Pune Races 11/08/2013

Hello friends, 

                A card of eight races has been framed,with The F.D.Wadia Trophy Gr.2 as the feature event of the day. One can expect a competitive afternoon at Pune

Race no 1:A class V race (1800 mts) 

In a five horse field,one can expect anything to happen.On previous running and relative form the top two horses Blue Knight and Perfect strength appeal,and I believe the winner should come from one of them 

Allegiance who has run previously over sprints now gets a step up in distance,remains a mystery to me

Of the two horses,Blue knight has earlier won last season while going over the same distance where as Perfect strength had finished fourth in one of its start over this trip,in its last start during Mumabi season finished second over 2000 mts 

I am more inclined towards Perfect strength as it seems to be extensively prepared in the track and will go with it,Blue knight has the advantage of a run in this track this season and will be one to beat

My choice:#2 Perfect strength for win 

Race no 2:Class I race over a mile 

Again a five horse field,Star of Gibraltar which is carrying  top weight here,ran 3 lengths behind the winner in super mile cup Gr.1 and now has a claimer on top

Clinton is a horse which has shown some good form and is consistent,has finished twice second over this distance at Mumbai

Demonstrator ran a blinder of a race and devoured ground when it finished second after a longish gap 

Invictus is yet to put its best foot forward in the recent past,has a benifit of a run this season 

Shivalik hero (Supreme star) has matched strides with the best of its age during its classic season,ran a game second in the Pune derby last time around,I would personally watch this run of the horse although placed at the lowest weight 

Again a very competitive race this,the last run of Demonstrator was eye catching and based on that effort and also taking into view that the run was after a lay-off and now is bound to improve,is my choice for this race 

My choice:#3 Demonstrator e/w 

Race no 3:A race for 3 yo maidens over a mile 

Phelps,Insignia and Infallible look like the contenders to me here

Phelps comes into the reckoning after its second to Indiantouch,had earlier finished behind Amistad and Celtic King,thus has a good form line and a benifit of a run this season

Insignia which had run third to Alaindair earlier had run behind the same form line horse Falco Nero on its first outing this season,has a positive switch in jockey with Zervan riding this horse again 

Infallible comes into the picture thanks to its third on debut,this gelding is bred in purple (Razeen-Set Aside) which threw two contrasting horses in Set Alight and Set Ablaze,I believe the horse would have benifited with its last run and should improve on that performance

My choice:#3 Infalliable for win 

Race no 4:A class IV race over 1000 mts (5yo+) 

A 14 horse field for this shorter sprint,Celcius is no doubt a top contender here,this horse has earlier ran third to Garraro over the same trip in the higher class,now takes a drop in class and add to that a claimer jockey in Sandeep Jadhav atop

Mumbai King,showed sudden form when it finished behind the youngster Celtic King in its first outing this season and is now entrusted to Trevor Patel hence comes into contention 

Be cool which ran third to Starsonboard in its only run this season,now gets a hard rider in Ashad Asbar also in contention here based on that effort and switch in jockey 

Blush and Domain Anna come into this race after winning in their respective last starts also can't be ignored 

Be cool has clocked a better timing last time out when compared to Mumbai King when both ran next to next races on the same day,also seems to be placed better on scales. 

But Celcius is a consistent performer at this distance and so is its trainer Faisal.A.Abbas who has turned in a good number of winners over sprint distances so far in this season,thus coming from that yard I would like to take a chance on Celcius who is in no way a pushover here,this horse is on demotion and has been tracking with Dreamliner who had won a race in similar distance on Saturday 

My choice:#1 Celcius for Win

Race no 5:A class III race over 1400 mts 

This race has Barringo after finishing fourth in the upper class over 1200 mts in its last run now steps up to its pet distance with a change in jockey to D.K.Ashish

Moon shadow which had finished behind Amazing Desire in its last outing now goes out with a positive switch in jockey to Sandesh and is no doubt a top contender here 

Victoire and Lorelei had decent Mumbai seasons respectively,the latter's last run is forgettable 

But they all have to beat Señora Bella who started its career by posting back to back victories over shorter trips ran 7.75 lts behind Murioi at the Gr.1 PBMM,now runs for the first time at open class,I feel this horse going by its past records and being the only 3 yo old here (not carrying top weight) deserves a good bet even more so when it comes from the topmost yard in the country in my opinion,Zakynthos the other runner from the stable of Pesi Shroff is also owned by him has good form also expect him to put up a good show

My choice:#5 Señora Bella for win

Race no 6:The F.D.Wadia Trophy (Gr.2) over 1400 mts

Eight 3yo horses take part in this coveted terms race over 1400 mts 

Indian touch which won commandingly on its last track in this track to shed its maiden is one of the two track and distance winner in this set

He takes on seven other horses,out of which Hawker Mariinsky and dancing prances appeal to me personally 

Mariinsky and Dancing prances had earlier clashed in Gr.1 PBMM at almost the same weight difference and the former had the better off the latter and I see no reason why it can be turned around 

That leaves me with Mariinsky and Hawker,two different horses one is an experienced filly and other is a fresh unexposed gelding.Mariinsky is expected to run a big race and there is no doubt that the twice third in Gr.1 to her credit is the número uno contender here,will she be beaten tomorrow is the ? And if so who can beat her..... 

Hawker appeals strongly on four reasons 

1)Only Multidimensional progeny in the field,may like the give in the ground (guessing that the ground will be slightly on the softer side) 

2)The horse that it beat Falco Nero had earlier run second to Alaindair which is the vanquisher of Mariinsky when they met over 2000 mts in a Gr.1 event,Falco Nero  won on its next outing thus franks form

3)A switch in jockey form R.K.Mahesh to Suraj Narredu,the latter is in some fine riding form evident with his Bangalore season form 

4)A course and distance winner as well

But can it beat the experienced Mariinsky? I hope so 

Also Shygirl is clocking impressive time in the track,keep an eye 

My choice:#5 Hawker for win 

Race no 7:A class II race over 1400 mts 

Hawaiian princess which is looking for its fifth win on the trot is taking on Amazing Desire Set to fly and Step up among others 

Amazing Desire who ran in class II after some classic runs won over 1200 mts during its first start this season,now gets a switch in jockey to Suraj Narredu 

Set to fly which enjoys the pull in weights also appeals a lot here 

Step up is very consistent too,can place here if one of the trio falters may upset too 

But in my opinion,Amazing Desire's last win was easy and although penalised for that effort should improve on that effort and win again here in this set,I am ignoring Hawaiian Princess here at my own risk

My choice:#2 Amazing Desire for win

Race no 8:A class V race over 1200 mts 

My interest in this race although many three year olds in the fray is on Sea Pearl,who ran fourth to Celtic king 

Gets a positive switch in jockey and looks to score a victory here in this weak set based on his last two runs and a switch in jockey

My choice:#6 Sea pearl for win 

Day's best:Señora Bella 

Double with Amazing Desire 

Have a nice day,gamble responsibly