From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Thursday, 25th July 2019 - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 24 Jul 2019
From the Horses Mouth - Race form Analysis Guide for Thursday, 25th July 2019
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Race No. 1 :- The Beyond Expectation Plate – Div. II – Class V, 5 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1000M
THEA’S PET :- Formerly known as Rishab’s Pet and in the care of Trainer Faisal Abbas, she is a winner of 1 of her 17 starts and shortly after recording that maiden success, she seemed to suffer a setback and was sold into Narendra Lagad’s yard and renamed. She was off the track for the better part of a year and since her return last October has been untried and been dropping down in the weights as a result. From a high mark of 43, she has dropped into the lowest grade now off a mark of 26, has been working well of late and has a good rider booked for the first time with leading apprentice A.S. Peter taking the ride. Her previous form had all been over 5 furlongs and if she retains her old ability, then she looks to have an excellent chance to score.
OUTSTANDING :- Exposed 5 year old mare trained by S.K. Sunderji she is a winner of 1 of her 22 starts having also placed on 5 occasions and showing most of her form over this trip. She was quite consistent during her 6 starts of the Mumbai season, placing on 4 occasions although she could finish only midfield last time out. She too appears to have been moving quite well in the morning trials and with C.S. Jodha booked to ride, looks an each way contender.
ROMANTIC EYES :- Well bred 5 year old mare who began her career as Goofy Eyes in the care of C.D. Katrak before being renamed and moving to Imtiaz Sait’s yard and she is still a maiden after 16 career starts. She raced mainly over middle distances for much of her career but showed a good improvement upon dropping back down to sprint trips on her last 2 starts, first finishing runner up to Antarctica over 1200M and last time out, chasing home Furiosa over this trip to finish a 3 length runner up. She is likely to have been freshened up further over the summer break and has moved pleasingly in her couple of workouts. Raghuveer Singh takes the ride today and from a good draw in Stall 2, she looks one of the leading contenders.
BOHEMIAN :- Speedy but aged 6 year old mare trained by H.J. Antia who has managed to win just 1 of her 30 starts till date and has had her limitations exposed and has very little scope to improve. Her solitary career success came back in March last year off a mark slightly higher than this one and she was unplaced in her 7 runs during the current Mumbai campaign. Lack of recent trackwork suggests that she may be out for an airing today but she should relish the short Pune straight and with 5 kilo claimer D.R. Shubham in the saddle, could prove to be dangerous if she is allowed an easy lead. Upset chance.
PADMAKOSA :- Owned and trained by Subhag Singh, this mare is a 9 year old veteran who has run 44 times so far and has managed to win on 2 prior occasions. Her last win came way back in October 2016 and she has struggled off late to show much form but has tumbled down in the weights as a result. While it would probably be prudent to ignore her in the overall scheme of things, she did show she retains some ability when finishing 4th to Unimaginable in Pune and having bagged the plum rail draw and with good rider K. Nazil booked to ride, she looks to have a small each way chance.
CONCLUSION :- A weak event to get things underway and Thea’s Pet looks to have found a good opportunity to score a first success for her new connections and reward their patience. She has come down to a very handy mark, has a good rider in the saddle and has been working well of late. Romantic Eyes, who showed a penchant for sprinting on her last 2 starts in Mumbai shapes as the main danger while the speedy Bohemian could be dangerous if allowed a runaway lead.
Race No. 2 :- The Beyond Expectation Plate – Div. I – Class V, 5 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1000M
SKYSURFER :- Nicely bred 5 year old mare trained by Narendra Lagad who has won 2 of her 18 starts so far and was in rousing form during the last Pune season where she recorded both her career victories over course and distance. She has brought down in the weights during the recent Mumbai season and has now come down to a mark which is slightly above her last winning one. She appears to have regained form and fitness judging from her recent workouts and back on her favoured Pune track and with A.S. Peter in the saddle, she looks ready to bounce back and return to winning ways and must be seriously considered.
ISINIT :- Aged and exposed 7 year old mare trained by S.N. Joshi who showed good consistency over sprints during the recent Mumbai campaign winning once and placing on several occasions. Overall a winner of 2 of her 45 starts she has placed on as many as 14 occasions and usually is quite effective in this sort of company. Lack of recent trackwork suggests that she may be a touch short on fitness but the booking of K. Nazil is interesting and she looks to be an each way contender.
