The Indian 2000 guineas day-Mumbai 22/12/13

Hello friends, 

                   The Indian 2000 guineas classic day has a long card of 10 races,here is my analysis and personal preferences for the day

RACE NO 1:A CLASS V RACE OVER 2400 mts 

Tara-the lone winner over the same trip in this set of four horses has been seen dropping a lot of ratings,based on its history over this distance,looks like a true contender here given the fact that it has run quite decently over this trip and with a decent jockey aboard in Kaviraj Singh who has a decent record to go by this season,this horse cannot be ruled out 

BLUE SWALLOW-which won its last outing over a shorter trip by covering the leeway in the straight is a horse with some form,gets a quite decent jockey on the saddle and even with the winning penalty,can hope to put up a good show 

Of the two youngsters it is fair to say that SCALANAYA seems to be the better of the two,with a good third behind RICHOCHET ten days ago! 

It is quite an open contest,the first of the day I am going with history of the horse in Tara who has done well over this trip and also having a run benifit this season will be my personal choice for this race 

MY CHOICE:#1 TARA FOR WIN 

Race no 2:A CLASS I race over 1000 mts 

This 1000 mts race could very well be decided based upon the distance suitability factors of the runners here,the three horses that I have short listed here are EMERGING STAR,SAINTS AND SINNERS and ANAHI 

ENERGING STAR-is the horse that strikes every time it runs a 1000 mts contest,with the featherweight it will carry tomorrow there is every chance to hope that this horse may pass the winning post first,the negative if any for this horse is its jump from the gates,whilst running behind two very good horses in both its starts and with an apprentice on top chances are decent 

Saints and Sinners is a 7yo galloper yet showed absolutely no sign of age being a barrier while winning a race at Pune season over the same trip at class II,having run in class I races after that this set seems a tad superior yet on his day can prove to be quite a horse to beat 

Anahi has four win its career of 12 starts and two of them coming at this distance,this horse ran a good second to Dancing Phoenix over the same trip in its last start,is working quite well on the tracks and with Trevor Patel in the saddle for this trainer,one can hope for the best. 

Hawaiian Princess is one horse I did not include here simply because it has not performed over this distance,I may be making a mistake because after hitting form this is the first time this horse will run over such trip but then against a class I opposition I would rather wait and watch how this horse fares here 

My personal preference for this race is ANAHI,it has got good form,good track spurts,jockey in form and will suit this distance 

MY CHOICE:#2 ANAHI FOR WIN 

Race no 3:A CLASS II RACE OVER 2000 mts 

The Ministerian which found the too good Mint Approach during its last run over a mile,had earlier run a fast finishing second to TO THE MANOR BORN over a trip of 2000 mts. But its fourth during the Pune Derby over 2000 mts brings this horse right into contention here 

Isadoro the other youngster from the S.S.SHAH yard now gets a switch in jockey to Zervan. 

Honest Pleasure is the horse to be watched here,especially after its last lucky win over 1800 mts in the same class,penalised and retains the same jockey,can very much tackle the extra yardage and should run a good Rae here too 

The form of horses finishing behind Jeremiah getting a boost thanks to Circle of life's second at the Indian 1000 guinneas and the performance of MINT APPROACH at the very same race makes me believe that THE MINISTERIAN is coming out of some very good races,with age and form to its advantage can hope to run well over this trip and possibly post a win here,he is my personal preference for this race 

MY CHOICE:#5 The Ministerian For WIN

RACE NO 4:A CLASS III RACE OVER 1400 mts 

It was a couple of weeks ago Indian Touch,Oriental Rocky and Quest for love ran poorly and finished in the ruck when NEW WORLD won over the same trip and in the same class 

The reason may very well be for the first two named horses will be their slow start,Indian Touch did show up in the straight before disappearing from the scene,can these horses overcome that bad run is anybody's guess.

Then there is the older Lorelei who by the virtue of a claimer on top can make this race quite interesting and should be there at the most important end at the finish 

Analeah if one goes by the tracks and running style over its previous suggests that it is prepared well and can very well run a good race at this distance and thus is my personal choice for this race 

My choice:#7 Analeah for win 

RACE NO 5:A race for 2 yo maidens over 1200 mts 

Solomon was seen working well on tracks after its very first run over a million behind Be Safe,this one is certainly the horse to beat in this race 

Personify from the Goldie-Brown stable looks like the immediate threat to Solomon,has been tracking quite decently 

But Quasar seems to tracking quite decent too,it is a got abroad horse which can make a good show on debut 

MY CHOICE:#3 QUASAR FOR WIN 

RACE NO 6:A TERMS RACE FOR HORSES 3 YO+ OVER 1400 mts 

Looking at this card I just could not wait to see this race unfold,as I have always dreamt of seeing both Hachiko and Storm Tracker taking against each other over this very trip. (yes they did meet once but Hachicko was way out of sorts then,at MUMBAI Hachicko is always a different horse) 

Yes there are six other horses in the fray including WINSTON and RAJASTAN ROYALS 

Neona also relishes the distance 

Also AMADEUS and STAR TRAINER in the fray this race is a wide open one! 

