The South African racing programme is fed a rather lean diet of staying races. That makes the R150 000 3600m Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup a mouthwatering spectacle on today’s Fairview programme. The country’s longest race naturally lacks some depth, but should be dominated again by Tara Laing who saddles a standout duo and goes for four in a row.
Crown Of Gold goes for his third win in the PE Gold Cup
The Jooste silks were at the forefront of Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July celebrations with The Conglomerate running a dream race under the brilliant Piere Strydom for Joey Ramsden.
And the same popular ‘Springbok’ flag Of SA’s champion owners looks ready to lift the honours again – and register a remarkable fourth straight win in the Fairview marathon.
The race is a crowd spectacle and stamina test of note and has been won only by horses who genuinely stay.
Like in the watershed year of 1994 when the late Arthur Miller-trained longhauler Stateway won the PE Gold Cup for a grand gross stake of R25 000, in the hands of a young Piere Strydom.
He was to go on and win SA’s premier marathon, the (then) Gr1 Gold Cup in a shock result under Andre Hoffman four months later.
The Jooste owned 7yo Crown Of Gold won the PE Gold Cup in 2013 when trained by Joey Ramsden and then followed that win up in the same race a year later when in the care of Tara Laing.
Tara Laing – enjoying a great run
In 2015 he missed the race due to not quite being himself and rested – but his stablemate Drill Sargeant – a real staying soldier – stepped into the breach and won it for Ms Laing and her good owners.
Both 7yo’s are back for more and look the major contenders – most of the rest are in under sufferance – in a nine horse field that is not filled with likely future stars.
Crown Of Gold beat Modus Vivendi in the Glenlair Trophy and is 2,5kgs better off with the Renate du Plessis runner.
As the class horse in the race and an eleven-time winner, he strikes us as a natural first choice.
Drill Sargeant is solid back-up
Stablemate Drill Sargeant has won 14 races and is a great back-up for Laing.
The son of Dynasty won this race last year and there should be little to choose between them.
Oh So Modus is definitely the best of the rest.
He looks held on recent form but should find every inch of the trip and is fit and well.
Greeff Duo
Alan Greeff saddles the only two girls in the field.
The 7yo Silvano mare Lucky Gambler registered 6 of her 7 victories in Gauteng and is a decent galloper on her day.
Alan Greeff – female coupling
She looks held by Crown Of Gold on her penultimate start and showed she may get the 3600m on that run.
She was found not striding out and wasn’t persevered with last time – a big concern!
Her stablemate Withbatedbreath is well bred to stay but has been confined to her own sex and has not won in ages.
She is a quartet backender at best.
The Grant Paddock runner Man Of The Cloth was completely outclassed in the East Cape Derby but then stayed on over 2700m when 3,25 lengths off Silver Image in a modest MR 68 Handicap.
He looks like a decent stayer in time with maturity.
Cape Visitor
Greg Ennion – raids from the Cape
Greg Ennion travels up from the Cape with Irish Dynasty.
The 4yo has run two really poor races after being thereabouts previously over ground.
Ennion is a master at getting them fit and he must have a plan to have travelled the 1000kms from home.
Yvette Bremner’s former Gauteng-based 5yo Facebook is another in under sufferance.
The five time winning son of Lundy’s Liability is fit and has not been far off the action of late.
He tries the 3600m for the first time and must have a place chance if he stays the trip.
Jacques Strydom has enjoyed past success in this race and is a noted conditioner of stayers. He saddles Badger’s Trail, a rather formless two-time winner, who comes in miles under sufferance.
The 5yo has little to recommend him.
Crown Of Gold is the selection to beat Drill Sargeant and Oh So Modus. It doesn’t look complicated at all!
