Category Archives: eLAN Gold Cup

Punta has more to offer

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Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dennis Drier was thrilled with the win of the “old man” Punta Arenas under Keagan de Melo in Saturday’s Gr 3 Delta Airlines 2200 at the Vodacom Durban July meeting on Saturday and will enter him for both the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup and the Gr 2 eLan Property Group Gold Cup.

Drier said the way the seven-year-old Silvano gelding switched off in the running, he should stay the 3200m Gold Cup trip.

Drier said Sail, who ran a fine third in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper on Saturday, was on track for the Gr 1 Thekwini.

Drier’s two-year-old Mauritzfontein-owned Var filly La Revere was impressive over the Scottsville 1000m under Sean Veale two weeks ago.

Drier said he had not discussed her future with Jessica Slack of Mauritzfontein yet, but was eyeing the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m on Gold Cup day for her.

The Drier-trained Count Dubois filly Anime might also become a candidate for that race considering the good impression she created over 1000m at Scottsville yesterday when wining a maiden by 4,75 lengths. Her owners Mike Fullard and James Drew also own Punta Arenas.

David Thiselton

 

Zodiac Ruler’s not done

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Justin Snaith’s horses have all pulled up well from Vodacom Durban July day and he said the unbeaten Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Zodiac Ruler would be considered for the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on eLan Gold Cup day.

He also spoke of his empathy for distraught owner Adriaan van Vuuren, having been in the same boat before, while at the same time coming out in defence of Gold Circle and KZN racetracks.

Snaith said the only reason Zodiac Ruler had ended up being at his Summerveld SA Champions Season yard was because the colt had been at his satellite yard in Johannesburg at the time of the latter’s closure. The two-year-old had not been allowed to return to Cape Town without going through quarantine. Snaith said his Johannesburg satellite yard had been closed because it had not been financially viable. He added it had only been opened in the first place because he had been led to believe restricted races would be included in the National Trainer’s Championships, but the NHRA had later changed their minds.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith said about the classy Zodiac Ruler, “I had never thought much of him, because we don’t push our babies. We have done very little with him.”

On debut over 1400m on the Greyville poly Zodiac Ruler was allowed to go off at odds of 14/1. Yet, despite losing four lengths at the start, he had still managed to get up to win under apprentice Lyle Hewitson.

 

On Saturday, just two-and-a-half weeks after that debut and now ridden by Richard Fourie, he was slow away by two lengths in the 1400m turf contest and was green early on the turn before settling beautifully on the rail behind a fast pace. Class usually comes through in a true run race and so it proved. He was last at the 400m mark, but then moved through effortlessly to put himself in contention. He responded well to the whip from the 250m mark and won with what looked to be plenty in hand by 1,5 lengths, converting odds of 8/1. The time of 82,23 seconds was only just outside the class record.

Zoidac Ruler is one of a number of successful horses Paul Lafferty has bought in Australia during his time as South African ambassador to the Magic Millions Sales company. The Summerveld trainer  said he had always believed Zodiac Ruler’s sire Zoffany would make it. He was proven correct immediately as the son of Dansili was the European Champion first crop sire in Europe in 2015. Zoffany won a Gr 1 over six furlongs in Ireland, but his biggest claim to fame was finishing just three-quarters of a length runner-up to the mighty Frankel in the Gr 1 St. James Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot.

Prolific owner Fred Crabbia spotted Zodiac Ruler on Lafferty’s website, liked the look of both him and the pedigree and duly bought him. He was spelled by Jane Thomas at Far End Pre-training in Mooi River and she described him as being “magic”. Crabbia then put him through the CTS Lanzerac Ready To Run Sale and had to go to R450,000 to buy him back, despite Thomas having not gone anything other than slowly with him either at home or at the Ready To Run breeze ups due to him still being too “big and dum”.

Snaith continued, “The Greyville track doesn’t look good, but all of our horses have pulled up well. Our horses have in fact had more injuries in other centres than in KZN this season and I have the statistics to prove it.”

He added, “It is not easy these days and I think Graeme Hawkins and Gill Simpkins and others at Gold Circle did a fine job in making the July a success and the Tote turnovers were up.”

Snaith said the field and draw for the Premier’s Champions Challenge would be “looked at”, before a decision to run Zodiac Ruler was made.

He said of his July runners, “The main thing is they all came back safely.”

