Hot Ticket has all the credentials
HOT TICKET, trained by Dean Kannemeyer, has the credentials to win the Gold Cup.
The country's premier race for stayers will be run at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.
The Silvano-sired thoroughbred has won three of his last four runs in style.
He held on gamely to win the Gold Vase over 3 000 metres at Greyville on July Day from the fast finishing Waving Flag and Wild One. Waving Flag and Wild One will also be in action in Saturday's big race over 3 200m.
Before his July Day victory, Hot Ticket cruised home by over three lengths from Tribal Dance over 2 500m.
Hot Ticket was unfancied when he finished ninth to Espumanti over 1 900m.
His easy win over another Gold Cup runner Jeppe's Reef over 3 200m at Kenilworth Racecourse shows that Hot Ticket will relish the big race. The only factor against him is the top weight of 60kg.
Hot Ticket is regarded as one of the finest stayers in the country. If he overcomes the top weight, he will cement his status as one of the best stayers to have graced our tracks.
Kannemeyer said Hot Ticket had been primed for the Gate Gold Cup.
“I am pleased with Hot Ticket's preparation. He is very well and is a big runner,'' said Kannemeyer.
Hot Ticket will be guided into gate six by veteran jockey Karl Neisius.
Thoroughbred owners Rikesh Sewgoolam and Mannie Pillay and their partners are confident their runner Gothic will put up a bold showing.
Gothic, also sired by Silvano, was never in the hunt in the race won by Hot Ticket on July Day and is in tip-top shape.
Before that run, he finished a close second on two occasions behind Alexander (also in the Gold Cup) and Wild One over 2 500m and over 2 400m respectively. Gothic, trained by Vaughan Marshall, will jump from pole position. If Gothic puts his best hoof forward, it could be a memorable day for his connections.
Trainer Sean Tarry's six-year-old gelding Gold Onyx, which ran on strongly to grab third place behind Master Sabina (also in the Gold Cup) over 2 200m, is not out of it.
The Chris van Niekerk-owned horse may not have lit up the track but if one considers that his worst run in his last five races was a five length defeat over 2 000m, he should be respected.
He will be ridden by top jockey Pierre Strydom and will jump from Barrier 16. Jeppe's Reef, from the Mike Bass stable, has done enough to sneak into the placings,
Sired by Jallad, Jeppe's Reef has a chance to make amends for his disappointing 10th place behind Hot Ticket last time.
Bass, who has had a relatively quiet winter season, is bound to have Jeppe's Reef in sound shape on Saturday. The thoroughbred will be piloted by jockey Grant van Niekerk and will jump from Gate 13.
My selections: (1st) 1 Hot Ticket; (2nd) 11 Gothic; (3rd) 5 Gold Onyx and (4th) 7 Jeppe's Reef.