Picture: Tamarisk Tree relaxing in Mauritius (Picture: MTC)
Graeme Hawkins
The G2 SuperTote Golden Trophy is the traditional pathway to achieving victory in Mauritius’ most sought after trophy, The Maiden Cup, but Subu Gujadhur has elected not to run Future Swing here, preferring to go straight into the big race on Sunday 6 September. Nonetheless, the stable is represented by the highly talented, but enigmatic Rapidash, who showed in South Africa that this trip is not beyond his range.
Carl Hewitson saddles Selukwe and Tamarisk Tree, the latter being the choice of Champion Jockey Manoel Nunes. Selukwe finally gets the trip he has been looking for since arriving on the Island but Tamarisk Tree’s victory in the Winter Stakes was eye-catching and Nunes’ decision must be respected.
Last year’s Maiden Cup winner Good Council may be one run short of his absolute best but would not in any way be a surprise victor.
The MTCJC hosts an 8-race programme with the first off at 10:30 South African time.
Race 1: (10:30) – BM26 Handicap – 1650m:
Trick Or Tequila sports blinkers for the first time and he looks set to make amends for a narrow defeat last time when meeting with some interference. Trick Or Tequila is not the easiest of rides but the addition of blinkers could make life a little more comfortable for Donovan Mansour. Dance To The Sun (Taka) is gradually getting to grips with the unique Champ de Mars configuration and the 4yo son of Trippi should be competitive here. Royal Port Louis (Schwarz) was a winner over track and trip last term and will strip a lot fitter in this his third run of the current campaign. Amandla and Rainwater both rate place chances in this class.
Betting: 8/10 Trick Or Tequila; 22/10 Royal Port Louis; 7/1 Dance To The Sun; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (3) Trick Or Tequila; (2) Dance To The Sun; (1) Royal Port Louis; (5) Rainwater.
Race 2: (11:05) – Low Division Stakes – 1850m – (1st Leg Place Accumulator):
Master Of Mystery (Schwarz) has won three of his six starts on the Island and was seen to good advantage last time when flying home to beat Canford Club over 1600m. The step up to 1850m will be right up the 5yo son of Danon Platina’s alley. View Of The World (Danielson) made a smart local debut when third to Opague over 1500m last month. This looks a more suitable trip for the son of Ideal World and he should go well. Palermo (Nunes) drops in class and will look to dominate from the front. The 6yo son of Vercingetorix appears limited but he is not without winning claims. All About Love (Mansour) is 3kgs better off with Master Of Mystery for a 2,5 length beating in June and could upset his more fancied rivals here.
Betting: 18/10 View Of The World, Master Of Mystery; 5/2 Palermo; 8/1 All About Love; 50/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (4) Master Of Mystery; (2) View Of The World; (3) Palermo; (5) All About Love.
Race 3: (11:40) – Low Division Stakes – 990m – (1st Leg Pick 6):
This is a highly competitive line-up with chances to most of the field. Holy Star (Taka) reverts to the minimum trip after patently failing to see out 1365m last time and from pole position will prove the one to beat. He was very impressive when beating subsequent multiple winner Carnarvon in his previous outing. Mind Map (Sooful) has won his last two course and distance starts but the extreme outside barrier could make things difficult for the 5yo son of Master Of My Fate. Grand Bay (Danielson) may find the trip a little on the sharp side but cannot be ignored while Ampersand (Joorawon) is coming to form and could have a say in the outcome. Gavin Lerena rides Old Fashioned for the Hollywood team and will have needed his local debut when finishing behind Solomons Seal in a higher grade a month ago. Smith And Wesson (Orffer) has changed stables and will enjoy stepping back in trip while both Danilo Danilovitch and Military Force have scope for improvement. To sum up, you either take your chances with Holy Star as a possible banker or go the field!
Betting: 2/1 Holy Star; 9/2 Grand Bay, Mind Map; 6/1 Ampersand; 13/2 Smith And Wesson; 7/1 Old Fashioned; 16/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (8) Holy Star; (1) Ampersand; (7) Mind Map; (5) Old Fashioned.
Race 4: (12:15) – BM56 Handicap – 1400m:
Isikwishikwishi (Lerena) was badly hampered dislodging his jockey last time, but the 5yo son of Alado caught the eye on his local debut in May when second to Monumental who re-opposes here. Isikwishikwishi is now 1,5kgs better off suggesting there should not be much to choose between the pair. Spirit’s Unite (Nunes) was also badly hampered last time, but the 6yo son of The United States is very decent and is the strong market leader to regain winning form. Stated (Orffer) has shown very good improvement this season and warrants obvious respect.
