In being a race in four, it’s the aptly named Black Cat Back who’s looking for back-to-back victories in The Duke of York Cup to be run at Champs de Mars Racetrack in Mauritius on Sunday.
With Black Cat Back returning to form in a first-up second in the Lions Club International Cup of 1450m, its now to repeat the all-the-way form of last year’s Duke of York Cup for GD Aucharuz.
In being winless all this season, and his rating dropping from 85 to 80, Black Cat Back will be ridden by Mauritius’s most ‘winningest’ jockey in Rye Joorawon, having ridden him last-start.
Trained by ‘Mr Classic’ Ramapatee Gujadhur, who in addition to Black Cat Back he had Ehsaan win The Duchess of York Cup last year for a total of 23 classics, and has been twice champion trainer.
In 2017 he was the first in over 80 years to win all four classics, with Ready to Attack in The Duchess of York and The Duke of York Cups, Enaad the Maiden Cup and Tandragee the Barbe Cup.
In being owned by MM. & Ms Ramapatee, Tikanand, Dr. & Ms Hemant K. Gujadhur, it’s their second race victory having won previously with Ready to Attack in 2017 for Ramapatee Gujadhur.
A son of the Irish 2000 Guineas winner Black Minnaloushe, Black Cat Back was a Gr2 placed five times race winner in South Africa, being the family of Champion 3yo SA Filly in Cherry on The Top.
Run at wfa over 1600m The Duke of York is the final of the Mauritius Turf Club ‘classics’ with The Maiden Cup being the principal event, and plus The Duchess of York Cup and The Barbe Cup.
Sitting on a 92 rating is the Vincent Allet trained Twist of Fate who came from last in a three horse race to win the Coupe de Presidents of 2100m by 1¼ lengths when ridden by Rye Joorawon.
A non winner of his four previous starts, Twist of Fate was beaten a nose in The Barbe Cup of 1600m by Undercover Agent, and most recently third in the prestigious Maiden Cup of 2400m.
In winning over 1400m earlier this season, Twist of Fete is a former winner of the Greyville Guineas, and is by the leading South African sire Master of My Fate, the Premier Trophy winner.
Trained by ‘future champion trainer’ Ricky Maingard is The Barbe Cup winner Undercover Agent who was elevated to 90 rating even though being a last-start second in The Colonel Draper Cup.
Now ridden by Piere Corne Orffer, he won all four previous starts in being odds-on favourite in The Colonel Draper Cup, having first won The Barbe Cup, and last year The Princess Margaret Cup.
With Undercover Agent being by the top-line South African sire Captain Al, it’s the Australian bred Alyaasaat, who’s by Dawn Approach being the family of Champion US 3yo Filly Questing.
In being prepared by assistant trainer Soodesh Seesurrun for the ill trainer Gilbert Rousset, Alyaasaat is rated 85 and will be ridden by this season’s leading jockey Dinesh Sooful.
In rising through the classes Alyaasaat scored his ninth career win when defeating Undercover Agent in The Colonel Draper Cup of 1500m, and is now a rising star for The Duke of York Stakes.
With The Duke of York Cup first run in 1927 on the visit of His Highness the Duke and Duchess of York, The Duchess of York Cup has also been run annually and is open to newly imported horses.
Billed as the world’s second oldest race club to The Jockey Club in Britain, the Mauritius Turf Club was established in 1812, with racing held at the Champs de Mars, even during the World Wars.
It’s said the Mauritius Turf Club was formed to bring about reconciliation between the French colonists and the English administration, as the English had conquered Mauritius in 1810.
The new governor, Sir Robert Farquhar and his French-born wife, Maria Lautour, actively supported horse racing with Ms. Farquhar donating the first gold cup in the history of local racing.
In being the ‘Father’ of the Mauritius Turf Club, Colonel Draper from his arrival had actively supported the promotion of races for 20 years, even with the riding and running of his own horses.
