Hawkeye Tips Cumbre Vieja For Derby Glory

The presence of the Island’s equine idol, Cumbre Vieja, will ensure a bumper crowd at Champ de Mars when the Carl Hewitson trained unbeaten son of Erupt lines up against 3 rivals in the delayed Rs1,225 000 Mauritius Derby over 1850m. Cumbre Vieja seeks to become the first horse in history to land the Triple Crown, and cashing in on the bonus of Rs1-million seems a formality.

Bounceback (Van Niekerk) from the Jevin Atowar stable will bravely attempt to offer some resistance but although impossible to back at very restricted odds, Cumbre Vieja’s passionate fanbase will be there to cheer him home and enjoy the spectacle.

The first of eight generally very competitive races is due off at 10:30 SA time.

The opener is restricted to Mauritian Jockeys and Apprentices and should be fought out by Fire Starter (Ramsamy) and Kola Tonic (Rama). Fire Starter was a narrow winner over Nordic Prince four weeks ago and the lightly raced 4yo son of Fire Away has plenty of scope for further improvement. Kola Tonic has been a model of consistency this season and was rewarded with a courageous victory over the useful Trick Or Tequila last time. Kola Tonic is marginally preferred but victory could go either way.

Betting: 16/10 Fire Starter; 5/2 Kola Tonic; 4/1 River Hawk; 12/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (3) Kola Tonic, (2) Fire Starter, (5) River Hawk; (8) Lingotto.

Exalted Love (Van Niekerk) appears to be well above average and looks set to complete a hattrick. The step up to 1650m should be right up his alley and the 4yo son of Quasillo looks a tough nut to crack. That said, Royal Port Louis (Schwarz) is no slouch and posted an impressive course and distance victory over Trick Or Tequila last time. Amancio (Danielson) has his peak run and is likely to show some improvement here. San Andreas is a seasoned 6-time winner on the Island but the 9yo son of Vercingetorix has struggled to make a meaningful impression this term.

Betting: 6/10 Exalted Love; 2/1 Royal Port Louis; 8/1 Amancio; 20/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (1) Exalted Love, (2) Royal Port Louis, (4) Amancio, (3) San Andreas.

Competitive start to the Pick 6. There was little to choose between Master Point (Curatolo) and Fine One (Orffer) when they finished 1-2 over the trip on 27 June. They meet on the same terms but Fine One subsequently finished a good second behind the promising That’ll B The Day and from a better draw than Master Point, Shirish Narang’s 5yo son of One World could turn the tables on Vincent Allet’s runner. Lava County (Taka) has useful form but may prefer a touch further while Midnight Flyer (Danielson) was a good third behind the decent Carnarvon on 18 July and could be coming to hand. Blown Away (Mansour) has had three good runs over 990m and this trip could be more to his liking. Fear Of Fire (Nunes) makes his local debut but has been working well and any market moves for the 4yo son of Fire Away must be respected. Tricky!

Betting: 18/10 Fine One; 5/2 Fear Of Fire; 3/1 Lava County; 8/1 Midnight Flyer; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (1) Fine One, (3) Master Point, (5) Midnight Flyer, (4) Fear Of Fire.

Interesting 7-horse line up for this middle division handicap but Rich Folks Hoax (Nunes) seems to be improving with each run and he could follow up on his last course and distance victory over War Chariot. United Prince (Schwarz) is as game as they come but I suspect that 1450m could be stretching the son of The United States just a little. Captain Cola (Sooful) has had three good runs this season and having dropped in the ratings, he should be competitive. Makazole (Danielson) is showing signs of a form return and rates a threat while Opague (Curatolo) surprised with a gutsy win over the useful Summer Snow last time. Comedy Club (Orffer)  should be held by Opague but cannot be lightly dismissed in a race which may prove more competitive than the betting suggests.

Betting: 16/10 Rich Folks Hoax; 22/10 Makazole; 11/2 United Prince; 8/1 Comedy Club; Captain Cola; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (1) Rich Folks Hoax, (7) Comedy Club, (4) Makazole, (2) United Prince.

Warhead (Schwarz) has won twice over the minimum trip and was possibly just in need of his last run when touched off by Solomons Seal who re-opposes here. Solomons Seal (Mansour) is a classy sort and although 1,5 kgs worse off with Warhead for a narrow margin, it would come as no great surprise to see the 6yo son of Potala Palace follow up. At 6/1, he looks over-priced in the market. Captain Mike (Curatolo) suffered interference when a close fourth in the same race and looks well handicapped here. Mystery Cache (Taka) steps up in class here but off a low weight and from a good draw, the 6yo son of Master Of My Fate is not without a prayer. William Rufus (Rama) could be the surprise package having finished second behind Captain Mike back in May and now enjoying a decent pull in the weights.

Betting: 9/10 Warhead; 22/10 Captain Mike; 6/1 Solomons Seal; 8/1 Mystery Cache; 20/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (2) Warhead; (1) Solomons Seal; (4) Captain Mike; (5) William Rufus.

Although racing beyond 1600m for the first time, it is impossible to oppose unbeaten Cumbre Vieja (Nunes) and the 5yo son of Erupt is confidently expected to maintain his perfect record since arriving on the Island. Bounceback (Van Niekerk) is useful in his own right and should finish comfortably clear of the only other two runners in the race.

Betting: 1/7 Cumbre Vieja; 3/1 Bounceback; 50/1 Unsung Hero; 100/1 New York City.

Selection: (1) Cumbre Vieja, (2) Bounceback, (3) Unsung Hero, (4) New York City.

Only five runners, but a quality field lines up for this Pinnacle Stakes. Gold Cup winner Meridius (Orffer) is finding plenty of support in the market to lower the colours of emerging star Havana Moon (Mansour) whose only defeats at Champ de Mars have come at the hands of Cumbre Vieja. Havana Moon is in receipt of a chunk of weight from Meridius which makes for a really interesting contest. Add in to the mix Xavion (Nunes) and Zil Moris (Danielson) and we have all the ingredients for a spicy affair. Zil Moris was desperately unlucky in the Barbe Cup but for which many feel he would have gone close. The Mauritian (Sooful) completes the quintet but faces a tough test in this league.

Betting: 12/10 Havana Moon; 2/1 Zil Moris; 3/1 Meridius; 10/1 Xavion; 66/1 The Mauritian.

Selection: (4) Havana Moon, (1) Meridius, (3) Zil Moris, (2) Xavion.

Ibhele (Curatolo) has his third start in his new home and the 5yo son of Captain Of All looks progressive. He was runner-up behind Siriano in his last start and is expected to take another step forward but races from a tricky draw. Stable companion Nou Praat Jy (Bheekary) is much better drawn and has the potential to show significant improvement after two indifferent outings. Sound Of The Sea (Van Niekerk) has the form to win here but is drawn widest of all over a distance where draws can be of paramount importance. Van Niekerk is likely to drop him out and ride the 5yo son of Talk Of The Town for luck. Selvom Mootien’s pair Danilo Danilovitch, drawn in pole position, and Not In Doubt are worth considering for quartet permutations.

Betting: 17/10 Ibhele; 4/1 Sound Of The Sea; 5/1 Paved With Gold; 6/1 Not In Doubt; 8/1 Danilo Danilovitch; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (5) Ibhele; (1) Danilo Danilovitch; (2) Sound Of The Sea (6) Not In Doubt.

1,3,4,5 x 1,7 x 1,2,4,5 x 1 x 1,2,3,4 x 5 (R128)