My Impressions on today’s Mumbai
Races, 02-04-2016.
Race 1: The Jehan Numa Plate Div-2 : Eventhough race is listed as Class % rated
1-26, this race is as good as age group race 5YO & Over. It is a pity that
no 4YO has been accepted to run this race. A quick analysis shows that this
race has been so designed to give Super Bolt, who was a favourite last start (and
was sacrificed in favour of the horse trained by the trainer’s brother), a
winning opportunity. The only challenger Secret Oath, who is now entrusted to
the rider who rode Super Bolt in his last start, is there to get Super Bolt a
decent odds.My fancy Super Bolt.
Race 2: The
Diego Rivera Trophy: When
there are just 3 or 4 runners participating in a race winner picking becomes tricky.
However considering that Melinda thumped her opposition in class 2 by 5 ½ lengths
margin clocking 1:35.91 and the fact that her 3 opponents are running listless
races of late she gets my vote to lift this trophy.
Race 3: The
V R Menon Plate: Another race in the bottom most category.
Allegiance & Charging Empress have finished distance behind the winners in
their previous starts and hence stand no chance here unless the other
contenders refuse to move out of the gates. That leaves us with 4 other
contenders. Jester, is very much in the reckoning due to his consistent
performance in this class and distance but the riders record leaves a question
mark here. Joy Chinoy has seen the winning post first only twice this season (astride
Street Jammer on both occasions), out of 91 rides which is very poor. Diablo is
attempting to run the 2000M first time in his career, therefore is suspect
here. That leaves us with Secret Flame & Pracs. The former 4th
behind Red Fort in her earlier run and getting a positive switch in Jockey stands
a good chance. However my fancy is Pracs who is carrying feather weight and was
ahead of both Jester & Secret Flame in one of her earlier start.
Race 4: The
J Robinson Plate: I always refrain from predicting the outcome
of the results of Maiden 3 yo races especially you have very little information
about the real potential of the participants. However it appears that Eiger’s
Tiger may hold a slight edge over Imperial Heritage & Synchronicity, who it
seems have been getting preparations in the training tracks.
Race 5: The
K M Munshi Trophy: An interesting sprint race. Maleficient holds
the course record for this distance but is conceding 5kgs to his nearest rival
Merchant of Venice who is no mean contender. This gelding in his last start was
up in the van till the last furlong was hemmed in between horses and Rathod was
unable to extricate him. Golden Belle who was the winner of that race is again
in contention but is conceding 5Kg to Merchant Of Venice as compared to his
last start. Ravello has always ben there and thereabouts in a 1000M race but I feel
he lacks the finishing punch to land the spoils. Incentio is long in tooth and
is for the fluke hunters who go by the long odds alone without considering the
capability of the horse against its competition. My fancy is Merchant Of
Venice.
Race 6: The
V P Koregaonkar Plate: The trainer of Stand And Dance it appears
has the least interested in getting his wards winning. Perhaps he is eyeing
Pune season to perform. Of the three other contenders, Alisha’s Pet, Few
Dollars More & Hedwig I am inclined towards the last named since though the
first two named have better credentials they may find it difficult to defy the
penalty they got for their last start winning efforts. My fancy is Hedwig in
this race.
Race 7: The
Jehan Numa Plate Div-1: Looks like a minefield this race. But
considering Golden Glory was a failed favourite in one of her earlier starts,
this weak field may allow her to break away from the maiden rank at 6 years of
age.
Race 8: The
Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy: Again a maiden race for juveniles. Mustang who
is an half brother to Maximus is my fancy here.
Race 9: The
Jayant M Shah Plate: A race for class 4 horses 5YO & over
always throws some surprise results. For me among all contenders Arsenal who
was a facile winner in her last start has been well placed to score an encore
in the hands of the apprentice S A Amit.