Dean Kannemeyer-trained Hot Ticket looks a worthy first choice
The Greyville bull-ring hosts South Africa’s supreme test of staying prowess and brings the curtain down on a dramatic and intriguing season on Saturday. The R1,25 million Gr1 Gold Cup is the ultimate test of the thoroughbred racehorse on African soil. A spectacle that plays itself out in just over 3 minutes in an arena of guts, glory and sometimes broken dreams, the satisfaction of winning this marathon event is said to linger forever.
Ask any jockey, owner, trainer or breeder. The Met and the July may enjoy the glamour and the publicity but whether from the saddle or the training tracks, nothing quite beats the thrill of having strategized and produced a Gold Cup winner.
Sixteen of our best longhaulers line up on Saturday on the new look Greyville circuit in what promises to be a terrific race. Some are proven stayers, some show the potential. There are two members of the fairer sex, including a brave 3yo filly. History is not on their side. When it comes down to that final 100m, only heart, fitness and raw ability will count.
Ticket To Fly
Dean Kannemyer saddles the likely favourite and the boom stayer of our current season, the 4yo Hot Ticket. One of four progeny of Maine Chance stallion Silvano in the field, the Digteby Stiud-bred chestnut appears to have had just about the prefect prep. He has had three runs in KZN and was launched off in typically conservative fashion in the Betting World 1900, where he ran on steadily in midfield. He fired at his next two starts, winning the Betting World Stakes and the Gold Vase.
The last mentioned was a spectacular race where Hot Ticket hit the front a tad early but showed great stamina and resolve to go all the way. Karl Neisius declared him to have been ‘flat to the board’ there, but nothing was getting to him.
The chief pursuers were all of Wavin’ Flag (neck behind) and Wild One (quarter length) and both area half kilo better off with Hot Ticket on the Vase run. Further back, Canterbury Tale (4,25 lengths) and Magic Smoke (4,75 lengths) are 1,5kgs better off. They look unlikely to turn the tables.
Overdue! Snaith’s Rin For It only needs a bit of luck to win a big one
Running On Empty
The Justin Snaith-trained Run For It is probably one of the most disappointing horses in training.
Now rising 7, he finally gets a crack at South Africa’s premier staying race and it is highly probable that it is a move in frustration, more than deliberate strategy. A winner of only four races, he has never won at anything further than a mile and the furthest he has ever tried previously is the 2200m of two July’s. He unsurprisingly never quickened when 8,20 lengths off King Of Pain in the snail pace Gr1 Gold Challenge at his last start. He cannot be fancied.
Up The Irish
The evergreen Dynasty gelding Paddy O’Reilly has pulled a far better draw at 2 this time round as opposed to the 13 gate from which he jumped last year. He ran on well for fifth and only 2,85 lengths behind Jeppe’s Reef there after looking dangerous inside the distance.
Mike Stewart’s charge will travel all the way from beautiful Noordhoek in the Cape but is a seasoned campaigner who has got the t-shirt.
He ran a stout second to Crown Of Gold in the Listed Glenlair Trophy at his last start and meets that one on 3,5kgs better terms on neutral territory here. At his penultimate start he was beaten 3,50 lengths by Hot Ticket in the Chairmans (over 3200m) and is now 1,5kgs better off. Naturally Hot Ticket is the more progressive of the two and Paddy’s weight advantage is not likely to count for too much.
Gavin Van Zyl’s Shogunnar has a chance on his Lonsdale effort
Up And Down
The Gavin Van Zyl –trained Shogunnar showed terrific pace in the Lonsdale at his penultimate start when going down narrowly in third spot in what was a blanket finish behind Wild One and Gothic.
He enjoys a healthy swing with both Gothic and Wild One here but his last start in the July consolation was worrying. He ran handily and dropped out to finish 8.90 lengths behind Master Sabina. He is 1,5kgs better off with the Woodruff runner and ran a fair sixth only 3,10 lengths behind in last year’s Gold Cup. He is a difficult horse to catch right on any day.
Sean Tarry leads Gold Onyx in with Anton Marcus up. Strydom rides on Saturday but will he stay?
The Golden Years
Sean Tarry’s Black Minnaloushe gelding Gold Onyx is back for another tilt at the Cup after finishing twelfth and under five lengths off the winner last year.
He had excuses there as he lost a shoe in running and was noted to be staying on. He moved up well in the tabGOLD 2200 when plodding late to stay on for third and 1,25 lengths behind Master Sabina. The mere fact that Piere Strydom stays loyal is an indicator of serious hope, although he is drawn at Musgrave Shopping Centre.
Master Blaster
Geoff Woodruff was vocal in his disappointment that Mike De Broglio’s Jet Master 4yo Master Sabina did not make the final cut for the July, but he received some compensation when he stormed home to win the tabGOLD 2200, the consolation race on the afternoon.
He gave Alexander 5,5kgs there and held Kotzen’s promising stayer to what looked like a fast diminishing half length. The two meet again with the scales tilting by 1,5kgs in favour of Master Sabina. There is however a suggestion that the extra 1000m of Saturday’s race could balance the odds in favour of Alexander, a proven stayer. Master Sabina’s dam Sabina Park is a daughter of Sportsworld, and she did win up to 2450m.
Anton Marcus rides him again and he no doubt had the choice of a few others in the race.
