The Hong Kong World Pools and two hefty carryovers add impetus to what is already a fabulous meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 30 July.
Final fields were declared on Thursday for the season finale – a meeting that could be the gamechanger in the destiny of a variety of Equus trophies.
The programme comprises the Gr3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup over 3200m and four Gr1 races – the Champions Cup over 1800m, the Mercury Sprint over 1200m, and the two races for juveniles over 1600m, the Premiers Champion Stakes and the Thekwini Stakes for fillies.
There is a R2-million Pick 6 carryover with a likely pool of R12 million and R500 000 will kick off the Quartet on the Mercury Sprint, and that is anticipated to reach R3 million.
Nebraas is back to defend his MWOS Gold Cup title (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Nebraas, the winner of last year’s Gold Cup, is back to defend his title and will have Richard Fourie in the irons.
1st R468750, 2nd R150000, 3rd R75000, 4th R37500, 5th R18750
MARSHALLS WORLD OF SPORT GOLD CUP (Grade 3)
Open
WFA: 3yrs-3.5kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Smoking Hot | 54 | 100 | BA | Kabelo Matsunyane | Candice Dawson | |
| 2 | 2 | Chewbaca | 54 | 96 | CA | Gareth Wright | Andre Nel | |
| 3 | 3 | Spring Fling | 54 | 96 | A | Robert Khathi | Glen Kotzen | |
| 4 | 4 | Nebraas | 60 | 118 | BA | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 5 | 5 | Black Thorn | 54 | 100 | T A | Keagan de Melo | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 6 | Crimson King | 56.5 | 108 | A | Luyolo Mxothwa | Glen Kotzen | |
| 7 | 7 | Aragosta | 57.5 | 118 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 8 | 8 | Chollima | 54 | 102 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Glen Kotzen | |
| 9 | 9 | Shango | 57.5 | 111 | TBA | Gavin Lerena | Sean Tarry | |
| 10 | 10 | Imperial Ruby | 55.5 | 104 | A | Craig Zackey | Corne Spies | |
| 11 | 11 | Decorated | 54 | 100 | A | Muzi Yeni | Frank Robinson | |
| 12 | 12 | Shangani | 59 | 116 | A | Warren Kennedy | Paul Peter | |
| 13 | 13 | Out Of Your League | 54.5 | 102 | T A | Raymond Danielson | Fabian Habib | |
| 14 | 14 | Salvator Mundi | 54 | 100 | A | Calvin Habib | Justin Snaith | |
| 15 | 15 | Rex Union | 54 | 86 | A | Sean Veale | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 16 | 0 | Flying First Class | 54 | 78 | A | Reserve 1 | David Nieuwenhuizen | |
| 17 | 0 | PayBackTheMoney | 54 | 90 | A | Reserve 2 | Nathan Kotzen | |
| 18 | 0 | Electric Surge | 54 | 72 | A | Reserve 3 | Robbie Hill | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (3,6,8) (4,5,9) | ||||||||
Trainer Sean Tarry was disappointed his charge did not make the final field for the Hollywoodbets Durban July but the five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding is a true stayer with great fighting qualities and remains the runner to beat.
The new challengers are Mike de Kock’s SA Derby winner Aragosta and Paul Peter-trained Shangani, who did beat Nebraas in their prep run at Turffontein.
Jet Dark comes in with strong form (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Jet Dark, winner of the Champions Cup last year, heads up this year’s field and is another fine ride for Fourie. He will be meeting eight opponents which include Kommetdieding and Linebacker, the first three past the post in the Cape Town Met.
1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000
HKJC WORLD POOL CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)
Horses at Weight-For-Age
WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Russian Rock | 60 | 120 | A | Keagan de Melo | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 2 | 2 | Astrix | 60 | 122 | BA | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Paul Peter | |
| 3 | 3 | Crown Towers (AUS) | 60 | 115 | A | Calvin Habib | Justin Snaith | |
| 4 | 4 | Kommetdieding | 60 | 128 | A | Gavin Lerena | HWJ Crawford/M Rix | |
| 5 | 5 | Jet Dark | 60 | 130 | A | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith | |
| 6 | 6 | Al Muthana (AUS) | 60 | 125 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 7 | 7 | Mk’s Pride | 60 | 122 | A | Muzi Yeni | Paul Peter | |
| 8 | 8 | Linebacker | 60 | 125 | BA | Grant van Niekerk | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 9 | 9 | FireAlley | 60 | 112 | BA | Aldo Domeyer | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,7) (3,5) | ||||||||
Captain’s Ransom looks ready to make amends for her recent ‘disappointment’ (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Fourie will also ride Captain’s Ransom in the Mercury Sprint and this will be the first time this superb filly will take on the colts. This is a highly competitive race and the Quartet has to be a great bet.
