There will be only three horses in The JMLS Cancer Support Cup, a Group 2 race which will be over 2100m on Saturday. The double winner of the Maiden Cup, Alshibaa will be alone against the two horses of trainer Samraj Mahadia.
The nine years old gelding Alshibaa will have a golden opportunity to score his tenth victory in Mauritius on Saturday. He did his best in the Derby Cup (2400m-G1) against The Gatekeeper on September 3. Alshibaa tried everything but he got beaten by a better horse than him. But he still took a good second place, beating easily the other competitors.
The Ricky Maingard-trained gelding is a pure stayer who won the Maiden Cup (2400m – G1) in 2020 and 2021. He also bagged victories over 1600m, 1850m, 2100m and 2200m in Mauritius. There were rumors that he would retire after the Derby Cup. His owners and trainer have kept him in competition and this may be the last race of his career.
Alshibaa was very lively in training. He will be facing younger horses, but who have less class than him. The champion stayer will have French jockey Cédric Ségeon in the saddle. This will be an advantage because this duo won the Maiden Cup in 2020.
Lunafactaion did well since the beginning of the 2023 season with three wins over 1850m (2) and 2200m. He finished dead last and a far away from the winner in the People’s Derby Cup. He is a very good front runner who will have plenty of time to dictate his pace. He can make it from pillar to post. But we must not forget that he won over 2200m by beating Alshibaa when the track had become muddy, and he had a lighter handicap.
Chosen Way is running in a much superior field this time because his merit rating is 51 and he his competing in a group race. He will race for the first time on such a long trip in his entire career. He is in great shape this season with three victories already under his belt. He won at the finish against Secret Oasis over 2050m on September 23. This is a horse that has a very good finish. He will be a danger.
Tips
Race 1 – 1500m (0-15)
Smuts – Digital Fortress – Chesnut Cove – Misty Roller
Race 2 – 1365m (0-25)
Menelaus – Capkuta – Nevil MU – Yoho Mist
Race 3 – 1400m (0-26)
Al Jazeera – Jet Stream – The Jazz Singer
Race 4 – 1500m – B41
Canary Island – Swagger Jagger – Chapter And Verse
Race 5 – 1400m – B51
Illicit Kiss – Global Glory – Shah Akbar
Race 6 – 2100m – G2
Alshibaa – Chosen Way
Race 7 – 990m – B46
Captain Mike – Elmo – Spry
Race 8 – 990m – B31
Lite Of My Life – Vartacus – New Abbey – Winter Guard
- Top wins: Illicit Kiss – Alshibaa
- Value bets : Swagger Jagger – Vartacus
- Outsiders : Capkuta
Alshibaa last win :
Lunafacation last win :
Chosen Way last win :
Horses weights:
