After claiming a fourth cheque behind fast-rising star Charles Dickens in last Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas, Justin Snaith’s Royal Aussie has rocketed to the top of the latest log for the R7,5 million WSB Gold Rush to be contested over a mile on WSB Cape Town Met day.
Royal Aussie was beaten 6,35 lengths by Charles Dickens, but had two top 3yo’s in Equus Champion Cousin Casey (4,25 lengths behind the chestnut) and the supremely consistent At My Command (4,35 lengths) sandwiched between them.
Royal Aussie (Richard Fourie) canters to post for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Klawervlei-bred Royal Aussie is a son of Royal Mo (USA) and was a R300 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy for Suzette and Basie Viljoen and Dr Jill Warner in partnership with Australian-based Dane Squance
The innovative R7,5 million Gold Rush will be run over 1600m on 28 January 2023, and is based on the same principle as The Everest in Australia.
The Gold Rush offers 16 ticketholders (prospectors) the opportunity to race for the massive stake and is open to graduates of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
The log is intended as a guide only and will have no direct bearing on the final field:
| 21-Dec | 12-Dec | Horse | Age | Sex | MR | Wns |
| 1 | 8 | ROYAL AUSSIE | 3 | C | 109 | 2 |
| 2 | 2 | DAVE THE KING | 3 | C | 108 | 2 |
| 3 | 1 | TIME FO ORCHIDS | 3 | F | 107 | 1 |
| 4 | 3 | SEE IT AGAIN | 3 | C | 104 | 2 |
| 5 | 4 | FAR AWAY WINTER | 3 | G | 102 | 3 |
| 6 | 5 | LORD WILLIAM | 3 | G | 100 | 1 |
| 6 | 5 | PEACH DAIQUIRI | 3 | F | 100 | 3 |
| 6 | 5 | SEEKING THE ONE | 3 | C | 100 | 2 |
| 9 | 9 | ANTIGUA NIGHT | 3 | F | 97 | 1 |
| 9 | 9 | CHAMPION WARRIOR | 3 | C | 97 | 2 |
| 9 | 9 | PAS DE NOM | 3 | C | 97 | 3 |
| 12 | 12 | FAMOUS AND RICH | 3 | G | 96 | 2 |
| 12 | 12 | HAMMIES HERO | 3 | C | 96 | 2 |
| 12 | 12 | YELLOWPORSCHEROAD | 3 | G | 96 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | ITSRAININGWILLIAM | 3 | G | 94 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | TYPESET | 3 | F | 94 | 1 |
| 17 | ROSE FOR TRIPPI | 3 | F | 92 | 2 | |
| 17 | 15 | TRIPLE TIME | 3 | C | 92 | 1 |
| 19 | 18 | LE MANS | 3 | C | 91 | 2 |
| 20 | 19 | ALPINE CHALLENGE | 3 | G | 90 | 1 |
| 20 | 19 | KING REGENT | 3 | G | 90 | 2 |
| 22 | 21 | ENSUING | 3 | G | 89 | 3 |
| 22 | 21 | MAX THE OTTER | 3 | G | 89 | 1 |
| 24 | 23 | ASIYE PHAMBILI | 3 | F | 88 | 2 |
| 24 | 23 | DANCE VARIETY | 3 | C | 88 | 1 |
| 26 | 25 | DOWSER | 3 | G | 87 | 1 |
| 26 | 25 | RULE OF THUMB | 3 | G | 87 | 1 |
