RCTC’s winter season takes off on Tuesday, albeit without spectators. However, the introduction of online betting by the club is some solace. Punters are advised to tread cautiously, in view of horses being denied match practice, thanks to the pandemic.

The opening day card is packed with lower class horses and there is no trophy event in the seven races framed. Anyway, the 1,200m Surfside Handicap, for the upper class horses, bears watching. It’s a very open field but trainer Javed Khan’s mare, The Kiss (A. Sandesh), is trusted to put her best foot forward to beat Castlebridge (Trevor Patel) and Sullivan (Nikhil Naidu).

Selections

1pm: Astral Star 1. Huntsman 2. Stelvio Pass 3. Pointers: Youngsters are fitter. 1.30pm: Right Move 1. Om Shanti 2. Zoya 3. Pointers: Right Move looks much improved. 2pm: Nova 1. Violin 2. Waytogo 3. Pointers: Classic aspirants are on trial. 2.30pm: Silver Bracelet 1. Namiki 2. Seventh Mile 3. Pointers: Silver Bracelet’s winter form speaks loudly. 3pm: Eastside 1. Fenicia Mist 2. Moskova 3. Pointers: Another close contest. 3.30pm: The Kiss 1. Castlebridge 2. Sullivan 3. Pointers: The Kiss does her best on Day One. 4pm: Mystic Wonder 1. Travius 2. Spring Valley 3. Pointers: Also a close contest. Day’s Best: Silver Bracelet. Double: Right Move & The Kiss.