Mumbai 28/2/2015

Race 1

Eternal Flame defeated Costa Del Sol who subsequently won the Poonawala Million. Although she is conceding weight but is in a rousing form and looks one to beat. Hidden Soul made an impressive debut but what she beat was a moderate set & will be better assessed later. Polished Chrome looked a high class prospect when won on her debut. Finished faraway last behind Etetnal Flame in her last start. May have needed that run & should be fit now for this sprint trip. 

My pick: Eternal Flame 

Race 2

Sharp Witted is now demoted & steps down in trip, has a chance with switch in rider. Ad Astra is running suggestively for new connections, finished well under a work jockey in last run and now has a positive change in shoe and rider. Administrate is been  tracking fine & is active in pools, now steps up in trip & runs with BLK on and also gets the rider to do the job.Nigella is 6 yo but is the only winner over this trip in this set. Has brought down to a very lenient mark & can strike if in a galloping mood.

My pick: Administrate

              Nigella - upset

Race 3 

Shivalik Showers set a good clip in the derby. Now running over his winning trip & looks a strong contender if allowed his own way up front.Shivalik View has to show lot of improvement if she wants to complete a hatrick. Helping Hand is the failed favourite in her pre derby start, has a hard rider to grace the board.Lord Jim shed his maiden tag convincingly & is sure to improve on that run. Now up in class & trip with experience rider in saddle Lord Jim needs respect as this trainer's ward always perform well during big events.Native Force is a Bangalore challenger & has a winning form but may need a run to get himself adjusted to Mahalaxmi track.

My pick: Lord Jim

Race 4

Brynhill showed terrific improvement in his last start but now has a negative draw that may hamper his chances.Dancing Prances is in great heart at present and having lost out to Nefyn by a shd last year, he may hopeful to reverse verdict this time around. Nefyn may go all out for a historic hatrick attempt in sprinters cup and like last year he is capable to upset the applecart of fancied runners. Speed Six in this form is live threat to Dancing Prances and may run a bold race to prove himself third time lucky.

My Pick: Dancing Prances

Race 5

Rule Downunder have to show remarkable improvement to be considered over here.Fibonacci Sequence looked jaded in his last run and probably deserves a break now. Simply Sweet is on the up,last run is to be ignored over wrong distance. Still unbeaten over 1400m trip & has a favourable handicap. Staristocrat is still unexposed and has scope for further  improvement,has a chance to runaway at this low weight.

My Pick: Simply Sweet

Race 6

An Acquired Taste has to show some spark to redeem his winning ways. Astapi is the winner of this race last year and may try to defend his crown.Tintinnabulation is a dual st.Leger winner which shows he is a solid stayer and has a class and stamina to fight out. Wind stream finished 2nd to Astapi in last year's stayers cup. Comes here with winning form & is one of the strong contender to lift this cup. Tiger Tops is a lion hearted filly who won the Indian oaks and was gallant 2nd to Be Safe in Indian Derby. She is stoutly bred to stay and may make a bold bid to win this title.

My Pick: Tiger Tops

Race 7

This is the wide open race of the day and the one who cuts the fast pace and with advantageous draw number has a good chance to prevail over others. 

Beau Royale is speedy and won with a bit last time out, has to defy penalty. Blue Bay may be tried as is running first time among his own age group. Nicanor is very speedy, last run was over unsuitable distance. Stormy Day gets the service of Ace rider. Padmakosa may find tough to handle under class penalty. Tahrir is failed favourite who may try to redeem. Good Memory may oblige in moderate set but not here. Plan B has an upset chance at this low weights and is due for retirement.

My Pick: Blue Bay

               

Days Best: Simply Sweet

Good Double: Eternal Flame

Upset: Nigella

Good Luck, Bet wise.