairly well and even though Amyn Merchant is not the most encouraging Jockey booking, he is capable of having a say and being involved in the proceedings.
WIZARD OF STOCKS :- Fashionably bred debutant from powerful yard, she is a half sister to Indian Oaks runner up Eyes For You with her other siblings including Heaven Is Here – runner up in the Bangalore Oaks (Gr.2) and 3rd in the Bangalore Summer Million (Gr.3) and the Governor’s Cup (Gr.3), War Horse (4 wins) and Scarlet Pimpernel (4 wins) so she looks likely to be a very classy sort. She looks to have been diligently prepared for her debut run and although she jumped slowly and finished down the field in a Mock Race in February, she appears to have improved since then and has been working well of late. P. Trevor takes the ride, she should be fit and ready to go and could have the class to beat this lot and win first time out.
CONCLUSION :- While Galloping Goldmine appears to have a clear edge over the rest on form, he could be vulnerable to a potentially classy sort and the Pesi Shroff trained Wizard of Stocks clearly fits the bill. She looks to have been well prepared to make a winning debut and with P. Trevor to guide her, is selected to get the better of the Sunderji gelding.
Race No. 3 :- The Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Trophy (Grade 2) – Terms, 4 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1600M
SERJEANT AT ARMS :- Multi Classic and Group race winner including the Indian 2000 Guineas in his Classic Season he is arguably one of the best milers to ever grace the Indian Turf and has an admirable record of 13 wins from his 16 starts and has never finished outside the first three in his Indian racing career. After conquering all before him in his 4 year old season, he had a stint in America but was not suited by the tracks there and returned to racing in India after a gap of 1 ½ years. He was understandably rusty and not at his best on his first start on Derby Day when finishing 3rd in the Rusi Patel Trophy but looked back at his best when trouncing all before him in The Super Mile where he won toying with the opposition and looked back at his brilliant best. He looks well nigh impossible to oppose against this opposition and with P. Trevor to guide him, looks a cinch to win this barring a mishap. Unbeatable.
WHOMAKESTHERULES :- 6 year old gelding trained by Malesh Narredu who is very classy in his own right and has won 7 of his 24 starts, himself a dual Classic winner, winning the Kolkatta Monsoon Derby (Gr.2) and the Calcutta 2000 Guineas (Gr.2) but he seems to reserve his best for the Kolkotta course as his last 4 wins have been on that track and he has struggled at other centres to match up to that form. He finished 6th to Serjeant At Arms in the Super Mile on his most recent start and although he should run well with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle, he is likely to battle it out for minor honours only.
CAPRISCA :- Enigmatic and unpredictable 5 year old gelding trained by Imtiaz Sait, there is a stark contrast between his good days and his bad ones and while he has proved good enough to win the Indian St. Leger and the C.N. Wadia Gold Cup last time out when at his best, he has been well held by lesser opposition when going down as a hot favourite in a couple of contests. This mile trip looks to be the minimum distance for him and he seems to get along well with A. Sandesh who has ridden him to victory last time out and in the St. Leger. He has been working well since the run and if running upto his best looks to be the most likely runner up.
B FIFTY TWO :- Stable companion of Caprisca who has been a loyal servant to connections over the years but just seems to be tapering off in form and may not be able to hack it in this company. He did take advantage of a decent opportunity last time out in a handicap to gain another success but looks a little susceptible over this trip and against this opposition. S. Zervan takes over in the saddle today with Trevor switching to the Serjeant and should run well but looks a minor berth contender at best.
TURNING POINT :- 5 year old mare from the S.K. Sunderji yard who has won 6 of her 20 starts and has always been a decent middle distance handicapper but has shown significant improvement this season although she is unsuited by the Terms of this contest. Winning back to back races over 7 furlongs and a mile on her 2nd last and 3rd last runs including a decisive win over B Fifty Two, she had her limitations exposed last time out over 7 furlongs and again looks in this race to try and earn some valuable Black Type. Dashrath Singh takes the ride today and she could fight it out for minor honours.
CONCLUSION :- Top Miler Serjeant At Arms showed he retains his ability when trouncing the opposition in The Super Mile last time out and looks practically unbeatable in this field. Caprisca and Whomakestherules should fight it out for the runner up slot.