SPEEDO :- Another 7 year old gelding, this one trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, he has a similar profile to Isinit, having won 2of his 43 starts and also placed on 12 occasions. Both his prior wins have been over this 5 furlong trip and he did run one promising 2nd during the current Mumbai campaign when runner up to Unimaginable where he finished 4 lengths clear of 3rd placed Bee Quirky on the only occasion where he was eased into this grade. He looks to be well within himself judging from his most recent workouts and with stable apprentice D.R. Shubham booked to ride, he looks to have a strong chance to add another success late in his career.
DREAM TRAIL :- Relatively lightly raced and unexposed 5 year old mare trained by Nosher Cama who has run just 6 times in the past and was fancied for the first time on her last run over 7 furlongs in Mumbai where she ended up a fair 3rd to Saffron Flower, beaten 1 ¾ lengths. She is expected to improve for that effort and is still very unexposed so although she may just be going in for an airing over this much shorter trip, she looks an interesting prospect and could upset at a price with S.J. Sunil taking the ride. Worth keeping an eye on especially if looking well in the preliminaries.
BEE QUIRKY :- 6 year old mare in the care of Vijay Kasbekar who has run 20 times so far and has managed to win once before over this trip. She is usually effective over this minimum trip and has been finishing in the frame on the last couple of occasions. Rookie apprentice Niranjan Parmar who has been riding her usually keeps the ride again and although she has limited scope for improvement, she is worthy of each way thought in this field and can be involved.
CONCLUSION :- Skysurfer appears to have the best credentials to prevail in this upper division with Narendra Lagad appearing to have his string in forward condition. Speedo looks to be the main danger along with the mare Bee Quirky.
Race No. 3 :- The Double Bull Plate – Class III & IV – Distance :- 1600M
BUSHTOPS :- Classy but quirky 4 year old grey gelding from the M.K. Jadhav yard who has run 8 times so far and was thought to be a Classic contender, competing in the Indian 2000 Guineas and Derby and finishing midfield on both occasions. He has always been campaigned at the highest level until date so this looks to be his easiest task in a while and both his previous wins, his maiden victory over 7 furlongs and his mile and a quarter victory in Class III on his penultimate run were gained with consummate ease and he was not disgraced when finishing 7th in the Indian Derby. He has been rested and well prepared since that run and his recent trackwork has been highly impressive. He looks a cut above the rest of these on previous form and with N.S. Parmar booked to ride, looks the one they all have to beat.
EXCELLENT SORRENTO :- Progressive Excellent Art colt in the care of Malesh Narredu who has won 3 of his 8 starts till date and really seemed to come into his own in the latter half of the Mumbai campaign. After being tried over a variety of trips since his shock 6 furlong maiden win, he finally showed that his best trip seemed to be a mile, scoring a battling win over Bhaktawar who reopposes today before following that up with another fighting half length win over Zanzibaar and Truly Epic. He just failed to complete a hattrick dropped to 7 furlongs last time out when pipped close home by Gentillesse with Cormorant half a length away in 3rd. The return to a mile trip looks sure to suit him, he is likely to have progressed some more over the summer and with Yash Narredu taking the ride today, looks set to have a bold show and run a very big race.
BHAKTAWAR :- Beautifully bred 6 year old gelding from the yard of C. Rajendra who took his time to come to hand but was another who excelled during the recent Mumbai season, winning 3 of his last 5 starts and climbing rapidly up the handicap ranks. He is just a length worse off with Excellent Sorrento on their last meeting and is another who has been working well. He has to show that he has retained his ability over the break and has less scope to improve than the 4 year olds but looks closely matched on the scale if picking up where he left off and looks a strong each way contender with S. Zervan booked to ride.
CORMORANT :- Another lightly raced and improving 4 year old gelding who is trained by Faisal Abbas but currently runs in the care of Adil Dajee. He too seemed to find his feet in his last couple of starts and after scoring fluent back to back successes over 7 furlongs, getting up late to pip Princess Eliza a shade cosily and then scoring a convincing win over Dance The Dream (winner since) he finished a close 3rd to Gentillesse, splitting Excellent Sorrento and Bhaktawar and all three look very closely matched at the weights. He too looks to be fit and well judging from his recent workouts and also cannot be left out of calculations with Champion Jockey P. Trevor in the saddle.
FLEUR DE LYS :- 4 year old filly who showed significant improvement after moving from S. Waheed to Imtiaz Sait and was a convincing last outing winner over 2000M, beating It’s A Deal by 2 lengths. This being just her 8th start she looks capable of finding further improvement although she needs to take a marked step forward on the bare form if she is to tackle this much tougher company. With no confirmed front runner she is likely to try and make all the running and is given a small chance to upset with C.S. Jodha in the saddle.