He had few excuses, but said Black Arthur had unfortunately been carried outward at the top of the straight and had thus ended up on the outside rail, where they had not wanted him to be. The colt had then been conscious of the crowd, so was reluctant to take the gap. Jockey Douglas Whyte believed he could have otherwise possibly finished third.

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Richard Fourie lamented not being able to have a horse to offer cover for his mount It’s My Turn, who had to jump from a tricky draw of 12. He said his reasons were more due to “peace of mind” than anything else as the horse had settled nicely throughout. It’s My Turn sat in third on the quarters of Ten Gun Salute. Fourie pointed out the winner had sat behind him, so he believed he had been in the right place. The Crabbia-owned horse stayed on well for fourth. Fourie concluded by saying the Dynasty colt might have even won had he been “more forward (mature).”

Anthony Delpech said yesterday Bela-Bela had lost her position when bumped around early and felt she might otherwise have finished in the top four.

Snaith said none of his July runners were likely to appear again this season.

Snaith said about Triple Crown-winning owner Adriaan van Vuuren’s shock statement he would be pulling out of horseracing, “He is talking from his heart, he loves his horses and I know what it is like to have a horse injured, we had to endure this anxiety with Legislate two years ago. He (Van Vuuren) doesn’t deserve to be taken to pieces like this in the media and it is due to people like him that so many are able to be employed in the industry.”

David Thiselton

rabada its my turn

Delpech dilemma

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Anthony Delpech was left with a headache any jockey would like to have after winning the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on Saturday aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Bela-Bela and Anton Marcus also now faces a tough decision on whom he will ride in the Vodacom Durban July after the Mike Azzie-trained Rabada’s win in the Gr 1 Daily New 2000.

Both riders would set a new mark of five July victories in the saddle were they to win the big one this year as they are currently joint-record holders with the great Harold “Tiger” Wright.

On Saturday Delpech’s narrow Daily News runner up was ironically named It’s My Turn as the top jockey was coming off five SA Champions Season Graded race victories in succession – somebody else finally had a turn.

Rabada-It's My Turn

Anton Marcus ‘flicking the reins’ at Rabada with It’s My Turn (Delpech) closing in (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marcus admitted dropping the whip shortly after turning for home on Rabada had been a worrying moment, especially aboard a horse who had always responded well to reminders. However, like a true professional he compensated by flicking the rein into Rabada’s range of vision and the robust bay duly found extra to repel Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn. However, the latter would likely have been pencilled into more July note books as he has an impressive stride and was closing rapidly despite the earlier crawl they had travelled at. He failed by 0,25 lengths to give both Snaith and Delpech what could well have been a unique Guineas and 2000 double-double, the pair having won both the Daisy Fillies Guineas and Canon Guineas with Bela-Bela and Black Arthur respectively at the beginning of the month.

Delpech’s only loss in the six previous SA Champions Season Graded races this year was in the opening one aboard the now retired Legislate in the IOS Drill Stakes.

Anton Marcus, when posed the question about Rabada staying the July trip, replied, “The pace today was pedestrian.”

This played into the Summerhill Stud-bred Brave Tin Soldier colt’s hands as he found the box seat behind the leader from a good draw and his stamina reserves were not put to the true test.

“At the moment I am just happy to have won this race for Markus,” he continued,  referring to champion owner Markus Jooste, for whom he is the retained rider. Rabada’s July participation will likely be discussed by Azzie, Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman and jockey Marcus. Jooste’s leading July hope at present among a few contenders would likely be fast-finishing Betting World 1900 runner up St. Tropez.

Another eyecatching July Trial in Saturday’s Daily News was run by the Gavin Van Zyl-trained Rocketball, who reached top gear close to home and was finishing strongly with an impressive stride. Third-placed Mambo Mime also ran on well representing last year’s July-winning combination, Dean Kannemeyer and Stuart Randolph, and so did fifth-placed Ten Gun Salute.

However, the three-year-old males are all likely to carry the minimum allowed July weight for their age and gender of 53kg, because even the current 106 merit rating of the highest rated of them, Rabada and Black Arthur, means being 2kg under sufferance with top merit rated entry Legal Eagle (120).

Rabada might go up a point or two if Rocketball, rated 105 and beaten 1,5 lengths is used as the line horse, and It’s My Turn (101) and Mambo Mime (100) will in that case be raised too, but it will all be superfluous in the July picture unless Legal Eagle is scratched before the setting of the weights.

