Mumbai 08/02/15 Analysis and Selections

Race 1:A class II race over 1800 mts 

Generally horses who run in handicap races after a shot at classics should be taken seeiously,this being a class II race a lot of caution should be exercised 

Over a distance of 9f with only four horses in the field,tactics and the pace equation will play a vital role in deciding the outcome here 

Classic Moment on pedigree should tackle this trip with ease,being a filly who is giving weight to experienced older horses and a gelding of its own crop one has to take that fact into consideration.... Her fourth in the Indian Oaks behind Tiger Tops and Aquamarine makes her a very good candidate despite the fact that her last win came in a class IV handicap

Of the two older horses,Honest Pleasure won over this very trip two years back and now with the lone Claimer in this field looks a bit threatening on paper,however it has to find a lot 

Hawker on the other hand is a rather interesting candidate,has been a good handicapper and has worked its way up and is the prime challenger to the youngsters 

JackFrost has been hitting the frame quite often after clearing his maiden in rather controversial circumstances (nothing wrong about him) comes out of the Ruia and with 5.5 kgs from the filly should be a formidable contender with Sandesh who would be looking to redeem himself on the saddle 

Classic Moment looks vey good on her formlines and has to put it past Hawker to win here and is my personal fancy in this race 

My Choice:#1 Classic Moment Win 

RACE 2:A Terms race for horses 3 yo only 

Two horses who have already had a win in their career both fillies incidentally are taking on two youngsters yet to run...... Another race with a small field and tactics  may play a very important role here 

Going by the preparation,Golden Belle who ran a rather good second giving weight to Ostwind is stepping up in trip and is the top contender in the fray 

Spirited Touch having earlier conceded to Golden Belle is now taking on this field having gone over and even winning this trip quite easily,the owner-jockey combination is quite successful too

However,the preparation of Bullrun seems apt to me and as such on that single factor alone should run a very bold race and is my personal fancy 

My Choice:#3 Bullrun Win 

RACE 3:A class IV race over a mile 

Fifteen horses are going over a mile for a class four affair which Atleast on paper appears to be quite competitive 

Glorious Opinion who is already a class IV winner ran a pretty decent race in the higher class where it had finished fourth against younger horses and now after being demoted stands a fair chance in this race 

Although there are horses like Starry Moment,Porto Banus etc there are three other horses that might make this race quite interesting 

Take Cool Runnings who is tracking well now with a change in jockey and is placed well to run a good one 

Fireproof who ran over 9f and won in its last start should consider itself a serious challenger as it has been retained in the same class with top jockey doing duty 

Santa Ana whose last run over 7f was suggestive and now with a claimer in the saddle is the dark un here

Then there is Arrivederci who should improve substantially well to score here after rather a not so-good debut,it has been prepared well and being a horse from top stables one can expect it to run a good one 

My Choice:#11 Arrivederci Win 

RACE 4:A Terms Race over 2000 mts (4yo+)

THE ECLIPSE STAKES OF INDIA 

Three horses and yeah only three horses have accepted to run in this race,the presence of the multi-classic winner Alaindair is towering,he went down to Amazing Grace after scoring a row of graded victories,and is the top contender in this race 

Trainer Pesi Shroff is taking on the champion gelding with two of his fillies,a line through Snowdrift does give her a slight advantage over the former,however her recent form hasn't been that great and that's a cause of concern 

The well bred Sheer Class has been sparingly raced and is coming into this race winning a class I affair over a mile,the tracks are good and being a horse who is receiving chunks of weight I feel there is a chance,a fair one to land the spoils here and is my personal fancy 

My Choice:#3 Sheer Class Win

RACE 5:A Terms race over 1200 mts (4yo+)

THE DR.S.C.JAIN SPRINTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Dancing Prances who has been in quite a form has reeled off win after wins in its last few starts,it's last win however was hard fought and although has a slight advantage against Bullseye in terms of this race still has to work hard 

The duo of Bullseye and Solomon has quite a battle amongst them and others in this race,the former missed out to score a win in its last start however with that run benefit should do well here,the latter is taking on seasoned sprinters for the first time. Of what it has shown on the racetracks and track trials there is lot of promise and I would see how he performs here 

Then there is Nefyn the age old performer who may be eyeing the Sprinters cup during the invitation weekend is prepping itself here,however as it has won this very race before and has a run benefit this season and then followed it up with a good mock race,there is quite a chance that this age old sprinter may spring a minor surprise here 

Quite honestly it's an interesting race with the younger Solomon and the older Nefyn being strong challengers in my opinion,I would go with the latter 

My Choice:#3 Nefyn Win/Place 

RACE 6:A Class III race over 1400 mts

Being a first start winner this year as a 4yo,Goldilocks who eventually gets the same winning jockey is now in class III,although it is not impossible to win on a class III debut I have my own reservations on that,barring that the horse seems to be prepared well and is the top contender here 

Although there are the likes is Draco and Savannah Sound in the fray it is the presence of Zenofic and Quest For Love that catches my attention 

Zenofic under YSS ran a very good race in its last start,now under a able claimer runs with quite a fair chance here 

Quest For Love has been in the class III level for quite sometime without a winning bracket,all runs this season were quite suggestive and now gets a decent chance....  

The ante-post favourite in most probability would be goldilocks,my personal fancy however is quest for love as an e/w or place only chance if odds are decent enough 

My Choice:#3 Quest For Love Win

RACE 7:A TERMS RACE OVER 1600 mts (4yo+) 

THE R.N.KANGA GOLD TROPHY 

True that Commander after struggling in terms races found a class I handicap bunch and beat it well,the top contender in this race 

There is ofcourse some good performers in Trance,Silver Streak and Knight of Ke in the fray who if the most favoured horse fails will be in the thick of things 

But for Be Safe,Zachary would have very well been the winner of The Indian 2000 Guineas it came out of that race and won a class II handicap beating an unbeaten much talked about horse..... True it is taking on older horses,true it might prove to be a tough task but on pure formlines alone Zachary towers over them all and is my personal fancy 

My Choice:#3 Zachary Win 

RACE 8:A Class IV race over 1200 mts 

A huge field,big prize money for a race of this kind will ensure that many factors will play a huge part in deciding the outcome of this race 

There are many well performed horses in the fray,ones with not that much exposure but bound to improve in the fray

On class,the maiden winner plus a class IV placed horse in Praelector seems like the one they all have to try and catch here. With the allowance rider on its back this horse will prove to be a very tough customer here 

Take horses such as Act of Valour (running now with a switch in jockey from the jockey who is leading this seasons chart) Tap Dance (capable of running a very good race with an apt pace scenario) War Machine (last run showed some improvement and if the upward trend continued can look to do good)  Sweet As Honey (a good start to its career and hasn't been able to progress well,a fair chance given due to jockey support and handicap) Melinda (Twice second in its last two starts,good preps ) The Unicorn (Bound for second lifetime start,needs considerable improvement in known form) Moneywise (last two starts are decent enough to earn a place here,is the dark one here) Earth Tamer (last two runs highly suggestive of an improved run) Blend of Elegance (Top jockey in the saddle,good trainer-jockey combination and decent form coming into this race)

Even with all this,a horse I might have missed can surprise me here,this race is wide wide open....... 

My choice is based on relative draw,form,jockey and it is War Machine,given the field it might be prudent to cover with place 

My Choice:#7 War Machine Win/Place 

Days Best:Zachary 

Good Bets:Classic Moment,Arrivederci

Upsetter:Quest For Love

Have a good day....