The longhaulers get the Champions Day feature menu underway before lunch time with the running of the R500 000 Gr2 Gold Bowl.
Cool Chardonnay stays well
Only nine runners pitch up for the 3200m marathon which is run rather earlier in the programme than what we are used to on these feature major racedays.
Trainer Weiho Marwing holds a decent hand with the top weighted Listed Aquanaut Stakes winner, Cool Chardonnay, and the handily weighted Frikkie on the other end of the scale.
The Highlands-bred Cool Chardonnay stays very well and won the Aquanaut with an impressive end to end display of pace judgement under the up-and-coming young Callan Murray.
Similar tactics were applied at his last start in the Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup where he hung under pressure late and was beaten under a length into fourth place behind the progressive Fortune Fella.
The engagement of jockey Richard Fourie for Cool Chardonnay is an interesting one as the strong Cape rider is a noted exponent of the art of riding from the front. This is likely the first time that Fourie will throw a leg over the son of Antonius Pius.
The 4yo’s last course and distance effort was a good one when he was only run out of it late by Supertube.
He beat Storm Warning by 1.25 lengths there in receipt of a kilo but has a 3.5kg swing against him on Saturday which won’t make it easy.
Storm Warning – Marcus rides
Storm Warning will be ridden by Anton Marcus which with all due respect to his previous regular amounts to a jockey strike and one to be taken seriously.
The 6yo son of Jet Master enjoys being settled and running at them during races and while has never won over 3200m, he must come into calculations.
Geoff Woodruff’s Arch Rival is another decent staying sort who is always thererabouts and caught the eye when running on powerfully for second behind Fortune Fella in the Caradoc Gold Cup in his last start.
He has matured nicely and we are inclined to forgive him his only try over 3200m when beaten 11 lengths by Supertube.
He meets Fortune Fella on a half kg better terms for a half length beating last time.
Fortune Fella wins the Caradoc Gold Cup
Mambo In Seattle’s quickly improving son Fortune Fella looks to be going the right way and came into his own last time with a maiden stakes victory under Muzi Yeni on Classic Day.
He is another that didn’t quite put it together in his first try over 3200m but seems to be getting stronger and cannot be ignored.
The Sean Tarry trained Supertube has lost form recently after winning the Racing Association Stakes on Summer Cup Day over the course and distance. He will have his supporters with his handy galloping weight and top jockey Khumalo in the saddle.
Supertube – big yard cannot be left out
The Stuart Pettigrew trained Elusive Flyer was beaten 3 lengths by Fortune Fella last time out but comes in nicely weighted on that run and warrants outside place considerations at best.
The Mike De Kock trained Smart Mart reverts to the marathon after running on nicely over shorter at his last few starts. While he did not prove to us that he sees out the 3200m on his earlier form, he is another that cannot be ignored from a powerful stable under a handy galloping weight.
Savage Wind – unreliable
Joey Soma’s Savage Wind managed to get back into the winner’s box after a two year drought when winning a lower division handicap last time out.
He has let us down once too often to suggest that he could challenge as a likely winner.
Frikkie rounds off the field and looks held on his recent form. He has not managed to win again since scoring smartly in a maiden over ground in 2015.
This is a competitive staying contest which could dish up a combination of varying results.
There should be little to choose between the top four, but Richard Fourie could work some magic on Cool Chardonnay, followed closely by Storm Warning and Fortune Fella. A deceptively tricky race in summary
