Captain Mike relaxing at his stable in Mauritius (Racing And Sports)
Graeme Hawkins Mauritius Formguides And Selections
A Middle Stakes over 990m tops the bill on a 7-race programme at Champ de Mars on Saturday 23 May and the in-form partnership of Raymond Danielson and Soon Gujadhar are represented by The Mauritian who was touched off in the last stride by United Prince a month ago. He could go one better here but huge respect for Vincent Allet’s Captain Mike who is at his very best over this track and trip.
Being a 7-race card, the Place Accumulator kicks off in the opener while the Pick 6 and Jackpot start in races 2 & 4 respectively.
Race 1: (10:30) – BM25 Handicap – 1500m:
Bugle Boy made a sparkling debut on the Island when touched off by The Centurion three weeks ago and the 3yo son of Elusive Fort is a warm order favourite to shed his maiden ticket for Carl Hewitson and Kersley Ramsamy. Trick Or Tequila was a distant third in the same race and while the 3yo son of Lance has shown good improvement in his subsequent track work, it appears unlikely that he can turn the tables on Bugle Boy. Lava Burst and Kola Tonic should make up the frame in this small field.
Betting: 9/20 Bugle Boy; 7/2 Trick Or Tequila; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (1) Bugle Boy; (5) Trick Or Tequila; (2) Lava Burst; (4) Kola Tonic.
Race 2: (11:05) – BM25 Handicap – 1500m:
New World showed above average potential in South Africa and was not disgraced on his local debut when lining up in the Duchess Of York Cup four weeks ago. The 3yo son of One World plunges in class here and rates a genuine 4/10 chance against four rivals, the pick of which could be Love On Time who strips very fit, having already had two pipe-openers this season over 990m. Dance To The Sun is a very well-bred newcomer for the Arveen Nagadoo stable.
Betting: 4/10 New World; 9/2 Dance To The Sun; 7/1 Love On Time; 16/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (3) New World; (2) Love On Time; (1) Dance To The Sun; (5) Lingotto.
Race 3: (11:40) – BM51 Handicap – 1365m:
Jevin Awotar has his string in fine form and War Chariot will be a popular choice to follow up on his stylish victory a month ago. Grant Van Niekerk again takes the ride and the eye-catching 5yo son of Pomodoro certainly sets the standard. But this is a competitive handicap and Grand Bay, representing the Danielson/Gujadhur team, has to be respected and included as back up to War Chariot in all exotics. Roman’s Revenge makes his seasonal debut and is very genuine, but he does prefer a touch further than he gets here. Ampersand was fourth behind War Chariot last time and is unlikely to turn the tables here.
Betting: 1/1 War Chariot; 33/10 Grand Bay; 11/2 Ampersand; 12/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (3) War Chariot; (5) Grand Bay; (2) Roman’s Revenge; (4) Ampersand.
Race 4: (12:15) – BM56 Handicap – 1450m:
Only 5 runners line up for this mid-division handicap but it is an evenly matched contest and a good finish could be on the cards. Captain Cola and Just Var lead the early betting exchanges but Vincent Allet’s Grand Vision may offer some value at around 7/1. On past form Captain Cola should just about have his measure, but Grand Vision is very game and should give a good account of himself on his seasonal debut. Blue Bay and Just Var rate obvious dangers and must be included in all Pick 6 and Jackpot permutations.
Betting: 17/10 Captain Cola; 18/10 Just Var; 33/10 Blue Bay; 7/1 Grand Vision; 33/1 Fateful Day.
Selection: (1) Captain Cola; (2) Grand Vision; (4) Just Var; (3) Blue Bay.
Race 5: (12:50) – BM61 Handicap – 1365m:
Hard to oppose the Danielson/Gujadhur combination here! They are represented by Crescent and the 4yo son of Legislate has won his last six races on the Island, his only blemish being when he ran second over 990m to Mind Map on his local debut back in August 2025. He was a convincing winner of his seasonal debut three weeks ago and a 5-point rise in the ratings is unlikely to interrupt his winning sequence. United Prince and Tyrion Lannister should follow him home.
Betting: 3/10 Crescent; 5/1 United Prince; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (3) Crescent; (4) United Prince; (2) Tyrion Lannister; (5) Van Hunks.
Race 6: (13:25) – Middle Stakes – 990m:
Looks a match race between The Mauritian and Captain Mike, both of which bring decent form into the race. Captain Mike has not raced over 990m since winning back in August 2025 but, going back through his record, his last five victories have all been recorded over this trip. He was placed in all five subsequent starts over 1365m and is as game as they come. The Mauritian was touched off by United Prince over this trip four weeks ago when looking all over a winner, and he could make amends here. Jewel Cat ran a much better race last time and could lead the charge for minor money. William Rufus is no slouch but he could just be in need of this run.
Betting: 13/10 Captain Mike; 15/10 The Mauritian; 13/2 William Rufus; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (4) Captain Mike; (1) The Mauritian; (3) Jewel Cat; (2) William Rufus.
Race 7: (14:00) – BM41 Handicap – 1450m:
Sound Of The Sea has had a busy start to the new Season (this will be his third start in the space of four weeks) but he is knocking very loudly at the door and the 4yo son of Talk Of The Town could step up to the plate in this well-filled 8-horse line-up. Two runs back he finished second to stable companion Bounceback, who has subsequently franked the form, and last time out was runner-up behind the decent Courtly. Summer Snow was only half-a-length behind Sound Of The Sea when last they met and Hewitson’s runner poses an obvious threat. Zacatoo reeled off a hattrick at the back end of last season but he meets stronger here and is faced with the widest gate of all. Wugug, Tsunami Warning, Without Equal and Good Living have all done enough to suggest they are not without claims in a competitive handicap.
Betting: 16/10 Sound Of The Sea; 33/10 Summer Snow; 9/2 Wugug; 5/1 Zacatoo; 8/1 Tsunami Warning; 10/1 and better the balance.
Selection: (4) Sound Of The Sea; (3) Summer Snow; (2) Wugug; (7) Zacatoo.
Betting correct as at 17:00 on Thursday 21 May.
Suggested Pick 6 (Races 2-7):
3 x 2,3,5 x 1,2,3,4 x 3 x 1,4 x 2,3,4,7 (R96).
