Furura – pressure on Saturday – but he is the choice
Milnerton–based Joey Ramsden sets out to win the R1 million Rising Sun Gr1 Gold Challenge for an extraordinary fourth year in succession on Saturday. The irony is there will be little pressure on JR – the real stress rests on the head of his Philippi neighbour Justin Snaith, who has two of his best horses clashing for the first time since the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
Snaith, who won this race in 2008 with Dancer’s Daughter, masked the obvious underlying tension recently, telling the racing media that the Gold Challenge was set to be one of the ‘biggest races we have seen in a long time’.
That certainly summed it up well and we know that there is little love lost between two of the game’s most marketing orientated , talented competitors. The Snaith-Ramsden friendly rivalry and needle adds plenty of interest.
Joey Ramsden – tries for four with King Of Pain
Joey has won it twice with Variety Club, and his wonderful grey King Of Pain upset the odds last year – the last time the Gold Challenge was run at the now closed Clairwood.
A Gr1 hard-hitter on his day, King Of Pain was well beaten by Futura last time and has a mountain to climb here. There was a hint of a possible change of tactics on Saturday.
Worries
Justin Snaith – big day ahead
So who does Justin worry about – his outstanding 4yo Dynasty duo or watch Joey over his shoulder?
He said of Futura’s prep win: “It was a very slow run race which wouldn’t have suited him and under the conditions I don’t think he could have done any better than he did. Furthermore he has pulled up beautifully.”
Things haven’t been such plain sailing with 2014 July winner Legislate though.
His intended return in the Drill Hall Stakes was disastrous. “He didn’t do any damage when he kicked out and struck the pens in the Drill Hall but he got extremely worked up when led back past the stands. It took a lot out of him and that is why we haven’t been able to run him since.”
The SA champion trainer was, however, most impressed by the Vodacom Durban July winner’s subsequent racecourse work-out and said: “He galloped the house down!”
Both Snaith runners are drawn wide – but frankly they stand out.
A Machine
Ice Machine – new lease on life
The Meakers’ Silvano gelding Ice Machine is a revitalised character and pulled off a sensational win at his last start when drawing clear in stunning style to win the Drill Hall Stakes.
He won the 2013 Gr2 Green Point Stakes – a weight for age mile – some time ago and while dogged by unsoundness, cannot be written off with Anton Marcus in the saddle.
Gavin Van Zyl’s soldier No Worries ran a fantastic Champions Season prep when third behind Wylie Hall in the Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge on Champions Day.
He is no stranger to KZN and is a dangerous front runner who is difficult to peg back.
Tarry Talks
Sean Tarry – decent hand
Trainer Sean Tarry will be riding the crest of a wave with the Daily News 2000 win in the bag and he saddles a hardknocking duo.
The Right Approach gelding Halve The Deficit showed a welcome return to winning ways in a Pinnacle Stakes last time when beating Rushmore River. That was against weaker and he will have to up his game in this league.
Piere Strydom rides the enigmatic Willow Magic – a Gr1 sprinter and a Gr2 winner over a mile in 2013.
The son of Dubawi has not been at his very best recently – but the fact that Strydom sticks with him, suggests that he is far from a light of other days.
Laird Duo
Bouclette Top – good run in Drill Hall
Alec Laird saddled last Saturday’s Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Smart Call and comes to town with a fighting duo.
The Listed Drum Star winner Bouclette Top ran a gallant race in the Drill Hall, when beaten 3 lengths into second by Ice Machine.
While he meets the Laird galloper on a kilo worse terms here, he will be better suited to the extra 200m-and with Marwing aboard must be respected as a place challenger.
Bezanova ran 3 lengths behind Legislate in the 2014 KRA Guineas over Saturday’s course and distance. He has not been far off them recently but needs to improve and his 11 draw will be of no assistance. He looks a likely pacesetter.
Bass Flying
Greg Cheyne – rides Ashton Park
Milnerton trainer Mike Bass hit a rich vein of feature form at Kenilworth on Sunday and he will be hoping to continue the run. He saddles three runners:
Greg Cheyne, who rode such a cracker to win the Winter Classic for Bass, rides the consistent Ashton Park.
The son of Battersea Park never got into the hunt in the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville a fortnight ago, but seems a better prospect over the mile.
He was beaten 3,50 lengths by Ice Machine in the Drill Hall Stakes and is a kilo worse off. He will be running on and could burgle a place cheque.
Night Trip is drawn nicely at 2 and he flew late last time in a Pinnacle Stakes over the course and distance and was comfortably beaten 0,25 lengths by Futura. He meets the champion on 1,5kgs worse terms and looks held.
Legislate -not an ideal prep
His stablemate Ze Kaiser ran on well in the same race to finish a further quarter length behind Night Trip.
He is 3kgs worse off with Futura and, while drawn nicely at 1, looks easily held.
But in a race blessed with plenty of pace, it looks a big day again for Dynasty and Justin Snaith.
Legislate is no slouch – but Futura has had the better lead-in and may have the edge.
