Bangalore Races 20/05/2017

Race 1: The Lady Gibraltar Plate

Master Glory: This 7YO is entered in this race to maintain racing fitness with a view to compete in 5YO races later and has no scope in this open class IV race.

Internal Affair & Thunder Squall: Both these horses have come down a class after competing in higher class in last start, in a million race, and were adrift the winner by only 2 ½ & 4 lengths adrift the winner of that race. Both have an outside chance in this whip less race. But age is against both and one of them could finish in the frame. Can’t be fancied for a win however.

Amazing Love: Had finished disappointing second to In To The Spotlight as a favourite in his last start almost a year back. Obviously something has gone wrong since he has to be shifted to different stable. Very difficult to fancy in his reappearance after a long gap.

Blazing Faith: Eventhough finishing closer to the winner in his last three starts it is unrealistic to fancy him here as he is a 5YO now competing in open class whereas her better performances came in his own age group races.

Galino: With D Patel declared to ride even the connections are not aiming to win.

Majestical: Single 3YO accepted to run in this class IV race. Has not performed a great deal in his previous 3 starts but has run in some prestigious races. This aspect coupled with the fact he is the youngest in the fray should make him the obvious choice. And he is certain to live up to this expectations.

Happy Dancing: A back marker in every sense should trail the field.

Race-2 : The Astounding Plate Div-2

Wrekin:  This long in tooth runner whose last start was in higher class, is accepted to run to gain experience with superior runners and also in a mission to reduce rating points so that can make a winning or place attempt in age group race. Not today.

Sharnolen:  This no hoper has been running races consistently finishing way behind the winner and has nothing to show any improvement and can’t win this race.

Golden Success: Was withdrawn last start in August 2016 due to lameness in left fore. Has skipped the entire winter season. Not here.

Precious Moments:  This is the first career start for this daughter of BECKETT, one of my favourite horses. Even though the solitary morning work published appears to be very good, cannot fancy here. Must have had some set back early in training for the belated debut.

Ramon: This 5YO does not hold any promise. Consistent backmarker.

Zafrina: Should run at cramped odds as a favourite in this race. This highest rated maiden 4Yo has disappointed many times before but I reckon should get it right this time with expanding odds at race time. Not worth a bet if odds are around 6/10 are thereabouts. Morning work do not show any great improvement however.

Love For Life:  With a last start second in Lower class B class I would not fancy this runner in this race especially when she is forced to run in this class. A word of caution though, if for any reason the favourite loses then I would not be surprised if this runner emerges victorious.

High Profile: Is a 5YO who was a fluent winner of B Class, but broke his blood vessel and finished 25 lenghts behind winner in his last start. Will be closer to the frame but difficult to win in this race.

Hidden Deal: This 6YO runner is accepted to run in this race has very little chance to make it to the winning post and could be aiming to use this experience in order to attempt a win in lower class later in the season.

Cashmere: This last start winner of a B class race does not inspire much confidence with the rider declared to guide her fortunes. Must be planning a coup in lower class later.

Finally it is #7 Zafrina may not get a weaker set to shed her maiden status. If she fails it is racing!

Race 3: The Southern Empire Trophy

            In this maiden race for 3yos ,only 3 horses come into reckoning either by the weight of their earlier performance or by the latest track trials. They are Shaman, Castanea & So Mi Dar. Castanea may grab the trophy since Shaman is expected to fail by the sheer weight of expectations.

Race 4: The Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Cup

       Taking advantage of the drop in rating by 6 points the last start winner of the same class Gypsy has excellent credentials to annexe this trophy race though tough competition could emerge from Top Striker & Siobhan both of he has conquered in his last start win. The joker in the pack is Havelock Princess.

Race 5: The Karnataka Police Cup

            Rafa who is a last start winner of the same class and now running with an advantage of 6 points drop in rating for season change is the one to be beaten, especially with a positive change in the saddle from PSC to YSS. Magistero is out of reckoning with drop in distance from 3000M to 1400M.  Spirit And Truth and Royal Sceptre goes out of contention due to the riders inferiority.

Race 6: The Kunigal Stud Plate

            In this race for 5YO & over in Class 3 Shining Magic who finished 3^rd in higher class in his last start and Mariko who was not far away from the winner in same class in her last start are vying for attention in the betting board. Mariko especially with massive change in the saddle from Ajinkya to Suraj could end up favourite at race time. But I am impressed with Rare And Bold who finished second in his last start ahead of Mariko and advantageously placed in scale today and gets my vote.