Betting: 9/10 Spirit’s Unite; 28/10 Isikwishikwishi; 4/1 Stated; 7/1 Monumental; 20/1 William Rufus.
Selection: (4) Isikwishikwishi; (1) Spirit’s Unite; (2) Monumental; (5) Stated.
Race 5: (12:50) – Hollywoodbets Middle Stakes – 2050m – (1st Leg Jackpot):
Superior Force (Nunes) is in terrific form having won his last two starts beating Bacchus and Magnum P I respectively, both of which re-oppose here. Stepping up to 2050m for the first time should not prove an obstacle for the 7yo son of Pathfork but I believe the value lies with Bacchus (Taka) and am leaning towards the 5yo son of Master Of My Fate. Magnum P I (Schwarz) is 1,5kgs better off with Superior Force for a 1,25 length beating last time which suggests there may not be too much to choose between the pair. As a 9-time winner on the Island, Magnum P I is a seasoned campaigner but he has yet to be tested over this extended trip. Join The Dots (Danielson) is not without a chance but looks held by Superior Force on the evidence of their last run, as they meet again on the same terms.
Betting: 8/10 Superior Force; 22/10 Magnum P I; 6/1 Bacchus; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (1) Bacchus; (3) Superior Force; (2) Magnum P I; (5) Join The Dots.
Race 6: (13:25) – The SuperTote Golden Trophy G2 – 2200m:
Last year’s 2400m G1 Maiden Cup winner Good Council (Taka) wraps up his preparation for the defense of his crown in a competitive renewal of the Golden Trophy. Last season he finished third in this race but the 7yo son of Oratorio showed his current well being when finishing on the heels of the placed runners in the recent 1600m Barbe Cup. That said, Tamarisk Tree (Nunes) has been beautifully teed up by Carl Hewitson and the son of Ideal World will prove a tough nut to crack. His last win in the 1850m Winter Stakes was full of merit and he should continue to progress. Rapidash (Mansour) is interesting. The 6yo son of Danon Platina flew up late to finish a close fourth in the Barbe Cup and this trip could be exactly what he has been looking for. Selukwe (Ramsamy) needs no introduction and races here over the same trip which saw him finish third in last year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July. Bugalugs (Danielson) has taken a massive step forward this season but he ventures beyond 1600m for the first time in his career.
Betting: 1/1 Tamarisk Tree; 7/2 Rapidash; 9/2 Good Council; 11/2 Bugalugs; 15/2 Selukwe; 66/1 Prime Example.
Selection: (4) Tamarisk Tree; (2) Selukwe; (3) Rapidash; (1) Good Council.
Race 7: (14:00) – BM71 Handicap – 1400m:
Crescent (Danielson) goes for his ninth consecutive victory and is a red-hot favourite to get the job done. He does take a step up in class and jumps from the outside gate, but the 5yo son of Legislate has been dominant and may be equal to the task. His five rivals here, led perhaps by stable companion Port Louis, all have decent credentials and there is no doubt that Crescent faces by far his toughest test to date.
Betting: 5/10 Crescent; 6/1 Port Louis; 7/1 Royal Wulff; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (4) Crescent; (2) Port Louis; (3) Royal Wulff; (5) Gimmeanotherchance.
Race 8: (14:40) – BM25 Handicap – 1400m:
This should prove an interesting clash between Jet Blackfire (Schwarz), Cape Cannery (Nunes) and Boom Town (Danielson). Jet Blackfire was desperately unlucky to go down a nose last time and is worth another chance. Hopefully he is not too slowly away and races in a more relaxed fashion than last time. Cape Cannery ran into traffic problems last time and is very much alive to turn the tables on Jet Blackfire. Boom Town is a lightly raced 4yo son of Talk Of The Town who appears to have some scope for improvement. He raced in a minor Feature last time and should do better in this class.
Betting: 11/10 Jet Blackfire; 13/10 Cape Cannery; 7/1 Boom Town; 16/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (1) Jet Blackfire; (4) Cape Cannery; (2) Boom Town; (7) William Blake.
Betting correct at 17:00 on Thursday 6 August.
Suggested Pick 6 (Races 3-8):
8 x 1,2,4,5 x 1,2,3 x 4 x 4 x 1,2,4 (R36)
