Pune 13/9/14 Analysis and Selections

Race 1:Class V race over 1200 mts 

Youngsters dominate the number in this race,5/7 horses are three year olds 

Of the older horses,the one that catches the eye is Star Benevolent. Its been a kind of a horse that I have followed during last Mumbai season,ran its best race in its last start at Mumbai wherein he was outdone by Concorde,he has a fighting chance in this race 

Of the youngsters Leothefiercehorse and Without Fear are the two horses to look out for,the former with top jockey and a trainer who has been scoring this season especially with the jockey seems to have an edge 

However Star Benevolent has the best chance to score here,especially as it gets a switch of jockeys to C.S.Jodha,has a run benifit and its last track spurt is good too. Can hope to clear its maiden against these young bunch of horses 

My Choice:#6 Star Benevolent Win 

Race 2:A class V race over a mile (5yo+) 

Dream Yuga has the jockey switch that can be termed as positive and as such with it's two decent runs should take the top billing in this race 

Nigella,Ice rink,Star Prince all are running on demotion in this race,the first named by virtue of positive saddle support holds an edge and is the horse to be beaten in this race 

However Answer My Prayer's can run a bold race here,it gets a switch to an apprentice who is clearly well above his league,has decent runs and a solitary track spurt to go by! Based on its previous runs and running style can make a race of it and hence is my personal fancy 

My Choice:#6 Answer My Prayer's win 

Race 3:A race for maiden 3 yo over 1200 mts 

On known formlines the horse that comes into this race with good form is Himalayan Queen,now ridden by Dashrath Singh this horse has finished second to Shivalik Storm on debut,the latter is a Gr.1 winner 

However when there are four debutants in this race,this race wears an open look

Of the four debutants three horses in Edudaro,Quantum and Earl Grey catch the eye 

Quantum has been prepared very well indeed,has been on the tracks and is putting up some pretty good work,the outsider here and just cannot be ignored 

However the Shirke pair should give us a winner here,both Edudaro and Earl of Grey are got abroads,the former is seen on the tracks and is naturally the front runner here,however the latter's trainer is known to give nil tracks,the choice of jockey shows intent,and I for one is going to take a chance purely relying on Verglas,as the sire. 

My Choice:#8 Earl of Grey win/place 

Race 4:A race for class IV horses over 1000 mts 

UMARKOT who won its last run as a favourite is certainly the horse in form and definitely the horse to be beaten in this race 

The main challenger will be Tempest who ran a good third in its last start 

However the last start winner in Dark William and Glorious Opinion should both have a keen tussle for supremacy in this race 

As the field otherwise seems inferior I expect one of these two horses to win here from UMARKOT 

The last run of Glorious Opinion was suggestive and now seems to be well placed on the handicap scales,with Kamalesh doing duty has a fair chance to score here and is my personal fancy 

My Choice:#6 Glorious Opinion win

Race 5:A class II race over 2000 mts 

There are two ways by which this race can be solved 

A)hoping that the two highly thought of 3 yr olds can win at this handicap mark 

Or 

B)if not one must pick a winner from the others 

I have seen horses fail in class II as 3 yr olds,yet this race should throw a winner amongst these two 

But for analytic sake the best horse in this field for this distance is negotiator,yet a horse like Highlander cannot be written off completely 

Of the two three year olds in the fray,Tiger Tops has come back from a gruelling Bangalore season,has already gone over 2000 mts where it got beaten by Be Safe

On the other hand Shivalik Storm is a Gr.1 winner,the odds shot up last time when the horses went to the post last time,with that run under his belt can give a good account of him here 

Its a tough call between the two,Tiger tops has the advantage of proper racing season in the recent last behind her,recieves weight and is from the top yard and is my personal fancy here for this race 

My Choice:#8 Tiger Tops win 

Race 6:A class III race over 1200 mts 

Again a race with the same scenario as above,albeit in class III

Of the two youngsters,it is certainly Zadora that catches the eye,first win was exceptional and now in these weights is a worthy favourite 

However it won't be a cake walk with horses like Providence,Quid Pro Quo,Quick Fire,Dhanyavaad(yes its the dark outsider in this race) around 

Oriental Rocky is a genieune horse,I feel the distance will be a little long,yet don't be surprised if it wins 

Yes,its a very open race ! I feel the winner should be between Quick Fire,Zadora,Dhanyavaad and Quid Pro Quo 

Quick Fire is my personal fancy here because this horse was highly though of once and wasn't able to live up to the expectations,in its last run it showed an improved performance and that's simply suggestive of a better performance here and hence my choice 

My Choice:#3 Quick Fire win 

Race 7:For maiden 3 yo horses over 1200 mts 

A bunch of debutants taking on horses who have ran earlier ! A messy scenario 

On breeding alone Zana looks good,was withdrawn earlier and now not seen in tracks 

Barring any improvement from any 3 yo or an amazing performance by a debutant,the race is confined to only two horses in Aleta and Ramesses 

The former is a got-abroad,is showing out in the tracks and is the horse to be beaten here in this race 

The latter is also prepared well and when a horse comes into a race with such prep work from a top trainer,its worth taking a chance and is hence my personal fancy for this race 

My Choice:#4 Ramesses win 

Race 8:A Terms race over 2400 mts (4yo+) 

Belvedre will cut a good pace at the front ! 

Astapi,Amazing Grace and Circle of Life are the horses that can benifit with such a good pace 

Amazing Grace in its current form,despite running against olden horses and despite giving weight and despite having a true contender other than her stablemate in Astapi,should gallop to victory in this Idar Gold Cup,will be interesting to see how the market bets on this race,Amazing Grace is my personal fancy 

My Choice:#2 Amazing Grace Win 

Race 9:A class IV race over 1400 (4yo+) 

15 runners in this race 

National Pride,Flash Drive,Autumn Love and Beyond Horizon come into contention in this race 

However the presence of horses like Mountain Queen and Adams Spirit will make this race very interesting 

Adams Spirit especially when its last run is ignored comes into contention here and may upset here,my personal fancy for this race 

My Choice:#9 Adams Spirit win 

Race 10:A class IV race over 1000 mts 

Cosmic Dancer,the filly carrying top weight after winning in this very class had a run in the upper class and returns to this class,with a good track spurt and ace jockey on top is certainly the horse to be beaten 

However the horses that ran behind Zoe in their previous run in Passion Prince,Mr Morrison,Highway Express,Sunshine Heart all run with a fair chance in this open looking race 

Starsonboard could not carry weight in its last run,now in the hands of apprentice can do well,my personal fancy in this race 

My Choice:#8 Stars on board Win