The People’s Turf PLC Winter 2023 Cup a group 3 event will be contested over 1850m on Saturday at the Champ-de-mars racecourse. Special Blend is the favourite of this race. He will face some good middle-distance horses and stayers.
Special Blend has done nothing wrong in four outings since the start of the season. He won over 1400m, which is not his favourite course, and was then beaten by The Gatekeeper on two occasions. He didn’t have the best trip on his last outing over 1500m when he followed at the back of the field, and he had to find a way on outside on the final straight. He lost many lengths, but he took a good third place behind the 2022 champion horse, Walls Of Dubrovnik and the very good Royal Wulff. Special Blend beat other strong contenders such as Emblem Of Hope, Blackburn Roc and two-time Maiden Cup winner Alshibaa in this event.
Special Blend won over 1400m and 1600m in Mauritius but bagged his only win in South Africa over 1750m. He will race over 1600m for the first time since 2021. Special Blend is in excellent physical condition. He can have a dream run starting from the first lane and he will be suited by a hot pace if ever there is a fight for the lead during the early stages of the race.
Lunafaction will try to confirm their recent victory over 1850m. He had taken advantage of his light weight to make the difference against Hubble and Holy Warrior. There will be less weight difference between Lunafacation and these two horses this time. Lunafaction is moving up in category and it will have to fight harder against better horses.
Hubble will have a good card to play. He was beaten by Lunafacation in the final stages of the race on race meeting 10. He lost some energy fighting with Holy Warrior for the lead. This surely cost him the victory. Hubble will start from a good draw, and he will be very hard to beat if he hits the front without making much effort.
Alshibaa is a classy horse who won the Maiden Cup (2400m – G1) twice. Unfortunately, he suffered health problems at the end of the 2022 season when he coughed after his races. He made a good return to competition by taking the sixth place at 7.20L from Walls Of Dubrovnik. He seems to have recovered well and he can be right there.
Tips
Race 1 – 1600m (0-25)
Spiritual Wind – Spotted Pearl – Overdose – Masterofallisurvey
Race 2 – 990m (0-15)
Le Quartier – Crackon – Chestnut Cove
Race 3 – 1400m – B41
Syds LIason – Crazy Charlie – Freedom Of Speech – Canford Lights
Race 4 – 1500m – B46
Arnhem Land – Massimo – Bestday Of Mylife – Sea Air
Race 5 – 1500m – B66
Captain Flynt – Transonic – Your Pace Or Mine
Race 6 – 1850m – G3
Special Blend – Hubble – Alshibaa
Race 7 – 990m – 50+
Henry Tudor – Valyrian King
Race 8 – 1500m – B31
Betathantherest – Gordonstoun – Liquid – Sergeant York
- Top wins: Henry Tudor – Betathantherest – Arnhem Land
- Value Bets: Syds liaison – Captain Flynt – Spiritual Wind
- Outsiders: Overdose
Special Blend last win
Hubble last win
Alshibaa last win
Lunafacation last win
Horses weights
