Ruffina appeals most in the Sprinters’ Cup (1,200m), while Azzurro appears to have an edge in the field of seven runners in the Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Stayers’ Cup (3,000m) that wears an open look in the pre-Invitation Cup day races to be held here on Saturday (March 3). There will be no false rails.
1. JAPAN CUP (1,600m), rated 21 to 46, 1 to 26 eligible, 1-15 p.m.: 1. Torch Bearer (7) David Allan 62, 2. Mizuno (4) B. Mahesh 61.5, 3. Devotion (9) S. John 61, 4. Lhotse (5) N.S. Parmar 59, 5. Arion (2) D.S. Deora 57, 6. Fiorelle (10) P. Trevor 56.5, 7. Prince Of Heart (3) Hindu Singh 55.5, 8. Zandra (1) Rajinder Singh 55, 9. Xlite (12) Neeraj 54, 10. Mythical Sunrise (11) Shamaz Shareef 52, 11. Star Phoenix (8) Ashhad Asbar 52 and 12. Timeless Treasure (6) Sai Kiran 50.
TORCH BEARER: Looks fit and well. DEVOTION: A failed favourite in her last start; may make amends. LHOTSE: won a 1,600m in a gutsy manner; retains form. FIORELLE: Ran Lhotse to half-a-length in her last start; well tuned.
1. FIORELLE, 2. LHOTSE, 3. DEVOTION
2. SANS CRAINTES STUD TROPHY (1,600m), rated 81 & above, 61 to 86 eligible, 1-45: 1. Germanicus (3) Srinath 65, 2. Setaflame (5) S. John 63, 3. Copernicus (2) B. Mahesh 59, 4. No More Politics (6) D.S. Deora 58, 5. Volantis (1) Suraj Narredu 57, 6. Namid (7) Zervan 52.5 and 7. Rufus (4) Dashrath Singh 50.
GERMANICUS: Carrying the same weight finished a game third to Volantis over 2,000m in his last start; in fine fettle. VOLANTIS: Won her last start impressively; may repeat. NAMID: As a favourite finished 3/4 length behind Volantis; should be given another chance. RUFUS: Appeals on weights.
1. GERMANICUS, 2. VOLANTIS, 3. NAMID
3. BRAVE DANCER CUP (1,600m), rated 61 to 86, 41 to 66 eligible, 2-15: 1. Arminius (4) B. Mahesh 61, 2. Hartnell (11) Srinath 58.5, 3. Sweet Music (9) R.S. Bhati 57, 4. Rigoletto (6) David Probert 56, 5. Cocoanut (10) Hindu Singh 54.5, 6. Celtic King (7) D.S. Deora 54, 7. Mocha Loca (5) Zervan 53.5, 8. Raqs Sharqi (2) C.S. Jodha 52.5, 9. Joss (8) C. Alford 52, 10. Summerhill (1) Dashrath Singh 51.5 and 11. Top Cat (3) P. Vikram 50.
ARMINIUS: Won a 1,600m in a gutsy manner; maintains form. HARTNELL: Fit for the fray. MOCHA LOCA: A consistent runner; in fine trim. RAQS SHARQI: Won his last two starts in the lower class; may make it three in a row.
1. HARTNELL, 2. MOCHA LOCA, 3. RAQS SHARQI
4. BOOKMAKERS’ ASSOCIATION CUP (1,200m), rated 21 to 46, 1 to 26 eligible, 2-45: 1. Perfect Balance (8) Shamaz Shareef 62.5, 2. Pick Pocket (6) Sujit Paswan 60, 3. Malana (3) C.S. Jodha 59, 4. Monaco (10) P. Vikram 59, 5. My Lady Luck (14) D.S. Deora 59, 6. All Rounder (11) S. Kamble 58.5, 7. Auxilium (4) J. Chinoy 58.5, 8. Everglow (9) S. John 58.5, 9. Bournville (13) B. Mahesh 57.5, 10. Glorious Run (1) Shezad Khan 55.5, 11. Happy Returns (15) Hindu Singh 55.5, 12. Mustang (5) Ranidan Singh 53.5, 13. Shanayaa’s Pet (7) Md. Imran 53.5, 14. Blaze To Glory (12) Sai Kiran 53 and 15. Prancing Queen (2) Neeraj 53.
MALANA: Justified the favouritism by winning a 1,200m comfortably; may score again. EVERGLOW: Ran Red Bug to half-a-length over 1,100m in her last start; has improved since. HAPPY RETURNS: An impressive winner of his last start (1,100m); may score an encore. PRANCING QUEEN: Well in at the weights.