Black Arthur put up a gallop before the first race on Saturday and, striding out very well under Delpech, pulled away effortlessly from his companion, who had given him a lead. The work out pleased both Delpech and Snaith.

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty filly Bela-Bela might also be raised a point or two from 107 if 104-rated Heaps Of Fun, beaten 2,1 lengths, is used as the line horse, especially considering the ease of the win. This will be significant because for every point above 108 she will carry 0,5kg above the minimum allowed July weight for a three-year-old filly of 52kg.

Delpech spoke about Bela-Bela’s amazing turn of foot and described her as the second best filly he had ever ridden after 2011 July hero Igugu.

The energetic grey, like a lot of world class fillies, nods her head in the running, perhaps an indication of how much she loves her job, and she looked the winner a mile out.

Negroamara stayed on well for a 1,75 length second and Nightingale, hampered around the turn when Ruler Of The Sky broke down, was staying on even stronger for a  good third.

Negroamaro’s owner Laurence Wernars still seeks his first Gr 1 win after 25 years of owning racehorses, but this was another of a few Gr 1 seconds he has had. Drill Hall winner New Predator later disappointed in the Wernar colours in the Daily News and likely didn’t stay the trip.

Earlier, Kannemeyer and Delpech had combined to win the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. The first time Kannemeyer put this Silvano gelding beyond 2000m he finished second in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup and this was only his second attempt beyond that distance. He remains in the July picture. However, winning the Lonsdale off a 98 merit rating at the expense of a slightly unlucky Heldeberg Blue might not be enough to get into the big race. The Gr 2 Gold Vase and/or Gold Cup route looks more sensible anyway.

David Thiselton

rabada

Rabada – read all about it

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Give the man half a chance and he will take your whole hand. There were many hard luck stories back in the scrum as a slow pace marred the running of the Gr1 Daily News 2000 but for Anton Marcus it was manna from heaven as he nursed favourite Rabada through to win from It’s My Turn, Mambo Mime and Rocketball.

With none of the riders willing to commit it was left to Sylvester The Cat to pull himself to the front but once there, Craig Zackey put on the brakes.

Marcus had Rabada in the box seat while Anthony Delpech, looking for a hat-trick of feature wins, was forced to track wide to avoid the scrum on his inside and the two fancied runners joined battle at the top of the straight.

With Marcus dropping his stick at the entrance to the straight it looked as if It’s My Turn had his measure but Rabada kept finding to the

Rabada edges It's My Turn (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rabada edges It’s My Turn (Nkosi Hlophe)

line. “I had my doubts about him staying,” said Marcus post-race. “But we were helped by the slow pace up front.”

“I dropped my stick at the top of the straight and was just flicking the reins at him. It was a really game win.”

“I always maintained that he was a good horse,” said Michael Azzie and Rabada has repaid that faith. It was also the second Grade 1 win for Rabada a son of Summerhill-based Brave Tin Soldier.

Earlier Justin Snaith would not be drawn on whether star filly Bela-Bela would take her place in the Vodacom Durban July after landing the odds in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000. It was an impressive performance by the grey who was given another professional ride by Delpech.

“I never had any doubt that she would stay,” said Snaith but neatly side-stepped the July issue. “She’s a very good filly and we will have to make the right decision. It will be up to the owners.”

“She saddled up very quietly, and I thought ‘Oh no! not another one,’” referring to the now retired Legislate. But she carried her temperament into the race. “She seemed half asleep in the race but there are few horses that have a turn of foot like she’s got,’ said Delpech.

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

The crack rider had Bela-Bela racing one off the rail with arch rival Nightingale on his inside. He kept Grant van Niekerk tight on the rail and got first run at the top of the straight. With Delpech’s stick flicking down her neck, Bela-Bela quickened past longtime leader Negroamaro who battled gamely to hold her advantage but she was swallowed by Nightingale and Heaps Of Fun who were both running on strongly.

Balance Sheet looks on track for the eLan Gold Cup with a game win in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, getting home ahead of Helderberg Blue, No Worries and Crime Victim. Pressed on whether Balance Sheet would take his chances in the July, Dean Kannemeyer was hesitant. “Possibly, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

“The Gold Cup was the first time he went passed 2 400m last season and he ran second. I took him back to Cape Town but I wasn’t happy with the way he was moving and threw him out.”

