Champions Cup will be top class
GOLD CUP DAY on July 28 at Greyville will be the classiest day of the SA Champions Season as it features two weight for age Grade 1s and two level weights two-year-old Grade 1s as well as the Grade 3 Gold Cup, Grade 2 Gold Bracelet and two other Grade 3s and two Listed events.
The Grade 1 WSB Champions Cup over 1800m looks to be a particularly good race to look forward to. Gimmethegreenlight three-year-old colt Surcharge is an interesting entry considering trainer Stuart Pettigrew had said after his Grade 1 Daily News 2000 win he would not be seen again this season. His Daily News victory was proof of how well he takes his racing as he had an ultra tough Triple Crown campaign, in which he had to overcome a succession of terrible draws yet still finished second in all three legs.
The laid back horse has obviously pulled up well again as the connections look to have had a rethink.
They might be thinking of the Equus awards as there is yet to be a three-year-old male who has won two Grade 1s this season.
Unfortunately, having finally cracked a good draw of four in the Daily News, his luck is out again as he has drawn 13 out of 21.
African Night Sky
The one interesting scratching so far is the Vodacom Durban July favourite African Night Sky, who endured a tough Vodacom Durban July when the slow pace of the race went against him and he was sent for home at the 800m mark.
His Justin Snaith-trained July-winning stablemate, three-year-old Do It Again, was not among the entries.
This is not surprising when considering the well below par run of July winner Marinaresco in this race last year.
Nevertheless, there is a strong three-year-old presence.
The Captain Al colt Undercover Agent avoided the Daily News 2000 as the Brett Crawford yard had doubts he would stay the trip and he went for the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge against older horses instead.
He duly won in impressive fashion. The form took a slight dent when the runner up Snowdance was beaten in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on July day.
However, Undercover Agent is getting better and better and his big action should be able to carry him 1 800m. He has cracked another fine draw too.
The Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner Tap O’ Noth, another classy colt by Captain Al, ran a gallant third in the Daily News 2000, beaten only a length by Surcharge.
He stayed on gamely despite the race not having panned out perfectly for him.
He is a half-brother to Silvano middle-distance to staying type Strathdon and this distance will likely be ideal, although he does have a potentially tricky draw of nine.
The Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open was staying on in eyecatching style from last in his Champions Cup preparation run on July day in a 1 600m handicap. This race usually suits horses coming in fresh and he will be the freshest of them all. He is drawn ten. His stablemate, the Cape Derby third-placed Philanthropist colt Pack Leader will likely appreciate the step down in trip from the 2 200m of his last race and the 2 000m of the Daily News.
He will have to be handy as he has not struck as being one who turns it on from off the pace, so his good draw of four will help his cause.
Rocket Countdown
Three-year-old Alado gelding Rocket Countdown is a good looking sort and stayed on well for sixth in the July, considering he over-raced a little bit in the early stages behind the crawl.
He will have a tough task with Undercover Agent and Tap O’Noth on Cape Town form but is improving and is drawn seven.
Australian-bred colt Roy Had Enough is the other three-year-old. He is coming off a disappointing effort over 2200m on July day and on Daily News and SA Classic form has a tough task with Surcharge.
The older horses are led by the defending champion Sail South and his stablemate Captain America.
They will both come in fresh and Captain America will improve on his Gold Challenge run which he needed.
Last year’s third-placed Matador Man did not have the race pan out at all well for him in the July and back to this trip can charge home again from off the pace. Crowd Pleaser just failed in the Betting World 2200 on July day, despite giving the winner Head Honcho 2kg. He loves this track and will set a good pace but at Grade 1 weight for age level it is going to be tough.
Elusive Silva finished a fine third in the July and is another who loves Greyville, due to his exceptional turn of foot.
Perovskia ran a good race on July day over 1600m considering it didn’t pan out perfectly and having beaten Undercover Agent in the Drill Hall over 1 400m he can’t be written off over a trip he should prefer. It’s My Turn has come into his own but looks more likely to go for the Gold Cup.
Former SA Classic winner Heavenly Blue made a comeback from a six month layoff on Saturday and this race might come too soon.
Cascapedia
His Mike de Kock-trained stablemate, the big filly Cascapedia, has class and is progressive but hasn’t been seen out since April. Gold Standard will be having his last run before going to Stud and he will enjoy the trip, but he has been disappointing this season having returned from injury. Bulleting Home finished a good fifth in the Gold Challenge and enjoys Greyville but might be stretched by the trip. Sabina’s Dynasty faces a tough step up in class and Mambo Mime has a tough task on Cup Trial form over course and distance.
The betting with the sponsor is:
Undercover Agent 9-2 Surcharge 5-1 African Night Sky 11-2 Eyes Wide Open 15-2 Tap O Noth 10-1 Captain America 12-1 Sail South 12-1 Crowd Pleaser 12-1 Elusive Silva 14-1 Rocket Countdown 16-1 Pack Leader 16-1 Matador Man 18-1 Its My Turn 18-1 Perovskia 18-1 Heavenly Blue 28-1 Cascapedia 28-1 Sabinas Dynasty 35-1 Mambo Mime 35-1 Bulleting Home 45-1 Gold Standard 45-1 Roy Had Enough 55-1