Race 7: The Dupont Plate

            Areca Cruise who failed as a favourite in his last 2 starts gets my nod ahead of Star Comrade (Mumbai import), Tanoura & Lamrei.

Race 8: The Astounding Plate Div-1

            Dagobert who has been closer to the winner and who is still a maiden should win this race from the likes of Tamara, Cool Springs & Girl With Pearl.

Best of Luck..

Bangalore Summer 2017- Day 1

Race 1:  Afrikaaner,Grand Empire, As Time Goes By, Cantabria & Concept Win are contenders going by the riders declared.  Previous performance indicates that Afrikaaner & Cantabria are the main contenders. But I have a feeling that the race is between Grand Empire & Concept Win going by the preparations. I am tempted to nominate Grand Empire ignoring the claims of others.

Race 2: In this class B division-2 race the claims of Divino, who has run 2^nd in higher class in his last start are too overwhelming to ignore and if ridden without any ulterior design should win hands down.

Race 3: Automatic becomes an automatic choice in this terms race and for those looking for value can try a small place bet on horse #4 Land Of Liberty.

Race 4: #2 Chemical Romance seems to have no business to lose in this class IV race and looks like a very good double prospect for the rider.

Race 5: The likes of Goldberg, Lightning Strikes, Super Success & Topaz may corner betting I am inclined to nominate Side Winder who has won a race in the same class ( weights raised race) and is at the same mark to win this race. The only worry is  the rider who should keep his wits intact.

Race 6: Lady Barrington possesses the best credentials to win this Class III race. The other two career first start winners Sea King & Kangra do not seem to pose much of a threat since the former lost to Mysore based horse at Mysore & the latter cut his teeth at Hyderabad. The other 3YO runner La Magnifique is a Mumbai import and is not a FSW (first start winner) and hence ignored here.

Race 7: Brunesco who has moved from Irfan Ghatala to Gregory Sandhu seems to have the requisite credentials, having been bridesmaid in the higher class in his last race start against the likes of Regency Girl, A Crown & Shivalik Boy.

Race 8: Taking advantage of the 6 point drop in ratings Flirting Eyes who is now competing in the same class animals, which she won in her last start, may not find it difficult here. The drop in distance may not pose much of a problem in view of the poor opposition.

All the best.

Bangalore Summer 2017

            New season, fresh hopes. Despite many a hiccups the Bangalore racing seasons looks like is set for a timely start. With the lack of any action from other major centers, racing at Bangalore is likely to be competitive. Some outstation trainers have brought their wards mainly for spending the summer in salubrious clime and sharpen them up for gambles later in their parent center. A few of these outstation horses may figure in the classic & competitive terms races, more in hope than with confidence. My take is that those horses that train in Bangalore are always superior to that train in other centers in that the track in Bangalore is the most challenging one and getting success at this center gives an edge over others.

            As usual Trevor Patel & the local hero (or villain depending on one’s perception) Suraj Narredu will be hogging the limelight during the season. The other riders who will get the spotlight are Sandesh, John, Neeraj Rawal & the old war horse Y.S. Srinath. The trainers to watch out for will be the young guns Neil Darashah, Arjun Mangalorkar, Attaolahi & of course Padmanabhan with his superior string of horses. Irfan Ghatala has promised many a time to disappoint. Gregory Sandhu & S Narredu will have their share of success in handicap races though they may not offer much hope in the classic scene. The following are the players new to the scene and will encounter tough competition from established players and this season could prove to be one of learning than of success.

1.       NEIL B. DEVANEY

2.       PRAVEEN JESU

3.       DHEERAJ VENKATASWAMY

4.       M. RAJENDRA SINGH

5.       PARVATI BYRAMJI

6.       K.P.G. APPU

            The performance of the following horses will be keenly watched by me as these have shown good promise in their debut season:

Queen Latifa, 

Lady Barrington, 

Apache Sunrise, 

Glittering Gold, 

Streak Ahead,

 Mauritiana, 

Tutankhamun, 

Botswana Bolt.

I must confess however I have not been able to nominate with confidence any one of the above horses as outstanding. Queen Latifa with her record breaking performance comes close but the fact that she has been embroiled in a drug related controversy and the report that she has had a mild set back in training do not embolden me to assign the “outstanding” tag on her. More over I am wary of fillies and am slightly inclined towards geldings & colts for nominating the best promising tag.

            On the whole while the classic scene remains uncertain, there are many promising youngsters who would do well in handicap races where the real money lies for a serious punter.

            I shall continue to share my thoughts as frequently as possible in this space. My best wishes to my punting fraternity.