“The owners were patient. Marsh (Shirtliff) and Bryn (Resssell), they ran first and second today and deserve all they get.”

It was another masterful ride from Delpech who got over from a wide draw to find the perfect place on the rail. “I can’t even tell how I got there. Sometimes things just work out for you.” He moved Balance Sheet smartly up the inside rail in the chase for home and rode the finish without the whip. “I rode with the hands. He wanted to hang out and I didn’t want to cause interference.”

But it was the early shift that possibly won him the race as he shifted onto a tiring pacemaker who in turn rolled onto Helderberg Blue who got unbalanced for a couple of strides.

No Worries appears to have taken a new lease on life since being put over ground and was fighting hard at the finish while Crime Victim found traffic and may well have finished closer.

Andrew Harrison

 

solid speed

Solid Speed confirms his credentials

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Solid Speed had his Gr1 Vodacom Durban July odds slashed by half after converting favouritism in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday evening. 20-1 before the event, Solid Speed was cut to 10-1 by the sponsors while the odds on runner-up St Tropez were slashed from 55-1 to 14-1 after running the favourite to a neck.

Dean Kannemeyer and rider Anthony Delpech had to chew their nails on the outcome of a race review but although Solid Speed did shift off a straight course, he did so following St Tropez, and there was no further action.

It was a race were many had chances but Solid Speed hammered his peg into the ground as far as the July goes.

A winner of the Gr2 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup this time last year, but Power King the preferred July runner,

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kannemeyer aimed Solid Speed at the then Gr1 eLan Gold Cup rather than the July. Starting favourite for the Gold Cup he finished with just three behind him after pulling up lame behind.

 

Since then he has won three of his four starts, two over a ‘mile’ – a distance deemed short of his best – and on Friday night’s performance he will have gained a host of new supporters for the July, a race that Kannemeyer has won three times, first up with champion sire Dynasty, the sire of Solid Speed.

St Tropez put a disastrous Gr1 Summer Cup behind him as Kegan de Melo followed Solid Speed through the traffic and chased him hard to the line to enhance his July credentials.

A piece of paper separated Dynamic and The Conglomerate although both were given every chance. But with the July in mind, it was a decent showing by both from tough outside draws.

Also catching the eye was the grey King Of Pain. A former winner of the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m at Clairwood, he looks to have matured into a solid stayer. He won over two miles last time out and was doing his best work late on Friday. The Gr3 Gold Vase and the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup look tailor made.

Earlier Sail, in spite of getting herself into a stew before the start, put her hand up for the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship in a fortnight’s time with a game performance in a Juvenile Plate. She bounced her way to the start but once in the race settled nicely and quickened through into the lead as pacemaker Announcing Rain folded. She was chased hard by Dawn Calling, the line coming just in time, but it was a top effort.

This was a seven-furlong event but previously she had doddled her maiden over the Allan Robertson course and distance which augurs well for her chances.

By Andrew Harrison

wildonenkosihsite

Unfortunate end for Wild One

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The Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup winner Wild One has died following a routine procedure to the check ligament in order to treat tendonitis.

Wild One was standing up after recovering from the procedure when he suffered a heart attack.

Saddened trainer Mike de Kock said, “You think you are doing the best for the horse and then this goes and happens.”

The six-year-old Mogok gelding looked to have plenty of racing still in him. He finished third in the Gr 1 SA Derby as a three-year-old, when trained by Jeff Freedman, and this earned him a place in the Vodacom Durban July. He ended his four-year-old season by winning the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, his first run for the De Kock yard, and then finished third in the Gr 2 Gold Vase and second in the Gold Cup.

However, the Scott Brothers-bred horse appeared to have really come into his own this past season after returning from a long layoff, finishing second in both the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and in the KZN Million Mile before winning the Gold Cup.

The roller coaster ride owner Sean Phillips has enjoyed with Wild One is well documented and the passing of his beloved horse left the Hillcrest-based man “distraught” at the end of a month in which he had received both the Equus Champion Stayer and KZN Champion Stayer awards.

David Thiselton

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

“He’s my Wild One”

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Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup-winning owner Sean Phillips summed up the roller coaster ride he has enjoyed with his prized horse Wild One when saying at the end of his victory speech on Saturday, “He’s my Wild One”, and this will certainly become of one of racing’s feel good stories of the year.

