Can Royal Crusade conquer?

Be ing World 2200 Ken Nicol

The Grade 3 Betting World 2200 gives those who didn’t make the final cut for the July a chance to show up the selection panel, and as always this year’s event is a highly competitive affair.

More than half the field here have winning prospects, but a tentative first selection would be Mike de Kock’s Royal Crusade.

He was third in the Gauteng Guineas, before being gelded. Coming back in a very strong Graduation Plate, he ran on to get the better of fellow Grade 2-placed youngster Full Mast.

At current odds of 6-1 he is a good Eachway chance.

Last year’s winner Crowd Pleaser made a timely return to best form when runner-up to July favourite and easy winner African Night Sky in the Cup Trial.

Something of a course specialist, he has the early toe to overcome a wide draw, and is the one they are all going to have to get to over the final 200m, and it would be no surprise if he defended his crown.

Platinum Prince was only a neck adrift of Crowd Pleaser there, and has placed at Group level in his last four.

He deserves a change of luck, and is another who certainly has pretensions to first prize, with Richard Fourie engaged.

Fellow Snaith entry Strathdon also a needs to be strongly considered, even though he jumps from the widest draw.

Pack Leader is first reserve for the Vodacom July but if running here is another worth huge respect.

Dawn Assault and Head Honcho would also make my very long short list in what is a very testing start to the Place Accumulator.