Calcutta pre-derby day 11/01/14

Hello friends, 

                   The pre-derby day card has 8 races with THE CALCUTTA CHAMPION'S SPRINT TROPHY GR.III as the feature of the day,here is my bit of analysis and personal choices,along with investment plans for the day 

RACE NO 1:A class III race over 2000 mts 

The opener of the day has a small field yet presents itself as a very open race. Highly Explosive and Antara are the two previous start winners in the lower class,the former over the same distance and the latter over a mile. 

Razmaden seems to be the dark horse here as it is visibly dropping its ratings,can it make a race of it here is beyond my imagination but not ruled out 

Goliath had earlier run a good second over the same trip this season and on that run seems to be better than Chalaque but the latter's run is best ignored as it missed the jump and it was a ignorable run,having won before while traversing the same trip is a top contender here especially with the French jockey who had his experience on this track a week ago 

Snow Mountain has also been racing inconsistently but then is alarmingly close to its last winning rating,a horse with a bottom handicap and ridden by a top jockey is proving to be a lethal combination these days. 

Thus my reading of this race is that it will be between Chalaque and Snow Mountain,the former has shown that he can stay the trip and has age in its favour,and on that count is my choice for this race 

MY CHOICE:#2 Chalaque for win 

RACE NO 2:A Race for class IV horses over a mile 

SOMETHING STUPID which won twice in the 3 yo handicap races,then failed to show the same form when put in open class III company,after a series of dismal run now dropping to class IV has to be considered in this race here 

This race also has last start winner Phy'u Leang who in the lower class won extremely well as a favourite and now in the upper class should hope to run a good race 

Riverdown Empress who showed most of the way over a 2000 mts trip,now drops down in distance to a mile on account of that forward run again shall be considered as a serious contender here 

Aviette has run two races so far in its career,will it enjoy the step up in distance is yet to be seen,bears watching in this race 

But then the horse that impresses the most is Crafty Lady,especially its last run where its run is suggestive of a good show on an extended trip,also has the bottom handicap top jockey combination going for it,plus a look at its record shows that it has matched strides with some good horses in the past,thus can shed its maiden status here 

MY CHOICE:#8 Crafty Lady win 

RACE NO 3:A class IV race over 1100 mts 

Based on recent form Sreevahini and Songwriter are the two horses that appeal the most in this race. 

Before discussing on them the horses that can pose a serious threat to them are Rithambra (a 1100 mts specialist,regular on the racetrack on its day can shock) and Modus Vivendi (Western Indian import for the country's top yard,one last chance in this class) 

But based on their last run both the horses who ran on the same day and placed second need to be given the top priority. 

Especially Songwriter who failed to catch the leader will now be ridden by Sreekant and has even with the penalty I hope should run a good race and beat the front running Sreevahini 

My Choice:#2 Songwriter for Win 

Race no 4:A race for class IV horses over 1100 mts 

Rewarding is the default contender in this race,has a decent form line and can hope to perform well in tho set. 

The horses that can trouble are Spectacular style thanks to the claimer on board,can trouble the best and Significant who has a good jockey on board and is the hidden horse in this field 

But Essenza which now gets a good jockey (his form is India this year is dismal though) on board,should jump well and run a good race,and thus is my choice for this race 

My Choice:#6 Essenza for win 

Race no 5:A class III race over 1200 mts 

Songstress which won last week in a very commanding manner in the lower class,now finds itself amongst a rather tough bunch yet should be considered here for its sheer manner of victory the same goes with Fireangel

Atlanza also comes into reckoning here thanks to its performances in the lower class,has a single run in this same class in this bunch can hope to improve on that performance 

In The Twilight who was in some rousing form oflate failed to extend his winning streak into this season,having failed twice due to drifting out a straight course,if only he maintains it he can prove to a good chance bet here especially with the claimer atop 

But they all have to beat Assasin,this horse has struck some good form this season and I expect it to extend its winning streak and score a hat-trick in this race,has been tracking well and gets one of the top jockeys in the country plus its form makes it my personal fancy in this otherwise quite an open race. 

My choice:#4 Assasin for Win 

Race no 6:The Calcutta Champion's Sprint Trophy Gr.III over 1200 mts 

This race can only be looked upon in one angle and that is can Dandified unarguably the most consistent horse of recent times at Calcutta be beaten? Especially when there is an aura of invincibility surrounding the champion son of Rebuttal. 

I hope it at all any horse could undo the local champion like In The Spotlight or Ocean and Beyond,that horse has to posses some class 

Ancient Wonder's career in the last few months shows us that his form is inconsistent yet two things are clear 

1)He can be considered seriously over 6f and 

2)He has raced with classy horses with Mumbai and Bangalore 

The very fact that he has beaten Speed six and finished behind Nefyn when the latter was at his prime tells a story of itself. His very recent form especially his last race and the terms being at a disadvantage for him,I hope he has the class to fight the Dandified,will he go past him is anybody's guess 

Gentle Knowledge what can this horse do here? The lone youngster in this field and a class II winner,can it surprise ? 

The two jokers in the pack are Star Symphony and Crown Rule 

My Choice:#1 Ancient Winder for Win 

Race no 7:A class I race over 1200 mts 

The trio of the first three horses from the same stable will have a say in this race,of the three I personally rate Iverness because of its form above the other two,Sunday Storm has seen better days and please keep it in your pools and don't ignore 

Of the rest of the competioin the one horse that catches the eye is Batista,after repeatedly finishing close to the winner I guess it has a very good chance in pulling it off here. 

My Choice:#4 Batista for win 

Race no 8:A race for 3 yo horses only over 1200 mts 

Secret treasure after running in million races will take the top contender's spot in my book for this race,can hope to improve on its previous performances here 

Amorino won well over 1100 mts and with Alford atop has a lively chance in this race 

On trackworks alone Lexi is catching the eye but the jockey declared to ride in this set is ? 

The win of Impression last time out was very very impressive and only on the basis of that run I feel this horse has a better scope to repeat here and with a decent jockey aboard my money will be on this horse 

My choice:#2 Impression for win 

Days best:Crafty lady 

Good bets:Assasin/Ancient wonder/impression 

Investment plan for the day: crafty lady 3000/Assasin 3000/impression 1000/ancient wonder 1000/Essenza 1000/songwriter 1000 [total 10000] 

Have a nice day,gamble responsibly