Despite being six-years-of-age the Mike de Kock-trained Scott Brothers-bred Mogok gelding is at present as sound as a bell and relatively lightly raced, so he will likely be an interesting contender this season in big races like the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup and others.

In Wild One’s first start for De Kock in May last year he gave Phillips a first ever Graded victory, winning the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, and he followed up by finishing a 0,5 length second in the Gold Cup over 3200m.

However, a soft tissue injury then saw him side-lined.

Phillips later reached a point where he had  become “disappointed” with the game and organised a  dispersal sale at Summerveld.

He takes up the story, “I expected to get at least half-a-million for Wild One but he quickly went down from 500, to 400, 300, 200, I put in an offer at 200 and nobody else counterbid. I believed he was worth far more than that so kept him.”

The lack of bidding was perhaps not surprising considering the long layoff and Wild One also having been a notable scratching from the SANSUI Summer Cup.

In fact De Kock had initially believed the injury might be “career ending”, and praised Phillips for his “heart and patience” and allowing the yard time to bring the horse back to soundness.

The amazing faith Phillips showed in the gallant bay gelding has paid handsome dividends as he has earned over a million rand in his first three comeback runs.

Furthermore, Phillips admitted the Gold Cup win had “most definitely” re-ignited his own fervour for the game.

Phillips praised “the genius” of De Kock. He added that without disputing the skills of his many friends in training he was now of the firm belief that it was a “must” to send a top horse to a trainer who had had a lot of big race experience and success and this was especially the case where there was international opportunity, which he believed Wild One had. He said, “It’s these type of wins that make us come back.”

Wild One’s win provided De Kock with a third Gold Cup victory and saw Anthony Delpech ending a hoodoo, as he has come second in the country’s premier staying race on no fewer than six occasions.

De Kock and Delpech had an early morning start last Tuesday when leaving the Wild Coast at 4:30 a.m in order to gallop Wild One at Summerveld, before returning to the coastal resort to play in the second round of the popular Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament. De Kock said before and after the race that Wild One had enjoyed an absolutely  faultless preparation.

Phillips, having begun Saturday just thrilled to have two Gold Cup horses running in his colours, was pinching himself as the other one, the Joey Soma-trained Savage Wind, finished third.

He said, “I’m over the moon and very happy for Joey too, he’s done a great job for us as well.”

Wild One was spotted at the Suncoast Casino KZN Yearling Sale of 2011 by Summerveld trainer Jeff Freedman, who bought him for R95,000.

Phillips became the sole owner and it was soon clear that he and Freedman had a good horse in their hands.

However, the first up-and-down moment happened on day one of Wild One’s racing career.

The connections were confident he would win that debut over 1450m at Clairwood on 10 October, 2012 and Wild One was consequently backed in from 25/1 to 48/10. He duly won, but alas, the hot favourite Flyfirstclass was then declared a non-runner, having been adjudged to have not had a fair start, and all bookmaker winning bets were subjected to a massive deduction.

Wild One was already showing signs of ideally needing further after a subsequent third in the Listed KZN Guineas Trial and a strong-finishing sixth in the Dingaans.

In his second career victory over 1600m at Greyville he ran all over the course and has raced in blinkers ever since.

In first-time blinkers he was a very unlucky 0,5 length second in the Listed Derby Trial at Turffontein.

Potential buyers began showing an interest after he had subsequently finished third in the Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m, having been dropped out from a wide draw and running on strongly.

However, Phillips held on and a dream came true when Wild One was accepted into the 2013 Vodacom Durban July field, despite an unlucky unplaced run in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. Wild One finished unplaced in the July but Phillips, dressed in his yellow and red suit to reflect the colours, had a memorable day out with family and friends.

Freedman then took a share in the horse, but Wild One appeared to lose his way a bit and five runs later, after finishing fourth out of five runners in a Non-Black Type event over 1950m at Scottsville, Phillips wondered whether the horse was as good as they had originally believed. He was probably lamenting not having accepted those earlier offers to sell.

There was more disappointment next time out when only managing a 5,5 length fourth in a Graduation Plate over 1600m at Clairwood, although in retrospect the winner was none other than Futura.

