Go into the Champions Cup with your Eyes Wide Open

Jack Milner

This year’s WSB Champions Cup could record a change of the hierarchy as a bunch of three-yearolds look likely to fight out the finish of this Grade 1 race over 1800m at Greyville tomorrow.

Sadly Surcharge has been sold and has been withdrawn as he embarks on a new journey to continue his racing career overseas but we still have a group of youngsters who have already embossed at least one Grade 1 victory on their resumes.

The best record is held by Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open who has won two Grade 1 races and a Grade 2 event. This son of Dynasty won the Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at this meeting last year as well as the Investec Cape Derby at Kenilworth in January. He also won the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m against older opposition.

Kotzen said some time back that this would be the mission of Eyes Wide Open and he has had a smooth build-up to this race. “We gave him a soft run on July Day,” said Kotzen. “Richard (Fourie) just wanted to give him a good run but made sure he came through it unscathed.

Undercover Agent won the Grade 1 Gold Challenge in which he beat Snowdance by 0.50 lengths. Also behind him were Captain America, Sail South and Gold Standard so there is no reason why he should not sustain that advantage over 200m further.

Tap O’ Noth dominated the early part of the Cape season and in that period won the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and well as the Grade 3 Cape Classic in which he beat Undercover Agent by 0.75 lengths. He failed badly in the Cape Derby but ran a one-length third behind Surcharge in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 over 2000m and that puts him back in the picture.

The other open Grade 1 race is the Mercury Sprint over 1200m and this looks hard to fathom. As it is run around the turn draws are important.

There looks to be excellent value with Will Pays from the Mike and Adam Azzie yard. He ran a cracker in the Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m after a layoff when beaten 1.15 lengths by Perovskia.

He has won at Turffontein since and from No 4 draw with regular jockey Craig Zackey in the irons the current odds of 12-1 make an attractive Eachway bet.

Rocky Valley and Sunset Eyes look best from their draws but consider London Call, Trip To Heaven, Black Cat Back and Sniper Shot.