The Mauritius eight race programme kicks off at 10h30 today.
Your racecard is here.
Race 1
ROVING CONSORT is in a run of very good form. He won impressively in his last start and that came after two runner-up finishes. In excellent condition, he is the horse to beat in this opening race.
Saziwayo is knocking on the door. His last three races have seen him in the money, and he went very close to scoring in his latest. He has a good chance of opening his account for the season.
At first glance, Kaafel’s recent showing was his best performance yet on Mauritian turf. However, the fact he got a bad start meant 2nd place was the best he could do. This son of Kahal is capable of going one better here.
FORT NOBLE gets the vote over the first Draper’s Mile contest. Ignore his last race, as it was too bad to be true. He had won in this penultimate start, and he finds himself running over a preferable trip and in a lower category.
After scoring a shock win in race meeting 12, Isipho was a solid 3rd in his follow up. His last race was below-average though. He can do better and can finish in the money.
Cirac and Kings Advisor – who has come out well from his debut – are rated as good place bets.
Our Favourite: ROVING CONSORT
The Dangers: Saziwayo, Kaafel, Kings Advisor
Race 2
Fyrkat is back running in a category in which he scored his first win. He is in good form and warrants major consideration here.
Beautiful Bhutan was not disgraced in his latest. Capable of doing better, he should be right on the premises.
The Blue Streak caught the eye in his previous outing by completing the quartet, despite failing to obtain a clear run in the final straight. He is in excellent condition and is worth thinking about.
Right To Tango caught the eye with his impressive showings at track work. If he can do it in the real thing, he can steal this.
Mc Naught runs well fresh and looks an interesting outsider with his light weight, along with Leo’s Rush, who has settled in well in his new surroundings but has drawn wide.
Our Favourite: FYRKAT
The Dangers: The Blue Streak, Beautiful Bhutan, McNaught
Race 3
DIRECT APPROACH has done no better than 4th in all of his showings this season. Even so, his strong looking finish caught the eye in his latest. He drops down a division, and the slightly longer trip should benefit him.
trw23Red Lotus has been entered for the second meeting in-a-row. This decision by his yard must be respected. He has performed solidly in his previous outings, and should go close if he can lead.
Southern Heights is expected to show vast improvement in this lower division. He is past his problem, and was decent in training.
Apple Pie is worth considering in all combinations, while Seven Fountains was badly ridden last time out, and is capable of performing better.
Our Favourite: DIRECT APPROACH
The Dangers: Red Lotus, Southern Heights, Apple Pie
Race 4
WIN A MILLION produced a bold account in his latest, winning in a much higher category. Now running two divisions lower and running over his specialist trip, he has every chance of completing a hat-trick of wins.
Act Of Valor is another specialist over this short sprint. He opened his account for the season in race meeting 18. He was very impressive at track work and his connections are expecting a big run from him.
The sole win of Mount Hillaby has come over this short trip. Since joining the yard of Gujadhur, he has been unfortunate not to win. Don’t rule him out from scoring here.
Man Of His Word is back running over an appropriate trip, and is rated as an interesting outsider.
Acapella is a good bet for the lower placings, while Navistar has benefited from his last start and is expected to show improvement with draw 1.
Our Favourite: WIN A MILLION
The Dangers: Act Of Valor, Mount Hillaby, Man Of His Word
Race 5
The best shot of the day for Derreck David lies with THE REAL HERO over this 1400 metre contest. This colt is in the form of his life, having won three on the bounce. A fourth is a strong possibility.
Headstrong Harry ran into misfortune in the home straight last time out, so the fact he was runner-up and 0.3 length behind the winner is a good achievement. This grey horse satisfied his yard with his gallops, and there are expectations of a bold account coming from him.
Lucky Valentine finally managed to get that elusive first win in his latest. This Shailesh Ramdin-trained gelding remains in good nick, and will have eyes on confirming.
Rum Tum Tugger warrants major consideration in all combinations, while Red Tractor looks a decent place bet.
Papa Joe is new to Jean-Michel Henry, and is ready for his debut. Well-trained, he has arrived in Mauritius with a rock-solid C.V. It is worth keeping an eye on him. He has drawn in the ace.
Our Favourite: THE REAL HERO
The Dangers: Headstrong Harry, Lucky Valentine, Rum Tum Tugger
Race 6 – The South African Airways Princess Margaret Cup (Group 1)
This main race is the final leg of the Sprinters’ championship, and effectively, it is a shoot-out between Tandragee and POLAR ROYALE for the title.
Tandragee – who is the defending champion – scored a magical win in the Hinterland Cup back in the 18th meeting. He is in top order, and having finished runner-up in this very race last season, he can go one better this time round.
However, POLAR ROYALE will not make it easy. The author of a splendid 2015, he has proved many times that he is a genuine competitor. He is highly thought by his connections, and there are expectations of another big run coming from him. Breaking from the ace, he will be the horse they will have to beat.
His stable mate and defending race winner Albert Mooney rediscovered his mojo just two meetings ago. He looked his usual self in his workouts and is not prevented from winning this race for the second year in-a-row.
Reim has not really shown much in his debut season. Nevertheless, he was full of promise in his last start. He is capable of doing even better, and with Imran Chisty steering him, he warrants respect even though he will break from stall 9.
The highly-rated finisher Donnie Brasco is back, after his stupendous win two meetings ago. He remains in good nick, and if the pace is hot like last time, don’t rule him out from confirming.
Nordic Warrior will have a tough task at level weight and from draw 8. The same can be said for Casey’s War and Francois Bernardus.
Tales Of Bravery is in much better shape and form, following his return to competition. This multiple Group winner is worth keeping an eye on.
Our Favourite: POLAR ROYALE
The Dangers: Tandragee, Reim, Albert Money
Race 7
KINGDOM’S KEY proved that his good run in his penultimate start was no fluke, when he won last time out. He is still in good form, and his yard is confident that he can double the score.
Evergreen also managed to win in his previous start, creating a surprise in the process. This time round, he will have Jeanot Bardottier in the irons and he will have a big say in this contest.
Power Dive has performed honestly this season, winning once and finishing in the money three times. He is given tons of respect here, having worked well in training.
Social Network has come out very well from his last start, and if he can rediscover his best form, he should be right up there in the final stages.
Tigre Libre is back after an absence of five months. He runs well fresh and will try his best.
Smitten looks an interesting outsider in this contest.
Our Favourite: KINGDOM’S KEY
The Dangers: Evergreen, Power Dive, Tigre Libre
Race 8
HIGH ACCOLADE’s last run should be ignored. He is worth much better, and if the pace is on, he should be thereabouts in the final straight.
Captain Matthew should have no problem over this long trip. He has done nothing wrong this season, performing consistently. He is rated as the biggest danger to the selection here, and it won’t be a surprise if he manages to score.
Kowloon Bay is much better than what he served up last time out. If he follows well, he should be running on late. Derreck David rides him for the very first time. However he is badly drawn.
Wind Power, in this final contest, is still looking to break his duck in Mauritius, although it is not for the want of trying.
Eastward Bound looks to be an interesting each way bet with stall 3.
Our Favourite: HIGH ACCOLADE
The Dangers: Captain Matthew, Kowloon Bay, Eastward Bound