However, Phillips retained faith and after becoming sole owner again he sent the horse to De Kock.

Having shown such versatility in his last three runs from 1600m up to 3200m the world now appears to be Wild One’s oyster and Phillips is in for some more of those heady highs and lows that are always part and parcel of the Sport Of Kings.

By David Thiselton

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One gets it right

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The Mike de Kock-trained Wild One went one better than last year when winning the country’s premier staying race, the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m, at a sun-bathed Greyville yesterday under Anthony Delpech.

Later the country’s highest rated horse, the Justin Snaith-trained Futura, secured the Equus Horse Of The Year title with a stunning victory in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m under Bernard Fayd’Herbe, despite not getting the best of starts.

The Scott Brothers-bred six-year-old Mogok gelding Wild One provided a first Gr 1 win for passionate Hillcrest-based owner Sean Phillips and his yellow and red colours also flashed past the post in third place as he owns a share in the Joey Soma-trained Savage Wind.

It was a third Gold Cup win for De Kock and a first for Delpech. The latter had finished second in the race on no fewer than six occasions.

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained rank outsider Balance Sheet ran a gallant second. The Dominic Zaki-trained Gauteng raider Storm Warning ran fourth and the Geoff Woodruff-trained Wild Ash was the first female home in fifth place.

After his narrow second in last year’s Gold Cup, Wild One was given a ten month layoff due to a soft tissue injury. De Kock said that he had come back sounder than ever and his problems appeared now to be behind him. This has been shown in his recent starts, as he finished second in both the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and the KZN Breeders Million Mile in his two comeback runs.

Kingston Mines led for the first half of the race and Savage Wind then took it up. Wild One was beautifully positioned in a handy position throughout.

Savage Wind set sail for home on the inside rail and looked full of running, but Wild One soon had his measure. Balance Sheet then appeared from nowhere and looked dangerous, but as he came alongside the blinkered Wild One the latter found another gear and surged to the line a one length winner. Balance Sheet pipped the gallant Savage Wind for second. Storm Warning stayed on well to catch Wild Ash and secure the final quartet position.

Phillips had a dispersal sale in January and expected to get a good price for Wild One, but it was not to be. However, his decision to buy him back for R200,000 has now paid dividends.

Summerveld trainer Jeff Freedman found Wild One at the KZN Yearling Sale and bought him for R95,000, before training him for Phillips for his first couple of seasons.

In the Champions Cup Futura appeared to hit the gate before they had opened and lost a little bit of ground early. He consequently had to be used up quite significantly to find a good position and this left many of his supporters a tad concerned. His stablemate and chief rival Legislate began pulling his way around horses just before they turned for home and the Charles Laird-trained Ice Machine was sitting in behind him ominously. When Ice Machine switched out it looked race over because he showed his usual magnificent acceleration to shoot past Legislate and he had Futura in his sights.  However, the incredible Futura, despite having used that early energy, clawed his way back after being overtaken and got his nose in front on the line. Legislate finished third.

The five-year-old entire Futura, owned by John Freeman, Jack Mitchell and Drakenstein Stud and bred by Guy Murdoch, will be a most deserved winner of the Horse of The Year Award as he also won the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met. However, his sire Dynasty will not be so lucky because the prize money for the Champions Cup counts towards the new season and he would otherwise likely have overtaken Captain Al and won the National Sires title.

The Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m saw one of the meeting bankers, the Mike Azzie-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada, keeping his unbeaten record in impressive style under Marcus.

He was given a lead by his stablemate High Game and went for his run down the inside. Meanwhile, the Zaki-trained raider Prospect Strike and Rabada’s stablemate Abashiri were flying home on the outside.

However, Rabada held on to win by 0,75 lengths with Abashiri a shorthead further back. Mogok Master and Nephrite were next best.

It was the third time Azzie had won this race. Rabada was bred by Summerhill Stud and is owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste.