The terms and the relative runs of the horses and the recent track spurts indicate that the winner should be from this trio of STORM TRACKER,AMADEUS or HACHIKO 

Yes Hachiko because after its run over 1600 mts the trainer has given it a couple of spurts and now over this distance he is a horse that has to be looked upon seriously here. 

Amadeus because the terms are relatively tilted towards his favour,he likes to travel this distance seem to be working well on the tracks and has a decent jockey aboard! 

But then again as I have always said that Stormtracker has proved out to be invincible over 7 furlongs,yes he is the king of 7f races and has stayed fit and raced well over this same distance in the recent past. And because of that and only because of that I feel that he should be backed again! 

MY CHOICE:#1 STORMTRACKER FOR WIN 

RACE NO 7:THE DELTIN CASINOS INDIAN 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) Over a mile 

Its time for the second classic of this season,9 horses have accepted to run in this race. Mariinsky the lone filly in this field is attempting to run for  her third straight win over a mile in a span of 3 weeks,she has a switch in jockey to Zervan and is a filly in rousing form,she is one amongst my contenders for this race 

FALCON who won the Colt's championship for juveniles last Mumbai season shapes as the horse that can be termed as an 'outsider' in this race despite his record of winning a couple of group races,he has won over a mile in this track and can very well be the upsetter if any in this race 

The Dallas Toddywalla yard has pitched in two horses Falco Nero (horse of the season during Pune) and Silver Streak (who possibly will set a scorching pace for this track) the former may need more distance and the later is there to set the pace 

Then comes the trio of Silver Arrow,Alaindair and MURIOI 

SILVER Arrow from the top yard in the country has an envious form,many would agree that for a 3 yo to win handicap races right upto class I without breaking a sweat is some achievement indeed,this gelding now faces the most important race of his career,seeing classy opposition for the first time after his win on pre-derby day. Has live chances to lift the guineas here and with Trevor on its top can expect the best out of him 

Murioi is arguably the best bred horse of this crop (even if he stayed a class III horse,my opinion on its breeding will stay the same) and has been running some good and some bad races. The fact that he is unbeaten from both his starts at Mumbai and the horse he gave weight to and a beating Circle of life ran second at the Indian 1000 guineas a week back,his last spurt is good and with regular partner Sreekant in the saddle may well be the horse with a very good chance here 

Then comes the big daddy of em all Alaindair,this dual classic winner at Bangalore who has already beaten both Mariinsky and Murioi at classics before,is the one they all have to beat yet again,his prep race over a class I opposition showed that he is getting back to his old self and with Sandesh on the saddle he is the one they all have to beat in the guineas 

My personal preference in this race is Murioi simply because of his impeccable sire lines and his unbeaten record on this very track,he seems like a different horse now and I sincerely hope he runs a great race and with some luck out it padt Alaindair and Silver Streak 

My Choice:#5 Murioi for win 

RACE NO 8:A race IV race over a mile 

Providence who won a million in some fine fashion at Pune,failed to live up to its name on its last start behind New World

Mufasa who won a race over this same distance failed miserably over the monsoon derby trip to Calcutta,having changed stables now and on account of its preparation should run a good race 

There is another horse which has changed stables in Infallible,the new trainer had worked this horse with a great pedigree well and on its preparations alone appeal the most here in this set 

Papillion and Malkia are two other youngsters that run with a good chance in this race 

In this seemingly open class IV race my personal preference would be Infallible as he has been prepared well and over this distance should run a bold race,a chance bet 

My choice:#9 Infallible for win/place 

RACE NO 9:A CLASS IV RACE OVER 1200 mts 

Alecto is a horse that has a very good form to go by,has been tracking well and is the horse to be beaten here 

But then there are some 3 yo in the fray and I hope the winner should be one amongst them 

Vanguard is the one that catches the eye on a very first glance,this horse has a run a good second on debut and with Sandesh on this horse yet again,may well get the nod here 

But on closer look Tempest which also makes an appearence from maiden ranks to a class IV race has been prepared exceptionally well,has been seen in a mock race and can score a good victory here,the only concern if any is its draw on the outside 

Keep an eye on Reach the stars for your pool tickets

Other older horses like Scaramouche and Suntan Beauty can be expected to run a good race too 

In a field as big as this it is moral to play place and if adventurous a win bet,my preference for this race is Tempest and if place odds are more than evens worth a good shot at place I will prefer an e/w bet on this horse 

My choice:#10 Tempest for win/place 

Race no 10:A class IV race over 1200 mts 

Burgundy Rose with a good trainer-jockey combo looks like the horse to be beaten here. 

La traviata You're the boss and Ancient Warrior have all won their maiden races well and are seen to be struggling at handicap races. You're the boss has had some runs in the upper class and with a switch to a good rider its backers can hope for the best 

Again not withstanding the draw number I am inclined to support Reckless over this trip as it is a horse with good form and can do well in this set. 

My Choice:#4 Reckless for Win 

Day's Best:STORM TRACKER 

GOOD BETS:ANAHI/ANALEAH/MURIOI/TEMPEST 

HAVE A NICE DAY,GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY 

P.S.The past few days my selections are inconsistent and at times way off the mark,I sincerely hope that tomorrow will be a different day. Please feel free to point out at errors and for discussion am always open.