Sunday 28th June 2015- Bangalore selections

• Race 1: Shaft is brought down to the lowest class and is the first run on demotion. The trainers intention is positive in the sense he has made his ward to run in division - II by declaring another runner in D-I. However the the choice of Jockey declared dampens the confidence a wee bit. Has the best chance. It is difficult to pick Icepickwillie since this gelding has been running backward races. In the last run he was 14 lengths behind the winner. Similarly it is very difficult to consider Flying Bullet and Western Lady the other two contenders in this race as they have finished 14 lenghts & 10 1/2 lenghts behind the winner in their previous efforts. So is the case of Red Angel who burst her blood vessel last run and was 40 L behind winner. Shaft has the best credentials in this race and at 4/1 represents value.
• Race 2: Topaz, Aakah Teej, Priority, Tokyo Bloom all have some chance in this race. Even though Topaz & Aakah Teej have good earlier runs to back their credentials I am inclined to go with Suraj Narredu's mount Priority since he has accepted to ride for the owner in two races today.
• Race 3: I find the credentials of Dazzling Bay irresistible in this Class-III company and should romp home in style.
•  Race 4: I prefer to go with Cheddar face who seems to have consistent running pattern and with the allowance claiming rider who is doing well should be able to put it across Royal Defence.
• Race 5 : It is pathetic to find the division I of a class III race is not having quality 3YO horsesd to compete. Even more pathetic is that there is just one 4YO Secret Dimension who is awfully out of form from an out of form stable. Among the three 3YO horses Starlet the Delhi based contender Starlet looks to have the best credentials followed by Advocate General who is an unpredictable grey.
• Race 6 : Vijay's Joy is the top performer from Hyderabad. His performance in the hands of a rookie in a Class II race carrying top weight in race No 50 was excellent. Has the potential to beat all. I expect Marine One is the only one who can give Vijay's Joy a run for the money. He was given a horrible ride by K G Steyn in his previous run. Now entrusted to Trevor should give a good account of himself. Knighthood is another horse which is highly thought of by the connections. But lack of experience should work against this gelding in this particular race. So it is with Referent who could not handle a Class III competition in his previous run. In final analysis it is a toss up between Vijay's Joy and Marine One with the latter having a slender advantage because of the pull in weights.
• Race 7 : It appears that Admiral Messi can't find a weaker set than this to compete and if he keeps his wits about him should canter.
• Race 8 : While the focus will be on Nimfea, Frankness, Assidous and eve to some extant on Top Spot, I consider the chances of Jersey Bride as the best in this race. Nimfea was seen to be in distress after completing her run  last time. There is something obviously bothering her. This is Frankness' first career run in Class-II. Assidous is entrusted to a rookie and Top Spot is a habitual bleeder. Jersey Shore who came behind Royal Salute & Pentagram in race No 228 of last season in class I race has had two runs this season with Suraj riding him on both occasions. Now that the spot light is not on him he has it him to claim this cup at lucrative odds.
•  Race 8 : Whispering Pines is the default contender here. Except Orientelle Belle I am not able to find any other contender who can give a fight to her. All Thats Nice may finish on board.

BEST OF LUCK.