Earlier, the De Kock-trained Ideal World filly Persian Rug looked to have the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes wrapped up as she hit the front early in the straight and was beginning to stretch away from them. However, she dug her toes in when she came to the grandstand shadow and this allowed the Duncan Howells-trained Elusive Fort filly Lauderdale to take the lead and stay on to win under Muzi Yeni. The Mike Azzie-trained Querari filly Melliflora stayed on well for a 0,25 length second and Persian Rug came back in eyecatching fashion for third. The latter looks to be a class sort in the making. Flying Ice was another unlucky horse as she had to come wide into the straight and then had to be switched inward. She only finished 0,75 back in tie fourth. The favourite Chestnuts N Pearls was having her first run in the Drakenstein Stud silks as a share was sold in her after her fluent win in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Golden Slipper Stakes over 1400m. She was lying in a handy position turning for home and ran on for tie fourth. Lauderdale is owned by Brian Burnard and was bred by Dr RJ Antrobus.

The Gr 2 Gold Bracelet saw a deserved win for the ever improving Joey Ramsden-trained Silvano filly Gallica Rose, who produced a late run to overtake the De Kock-trained Estidraaj and the Snaith-trained Acrostar was third.

The Mike Bass-trained Trippi gelding Night Trip retained his Listed Darley Arabian crown over 1600m on the poly with a flying finish under Anton Marcus, despite being eleven points higher in the merit ratings and carrying topweight.

By David Thiselton

wildonenkosihlophe

Wild One fits the bill

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All the pieces but one are in place for Wild One to complete the puzzle in today’s Gr 1 eLAN Properties Group Gold Cup. Injury, illness, bad draws and bad rides can often scupper well laid plans but Mike de Kock looks to have avoided all those pitfalls and given some luck in the running at Greyville this afternoon, Wild One will fit the final piece to the jigsaw and go one better than last year for owner Sean Phillips.

Wild One has long been the ante-post favourite after two exceptional efforts in his lead-up. Second to Wavin’ Flag last year, the gelding was not seen out until June this year where he made his seasonal debut in the Cup Trial over 1800m, a distance regarded by most pundits as way too short.

He trailed most of the field turning for home but then unleashed a powerful late run under Anthony Delpech to finish runner-up to the rejuvenated Punta Arenas. Next up was a crack at the KZN Million Mile and again he switched on the afterburners in the straight to run Gr 1 winning “miler” Bezanova to within a length.

Although racing off a six-point higher rating than last year, the handicappers have only given Wild One a single point increase for his last two showings. Given his record over ground, a plum draw at five and a handy galloping weight, only bad luck in running or an exceptional performance by one of the opposition stands in his way.

That performance could come in the form of Solid Speed. Dean Kannemeyer has had an exceptional Champions Season and while Power King provided the icing by winning the Vodacom Durban July, Solid Speed can add the cherry.

Power King carried the silks of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables and Kannemeyer and Stuart Randolph would pull off a rare double should Solid Speed prevail for Khaya Stables.

Since arriving for Champions Season Solid Speed has landed the Highland Night Cup and the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, both over 2400m, and then went down less than a length in the 3000m Gold Vase lumping 60kg.

He was not stopping in the Vase and with 7kg off his back and an inside draw this afternoon the extra furlong should hold no fears and he looks the biggest threat to Wild One.

Bookmakers are giving very little away with the majority of the 16-horse field quoted at 16-1 and less so they are expecting a tight finish. However, Wild One and Solid Speed have everything in their favour and can inflict some financial damage on the gentleman of the crossbar.

Highlight of the meeting and a fitting end to the season – although strictly speaking a day over into the new term – will be the clash between stable companions Futura and Legislate in the Gr 1 Champions Cup; at stake the Equus Horse of the Year crown currently held by Legislate.

It has been a tumultuous year for the connections of both horses with illness and backroom discord amongst the various owners adding some intrigue. Justin Snaith has been treading on egg shells since both horses ended up in his yard and it has been a difficult juggling act trying to keep all happy and picking the right races.

After his move from Brett Crawford, Futura won his opener for Snaith rather more easily than the winning margin would suggest, but there were a few raised eyebrows when the stable companions met in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. Legislate, dictating from the jump, kept finding while Futura, trailing for much of the race, got going too late to affect the result.

Since then the two have taken opposite routes into today’s race with Futura finishing a very creditable fourth in the VDJ under top weight while Legislate was caught for finishing speed in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint won by Captain Of All.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe is back aboard Futura and with the two drawn alongside each other and over what looks to be the optimum trip for both, we will hopefully be in for a fascinating tactical battle.

Of the balance, although Punta Arenas had two lengths to spare over Futura in the July he is now 3.5kg worse off and looks held, particularly if judged on the J&B Met form, while Ice Machine’s stamina limitations were exposed in the July and he will be much more at home over today’s trip and he is fully capable of an upset.

