Staying power key to Gold Cup glory
HE Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup to be run over 3 200m at Greyville on Super Saturday this weekend is quite hard to assess and picturing how the race will pan out from start to finish could be the best way to go about an analysis.
Here is a predicted commentary of the prestigious staying race.
“They are running in the 2015 eLan Property Group Gold Cup. Wild Ash broke well and is right up there down the centre, Coltrane and Wild One are prominent on the inside while Solid Speed and Kolkata and Kingston Mines are also handy. Ash Cloud is in the firing line, but now it’s Kingston Mines who takes it up as they go to the first turn with Wild Ash at his quarter. Wild One has now found the rail behind Kingston Mines! Coltrane is next best running between Solid Speed on the rail and Kolkata on the outside. Vino Veritas is well positioned on the rail about seven lengths off the lead and on her outside is Ash Cloud and Gone Baby Gone. Savage Wind is caught wide outside of them. Disco Al has managed to find the rail from a wide draw and Hot Ticket is alongside him. Storm Warning is in behind them with Balance Sheet on his outside. J’s Outsider and Gold Onyx are at the back.
Kingston Mines is now setting a fair gallop with Wild Ash in second and Wild One is travelling comfortably on her inside. Solid Speed is beautifully positioned on the rail and Kolkata is now alongside him. Vino Veritas and Coltrane are next best travelling within themselves and then comes Disco Al on the rail inside of Ash Cloud and Gone Baby Gone. Savage Wind is trying to slot in behind them but is being kept out by Hot Ticket and Balance Sheet. J’s Outsider is next on the rail with Gold Onyx at his quarter and Storm Warning is content to sit at the back. There’s about 15 lengths from first to last as they go past the Drill Hall.
Wild Ash
Kingston Mines is still setting a reasonable gallop and Wild Ash has now slotted in behind him with Kolkata on her outside. Wild One is biding his time on the rail about five lengths off the pace and Coltrane is travelling well alongside him. Solid Speed is at the panel with Ash Cloud and Gone Baby Gone on his outside. Vino Veritas is scraping paint about a dozen lengths off the leader and Hot Ticket is keeping him company and looking nice and relaxed. Savage Wind is on the outside of Hot Ticket and behind them are Balance Sheet and J’s Outsider. Gold Onyx is next best and Storm Warning is in the back seat but travelling well within himself.
They start climbing the hill with just over 800m to go and it’s still Kingston Mines out in front but Kolkata is now creeping forward on his outside. Wild Ash is behind Kolkata and is just ahead of Wild One who is on the rail no more than three lengths off the lead. Coltrane is poised to strike at Wild One’s quarter and Gone Baby Gone is moving up on the outside.
Solid Speed
Towards the inside is Solid Speed still travelling well and alongside him is Ash Cloud with Savage Wind wider out. Vino Veritas and Hot Ticket are in behind that and J’s Outsider is making a forward move. Storm Warning is in behind him and Balance Sheet is hugging the rail inside of that. Gold Onyx is at the back but is no more than ten lengths off the lead as they begin to concertina.
They swing for home and Kingston Mines kicks for home with Kolkata trying go with him. Wild One is going down the inside and Wild Ash has switched out for a run. Coltrane is getting a tow from Kingston Mines. Solid Speed is in with a shout towards the inside and Vino Veritas and Hot Ticket are running on. Storm Warning is still improving towards the outside and Gold Onyx is following him. 250 to go and Wild One hits the front on the inside! But here’s Storm Warning exploding through on the outside and Kingston Mines and Coltrane are staying on strongly down the centre. Solid Speed, Vino Veritas and Hot Ticket are also making bids. But Wild One has got fire in his eyes and he’s going for glory!
Storm Warning’s on the outside but he can’t go with Wild One who is still full of running on the inside. Wild One has won the eLan Property Group Gold Cup for Mike de Kock and Sean Phillips!
Storm Warning is next best and Coltrane stays on well for third ahead of a gallant Kingston Mines.
Solid Speed and Vino Veritas fill the fifth and sixth positions.