Unravelling The Classic Conundrum - A Preview Of The Aquaguard Championship Rwitc Ltd. Gold Cup (Grade 2) - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 25 Oct 2019
UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM – A PREVIEW OF THE AQUAGUARD CHAMPIONSHIP
RWITC LTD. GOLD CUP (GRADE 2)
By Cyrus Naterwall
The R.W.I.T.C. Ltd Gold Cup is the final Group Race of the Pune season and hence traditionally takes place on the final day. It is a Grade 2 race for older horses and often ends up crowning the Champion Older horse of the season. Last year, there was a thrilling finish with the unfancied Raees, getting the better of more fancied stable mate Caprisca and Watchmyscript with Auburn only managing to beat one runner home that day. 3 of these contenders prepare to clash again in this year's renewal but the conditions appear to be very different for them this term. This year's a field of 7 runners will line up to face the Starter with the average rating slightly below what it has been in recent years. The stats over the last 10 years seem to favour the colts and geldings with fillies only having managed to win on 3 occasions. Pesi Shroff has won this race 4 times of late but does not have a runner in the fray today.
A summary of the leading contenders is given below.
AUBURN (Champs Elysees x Atwirl)
TRAINER :-VISHAL GAIKWAD
JOCKEY :- AKSHAY KUMAR
RATING :- 103
DRAW :- 7
STARTS :-17
WINS :-6
This 5 year old got abroad mare followed a similar path during the Pune season last year but looked to be very much out of touch and she appears to be a transformed sort this season and currently appears to be at the top of her game. Reappearing in Pune after summering in Bangalore, she needed her first run to find her bearings but quickly returned to winning ways with a powerful performance when dropped into a handicap, conceding weight all around over a mile and getting the better of Bronx to whom she was conceding 7 ½ kilos. She put in an even better performance next time out when returning to Group company in the Fillies and Mares Stakes over 1800M, leading from the outset with today's rider up and never looking in danger of being caught, getting the better of Turning Point by 3 ¾ lengths and having both the Indian 1000 Guineas winner La Rondine and the Indian Oaks winner Roberta well beaten behind her. The additional furlong looks unlikely to trouble her and she has been working extremely well since the last run suggesting that she has come on again. Her penalty means she goes up significantly in weights but there is an old racing adage that fillies in form often tend to defy handicap and must be followed and the same holds true here. Interestingly the last filly to win this Circle of Bliss was also a got abroad bred at Nanoli Stud. She looks a leading contender.
RAEES (Sedgfield x Lost Perfection )
TRAINER :-IMTIAZ SAIT
JOCKEY :- A. SANDESH
RATING :- 113
DRAW :-5
STARTS :-28
WINS :-9
The "Defending Champion" who returns to defend his crown, this stamina laden galloper has already created a unique record having bagged the Suresh Mahindra Trophy – the longest race in the country for 3 successive years in a row and was a surprise winner in this last year, scoring at 15/1. He has followed a similar path to this race as he did last year and also comes into this bang in form, easily getting the better of Vulcan in the Suresh Mahindra. This 2000M trip is sure to be on the sharp side for him but it did not stop him last year and it is hard to keep him out of the limelight. Akshay Kumar who rode him last year happens to be on Auburn today while he has a worthy replacement in the form of A. Sandesh. Except for his win last year though, he has mainly struggled in Group company and may find a couple of these to have a bit more class for him over this shorter trip.
SECRETIVE FORCE (Multidimensional x Secret Garden )
TRAINER :-DARIUS BYRAMJI
JOCKEY :- S. ZERVAN
RATING :- 106
DRAW :-2
STARTS :- 10
WINS :-4
One of 2 out station challengers in the race, the only 4 year old in the field and the one who looks to have the maximum scope to improve but is also very harshly treated by the Terms. Winner of 4 of his 10 starts so far and yet to finish outside the first three, he has gradually worked his way up the handicap ranks this season, mainly over this sort of trip, and after 2 handicap wins over 2000M put in a noteworthy performance when stepping up to this company and claiming the Governor's Cup from My Opinion in spite of being completely out on the Terms. He then went on to finish a creditable 2nd to Desert God in the President of India Gold Cup and comes into this race also in sparkling form. However, because of those performances, his rating has rocketed to 106 and he has to concede weight all around here which is a big disadvantage. Horses often need a run on the Pune track to acclimatize so he does have a couple of crosses against his name but he is expected to run a big race and should be fighting it out at the finish.
TURNING POINT (Surfrider x Avec Plaisir )
TRAINER :-S.K. SUNDERJI
JOCKEY :- C.S. JODHA
RATING :- 91
DRAW :-6
STARTS :-24
WINS :- 6
5 year old mare who is completely out on the Terms of the race but looks to have a decent chance on the handicap although she is attempting this trip for the very first time. Normally competing over middle distances she does appear to be a moody sort and does not always perform at the same level but has showed that she is quite good when at her best. She was runner up to Auburn in the Fillies and Mares at level weights and now receives 3 ½ kilos for a 3 ¾ length beating so on paper at least they are very closely matched and if she manages to improve over this additional furlong, then she could have a say. C.S. Jodha has had a phenomenal Pune season, winning the Derby and this could very well be the icing on the cake.
In the final reckoning it looks like Auburn will crown herself the Champion Horse of the season and complete a hattrick by lifting this prestigious event.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same).