Race No. 4 :- The Behram A. Engineer Trophy – Class III & IV – Distance :- 1200M
KILKARRY BRIDGE :- Speedy 4 year old gelding from the S.K. Sunderji yard who looks to be developing into a useful sprinter and has won 3 of his 5 starts till date and never finished out of the first three. He has had just 2 starts this term, making a smashing reappearance scoring authoritatively by 4 lengths from subsequent winner Lorraine and then went on to finish a good 3rd to Gazino over this trip last time out. He is returning from a 2 ½ month break but has been working very well so looks to have improved and with A.S. Peter in the saddle, looks set to return to winning ways and is strongly fancied in this company.
PABLO :- Consistent and improving 4 year old gelding trained by Sanjay Kolse who has won 2 of his 8 starts so far and has performed creditably on every occasion so far. He looks to be best at this 1200M trip at present, having contested it in 3 of his 4 starts this season and outclassed the opposition last time out to win by a wide margin. He looks to have maintained his form since the win and his stiff 6 kilo penalty will be somewhat offset by his rider’s 5 kilo claim. P.S. Kaviraj has been among the winners this season and looks 2nd only to A.S. Peter in the current batch of apprentices so he should make a bold bid to repeat and must be respected.
EL COMMANDANTE :- In form 4 year old gelding from the Altaf Hussain yard who has a similar record to Pablo having won 2 of hi 8 starts and has been in cracking form this season over this trip. His last 4 runs have all been over 6 furlongs and he has won twice and finished runner up twice, last time a shade unlucky to be surprised by Arc Shine who snuck through along the inside. He appears to have maintained his form and condition well throughout the season, will be ridden by A. Sandesh who knows him well and although this will be his toughest task to date, he has a good each way chance and cannot be left out of consideration.
EPIPHANY :- Well bred and speedy 5 year old mare trained by Nazak Chenoy she has won 2of her 11 starts and has flattered to deceive on a couple of occasions but has been winless this season in spite of being well fancied on a couple of occasions. She got going too late last time out when a favourite over 5 furlongs and was flying at the finish when runner up to Cezanne and although she is upped in grade without winning, she also takes a significant drop in weight. The 6 furlong trip looks to be ideal for her, P. Trevor takes the ride and she could prove to be good value at a price and looks a dark horse who could upset out here.
CONCLUSION :- In spite of returning from a break, Kilkarry Bridge looks to have the best form and should attempt to make every post a winning one in the hands of A.S. Peter. For those looking for more value, it may be tempting to take a chance on Epiphany who has not been at her best this season and could choose to strike today.
Race No. 5 :- The Kazakh Plate – Class IV & V, 5 Years Old & Over – No Whips Allowed – Distance :- 1200M
TENERIFE :- Consistent 5 year old mare trained by S.K. Sunderji who has won only once in her 11 starts but has placed on 7 occasions and seems to be slowly working herself into form this season. She seems to be effective over this trip at present and after needing the lung opener, she has run a respectable 3rd on her last 2 starts, last time out finishing a close 3rd to Thomas Hardy and Shivalik Queen both of whom run on Saturday and will give a pointer to the form. She is working well since the last run, has bagged the plum rail draw and with A.S.Peter booked to ride, looks one of the leading contenders to score her first success of the current campaign.
USTAD PEDRO :- Lightly raced 5 year old gelding trained by Narendra Lagad who has won 1 of his 8 starts but has been running quite suggestively in his last couple of starts and has also moved well in a couple of Mock Races. A shock maiden winner over 1000M in Pune, he has shown improved form over 7 furlongs the last twice, finishing runner up to Hells Bells on Derby Day before being demoted to 3rd and last time out also making good late headway to finish on strongly and be runner up to Poco Azul in a 5 years old and over contest. He looks to have maintained himself well since the run, P.S. Kaviraj takes the ride and although he is not the easiest of rides, he is likely to be involved and add some pep to the finish.
