Golden Crest on the up
HE Geoff Woodruff-trained Golden Crest’s form was given a major boost when the horse he beat in his last start over 1800m at Turffontein in June, Eton Square, went on to win the Grade 3 Jubilee before finishing a fine 1,1 length fourth in the Vodacom Durban July.
The five-times South African Champion trainer said he would target the four-year-old Silvano gelding at the R2 million Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup over 2 000m at Turffontein on December 1. “On paper he is two or three lengths superior to Eton Square, considering he gave him 3kg, provided he gets the trip.”
Golden Crest’s dam, who is out of former Champion Sire, Jallad, was unraced but his second dam, by Dancing Champ, won over 2 000m and won the Listed Michaelmas over 1 900m and the Listed Flamboyant Stakes over 1 600m. Furthermore Golden Crest is by Silvano, who was a
Ttwice Grade 1 winner over ten furlongs (2 000m) and a three-times Grade 2 winner over eleven furlongs (2 200m). Silvano has produced plenty of top class middle distance to staying horses, including two Summer Cup winners, Aslan and Flirtation. Aslan also won the Grade 1 Canon Gold Cup over 3 200m, while other top horses by Silvano include King’s Gambit, who won the Grade 1 SA Classic and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 1 800m, Bold Silvano, who won the Vodacom Durban July, Bravura, who won the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby and Seal, who won the SA Derby.
Woodruff added, “Silvanos generally get better as four-year-olds too.”
Golden Crest has been rested and given his African Horse Sickness Vaccinations since his last run and Woodruff reckoned he would return to the racecourse in October.
Eton Square, formerly trained by Gavin van Zyl, has meanwhile been sold and is presently in Mauritius bound for Hong Kong.