Hawkeye Tips Future Swing For The Anniversary Cup

Not many races are staged beyond 2000m in Mauritius and although only four runners are carded for the 2100m 175^th Anniversary Cup at Champs de Mars on Sunday, the outcome is far from certain and much will depend on pace, tactics and jockeyship. On form all of Future Swing, Good Council and Tamarisk Tree are evenly matched while the least fancied of the quartet, Selukwe, has yet to find his feet on the Island but certainly has the ability to make his presence felt.

Good Council gets the marginal vote to finish ahead of Future Swing and Tamarisk Tree but the selection is made without a great deal of confidence.

The first of eight races is due to get under way at 10:15 SA time.

Cape Cannery is far too skinny in the market but the fact that the 4yo son of Capetown Noir is drawn in pole position and gets the services of Manoel Nunes for the first time, does make him the leading contender in this low-grade handicap. Lava Burst (Aucharuz) was a good second behind Indigenous last time over this trip and could go one better here. Digital Asset needed his first run on the Island four weeks ago and is likely to take a step forward in this modest line-up. River Hawk disappointed last week but is united with Ryan Curatolo this time and is capable of much better. Balouchi and Canford Lights have done enough recently to suggest that either could spring a surprise in a race of this nature.

Betting: 8/10 Cape Cannery; 5/1 River Hawk; 6/1 Lava Burst; 7/1 Digital Asset; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (1) Cape Cannery, (4) Lava Burst, (2) River Hawk, (5) Balouchi.

The Sam Mahadia stable has endured a lean spell this season but Lunar Descent (Mjoka) could bring some welcome relief by taking out the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. The 5yo son of Captain Of All has been placed in his last three starts and is unlikely to get an easier opportunity to shed his maiden ticket. Dance To The Sun (Chaves) rates the obvious threat and the 4yo son of Trippi may enjoy stepping back in trip. As a 7-time winner the enigmatic High Key (Aucharuz) has the ability to win in this class but is none too predictable. His last win came in May when beating the useful Master Point over this trip, and a repetition of that performance will prove good enough to win this. La Cadiere D’Azur (Corrales) makes his career debut, having never raced in South Africa, and its difficult to know what to expect from the 4yo son of Danon Platina.

Betting: 8/10 Lunar Descent; 22/10 Dance To The Sun; 6/1 La Cadiere D’Azur; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (5) Lunar Descent, (1) Dance To The Sun, (4) High Key, (2) Captain Marsala.

Only five runners line up for this 1450m Middle Stakes but the race is super competitive with each of the quintet boasting strong winning claims. Port Louis (Curatolo) was a good second behind Crescent in August but the slow-starting 7yo son of Gimmethegreenlight has yet to win on the Island. Spirit’s Unite (Nunes) has been runner-up in his last two starts and will again prove highly competitive here. With two wins and three placings from 5 starts, War Chariot (Chaves) has been a model of consistency this season and continues to look an absolute picture. Isikwishikwishi (Van Niekerk) scored narrowly over Monumental last time and is open to further improvement. Military Force (Rama) is coming to hand nicely and with only 52kgs to shoulder the 4yo son of Act Of War presents as a lively contender for the in-form Ruhee stable. Tricky start to the Pick 6 and punters are advised to include the “field” and look to go shorter elsewhere.

Betting: 2/1 War Chariot; 22/10 Port Louis, Spirit’s Unite; 11/2 Isikwishikwishi; 8/1 Military Force.

Selection: (5) Military Force, (2) Spirit’s Unite, (3) War Chariot, (1) Port Louis.

Exalted Love (Van Niekerk) is a fast-improving 4yo son of Quasillo and will be bidding for his fourth consecutive victory. Happy Days (Nunes) was very impressive when scoring comfortably over 1600m on 7 July but has not been seen since. View Of The World’s last run in the Maiden Cup, when not totally disgraced, is best ignored and the 5yo son of Ideal World’s previous two efforts suggest that Curatolo’s mount deserves a great deal of respect. Comedy Club (Orffer) appears the pick of the balance.