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Race 8: (1) Futura

By Andrew Harrison

Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild to go one better

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The Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup is always one of the most exciting races of the year and Saturday’s running at Greyville will be no different.

Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ruling favourite Wild One finished second last year and appears to have improved since being given a long rest. He has landed a good draw of five and has a nice galloping weight.

Storm Warning has benefitted from a breathing operation and bounced back to his best last time out over 3000m at Turffontein. He won’t mind a wide draw because he likes to be dropped out and has the necessary turn of foot to do well at Greyville.

Coltrane has a reasonable weight for a horse of his class and stamina capacity and has been working well since being freshened up.

Kingston Mines could set the fractions and comes in with a fair galloping weight. He didn’t appear to go on with it the last time he tried this trip on the Highveld but on the coast it could be a different story.

In form Solid Speed loves Greyville and is well drawn and nicely weighted. He gives the impression he will stay this trip and has enjoyed a similar preparation to Kannemeyer’s 2012 Gold Cup winner In Writing.

Vino Veritas appears to love her racing and gives the impression she could gallop all day, but she is quite high in the weights for a female.

Hot Ticket is the reigning Equus Champion Stayer and will be a tough nut to crack off a lowered merit rating, but the slight concern is that this is the first time he has tried this trip since a wind operation.

Gold Onyx loves Greyville and gets on well with jockey Grant Behr, but is six points higher in the merit ratings than when finishing third in this race last year.

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild Ash was staying on when runner up in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m, but will now be 3kg worse off with Solid Speed for a neck beating, although she will now be cherry ripe.

Disco Al was only accorded a one point merit rated raise for winning the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville last time out and is 1kg better off with Solid Speed for a 1,25 length beating over 2400m at Greyville before that. However, he is not a certainty to stay the full two miles.

Ash Cloud fought back to win the Gold Circle Oaks and has little to lose as this is her final start before going to stud. However, she has a big weight for a filly and is eight points higher in the merit ratings than last year when finishing sixth.

J’s Outsider won the Gold Bowl over this trip at Turffontein and should be cherry ripe. He has a light weight, but his wide draw makes it tough.

Balance Sheet was running on well in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 and on pedigree has a good chance of staying the trip.

Kolkata is well handicapped on his second place finish in this race in 2011, but has not been in the same form this season.

Gone Baby Gone was found to be a bit anaemic after staying on fairly well in the Gold Vase for fifth and with treatment is expected to be in better shape. He went close in the Gr 3 Chairman’s Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth, but faces the winner Coltrane on 3,5kg worse terms.

Savage Wind was just 0,2 lengths behind Disco Al in the Track and Ball Derby and is now 3,5kg better off. That didn’t appear to be a true run race, but his form in Johannesburg also puts him in with an outside chance.

Futura & Sean Cormack (Nkosi Hlophe)

Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One is selected to beat Storm Warning, with Coltrane, Kingston Mines and Solid Speed next best.

Futura and Legislate are the main protagonists in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m. However, Ice Machine is full of class and is tipped to mow them down under Anton Marcus.

Chestnuts N Pearls could give Dennis Drier an amazing sixth Champions Season Gr 1 win in the Thekwini Stakes over 1600m. Flying Ice and Melliflora could follow her home and Persian Rug and Old Em make most appeal of the rest.

The Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m sees the top class Rabada facing his first true test and on his first two career performances he looks hard to beat. Prospect Strike is unfortunately widely drawn but will nevertheless be a huge runner and Abashiri, Rikitikitani, Malak Al Moolook, Captain’s Causeway and Cutting Edge are others to consider.

The classy and versatile Jet Belle could retain her Gr 2 Gold Bracelet crown from Gallica Rose and Patchit Up Baby.

The Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly could see Night Trip retaining his crown as he has recently matched it with the best milers in the country.

The Listed Umgeni Handicap could see a deserved win for Al Ciberano, who has a nice galloping weight. Brutal Force, Barbosa, Moofeed, Tiger Territory and Mod Barley make most appeal of the rest.

Cape Speed impressed last time out and will relish the 1900m trip of the third, which is always one of the most interesting races on the Super Saturday card. He could beat home the well regarded Mooghamir, who was green on debut and should improve.

By David Thiselton