Can Fleet Indian do it?

The Southern Regent Trophy is the most interesting race of Saturday’s (June 6) Bangalore races. The race has no clear cut favourite though bookmakers will be tempted to make the well bred Bruckner who is by the Derby winning mare Allies Serenade as the favourite. Bruckner had finished third in his only outing at Mumbai without giving glimpse of what he is capable of. He has had the benefit of a mock race in the company of a much superior owner mate Jacqueline. Bruckner appears to have made improvement but is he a good thing?

The answer is a clear no because the race has attracted some good quality horses. If one were to by the evidence of race form alone, Fleet Indian who ran a fair race in the company of Aboline and D’Artagnan in winter should be the obvious first choice. The progeny of Tejano had shown plenty of promise in the runs preceding his unplaced effort in the company of elite horses. I am inclined to go with Fleet Indian.

Systematic came from nowhere to finish second to Rugged Beauty and the daughter of Steinbeck will attract lot of attention based on that run as also because she has been working well. Unless she makes significant improvement, she may find it tough.

Then there is the big made Polish Patriot who is by Polish Precedent out of Be Mine who last year had a stakes winner abroad. Polish Patriot is well bred but in the absence of any data, it is difficult to ignore him.

As the market fancies Bruckner and Systematic do not at this point of time look imposing, one has to be wary. Fleet India will be value for money at higher odds.

Interestingly, The Spartan who is bidding for a hat-trick and Spark of Isis stand out in their race. The Spartan seems to have overcome his problems as evidenced by his two successive wins. On the other hand, Spark of Isis who recorded two wins as a juvenile has bounced back as her runaway win earlier in the season showed. It is a toss up between the two but since Spark of Isis has had the benefit of a race run, she may be the preferred one. However, to back one of these will be a tough proposition as they are closely handicapped given their respective performances thus far.

The got-abroad gelding Corleone will not be value of money as the bookmakers are bound to make him a cramped favourite. Corleone has this tendency to bolt which makes it difficult for his jockey to control the pace. On the last occasion, Corleone bolted into an eight length lead inside the final furlong but ended up losing comprehensively! He is sure to enjoy the day’s best tag from most tipsters.

Sugar Ray may not be the overwhelming favourite but he is worth an indulgence.