Hawkeye’s Guide To The Saturday Mauritius Meeting

The Sophomore Trial over 1365m is the first leg of the Island’s 2026 Three-Year–Old Championship and Soon Gujadhur saddles two livewires in the form of Diamond Days and Ashikule. However it is the Subu Gujadhur yard that may emerge victorious with the 3yo son of Danon Platina, Blackjack Randall. Donovan Mansour is booked to ride Blackjack Randall who has delivered two eye-catching performances this season, including when beating Ashikule on the opening day back in April.

This low-grade handicap, reserved for Mauritian jockeys and apprentices, has attracted a maximum field of ten runners but the outcome should rest between Kola Tonic (Rama); Amandla (Kulloo) and Trick Or Tequila, who will be partnered by the experienced Rye Joorawon. Trick Or Tequila fared best in the all-important draw for barrier positions and the 3yo son of Lance should show further progress following two fair performances so far this Season. But given that Kola Tonic finished some three lengths ahead of Trick Or Tequila last time, the 11/10 on offer about the latter seems very restricted and offers no value. Kola Tonic would have been the obvious selection but for the fact that he has drawn extremely wide. Amandla did enough last season to suggest he could be a threat here, but has not been seen since beating Cider House Rules in November. Cosmic Captain plunges in class and may be worth including in Trifectas and Quartets.

Betting: 11/10 Trick Or Tequila; 5/1 Kola Tonic; 6/1 Amandla; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (4) Trick Or Tequila; (2) Kola Tonic; (3) Amandla; (1) Cosmic Captain.

Zacatoo has been heavily supported and is a warm-order favourite to account for his four rivals in this 1400m contest. He met with his first defeat on the Island when a good third on seasonal debut behind the useful Sound Of The Sea four weeks ago, and he should prove a tough nut to crack here. Warbird is no slouch and was a winner in this class over 1450m at the beginning of May. The Awotar/Van Niekerk team has been in very good form and Warbird’s chances must be respected. San Andreas is a seasoned campaigner representing the combination of Carl Hewitson and Manoel Nunes who celebrated four winners at Champ de Mars last week. Not In Doubt won twice last term but could just be in need of this outing.

Betting: 5/10 Zacatoo; 18/10 Warbird; 12/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (3) Zacatoo; (2) Warbird; (5) San Andreas; (1) Not In Doubt.

Summer Snow and Sound Of The Sea renew rivalry in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Four weeks ago Sound Of The Sea edged out Summer Snow over 1450m by almost a length but the latter is now 1,5kgs better off with Sound Of The Sea. However, over this slightly extended trip I expect Sound Of The Sea (Van Niekerk) to confirm the form as I am of the view that Summer Snow (Nunes) may be at his best over 1365m/1400m – but of course the race may blow that theory right out the water! While I expect these two to dominate the race, the battle for the minor money could be headed by Tsunami Warning.

Betting: 12/10 Sound Of The Sea; Summer Snow; 6/1 Tsunami Warning; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (2) Sound Of The Sea; (3) Summer Snow; (5) Tsunami Warning; (4) Wugug.

Only six runners line up for this middle division handicap but it shapes up to be a really good race. Bounceback has won both his starts this season and seems very progressive. Last time out over 1365m he drew clear of Rich Folks Hoax in the latter stages to score by nearly a length, but is now 1,5kgs worse off with Hewitson’s charge. Stepping up in trip should not inconvenience either and it should be a keenly contested affair. Stated won a good race over 990m last time but the 4yo son of The United States has won over 1400m at Durbanville and he should make his presence felt here. Just Var has been knocking at the door with five placings on the Island from as many starts and his winning turn cannot be too far away. Add into the mix Soon Gujadhur’s newcomer, Makazole (Danielson), and we have all the ingredients for a highly competitive event.

Betting: 18/10 Rich Folks Hoax; 22/10 Makazole; 5/2 Bounceback; 13/2 Stated; 16/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (6) Bounceback; (4) Rich Folks Hoax; (3) Makazole; (5) Stated.