Betting: 7/10 Exalted Love; 22/10 Happy Days; 13/2 View Of The World; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (6) Exalted Love, (4) View Of The World, (1) Happy Days, (8) Comedy Club.

The unfortunate scratching of Air Raid reduces the field for this Pinnacle Stakes to just four runners and in his absence, its very difficult to oppose Boundless Energy (Nunes). Carl Hewitson’s runner is deep in the red but looks an obvious banker for all exotic bets. Formagear (Orffer) was a recent winner over 1400m and is in receipt of 3kgs from Boundless Energy. Moonlight Trader (Rama) receives 10kgs from Boundless Energy and could spring a surprise while Quasiforsure (Taka) has been struggling to find his feet at Champ de Mars.

Betting: 1/5 Boundless Energy; 7/2 Formagear; 10/1 Moonlight Trader; 33/1 Quasiforsure.

Selection: (1) Boundless Energy, (2) Formagear, (5) Moonlight Trader, (3) Quasiforsure.

Another 4-horse contest but unlike the previous race, the 2026 renewal of this Feature event promises to be a fascinating contest. As evidenced by the betting the lion’s share of the prize is up for grabs and race tactics will play a large part in the outcome. On the evidence of the Maiden Cup form there is little to choose between Future Swing (Mansour) and Good Council (Chaves). Good Council is generally a straight forward ride, while Future Swing can sometimes prove a little quirky and a lot will depend on the pace. Tamarisk Tree (Nunes) missed the Maiden Cup due to a setback in training, but prior to that was victorious in the 1850m Winter Stakes and 2200m Golden Trophy in July and August. Selukwe (Orffer) ran a better race in the Maiden Cup but still a long way short of his best South African form.

Betting: 13/10 Future Swing; 18/10 Good Council; 22/10 Tamarisk Tree; 8/1 Selukwe.

Selection: (2) Good Council, (1) Future Swing, (3) Tamarisk Tree, (4) Selukwe.

Competitive handicap with chances to several well performed runners. We Have Touchdown (Chaves) beat Brave Bomber (Nunes) by a little more than a length over this trip last month but the latter is now 1,5kgs better off which should bring the pair very much closer together. Courtly (Curatolo) was outclassed in the Maiden Cup and is much better suited here. The 5yo son of Act of War has won four of his seven starts in Mauritius and is clearly one for the short-list. Secret Oasis (Orffer) bounced back to his best last time when runner-up behind Summer Snow and should again go well in this class. The most interesting runner is the Vicky Ruhee-trained Arbitration (Schwarz) who caught the eye when running on nicely to finish third on his local debut four weeks ago. That was over 1500m and the 5yo son of Vercingetorix will strip fitter and appreciate the step-up in trip.

Betting: 22/10 We Have Touchdown; 3/1 Brave Bomber; 33/10 Arbitration; 5/1 Courtly; 9/1 Secret Oasis; 12/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (8) Arbitration, (4) Brave Bomber, (1) We Have Touchdown, (6) Courtly.

A large field of 9 runners for the final event but the spotlight falls squarely on emerging star Ashikule (Curatolo), who has won his last three starts on the bounce. It seems certain that Ashikule will rise through the divisions and the presence of Iko Iko (Nunes) and Ibhele (Van Rensburg) should not stand in the way of another victory for Ashikule. Firelighter (Aucharuz) showed good pace on his debut over 990m and he could improve further over this extended trip. On best form Future Frequency could get into the mix but the 5yo son of Futura has been sidelined since June and Ashikule is clearly the stable elect.

Betting: 5/10 Ashikule; 7/1 Iko Iko, Ibhele; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (4) Ashikule, (5) Firelighter, (3) Ibhele, (2) Iko Iko.

1,2,3,4,5 x 6 x 1 x 1,2,3,4 x 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 x 4 (R160)