There are few places n the world that draw more passionate crowds than the Champs De Mar racecourse in Mauritius
Graeme Hawkins is now based in Mauritius and provides this comprehensive preview to the Saturday, May 2 meeting at Champs De Mar (read below):
The Noble Salute Cup over 1365m tops the bill for the second race meeting of the season at Champ de Mars on Saturday 2 May and a competitive field of seven runners will face the starter. Sun Blushed tops the weights for this BM55+ Handicap but the early whispers, and betting support, has been for Formagear, the mount of Donovan Mansour who last week drove Rapidash to a narrow victory in the Duchess of York Cup.
Race 1 (10:30) – BM25 Handicap – 990m:
Kabelo Matsunyane has a bright chance of opening his account on the Island as he partners Holy Star for the Arveen Nagadoo stable in this low-grade 990m handicap. Holy Star showed useful promise in South Africa and given his natural gate speed, should be ideally suited to this track and trip. He has been well prepared for his local debut and definitely rates the one to beat. Diamond Days and Blown Away also make their first appearance in Mauritius but may be hard pressed to match Holy Star’s pace over this trip. Nordic Prince was consistent throughout the 2025 season and his experience over the track should stand him in good stead here. Krim disappointed last term but appears to have matured and could make his presence felt.
Betting: 22/10 Holy Star; 3/1 Diamond Days; 33/10 Blown Away; 11/4 Krim; 15/2 Nordic Prince; 40/1 Love On Time.
Selection: (2) Holy Star; (6) Nordic Prince; (1) Diamond Days; (4) Blown Away.
Race 2 (11:05) – BM26 Handicap – 1450m:
The Soon Gujadhur/Raymond Danielson combination drew a blank on the opening day of the season but they could get off the mark here with The Centurion. The lightly raced 3yo son of Gimmethegreenlight has caught the eye at the morning gallops and, despite the widest draw of all, The Centurion should go very close. Bugle Boy and Trick Or Tequila are both newcomers representing the form stables of Carl Hewitson and Subu Gujadhur (two winners apiece at the opening meeting) and either could prove good enough to win on local debut. Lava Burst has been gelded and could improve on his form to date while Brand New World has been working well and is expected to go better this season.
Betting: 15/10 The Centurion; 2/1 Bugle Boy; 9/2 Brand New World; 9/1 Trick Or Tequila; 20/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (5) The Centurion; (3) Lava Burst; (2) Bugle Boy; (6) Trick Or Tequila.
Race 3 (11:40) – BM36 Handicap – 1450m:
Trainer Jevin Awotar enjoyed a great start to the season with two winners last weekend and he only saddles a couple of runners at this race meeting. Here he saddles Warbird, one of only three fillies currently in training in Mauritius, and the 4yo daughter of Act Of War, with Grant Van Niekerk in the irons, should prove a tough nut to crack. Zooberi and Charlie Squadron rate the principle threats but I am going “all-in” with Warbird.
Betting: 6/10 Warbird; 13/2 Zooberi; 7/1 Captain Marsala; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (3) Warbird; (5) Charlie Squadron; (4) Zooberi; (1) Zum Zum.
Race 4 (12:15) – BM46 Handicap – 1400m:
Superior Force, representing the Carl Hewitson/Ivaldo Santana team, boasts a really good record on the Island, closing off last season with a victory and two seconds in his final three starts. He comes into this race in really good order and I fully expect the 6yo son of Pathfork to justify his position at the top of the boards. That said, Babylon is no slouch and is already a 5-time winner at the course. Wugug looks well treated at the weights but, while consistent, has struggled to get her nose in front.
Betting: 7/10 Superior Force; 4/1 Babylon; 11/2 Sea Dance, Wugug; 14/1 Iditarod Trail.
Selection: (1) Superior Force; (2) Babylon; (5) Wugug; (3) Sea Dance.
Race 5 (12:50) – BM56 Handicap – 1365m:
Competitive handicap but all the early betting support has been for the Subu Gujadhur-trained Just Var, the mount of Donovan Mansour. The opening call of 3/1 was snapped up and the 5yo son of Var has been trimmed to 18/10 in the ante-post market. He faces a tough competitor in the form of Crescent as the 4yo son of Legislate comes into this race off the back of five consecutive victories. Raymond Danielson takes the ride on Crescent who is ideally course and distance suited. Captain Mike will have his fair share of supporters. Trained by Vincent Allet, Captain Mike has not put a foot wrong and it would come as no great surprise to see Ryan Curatolo dismount in the winner’s enclosure. This promises to be a really good race.
Betting: 18/10 Just Var, Crescent; 33/10 Captain Mike; 14/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (7) Crescent; (6) Just Var; (2) Captain Mike; (1) Captain Cola.
Race 6 (13:25) – The Noble Salute Cup BM55+ – 1365m:
A strong, competitive line-up for the Season’s second feature. Sun Blushed rates the one to beat but is surprisingly easy to back at around 11/2 as the early money comes for Formagear. Royal Wulff set a new record time for this course and distance when winning on 21 December, finishing nearly two lengths ahead of Formagear on that occasion. But, Formagear has worked particularly well coming into this race and the booking of Donovan Mansour by trainer Shrish Narang is significant. Xavion and the usually slow-starting Port Louis showed top class form last season. Tamarisk Tree probably prefers further but Bless My Path is at his best over this trip and could surprise. In what should be a cracking race, I am going to side narrowly with Sun Blushed who certainly looks good each-way value at his current price.
Betting: 22/10 Formagear; 33/10 Xavion; 7/2 Royal Wulff; 9/2 Port Louis; 11/2 Sun Blushed; 20/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (1) Sun Blushed; (2) Formagear: (6) Royal Wulff; (7) Xavion.
Race 7: (14:00) – BM66 Handicap – 1400m:
Daring Dash closed off last season on a high, reeling off an impressive hattrick to remain unbeaten at Champ de Mars. Not surprisingly, the 4yo son of Rabada has been priced up in the red but he could face a serious challenge from Solomons Seal and perhaps to a lesser extent from Zoomie. Solomons Seal split Royal Wulff and Formagear on 21 December and a repetition of that form will see the 5yo son of Potala Palace pose a real threat. Zoomie has been a model of consistency, winning two of his local six starts along the way, and the 5yo son of Querari cannot be safely ignored. Daring Dash gets the vote to score for trainer Sam Mahadia and jockey Robert Perez but I am running for cover with Solomons Seal and Zoomie.
Betting: 7/10 Daring Dash; 5/2 Solomons Seal; 9/2 Zoomie; 20/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (1) Daring Dash; (3) Solomons Seal; (4) Zoomie.
Race 8: (14:40) – BM31 Handicap – 1365m:
Canford Club was super impressive when winning his local debut by a wide margin on 21 December. Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride for Arveen Nagadoo but the 4yo son of Canford Cliffs takes on much stronger this time and he can expect stiff competition from the likes of Cybotix, Gang Leader and Cliff Swallow in an interesting contest. Amancio has decent form but would probably prefer a touch further. Canford Club gets the benefit of the doubt but this will be a real test and a good indication of where he fits into the pecking order.
Betting: 1/1Canford Club; 28/10 Cliff Swallow; 6/1 Cybotix; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (1) Canford Club; (3) Cybotix; (6) Cliff Swallow; (5) Gang Leader.
Betting correct as at 17:00 on Thursday 30 April.
Suggested Pick 6: 3 x 1 x 2,6,7 x 1,2,6,7 x 1,3,4 x 1,3,5,6 (R144)