CONCLUSION :- Bushtops, who brings Classic form to the table and looks to have a clear edge on form, is selected to get his Pune campaign off to a winning start. Excellent Sorrento, Cormorant and Bhaktawar are all extremely closely matched on their previous running and it is hard to pick one of them so they are all dangers if Bushtops chooses not to gallop as he has been moody in the past.
Race No. 4 :- The Gamble for Love Trophy – Class I and II – Distance :- 1200M
CLYMENE :- Speedy and well performed 5 year old mare trained by Faisal Abbas but currently runs in the care of Adil Dajee, who has won 5 of her 14 starts and only finished outside the frame on 3 occasions. She began her career as a 5 furlong specialist but of late has shown the stamina to stay this trip and just failed to catch Excellent on worse terms last time out with Gazino back in 3rd that day. She looks to have maintained herself well over the summer judging from her recent workouts and looks to have an excellent chance to score even though she is conceding plenty of weight all around. T.S. Jodha is not the most encouraging Jockey booking but she is weighted to gain revenge on Excellent and shapes as a danger to all especially if ridden patiently.
EXCELLENT :- Champion 3 year old colt on this track last season winning the F.D. Wadia and S.A. Poonawalla Multi Million and while he was unable to shine in the Indian 2000 Guineas, he comes into this bidding for a hattrick having scored back to back wins on his last 2 starts. He is clearly better off over middle distances and is worse off on the scale with Clymene and Gazino but could find the speed to tackle this trip first time out and hence should not be ignored. C.S. Jodha has been booked to ride, he is working very well and is expected to continue his progression and give a good account of himself.
LA MAGNIFIQUE :- Got abroad 5 year old mare trained by Altamash Ahmed who came back from a setback early in her career and really seemed to blossom over this trip in the latter part of last year. She rattled off 3wins on the trot over this trip, 2 of them on this track before her last win back in December where she got the better of Gazino, Excellent Gold and Iron Age in a fighting finish. She finished a respectable 4th on her last run in February in a million race in Hyderabad but has not run since then which is a concern. She might just need this lung opener and is much worse off on the Terms with Gazino today so she will need to improve significantly to return to the winner’s circle and with S. Zervan replacing her regular saddle partner Neeraj Rawal, she looks more of a place prospect.
IRON AGE :- Very speedy 4 year old gelding trained by Imtiaz Sait who has a very enviable record of 5 wins from his 9 starts but just seems to have his stamina stretched over this additional furlong. Each of his last 4 wins have come over the minimum trip and he has come up short both times that he has raced over 6 furlongs. He has been displaying a tremendous amount of speed in the morning gallops and P. Trevor is an encouraging Jockey booking. He is likely to blaze a trail from the front but may be vulnerable to the finishers over this extra furlong.
GAZINO :- 5 year old colt trained by Nosher Cama who has already established himself as a crack sprinter winning 4 of his 17 starts and he looks particularly well handicapped against several of these. He ran 5 times during the recent Mumbai campaign, acquitting himself well on all but 1 occasion and scored a comfortable win over Excellent Gold over this trip. He finished just ¾ length behind Clymene last time out when not being given the best of rides and has hopes of gaining revenge today at similar weights. Yash Narredu has been booked to ride today in place of P.S. Chouhan, his prep work has been satisfactorily and he looks to have a good handicap chance to succeed.
EXCELLENT GOLD :- 5 year old gelding from the Narendra Lagad stable who is an old adversary of Gazino but more often than not has finished behind and looks likely to do so again today. Winner of 4 of his 19 starts till date, his 4 wins came one after another as he was rising up the handicap ranks and he has been struggling with his mark since and has been winless since December 2017. He did run a couple of promising races during the Mumbai campaign but finished well behind several of these last time out and has work to do to reverse the form. K. Nazil has been booked to ride today and he runs off a feather weight but looks to have a small upset chance at best.