1. HAPPY RETURNS, 2. MALANA, 3. EVERGLOW
5. SPRINTERS’ CUP (1,200m), 4-y-o & over (Terms), 3-15: 1. Adam (4) N.S. Parmar 59, 2. Brahmachari (2) Shezad Khan 59, 3. Captain Courage (10) P. Trevor 59, 4. Multitude (3) S. John 59, 5. Amorous White (6) C. Alford 58, 6. Cavallo Veloce (1) Srinath 58, 7. Lincoln (9) Sandesh 58, 8. Perciosa (7) Deepak 57.5, 9. Siobhan (5) P.S. Chouhan 57.5 and 10. Ruffina (8) David Allan 56.5.
CAPTAIN COURAGE: Twice third may raise a winning gallop today. MULTITUDE: Won three of his four starts this season; in fine nick. CAVALLO VELOCE: Looks fit and well. LINCOLN: After winning two races finished second to Ruffina over 1,200m at Mumbai; in fine condition. RUFFINA: A rousing performer; in great heart.
1. RUFFINA, 2. LINCOLN, 3. CAVALLO VELOCE
6. DR. M.A.M. RAMASWAMY STAYERS’ CUP (3,000m), 4-y-o & over (Terms), 4-00: 1. Azzurro (6) P. Trevor 59, 2. Cadman (7) S. John 59, 3. Jack Frost (1) Sandesh 59, 4. Ophion (5) David Allan 59, 5. Raees (3) C. Alford 59, 6. Winter Renaissance (2) C.S. Jodha 57.5 and 7. Lord Of The Sea (4) David Probert 56.5.
AZZURRO: Carrying 62.5 kg finished a game second to Winter Renaissance (2,800m), in his last start; the 7-y-o continues to be zestful. CADMAN: Working well; may upset. RAEES: His nowhere in Winter Renaissance is best ignored. WINTER RENAISSANCE: Won her last start impressively; retains form.
1. AZZURRO, 2. RAEES, 3. WINTER RENAISSANCE
7. NANOLI STUD CUP (1,200m), maiden 3-y-o only (Terms), 4-45: 1. McCallister (6) J. Chinoy 55, 2. Oak Brook (8) Dashrath Singh 55, 3. Accidental (9) P. Trevor 53.5, 4. Aiyana (5) Sai Kiran 53.5, 5. Cadillac (2) Suraj Narredu 53.5, 6. Fabiola (7) David Allan 53.5, 7. Havana Grey (3) Ranidan Singh 53.5, 8. Kefira (10) Neeraj 53.5, 9. Move To The Front (4) Tejeshwar 53.5, 10. The Kiss (1) C. Alford 53.5 and 11. Ultraviolet (11) Hindu Singh 53.5.
AIYANA: A consistent runner; continues to shine in the morning try-outs. CADILLAC: First run; judiciously prepared. KEFIRA: Twice second; may trouble the best. ULTRAVIOLET: Comes into the reckoning on her second to Alyssa (1,400m).
1. CADILLAC, 2. AIYANA, 3. KEFIRA
8. MOHANPUR CHOWDHURY ESTATES TROPHY (1,400m), rated 41 to 66, 21 to 46 eligible, 5-15: 1. Nelsons Blood (10) Hindu Singh 61, 2. Sanvi (5) Neeraj 59, 3. El Cid (11) D.S. Deora 56.5, 4. Alshafa (6) J. Chinoy 56, 5. Dark Gold (9) P. Trevor 55.5, 6. Levante (7) Dashrath Singh 55, 7. Claymore (8) Suraj Narredu 54, 8. Bacaardi (3) Ashhad Asbar 53, 9. Day Flower (4) David Allan 53, 10. Running Hand (2) P. Vikram 53 and 11. The Big Bull (1) P.S. Chouhan 53.
NELSONS BLOOD: In a start-to-finish attempt ran fourth to Zenon over 2,000m in his last start at Mumbai; the present trip may suit him better. SANVI: After winning a 1,400m easily, ran Eternally (second win) to 3/4 length over 1,400m; moving impressively in the trials. DARK GOLD: Looks fit enough. LEVANTE: A consistent runner; may upset.
1. SANVI, 2. NELSONS BLOOD, 3. DARK GOLD
Day’s best: RUFFINA
Double: HARTNELL — AZZURRO
Jkt: 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8; Tr (i): 1, 2 & 3; (ii): 3, 4 & 5; (iii): 6, 7 & 8.
