King or QUEEN

the talk in racing circles is WILL the KING Stay the distance and if not WHO will upset the applecart.If one were to go by the ratings it is a WALK Over but there are no certainities in racing.Most of the Horses in the field did not even pick up a race , when Bourbon King had a few classics under his belt.It is a gruelling trip and it is not often that the BEST Horse wins , the Winner is usually the Horse which can last the distance.

Going by the bloodlines ( for staying prowess ) the past performance and the current rating , these are my views.

1.BOURBON KING ; has done nothing wrong as of date.Has WON comfortably without streching over various distances ranging from 1400 to 2000.Will the step up in distance affect the Horse's rhytmn is something none of us can Predict.Having seen its progress from Bangalore ,it is but natural for all to question its credentials over 2400.The HORSE will WIN the race if ( if ) the pace is very slow or medium paced.In a fast run race over 2400 , the Horse might get tired as the Mumbai Straight might go against the Horse.Except for Sweeping Sucess which has some performance to back the claim the rest of the Horses have no past glory to rest upon as they have WON ordinary handicap races beating mediocre opposition .These includes the likes of Retribution , Regal Connection and Ruby Queen which have Won some dubious classics.

2.CZAR Alexander : Different tactics were used in both the runs against Bourbon King.The second run was suspicious as the Horse usually comes from way off the pace.Was that meant to give some wrong signals ???.was an Expensive failure in Pune derby , not sure if the Horse can redeem its status.

3.HOTSTEPPER / NITROUS / NOBLE PRINCE / Mountain Bear / REGAL CONNECTION / WESTERN COMMAND/ RUBY QUEEN :

Cant see any of these horses in the top three.

4.Earl of Warwick , Montalvo , Maseeha / Vanquish .

Why are they participating in the classic ??

5.Peninsula : did come on well to finish a good 4 th to YANA.Has the capability to stay the distance but has JUST WON ONE ( 1 Only ) race in her CAREER.May improve in future ,hence a WIN seems very unlikely.

6.Retribution : Has competed with the King early on in Mumbai and has recently WON the Malakpet Classic beating some very very ordinary Horses.Has improved a lot from last Mumbai season.The trip and the short interval between the RACES might affect the chances.

7.CITY TAMER : has won a 2000 metres race in Mumbai after finishing a tame 2 nd to Peninsula.Did finish a close and creditable 5 th in the OAKS.With the POCKET Dynamite Jockey can create a FLUTTER.Is a Live Threat inspite of its low rating of 57.

8.Sweeping Sucess : Well bred filly which has played second fiddle on most occassions to stable mate.Has improved a lot since last bangalore Season.Chance for the JOCKEY to redeem his CREDIBILTY.very few fillies have WON the Derby Classic due to the short interval between the races.CAN UPSTAGE stable mate.

9.GOBELIN : after the surprise WIN in the Pune Derby , ran twice in Mumbai with different saddle partners.Back to Winning Jockey APPU , Can be make a difference .Very very difficult but if the King loses steam this HORSE is capable as it has finished a close 6 th in the OAKS.

10.last but not the least : Da Vinci , a very ordinary Horse which has WON its last 2 outings in MUMBAI in class IV.is well bred as the earlier sibling through the dam ; Au Panache was CAMPANERO which had a few good CLASS 1 Victories to his credit.The Trainer has been Lucky on a few occasions in the past and One does not lose much by placing a small bet on this Horse.

So the final order of my selections for the race are as follows ;

Bourbon King,Sweeping Sucess ,City Tamer,Gobelin , Retribution and DA VINCI.

Considering the odds offered I would not be in a position to back Bourbon King , so I will look for the right ODDS and back 2 of these Horses.One for each way and ONE for PLACE.

Good day , merry punting,



SHYAM