TOUGH COLTS SET TO HAMMER IT OUT IN THE, COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES, GR.1

All went well for the main contenders in the fillies Classic till the running of the race, and then the going changed with a massive but brief downpour just prior to the race. The scenario changed. The colt’s equivalent has many a worthy opponent and connections are equally concerned that everything goes as planned, till the flag is lifted. Reviewed are the chances of the contenders for the Colts Championship Stakes, Gr.1 in order of rating. 

WAR HAMMER (Air Support-Soviet Lake) rated 69

WAR HAMMER

Unbeaten in three starts, all over 7f, including the Bangalore Juvenile Million, Gr.3 and the Karnataka Juvenile Million, Gr.3 he is well prepared for the uphill task of maintaining his winning run but will have a tough fight on his hands against outstation challengers that are ready to take him on. He beat Sir Supremo assertively in his first outing by 5½ lengths, then Star Appearance by 6 lengths. In the Karnataka Juvenile Million he was pitted against Classic hopefuls Trafalgar and Mystic Bay and beat them to the line by 2¾ lengths. He has the home advantage as this is his turf and now with both the outstation challengers getting a feel of the track, this Classic may be tougher to win than anticipated. He is good and ready to hammer it out against his opponents and looks set to be the favourite to win.

IMPAVID (Air Support-Polenta) rated 64

IMPAVID

He too is unbeaten in three starts, and hence one of the frontline contenders for this Classic, intent on stealing the show. His last two victories have been over the mile, The Governor’s Trophy beating Sir Supremo by ¾ length and then the Brig R C R Hill Memorial Trophy, a Class 2 race beating Blue Moon by 2¼ lengths. While he is tried and tested over the distance of this race, the company he faces will be a lot

TRAFALGAR

tougher than what he has been up against in the past. While this distance is within his compass it is the Derby trip that will be more to his liking. So win or lose he has more in store.     

TRAFALGAR (Western Aristocrat-Bluegrass Phenom) rated 62
This Kolkata challenger won his first race over 7f, then won the Grand Annual Mile in Kolkata before he set sights on the Bangalore Classic. He did not have the run of the race in the Karnataka Juvenile Million where he was positioned in mid field and when ready to strike found himself facing a host of traffic problems, getting out of one and diving into another till his jockey pulled him wide and made a run for it. It left him with too much to do to late so with more judicious riding he should be right there at the finish. The benefit of this run will go a long way in his preparation for this Classic. He looks determined to upset the applecart.

MYSTIC BAY (Leitir Mor-Memory Bay) rated 57MYSTIC BAY

Mystic Bay shed his maiden status in Mumbai over 7f and then when raced over the same distance in the Karnataka Juvenile Million finished 2¾ lengths in second to War Hammer while receiving 3kgs from the winner. He will benefit from his first outing on the Bangalore track but will that be sufficient to turn tables on the winner?  

EXCLUSIVE BLUE (Ravel-Blue Sonata) rated 54
A winner over 6f on his second outing in Hyderabad he was then sent to Chennai where he finished second to Royal Currency over the mile in the Guindy Grand Prix, Gr.3. Racing over the same distance in Bangalore, he was third to Impavid by 4 lengths while conceding a kg to the winner. He will find it tough to turn the tables on the victor as well as the other frontline contenders.  

WIZARD OF STOCKS (Speaking Of Which-Margarita Rita) rated 51

WIZARD OF STOCKS

Out to seal a first Classic for the Usha Stud inmate Speaking Of Which, he fell short by ¾ length when sent out over the 7f trip in Mumbai on his first outing. He then made good over the mile in Bangalore beating Francis Bacon by 4 lengths. He will definitely conjure up some magic to try and clinch this one. His dam has produced Black Type runners, not winners over distance races.

LIGHTNING BOLT (Excellent Art-Shamaal) rated 45

LIGHTNING BOLT

His first career start was an impressive one winning over 6f with 2½ lengths to spare from Unstoppable and 5 lengths to the good of Ice Floe that came out and won recently. He needed some persuasion to get going, but then stretched away nicely. His dam has produced distance runners like Field Marshal and White Knight so while he could very well get the trip does he have the experience to take on the stronger and more seasoned competitors?

MALWA (Whatsthescript-One Punch) rated 40

MALWA

The winner on his maiden outing, has not been lucky thereafter. He was third to Hunt For Gold in the Breeders Produce Stakes in Mumbai and then fifth in the Karnataka Juvenile   Million, with Classic contenders War Hammer, Mystic Bay and Trafalgar ahead of him. This time round too, it isn’t going to be any easier.