CONCLUSION :- This looks competitive in spite of the small field but Gazino looks to have a good handicap chance and should get the better of the consistent Clymene who looks ready to strike over 6 furlongs now. The 4 year old Excellent in spite of the trip being on the sharp side can improve and also looks a contender
Race No. 5 :- The Severriano Plate – Maiden 3 Year Olds – Class IV & V – Distance :- 1200M
QUEEN’S GATE :- Exciting looking once raced prospect from the powerful Pesi Shroff yard who is related to Continental and Windsor Forest and caught the eye on her racing debut over 1200M back in March. Green and inexperienced in the early stages, she was last turning for home but began to eat up ground in the closing stages and was finishing on the fastest to be a flying close 3rd to Princess Annabel and Royal Crystal, beaten ¾ length and a short neck. She is sure to have learnt plenty from the experience and should be different proposition today and that looked a good strong maiden so the form looks strong. P. Trevor who rode her last time out retains the ride, she may be a touch short on fitness having had just one recent workout but she looks the class act in this field and should score in spite of not being fully wound up.
MACAU :- Trained by Hosidar Daji who seems to have acquired a good set of 3 year olds, this son of Chinese Whisper was given an educative run on the final weekend of the Mumbai season, finishing mid division behind Golden Guest and is likely to improve for that effort. He too has had just a couple of workouts so is entitled to just need this run but K. Nazil who rode him last time out keeps the ride and he is expected to give a better account of himself today and can finish in the frame.
TURACO :- Got abroad 3 year old filly who is owned by powerful connections and trained by M.K. Jadhav she was given 2 runs in Mumbai, finishing a fair 4th to Gallantry over this trip on her debut and then running a forward race in the Juvenile Fillies Championship when probably making the pace for owner mate Kariega. The drop back to sprinting looks likely to suit her although she is drawn the widest in Stall 9 and N.S. Parmar takes the ride today. She has shown good speed in her preparatory work so appears to have improved and looks fit and ready to go. She is clearly one who makes the short list and has a good chance to open her account today.
ATHULYA :- Thrice raced filly from the S.K. Sunderji yard who looks a bit more exposed than some of these and also sets just a modest level of form but should have a fitness edge today. Finishing midfield in her first 2 runs over 1000M, she showed a little improvement last time out when upped to this trip finishing 4th behind Castilian with the same rider up. That form does not appear to have worked out particularly well but she has been well prepared for her first appearance on this track and has been working well. S. Zervan takes the ride and she looks to have a good chance to gain a confidence boosting maiden win but may be vulnerable to classier types.
CONCLUSION :- Although Athulya and Turaco appear to be the fittest of this lot, they are passed over in favour of Queen’s Gate who went into many notebooks on her debut and should have the class to overcome her lack of fitness. She is the confident selection.
Race No. 6 :- The D.K. Ashish Trophy – Maiden 3 Year Olds – Distance :- 1000M
GOLDEN ERA :- Chestnut colt trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha who is a full brother to My Blessings and Mine That Bird, both decent handicap sprinters who made an impressive debut in Mumbai back in mid April. Racing over 6 furlongs that day, he was in the rear turning for home but was seen making impressive late headway from the rear of the field to come and finish a flying 4th behind Golden Guest. He is likely to have learnt plenty from that run and should find improvement although the drop to the minimum trip may not be completely in his favour. He has also caught the eye in his couple of preparatory gallops although Santosh G is an unusual booking for the yard. He does not appear to be taking on a comparatively strong field today and is definitely worthy of serious consideration especially if being more in touch in the early part.
SACHERTORTE :- Chinese Whisper debutant from the Malesh Narredu yard who is the first foal of Mishri to race in India and was withdrawn on his intended racing debut on the final day of the Mumbai meeting. A paddock check is clearly advised to ascertain his condition and he is entitled to need the experience on his belated debut. He has been given a decent amount of work so should be fit enough and the booking of Yash Narredu suggests that connections fancy their chances. He could be anything and is worthy of keeping an eye on in this weak maiden.
CIPHER :- Comes from a good family being a full sister to Sassy Lass and Barbaresco so takes the eye on pedigree and like the former, is trained by Asad Siddiqui. She has raced 3 times so far and does not have much to show for it, her best effort being when finishing 4th to Mirabilis over 1200M but she could have found some improvement over the summer and finished just behind Golden Era on her last run. The plum rail draw and the booking of A.S. Peter both appear to be positives and she appears to have strong each way claims and is likely to be involved in the frame.
DESPACITO :- Trained by Dallas Todywalla, this daughter of Leitir Mor catches the eye on pedigree, being a half sister to the well performed Cher Amie, winner of the Guindy Grand Prix (Gr. 3) Runner up in the Nilgiris 1000 Guineas (Gr.3) and 3rd in the Nilgiris Derby (Gr.1) and winner of 4 races. She made a decent debut back in Mumbai over this trip when running on to finish a fair 4th to Whydah, beaten less than half a length by the more experienced Turmeric Tower. She is sure to improve for that run and strip fitter today and has a good chance of turning the tables with the benefit of experience. She has shown speed in her morning trials, S.Zervan has been booked to ride and she looks to have a very good chance to begin this season with a win.
