The feature races on the Gold Cup Festival Of Racing weekend include the Grade 2 Prosport Gold Bracelet over 1800m and the Listed Avontuur Darley Arabian, both on Saturday, and the Grade 3 Sunlife Vitamins Debutante Stakes and Grade 3 Avontuur Umkhomazi Stakes both over 1200m on Sunday.
Nebula (Nkosi Hlope)
MacDuff and Nebula are the standouts in the Darley Arabian. Macduff defends his crown and although effectively seven points higher in the merit ratings than last year he is progressive and went close in a 1400m handicap on the poly last time off a one point lower mark. He will prefer this trip and has a fair draw of six. He should be cherry ripe and Anthony Delpech rides. Nebula cruised to a comfortable victory in May over course and distance in his only start on the Greyville poly and off a six point higher mark has a plum draw with Piere Strydom up. The dangers include No Worries, who has a plum draw and should be right there off a competitive merit rating. He should appreciate the poly at his age. Cutting Edge ran on well for third over 1600m on the turf on Vodacom Durban July day after being dropped out from a wide draw like he has here. Irish Pride finished second last in the latter race, but that was his first run after a five month layoff, so he should strip fitter and has the class to go close here. Night Trip has finished first, first and second in his last three attempts at this race and should also be cherry ripe. His form hasn’t been as strong this season as in the past, but he runs off a ten point lower mark than last year when a close second. In Other Words could shape if the pace is as slow as she got over course and distance last time, as she likely prefers 1400m. Mr Roy and Maximizer have some class and can’t be ignored from good draws. Budapest looks to be off a tough merit rating and would likely prefer 1400m, but is an enigmatic sort who can never be ignored. Prince Of Wales would prefer further and a more galloping track, but should be running on from a wide draw. Royal Armour needs to bounce back to form.
Nightingale (Liesl King)
The stand out in the Gold Bracelet is the Grade 1 winner Nightingale, who is distance suited and comes off her tie fourth in the Vodacom Durban July. Bella Sonata is officially best in at the weights and is the main danger. Premier Dance, Star Express and Captain Gambler also have the class to be right there.
In the Debutante, Neptune’s Rain is classy and distance suited, but has a tough draw and the Highveld pair Winter Watch and Celestina must thus be a big threat. Tsessebe could be right there too despite a wide draw and Princess Peach and Virga are others to consider.
In the Debutante, Al Mariachi is the selection from pole position and the dangers in order of preference are Laurent Du Var, So Var, Quinlan and Sniper Shot.
By David Thiselton
