Nourbese will be the hot favorite in the main race of this Saturday at the Champ-de-mars racecourse during a day which will mark the 210th anniversary of the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC).
Small, but a very competitive field for the first round of the championship reserved for 4-year-old horses with Nourbese as the horse to beat over 1400m. The horse of the reigning champion trainer, Ricky Maingard, is undefeated in three outings in Mauritius. He won each time in a nice style. He showed that he can follow at the back, and he was also very impressive by running close to the leader. He was never pushed to his limits during his victories with the South African jockey Piere-Corne Orffer who only accompanied him hands and heels. He is the horse to beat.
Nourbese will have a big test this Saturday, as the other four starters are toufh competitors. Royal Wulff will be his main opponent. Trained by Ramapatee Gujadhu he put on a fine display in ‘The Duchess Of York Cup’ when he produced a blistering finish after racing in last position with 62kg on his back. Royal Wulff is coming back fairly quickly. It seems that he took his first race well and he must be feared at the finish.
Walls of Dubrovnik is also unbeaten with five wins. He started in B31 and he finds himself facing tougher opponents this time. Walls Of Dubrovnik showed that can win from start to finish, or by following close to the leaders, and he won his last two races by coming at the finish. His trainer Shyam Hurchund has targeted this race for Walls Of Dubrovnik who will be looking for his sixth win in a row. Var’s Elusion will have a good card to play. Crowned champion among three-year-old horses in 2021 by winning all the heats, he also won competing with older horses before a set-back at the end of the season. This powerful ‘front runner’ was gelded during the offseason and his first race of 2022 is to be ignored, as he was slow at the start. Var’s Elusion seemed in better better shape when he trained with the excellent Cartel Boss on Tuesday morning. He could find himself leading the race alone and he can do it from start to finish with only 53 kg on his back. Trainer Ramapatee Gujadhur second horse in the race, Thomas Henry, is a model of consistency with six wins and two places in eight outings. He was impressive on the second race meeting when he finished strongly to win over 990m. He can upset the odds.
Selection: Nourbese – Royal Wulff – Var’s Elusion
Tips
Race 1 – (0-25) – 1500m
Stone Circle – Moon Jumper – Bonjour Baby
Race 2 – (0-15) – 990m
Barak Lavan – Giant Cruise – Dunzie
Race 3 – B41 – 1500m
Candle Cove – Bestday Of Mylife – Crimson God
Race 4 – 0-26 – 1450m
Opague – Subtropical – Promissory
Race 5 – B46 – 1400m
Kaydens Pride – Consul Of War – Quatro Five Six
Race 6 – 1400m – G3 – 4YO
Nourbese – Royal Wulff – Var’s Elusion
Race 7 – B31 – 1500m
Citadel – Smuts – High Key – Star Of Zeus
Race 8 – B36 – 15400m
Jet Stream – Manetheren – Copenhagen – Gordonstoun
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Bankers : Opague – Citadel
Value Bets : Quatro Five Six – Barak Lavan
Outsiders: Bonjour Baby – Var’s Elusion
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