TURMERIC TOWER :- One of the most experienced of this bunch having run 4 times already and probably sets the standard for the limited form on offer having finished runner up on 2 of her 4 starts both times over this trip. She was a close 2nd to Across The Sea on her 2nd start, beaten just half a length and then overcame a poor effort in between to finish ¾ length behind promising Whydah with Despacito back in 4th. She has been working well in Pune and the booking of P. Trevor today is a big positive. She looks closely matched with Despacito on the last run and looks one of the frontline contenders here.
CONCLUSION :- The trio to focus on in this maiden appear to be Golden Era, Despacito and Turmeric Tower and all things considered, the vote just about goes to Despacito who is expected to reverse the placings with Turmeric Tower with the benefit of experience.
Race No. 7 :- The Season Opener Plate – Class IV & V, 5 Years Old & Over – Distance :- 1400M
TIMELESS DEEDS :- 5 year old mare from the Narendra Lagad stable who has developed into quite a decent middle distance handicapper, winning 2 of her 32 starts but placing on 10 occasions. She showed remarkable consistency during the last Pune campaign, finishing runner up on 5 occasions and 3rd once in her 6 starts but we have to go back to October 2017 for her last win. She was given a few easy runs in Mumbai to bring her to a more attractive mark and looks quite well placed on the scale on the pick of her form. She has been working well of late, A.S. Peter has been booked to ride and she looks to have a strong chance to return to winning ways.
FENCING :- 6 year old mare trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha who seems to have been a late bloomer and came into form in the latter half of her career. She has managed to win thrice from 20 starts and signed off the Mumbai season in good form, scoring a stylish 5 length win over Honourable Eyes on her penultimate run over a mile and following that up with a good 3rd to Harmony Of The Sea last time out when upped in grade. She has been given a decent amount of prep work so should be fit enough first time out and Santosh G appears to be a new rider for the stable. She currently seems to be in good order and looks to have a good each way shout if resuming in the same vein.
DIBABA :- 6 year old mare trained by Sanjay Kolse who has been out of form of late but is usually quite consistent when finding form off this sort of mark, winning 2 of her 25 starts and placing on 7 occasions. She usually needs a couple of runs to get her back in a galloping mood so might just need this lung opener first time out and will be ridden by S.A. Amit in the absence of A. Sandesh who has a very good record on board her. She looks to have an outside chance today and can be one of those considered for the Jackpot Pool.
ANGELS HARMONY :- 5 year old mare from the Altaf Hussain yard who has won 2 of her 22 starts till date and comes into this fresh off a victory on her last run in Mumbai where she convincingly beat Isinit by 1 ¾ lengths over 1200M. She has only been penalized 4 ½ kilos for the win which looks fair and C.S. Jodha takes the ride today. She appears to have maintained her form and fitness judging from her recent pieces of work and is likely to make a bold bid to score a quick encore with the additional furlong not expected to be a bother.
REGAL SHOT :- Interesting looking 6 year old gelding from the stable of Karthik G who has been brought down in the scales to what looks a very workable mark and showed signs that he was getting ready to strike last time out when finishing on leisurely to be runner up to Laburnum over this trip. That was his first promising run since his maiden win which incidentally came over course and distance almost 2 years ago with the same rider on board and he is quite lightly raced for his age. He has been given plenty of work so should be fit and ready to go and is clearly one to keep an eye on especially if the money comes for him.
HONOURABLE EYES :- Maiden 5 year old gelding trained by Imtiaz Sait who has run 14 times so far without success and has not yet looked like being ready to shed his maiden tag just yet. He has been tried over a variety of trips and was fairly consistent over a mile during the Mumbai season so this trip should be fine and S. Zervan has been booked to ride. He is likely to be able to win once of these contests before too long but catching him on the right day may be tough so although he should come into consideration, the percentage call is probably to oppose.
CONCLUSION :- As is often the case, a tricky finale to contend with and it may be worth taking a chance on Regal Shot. The 6 year old showed zest for racing after a long time last time out, looks to be well handicapped and has been well prepared for his reappearance. Timeless Deeds looks the form pick on this drop in grade and is also fancied while last outing winner Angels Harmony is also respected.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same).
