The winner of today’s R250 000 Gr3 Cup Trial to be run over 1800m at Greyville will be guaranteed a berth in the Gr1 Champions Cup on Super Saturday. For now though , the prospect of a spot in the Vodacom Durban July is probably a more pressing priority for many in the thirteen horse field.
Dynamic could enjoy a change of luck
With seven July entrants in the line-up and two in the top 25 of the big race log published on 30 May, it is ironically a horse who gives the July a skip who catches the eye as a major challenger to Justin Snaith’s Dynamic.
The Dean Kannemeyer Dynasty 5yo It Is Written catches the eye after his good run in the Betting World 1900 behind stablemate Solid Speed.
It Is Written – no July aspirations
It Is Written was slow and returned lame yet managed a meritorious fifth just 2,45 lengths off the action.
He was very unlucky when hampered late in the Sledgehammer when going down narrowly and could atone here under top man, Anthony Delpech.
The Justin Snaith-trained Dynamic is the highest ranked of the seven July entrants at 22 on the log.
It could be argued that the 6yo has had his chances.
Another smart son of Dynasty, he has run two very decent races in KZN since relocating from Gauteng and looks a decent proposition from his 1 draw.
He ran on strongly for third behind Punta Arenas in the 2015 Cup Trial and if one puts a line through his Joburg experiences, he ranks as a serious contender to seal his marginal July seat.
His stablemate Master’s Eye is the mount of Piere Strydom and failed to put any kind of effort in when 11 lengths back in the Betting World 1900. He will need to improve dramatically.
Joey Ramsden’s 2015 KRA Guineas winner The Conglomerate is one notch below Dynamic on the July log.
The Conglomerate – bidding for July spot
He finished a short head behind the Snaith runner in the Betting World 1900 in his best effort in ages and is a minor half kilo better off – Anton Marcus retains the ride.
July entrant and topweighted Punta Arenas won this race last year before going on to a great second behind Power King in the July.
Flashback Cup Trial 2015 – Punta Arenas wins
The son of Silvano has only had one run since the Met and produced a lacklustre showing in the Drill Hall Stakes – over a trip short of his best.
The 8yo Gold Onyx is one of the Sean Tarry July longshot duo.
The son of Black Minnaloushe is a decent old campaigner but has not done anything for a while.
His stablemate Halve The Deficiit is a year younger and in much the same form boat.
2015 Supreme Cup winner Deputy Jud
Supreme Cup winner Deputy Jud is another July hope off the log and showed up well when fancied to go in when contesting an MR 95 Handicap on the poly last time. He was beaten 1,50 lengths by Kitty’s Destiny and will need to win well to have a chance of lining up on the 2nd day of next month.
His stablemate Greek Legend is drawn wide and failed to show in the Betting World 1900 when 5,20 lengths off Solid Speed.
Duncan Howells’ Saratoga Dancer is the last of the July entries and did not run a bad race when fourth and 3,75 lengths behind New Predator in the Drill Hall Stakes.
Listed Sledgehammer winner Way Of Light
Of the balance, the Listed The Sledgehammer winner Way Of Light will be looking to confirm his recent improvement and could be a nice quartet kicker if things go his way.
It Is Written could spoil the Dynamic July party and is the selection to hold the luckless Snaith galloper, with a host of possibles for the places.
Punta Arenas wakes up at this time of the year and would be a popular longshot – if he is in a galloping mood.
A Champion Gesture
The winner of the Cup Trial is guaranteed a run in the Gr1 Champions Cup.
Veteran Cape trainer Mike Bass has been a staunch supporter of racing in KwaZulu-Natal and in honour of his service to racing in the province Gold Circle has renamed the Champions Cup in his honour.
Run on Super Saturday, the last Saturday of the season, the Champions Cup will be known as the Mike and Carol Bass Gr1 Champions Cup.
Gold Circle Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins said that Bass had been a stalwart supporter of racing in KawZulu-Natal for many years.
“Mike has had a difficult time with his health over the past year but has been a staunch supporter of KwaZulu-Natal racing for over 40 years. We wish him well in his retirement and it is fitting that he has a race named in his honour along with his wife Carol.”
