The F. D. Wadia Trophy 2014

The Prestigious F. D. Wadia Trophy (Gr.2) will be a splendid race - By Bob Sawhny

Posted on - 15 Aug 2014

The Prestigious F. D. Wadia Trophy (Gr.2) will be a splendid race

By Bob Sawhny

Pune: Seven thoroughbreds have accepted to compete in The 1400M prestigious F. D. Wadia Trophy, which will be run here on Sunday, 17th August, 2014. The esteemed Terms race is for horses, 3 years old only and it is the 7th race in a card of Nine events and it is scheduled to be run at 4.00P.M. In my opinion the winner should emanate from the trio of War Command, Polydences or Solomon with the first named horse presently having the best credentials. But, I give below the trio with their Racing Career record, good track-work and other important factors if any, their Pedigree and most important of all My Final Analysis of Each of the threesome.

WAR COMMAND (Ace-Sure Future) Trainer: Karthik G.

He is an impeccably bred dark bay colt who has run thrice and has won once, being his maiden win on 15/12/2013 as a 2yo over 1000M which he authoritatively won in a speedy time of 58.86s. Then, on 29/12 2013 War Command finished a good 4th to the same owners- champion colt- Be Safe in The 1200M Zoroastrian Multi-Million. Subsequently,War Command ran on 23/2/2013 in The 1400M Poonawalla Breeders Multi-Million (Gr.1) and finished an easy good close 3rd to Shivalik Storm and Be Safe.

Browsing over the pedigree of War Command, His ‘Sire’ Ace won 3 races in Ireland at 2 (8 fur) including Desmond Stakes (Gr.3) and placed 2nd in John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1) and Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Gr.1). Danehill, Sire of‘Ace’ was the Champion 3YO Sprinter in Europe and Tea HouseDam of‘Ace’ won 4 races including Cornelscourt Stakes L & placed; dam of 10 good winners.Andalthough Sure Future the‘Dam’ of War Commandwon only 1 race, his GrandamHaunting Beauty won 6 races, had 6 places, 2 shows with a Career Earning of $ 146,325 which included winning Molcomb Stakes at Goodwood, England  (Gr.3), 2nd in Fred Darling Stakes-Dubai Duty Free (Gr.3) &3rd in Four Winds Stakes, L in U.S.A. Plus, his Dams Tail-line is strong, as goes down to the likes of Isabelle Brand (FR) who won as many as 11 races. Haunting Beauty raced in England and USA and was exported to India in 1995.

My Final Analysis: The superbly bred and overall excellent colt War Command has run well against top class juveniles. He is presently very fit and on 4/8/2014 he performed extremely well in a Mock Race, over 1200M.Then, War Command has regularly worked well in the month of August, 2014 on 8/8, 10/8, 13/8 and his winding-up spurt on 14/8 was brilliant and War Command, very easily and authoritatively did 1000M in 1-05 (-10), 600 in 37 (-8). So, the very fit, WAR COMMAND, who has the highest Handicap Rating of 57 definitely has the best credentials to win The prestigious 1400M F. D. Wadia Trophy (Gr.2) at Pune on Sunday, 17th August 2014.

POLYDENCES(Oratorio-Perfect Polly) Trainer: Mansoor Shah

This attractive looking filly has run only twice and has won her second race in scintillating style by a widening 2-3/4L in a speedy time of 1-10.58s.

Her Sire ‘Oratorio’ from 15 starts had 6 wins, 3 places, 1show with Career Earnings of $ 1,913,814.which included The 1400M Grand Criterium (Gr.1) FR, The 7f Futurity Stakes (Gr.2) IRE, Anglesey Stakes (Gr.3) IRE, 10f Irish Champion Stakes (Gr.1), 10f Eclipse Stakes (Gr.1) GB. Hence, Oratorio is a very good Sire. And Her Dam -‘Perfect Polly’ who was a sprinter from 11 starts had 4 wins, 2 places with Career Earnings of 105,464 Euros.

My Final Analysis: Although, Polydences has a low Handicap Rating of 48, she is presently very fit and has performed well in her track-work and on 4/8/2014, she did a good mock race and on 13/8, she showed her fitness by going over 800m in 52 (-8) and 600 in 37(-8). Accordingly, Polydences needs some thought, although she will find the impeccably bred colt a very tough opponent.

SOLOMON (Rebuttal- Dhahab) Trainer: Pesi Shroff

He is a good looking sturdy colt, who is an early foal, has run thrice and has won 1 race from 3 outings. His victory was on 22/12/2013 as 2Year old viz. The 1200M Allah Rakhkha Trophy, which he authoritatively won as the favorite, in a time of 1-12.18.

His ‘Sire’ Rebuttal [USA] won 2 races from 10 starts  at 2 and 4 (1200 m. and 1600 m.), $ 145,150 incl. Evening Standard Maiden Stakes and placed a good 2nd in Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes, Gr.1, Guineas Maiden Stakes, 3rd in Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, Gr.2, etc. And although His ‘Dam’ Dhahab did not do anything significanthisDam’s Tail-Line is a strong one, as it goes down to the likes of Immense who had 5 wins, 7 places, 4 shows with a Career Earnings of $ 123,434 incl. Little Silver Handicap (Gr.3) in U.S.A. over 8.5F andItsabet who scored with 10 wins, 9 places, 5 shows all in U.S.A. with a Career Earnings of $ 106,675 incl. 6F Prioress Stakes (Gr.1), 6F Colonial Handicap, 6F Wilmington Handicap and 6F Garden Estate Stakes.

My Final Analysis: After his victory on 22/12/2013, the well-bred Solomon had run in The Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million (Gr1) on 23/2/2014 but he finished an ordinary 7th in the field of 11 runners as he was still not mature. Then, he was rested and one will now see the best of him when he starts maturing. Plus, his track-work in August 2014 on 3, 8, 10, 12 and 14 have been superb and that’s why I rate him as a rank outsider and in my opinion, Solomon will mature in to a good colt in distances from 1200M to 1600M.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)