Blue Bay (Danielson) was heavily backed to score on his seasonal debut four weeks ago and he duly obliged with a strong finishing effort from the rear of the field. There is clearly plenty of scope for further improvement and the 5yo son of Silvano could go back-to-back. His four rivals are all decent in their own right but perhaps Lets Play Poker could improve on his last run to fill the Exacta position. Menelaus found betting support last time when runner-up behind Bugalugs and is clearly a threat. Spelling Bee will have needed his last run and should strip fitter here while Tyrion Lannister is capable of better than his recent efforts.

Betting: 11/10 Blue Bay; 28/10 Spelling Bee; Menelaus; 12/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (3) Blue Bay; (5) Let’s Play Poker; (4) Menelaus; (1) Spelling Bee.

Intriguing contest with the presence of newcomers Mfethu and Military Force adding spice to the six horse line-up. Mfethu races for the Hollywood team and was a winner over 1000m back home while Military Force won at huge odds on debut at Greyville in October and has not been seen since. Blackjack Randall and Ashikule have made promising starts to their careers on the Island but collateral form suggests that Blackjack Randall could just hold sway. Diamond Days is clearly talented but does himself no favours by pulling too hard in his races. His win at Champ de Mars was recorded over 990m but if Iannish Taka can get the 3yo son of Rafeef to settle, he could quite easily blow the opposition away. Siriano was all at sea on his local debut and should have benefitted from the experience.

Betting: 12/10 Diamond Days; 28/10 Blackjack Randall; 3/1 Ashikule; 8/1 Siriano; 16/1 Mfethu, Military Force.

Selection: (5) Blackjack Randall; (6) Ashikule; (4) Diamond Days; (3) Siriano.

Crescent (Danielson) is bidding for this eighth consecutive victory and is unbeaten over track and trip. He is climbing steadily in the ratings but may not have reached his ceiling quite yet. Daring Dash is also unbeaten from three starts over course and distance and is much better than his last two runs suggest, when racing too fiercely and compounding quickly.  World of Pleasure is an interesting newcomer for the Jevin Awotar stable. His form in South Africa was decent and the 4yo son of One World has been working really well at home. Keep an eye on the market! William Rufus brings solid form into the race and is not without a chance of upsetting the favourite with the same comment applying to Betathantherest. Danilo Danilovitch is dropping in the ratings but does appear held here.

Betting: 5/10 Crescent; 6/1 World Of Pleasure; 7/1 Daring Dash; 8/1 William Rufus; 16/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (4) Crescent; (6) World Of Pleasure; (3) William Rufus; (2) Betathantherest.

The Soon Gujadhur stable may hold the aces here with a two-pronged attack in the form of Midnight Flyer (Danielson) and Paved With Gold (Sophie). The latter has been a huge problem at the gates and has been withdrawn from his last two engagements for refusing to load. The 4yo son of Pathfork has ability and if he behaves himself can certainly win a race of this nature. Midnight Flyer made a pleasing introduction to his local career when fourth over 990m behind Holy Star and the 3yo son of What A Winter has plenty of scope and will appreciate the step up in trip. Dwight Eisenhower is a lightly-raced 4yo son of The United States with plenty of upside and he should go well here. Cape Cannery is improving with racing, while Gang Leader is capable but not always reliable. Kaisarissa was a winner last term but has not been seen since December and may just need this run. That’ll B The Day debuts for the Nagadoo stable but showed useful promise in South Africa and the betting may prove the best guide. A highly competitive race to close the card!

Betting: 3/1 That’ll B The Day; 7/2 Gang Leader; Dwight Eisenhower; 4/1 Midnight Flyer; 10/1 and better the balance.

Selection: (4) Midnight Flyer; (5) Paved With Gold; (6) That’ll B The Day; (3) Dwight Eisenhower.

Suggested Pick 6 (Races 3-8):

2,3 x 3,4,6 x 3 x 4,5,6 x 4,6 x Field (R288)