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 4^th 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.