SUPER MARIO :- Sparingly raced and relatively unexposed 5 year old gelding from the Faisal Abbas yard who has run just 5 times so far and showed good promise on his penultimate start over 1400M when finishing a good close 2nd to Bhaktawar who has gone on to win again. However something was clearly amiss in his last run about 2 weeks ago when he finished last of the 9 runners behind Harmony of the Sea so he has to bounce back from that shocking effort. He still looks open to plenty of improvement on just his 6th start and if he can recover from that poor last effort, then he stands a good chance to score with K. Nazil in the saddle.
SILVER CAP :- 5 year old maiden trained by Imtiaz Sait who’s losing run has stretched to 16 now but was desperately unlucky not to score last time out when being hailed as a winner but pipped right on the post by Transform. He looks to have maintained his form and fitness since the run and looks to have an each way chance with Raghuveer Singh booked to ride.
CONCLUSION :- An open looking affair and hard to pick a clear winner. The winner should emerge from among Tenerife, Ustad Pedro and Super Mario
Race No. 6 :- The Bejan Bharucha Plate – Class V – Distance :- 1200M
GANDALF :- 5 year old gelding trained by S.N. Joshi who has an unenviable record of just 1 win from his 20 starts but had been threatening to strike for some time now and finally gained a deserved maiden success on his penultimate run over 1400M when finishing on powerfully to score over Dragonmoss with the same rider up. He appeared disinterested last time out against Harmony Of The Sea when last until turning for home but made up good late ground when it was too late to finish a flying 4th. He drops back down into Class V company now, A.S. Peter retains the ride and he looks to have a very good chance to earn himself another bracket and has a strong chance to score.
DEMOCRAT :- 6 year old gelding from the M.K. Jadhav stable who has won 3 of his 23 starts and looks to have slipped to a very attractive handicap mark. He has been largely out of form for a long time so needs to show that he still retains his ability but did run a forward race on his penultimate start and found 1000M to be on the sharp side last time out. This looks to be his ideal trip, R. Ajinkya who is in good form takes the ride and he is another who merits each way consideration if returning to his best.
GOLDEN HORDE :- 6 year old gelding who raced most of his career in the care of Bezan Chenoy but has recently shifted hands and is having his first start for new connections, now being trained by Arif Patel. Beginning the season with 3 consecutive runner up finishes in a row in similar contests, he seemed to go off the boil in his last 2 starts and it is hoped that he will have been freshened up for his new connections. Vishal Bunde has been booked to ride claiming 3 ½ kilos in the saddle and if returning to the form of his early season runs, he looks likely to be involved and can strike.
CRACKLIN’ ROSIE :- 7 year old mare trained by Faisal Abbas who has won 3 of her 27 starts so far and has slipped down to what looks a very attractive mark at present. After a string of poor efforts which have seen her mark tumble, she showed that she was well treated last time out when finishing on strongly to be runner up to Xoxo over this trip and should have maintained her form since the run. Amyn Merchant who rode her last time out keeps the ride, she looks extremely well handicapped on the pick of her old form and if building on that last effort, looks very capable of earning another bracket.
SHE IS A SPY :- Maiden 4 year old filly trained by S.S. Shah who’s stable has been largely out of form this season which tempers enthusiasm somewhat. She has had 4 runs this season and 9 overall and after going very close on her reappearance when just touched off by Bourbon Princess over this trip, she seems to have regressed in 3 starts since, finishing 7th over this trip last time out behind Pulverize. The booking of P. Trevor today catches the eye and being a 4 year old, she has the scope to improve so cannot be ignored from the plum rail draw and has a decent each way chance if rediscovering the form of that first run.
NAVIGATOR :- Another maiden 4 year old, this one from the Narendra Lagad yard who has a couple of very good pieces of form to his name but does not appear to be totally straightforward and is winless after 13 starts. He has run 6 times this season over varying trips and showed a glimmer of hope on his penultimate start when runner up to more fancied stable companion Red Carnation but then took a backward step last time out with P. Trevor up when finishing 8th of 14 as a favourite behind Antarctica. He does have the scope to score off his current mark with Dashrath taking over in the saddle today and could prove to be an end of season surprise.
CONCLUSION :- Very competitive and best left alone from a betting standpoint. Gandalf is just a tentative selection in a field with plenty of chances.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