1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000
MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)
Horses at Weight-For-Age
WFA: 2yrs-7.5kgs 3yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Val d’Orcia | 59.5 | 111 | A | Keagan de Melo | Paul Peter | |
| 2 | 2 | Big Burn | 57 | 122 | A | Warren Kennedy | Paul Peter | |
| 3 | 3 | Captain’s Ransom | 57.5 | 124 | A | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith | |
| 4 | 4 | Smorgasbord | 59.5 | 118 | A | Calvin Habib | Paul Peter | |
| 5 | 5 | Alesian Chief | 59.5 | 123 | A | Muzi Yeni | Corrie Lensley | |
| 6 | 6 | Chimichuri Run | 60 | 115 | TBA | Kabelo Matsunyane | Sean Tarry | |
| 7 | 7 | Good Traveller | 59.5 | 118 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Glen Kotzen | |
| 8 | 8 | Master Archie | 59.5 | 125 | A | Gavin Lerena | Paul Peter | |
| 9 | 9 | Zarina | 57.5 | 111 | A | Aldo Domeyer | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 10 | 10 | William Robertson | 59.5 | 117 | BA | S’manga Khumalo | Corne Spies | |
| 11 | 11 | Supreme Quest | 57 | 108 | A | Marco V’Rensburg | Corne Spies | |
| 12 | 12 | Battle Force | 60 | 118 | BA | Craig Zackey | Peter Muscutt | |
| 13 | 13 | Bohica | 60 | 125 | TBA | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 14 | 14 | Gallic Princess | 57.5 | 115 | BA | Luyolo Mxothwa | Candice Dawson | |
| 15 | 0 | Ultra Magnus | 60 | 112 | A | Reserve 1 | Peter Muscutt | |
| 16 | 0 | Eden Roc | 60 | 110 | T A | Reserve 2 | Sean Tarry | |
| 17 | 0 | Kayla’s Champ | 57.5 | 103 | BA | Reserve 3 | Fanie Bronkhorst | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,2,4,8) (6,16) (10,11) (12,15) | ||||||||
1st R312500, 2nd R100000, 3rd R50000, 4th R25000, 5th R12500
THEKWINI STAKES (Grade 1)
For 2 year-old Fillies
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Canadian Summer | 60 | 0 | A | Jason Gates | Darryl Moore | |
| 2 | 2 | Hold My Hand | 60 | 0 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Glen Kotzen | |
| 3 | 3 | Time Fo Orchids | 60 | 0 | A | Keagan de Melo | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | 4 | Butterfly Beauty | 60 | 0 | A | Gavin Lerena | Justin Snaith | |
| 5 | 5 | Bless My Stars | 60 | 0 | A | Warren Kennedy | Paul Peter | |
| 6 | 6 | Miss Daisy | 60 | 0 | A | Mark Khan | Billy Ruiters | |
| 7 | 7 | Littlemarysunshine | 60 | 0 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 8 | 8 | None Other | 60 | 0 | A | Craig Zackey | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 9 | 9 | Miss Cool | 60 | 0 | A | *Rachel Venniker | Paul Peter | |
| 10 | 10 | Orarari Gold | 60 | 0 | A | Muzi Yeni | Corrie Lensley | |
| 11 | 11 | Rock The Fox | 60 | 0 | A | Calvin Habib | Sean Tarry | |
| 12 | 12 | Woodland Retreat | 60 | 0 | A | Serino Moodley | Michael Miller | |
| 13 | 13 | Kill Shot | 60 | 0 | A | Ryan Munger | Fanie Bronkhorst | |
| 14 | 14 | Ameena | 60 | 0 | A | Richard Fourie | Glen Kotzen | |
| 15 | 0 | Ready To Fly | 60 | 0 | A | Reserve 1 | Mike de Kock | |
| 16 | 0 | Princess Ozma | 60 | 0 | A | Reserve 2 | Wendy Whitehead | |
| 17 | 0 | Girl Of Tregunter | 60 | 0 | A | Reserve 3 | Peter Muscutt | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,14) (3,11) (5,9) (7,15) | ||||||||
| Duplicate Draw: 0 | ||||||||
1st R312500, 2nd R100000, 3rd R50000, 4th R25000, 5th R12500
PREMIERS CHAMPION STAKES (Grade 1)
For 2 year-olds
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Quantum Theory | 60 | 0 | A | Muzi Yeni | Robbie Sage | |
| 2 | 2 | Royal Victory | 60 | 0 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Nathan Kotzen | |
| 3 | 3 | River Queraress | 57.5 | 0 | BA | Warren Kennedy | Paul Peter | |
| 4 | 4 | Prophet | 60 | 0 | A | Richard Fourie | Corne Spies | |
| 5 | 5 | Laguna Verde | 60 | 0 | A | Craig Zackey | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 6 | 6 | Superior Force | 60 | 0 | A | Serino Moodley | Michael Miller | |
| 7 | 7 | Now I Got You | 60 | 0 | A | Aldo Domeyer | Corrie Lensley | |
| 8 | 8 | Mover And Shaker | 60 | 0 | T A | Keagan de Melo | Fabian Habib | |
| 9 | 9 | Cousin Casey | 60 | 0 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Glen Kotzen | |
| 10 | 10 | Golden Prospect | 60 | 0 | A | Calvin Habib | Sean Tarry | |
| 11 | 11 | Billy Bowlegs | 60 | 0 | A | Sean Veale | Alec Laird | |
| 12 | 12 | Grinkov | 60 | 0 | A | Gavin Lerena | Glen Kotzen | |
| 13 | 13 | Countdown | 60 | 0 | A | Luyolo Mxothwa | Glen Kotzen | |
| 14 | 14 | Acorn | 60 | 0 | A | *Kaidan Brewer | Roy Magner | |
| 15 | 0 | Eyjafjallajokull | 60 | 0 | BA | Reserve 1 | David Nieuwenhuizen | |
| 16 | 0 | Raffles | 60 | 0 | A | Reserve 2 | Roy Magner | |
| 17 | 0 | Wiccan Warrior | 60 | 0 | A | Reserve 3 | Gareth van Zyl | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (9,12,13) (14,16) | ||||||||
