Horse Racing – Meeting 20: Alshibaa Better Over Longer Trip

Winner of the most prestigious race in Mauritius, The Maiden Cup, in 2020, Alshibaa is on the road for a double. Before the 2021edition scheduled on the 3^rd of October, Alshibaa will be the big favourite in the warm up race, The Golden Trophy (2200m – G2) which will be run this Sunday at the Champ-de-mars racecourse.

Alshibaa’s target is clearly to score a rare double in The Maiden Cup (2400m – G1). He won that race easily last year and he is building up to try and be among the few horses who have won that race twice. The Ricky Maingard’s trained horse was not 100 percent fit last time and he crushed the opposition over 1850m last time. He is in a much better shape, and he will be harder to beat he is more suited over longer trip.

The champion horse of 2020, Patrol Officer, has not yet won this season. He is also aiming for a win in The Maiden Cup and he is approaching his peak gradually. He finished third behind Alshibaa on his last outing. But, he could have challenged the winner if his jockey opted for the inside run rather than the outside in the final straight. He will be the main danger for the favourite.

Alyaasaat will try his luck for the first time over this distance. He was slow at the start and finished strongly on the 15^th of August. He ran fifth at only 1.85L behind Alshibaa. Alyaasaat is at his best at the track work and he might be right there.

Padre Pio was bought expensively and is expected to be a big runner in The Maiden Cup. He won only once since his debut in Mauritius. He is highly rated and he will be a horse to follow this Sunday.

Opera Royal and The Dazzler are two genuine performers who are always there at the finish. They will both carry lightweights and they will be decent outsiders.

Selection: Alshibaa, Patrol Officer, Alyaasaat, Padre Pio