The Listed Umngeni Handicap over 1000m on the poly to be run on Saturday is one of many tricky races over the Gold Cup Festival Of Racing weekend, although Lloyd’s Legacy showed his true colours when a cornell collar was fitted last time and looks the one to side with.

The three-year-old Australian-bred More Than Ready gelding has always shown trainer Dennis Drier “unbelievable work”, but had breathing issues. The cornell collar was fitted for his last start over 1000m at Scottsville and after showing excellent cruising speed he then turned it on and won easing up by four lengths. That was also his second run after gelding and he is now drawn in pole position in a race with a lot of pace in it. He has had one start on the poly and stayed on well for third behind his useful stablemate Rocky Valley and that was before the cornell collar was tried. He carries 54,5kg, which is 0,5kg below rider Anton Marcus’s riding weight, so there will be no dead weight.

The pace in the race will be provided by the Louis Goosen pair Hashtag Strat and Effortless Reward and possibly also from My Pal Al. Those who believe in the theory that daytime poly racing favours front-runners more than it does at night will be looking to Hashtag Strat. She has exceptional cruising speed and on Vodacom Durban July day over course and distance, in a race which was run in the evening, she kicked on for a 1,75 length third from a draw of two. She now has another fair draw of four and is 2kg better off with the winner of that July day race, Horse Guards, and is 0,5kg better off with Attenborough, who finished 0,25 lengths in front of her.

Horse Guards was drawn in pole that day and found the box seat and has a chance of repeating the dose from draw two, despite the four point merit rated raise.

Effortless Reward has shown the progression of a typical Louis Goosen-trained sprinter and only just failed to make it four in a row last time when beaten by the speedy filly Wrecking Ball over 1000m at Turffontein. The latter finished a 2,5 length fifth in the Computaform Sprint and Effortless Reward was receiving just 1,5kg from her. That form gives Effortless Reward a definite shout. She has fine pace and a kick and from draw five Gunther Wrogemann might be looking to slot her in behind Hashtag Strat, or possibly My Pal Al, or she could even attempt to lead herself. On the downside this is her first start around the turn and her first time on the poly.

My Pal Al was overtaken by the classy Bishop’s Bounty last time when showing good pace over 1200m on the poly and, although the latter won comfortably, he is interesting over the minimum trip. In his penultimate start he was far from disgraced over 1100m on the turf when coming from last for a 2,85 length sixth behind Sommerlied in a race which did not have as much pace as this one. So from a draw of nine he has the option of trying to get over to the front or being dropped out and relying on his class to get him home.

Attenborough will also love the pace in this race, as he did on July day from a draw of six out of 12. He now has a tricky draw of seven out of ten and is one point higher in the merit ratings, but will be flying at them. However, Anton Marcus has opted for Lloyd’s Legacy.

Rodney took a while to drop out from a wide draw over course and distance last time before flying home for third to Rocky Valley, so with the pace in this race he is a definite contender, despite another tricky draw of eight.

Isca finished second in this race last year from draw nine and is now drawn three and two points lower in the merit ratings. He finished 2,5 lengths behind Horse Guards on July day despite being caught wide. He is now 2,5kg better off with Horse Guards, so is another strong contender.

Clifton Sunset was unlucky the last time she went this course and distance but is another one who will be running in strongly. She has a draw of ten and a three point merit rated raise for her last win to overcome, but she seems progressive.

Doing It For Dan is also capable of a strong finish, but made little impression when coming from off them over course and distance on July day.

Lloyd’s Legacy is given the tentative vote to win from Hashtag Strat, with Rodney, Attenborough and Isca next best, although just about every runner has a chance.

By David Thiselton