In Defence Of The Title
Mike Bass’ Jeppe’s Reef was a brilliant winner of the race last year when he outstayed his field to beat Gauteng challenger Masai Warrior with ease. He has failed to produce a winning performance in his eight outings since and ran an awful 16,80 lengths behind Hot Ticket in the Gold Vase. He is an old soldier and is not without hope on the day if he turns up in a galloping mood, although he does not strike us as a likely dual Gold Cup winner.
Crown Of Gold stays all day
The Royal Visitor
PE horses have been known to pop up in the Gold Cup over the years and Tara Laing brings the Silvano gelding Crown Of Gold to take on the marathon hotshots.
The former Joey Ramsden-trained 5yo is well related to some classy performers and the further they go, the more he enjoys it. He is the sole PE representative in the field and will have his supporters. He is a dual winner of South Africa’s longest race, the PE Gold Cup and comes in here off consecutive wins in the Glenlair Trophy and the local Gold Cup. He will strip fit and carries what looks like a handy galloping weight in his first appearance in KZN. Ramsden rated this fellow as a stayer of good potential early on and it wouldn’t surprise us to see yet another Silvano producing his best as a 5yo.
Mike De Kock’s Gold Bowl winner Canterbury Tale needs to up his game
A Long Story
The Mike De Kock-trained Canterbury Tale ran a cracking third behind Jeppe’s Reef in the 2013 Gold Cup but bled at his next start and was suspended for three months. He has had two return runs, finishing behind Hot Ticket in the Betting World Stakes and the Gold Vase (4.25 lengths) and is obviously heading for peak fitness as he goes into this major test. He is 1,5kgs better off with Hot Ticket on their Gold Vase meeting and that may not be enough to turn the tables, particular from an 18 draw.
In And Out
The second of Sean Tarry’s runners is the Black Minnaloushe gelding Serissa.
After running a splendid second (albeit off a ‘slow’ pace) in the Cup Trial, where he beat Durban July third placed Futura, he dropped right out of things in the tabGOLD 2200 to finish close on ten lengths behind Master Sabina. There is no evidence that he stays a true-run 3200m and he will need to lift his game dramatically.
Commitment Required
The Silvano 4yo Gothic appears to have improved since relocation to Vaughan Marshall earlier this season. After two excellent runner-up spots (the last behind Wild One in the Lonsdale), he came crashing back down to earth when fading out in the Gold Vase. He ran five lengths behind Hot Ticket there and gets another 1,5kgs off here. He just needs to show some consistency and commitment but still appears unlikely to beat the topweight.
The Mogok gelding Wild One is worse off with Hot Ticket at the weights
In The Wilds
The second of the Mike De Kock runners is the Mogok gelding Wild One, a winner of the Lonsdale at his penultimate start. He challenged Hot Ticket late in the Gold Vase before going down a quarter length in receipt of 6kgs. Wild One gets another half kilo here but has to overcome a 19 draw and overall should not be too far away from wherever Hot Ticket is.
Patriot Games
Brett Crawford’s Silvano gelding Wavin’ Flag chased Hot Ticket home in the Gold Vase and only failed narrowly to get to the Kannemeyer runner. That was a display of heartening improvement from a horse that has not always appeared very genuine or delivered consistently. He is a half kilo better off with Hot Ticket and as an out and out stayer should enjoy the extra 200m.
Mixing With Oaks
Weiho Marwing’s Ash Cloud is one of only two members of the fairer sex taking on the boys and as a 3yo filly, the daughter of Black Minnaloushe has an uphill task.
The SA Oaks winner made no show when 8,30 lengths behind In The Fast Lane in the Woolavington 2000 but then challenged strongly in the Gold Circle Oaks when beaten 1,50 lengths into second behind Dylan’s Promise. The latter did not exactly flatter that form though when she ran over 20 lengths behind Hot Ticket in the Gold Vase. A 15 draw(and history) adds to the burden facing Ash Cloud.
Rate This Great
Glen Kotzen’s lightly raced Dynasty gelding Alexander looks to be one of the most exciting packages in this race.
The 4yo won three on the trot last year before an injury forced him out for over a year. He has been brought along slowly in four well planned return runs and came to the boil on July day when flashing late to get within a half length of Master Sabina in the tabGOLD 2200. That was a superb effort and while he is a kilo and a half worse off with the winner in that race, there is no question that Alexander will relish the extra on Saturday. It is worth noting that has won up to 2800m.
The initial concerns regarding Alexander’s potential discomfort with the shorter Greyville run-in have also been allayed and he has shown great versatility at his last two outings. The Gold Cup has always been his main target.
Douse The Fire
Mike Azzie’s gallant Fort Wood mare Magic Smoke blotted her impeccable copybook somewhat at her first ever KZN start when beaten 4,75 lengths into sixth in the Gold Vase.
She had come in there bidding for a fifth straight win after finding the form of her life recently. Interestingly, a review of the Gold Vase film shows that she was not stopping and if regular pilot Ray Danielson can perform a miracle from her 17 draw, she could be in the firing lane.
Golden Choices
This looks to have the makings of the race of the season.
Hot Ticket is our best stayer and has even been spoken about as our new age Aquanaut. He is super fit and has had a great prep. He looks to have lots in his favour. If things don’t go according to plan, then Alexander, Gold Onyx and Master Sabina look likely to pick up the pieces. Dare we ignore the prospects of Magic Smoke and Wavin’ Flag?
