Articles by Mr. Prakash Gosavi

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Owner - Capt J Appoo
Syndicate - North Star
Trainer - P Shroff
Jockey - Dashrath Singh
Allowance Jockey - Akshay
App Jockey - Tushar Nemane
Stud Farm - Poonawalla

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THE
PRAKASH
GOSAVI
COLUMN

Preview of Races to be run on 29th April 2012

Race 1:

The Ramjet Plate
Class II, 60-85; 1000m
Time: 2.30 pm

Analysis:If there were a prize for ‘horse of the season’ and if I were on the jury, my choice would have been Star Goddess. For a mare to return to racing after a year’s lay-off, and then going on to win four races and losing one (by half a length!) is stupendous achievement. Today she is asked to give almost 10 kg to Salt who has recently returned to winning form in style, and one can expect a fierce contest between the two, not forgetting that even Mountain Regiment, with Zervan in saddle, can add some thrill at the wire.

However, ‘suitability of the trip distance’ is a mighty factor in racing, and since that is overwhelmingly in favour of Star Goddess (and also top jockey in saddle with whom she has always won), I am nominating her as a betting proposition despite the elephantine impost she will carry.

Selections: Star Goddess 1, Salt 2.

Bettable?: YES, Star Goddess, on current brilliant form, can give weight and a beating to her rivals in the hands of B Prakash.

Race 2:
The Jockeys Trophy
Class V, 1-26; 1200m
Time: 3 pm

Analysis:Despite a misstep soon on jump, Calypso Queen made a gallant effort to catch up with the winner in last start, and that run of her raises very strong hopes of a victory in this moderate set. True, Lazor Razor, the only four year old in the fray, had finished ahead of Calypso Queen in their only encounter (Feb 5), but then Calypso Queen has clearly come to hand AFTER that race, so I am shrugging off that discomforting thought. Also, trainer Robert D’Mello, with only handful of horses in his yard, has pitched in two runners—Gatravat & Twittillator—in the fray and also given decent jockeys on them. Blades Of Glory looks like a place prospect who can go close to the winner. Still, if Calypso Queen can run anywhere near her last effort, I think she is unlikely to be bothered by any of her rivals.

Selections: Calypso Queen 1, Blades Of Glory 2, Lazor Razor 3.

Bettable?:YES, Calypso Queen attracts as a chance bet.

Race 3:
The Alvida Plate
Class III, 40-66; 1400m
Time: 3.30 pm

Analysis:A disclaimer would be in order. Star Empire has let me down so many times so badly that the reader is warned I may underrate his chances here out of sheer frustration (I am human, after all).

Looking to the last run of Rule Forever over sprint, I think whosoever wishes to win here will have to beat this Cooji Katrak ward. Star Empire who, thanks to his habit of making heavy weather of easy tasks, can win or lose any race narrowly, now goes out with Kavraj Singh (he won the last race on Saturday for this same trainer, a point to be noted).

Besides Star Empire, there are two others who deserve a close look. Cypress Point showed tremendous improvement in form during her last victory but it’s difficult to foresee her unleashing the same power after a switch to seven furlongs, so I am eliminating her; then there is Limitless Hills who gets a very useful jockey switch now, and since Zervan is in absolutely brilliant riding form (he won with all his three mounts on Saturday), that might prove a big help if he can manage to be in the fighting line at the all-important end.

Selections: Rule Forever 1, Star Empire 2, Limitless Hills 3.

Bettable?: NO.

Race 4:
Goodbye Plate
Class V, 1-26; 1800m
Time: 4 pm

Analysis:The winner should, most probably, emerge from the trio of Royal Crest, Money For Nothin & Guernica.

Selections: Money For Nothin 1, Royal Crest 2, Guernica 3.

Bettable?: NO.

Race 5:
The Valetta Plate
Class III, 40-66; 1000m
Time: 4.30 pm

Analysis:Despite good form and top jockey (B Prakash) I am discounting Starlight Magic for win here because there are at least four specialist five-furlong sprinters in this set: Viva La Diva, Native Lady, Fortuner & Diamond Zip. The race could culminate in a very close finish, and is best watched without any betting interest.

Selections: Native Lady 1, Starlight Magic 2, Fortuner 3.

Bettable?: NO.

Race 6:
The Racing Officials Trophy – Div II
Class IV, 20-46; 1200m
Time: 5 pm

Analysis:Two horses with only one run to their credit—Lake View & Crimson And Clover—may be fancied very strongly here. While both of them surely can be regarded as contenders, the list does not end there. Tropical Zone, who came up with a powerful stretch run to win his last start, can pose danger to them, and Reckless Romeo, on whom I felt Akshay’s handling last time bordered on the questionable, can run a decent race too though many will feel he does not really belong to this class. But then bottom weight (48.5 kg) and a good, in-form jockey (Tushar Nemane) might just do the trick for him in this set.

Selections: Reckless Romeo 1, Lake View 2, Tropical Zone 3.

Bettable?: If the odds are extremely lucrative, a very small each-way flutter on Reckless Romeo should not hurt.

Race 7:
The Bennett Coleman-Procam Gold Cup
For 3y, maidens; 1400m
Time: 5.30 pm

Analysis:Jewelled may be fancied strongly in this set because of her consistency, but being bridesmaid three times on the trot is more a negative than a positive indicator. Also, today’s company may be much more tough for her to handle.

Amitayus has made an extremely good debut, and definitely has better credentials. Mighty King, with Zervan in saddle, may show dramatic improvement in second start. And the one who can, with little luck, give a scare to the best of them on his day is Barringo, whose chances are further enhanced if you consider that both horses—one finishing ahead (Step Up) and one finishing behind him (Holiday Dancer)—have won their next start last week and this week respectively. Horse to horse, I think Amitayus it is, but if there is a close finish, Zervan might just be able to get the verdict in favour of Mighty King.

Selections: Mighty King 1, Amitayus 2, Barringo 3.

Bettable?: NO.

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Race 8:
The Clifden Plate
Class IV, 20-46; 1600m
Time: 6 pm

Analysis:This race perhaps offers the day’s only dependable bet in Octopaul. The Imtiaz Sait-trained four-year-old finished full of running to take up the runner up berth behind stable mate Yuville in last start, and clearly wishes to capitalize on that condition, though Pune has been his favourite and lucky hunting ground. If he can reproduce that last run—and there is no reason why he should not—there is nothing much for him to beat in this set. Ibis, though older, may try to stretch him, and though Etesian & Persian are better suited to the trip than Unknown Rebel, I will not be surprised if the last-named shows sudden improvement to pick up place money.

Selections: Octopaul 1, Ibis 2, Unknown Rebel 3.

Bettable?: YES, Octopaul attracts as a good bet at the odds level of close to 6-4.

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Race 9:
The Racing Officials Trophy – Div I
Class IV, 20-46; 1200m
Time: 6.30 pm

Analysis:Jewels Of The Hill can make a winning debut. He will have to contend with Gibran, Scaramouche, Crowned Princess & Golden Spurs.

Selections: Jewels Of The Hill 1, Golden Spurs 2, Scaramouche 3.

Bettable?: NO.

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(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author’s personal views.)