It was reported on Thursday that Igugu, Mike de Kock’s star mare and winner of the Durban July and J&B Met, had died in Australia.

Facebook-based TSA News, doing a story on Igugu’s stakes-placed half-sister Ngaga (trained by Andre Nel), came across the shocking information that South Africa’s once darling mare had died on 24 November, 2016. It was reported in the Australian Stud Book.

“It was devastating to read that the four-time Gr1 winner had in fact died – were we the only one to miss this?” queried TSA and the answer is, they weren’t!

“This is simply bizarre,” said Mike de Kock when informed of Igugu’s death on Thursday evening. “It boggles my mind that it took the best part of a year for us to get to know about Igugu’s death when she’s the type of mare who’d deserve a state funeral!

“All of us at the stable are taken by this and sad, but we won’t dwell on the fact that the info came to us so terribly late. Igugu was a wonderful champion in all respects, a top mare with vast amounts of courage and a big favourite to all in the yard. We salute her with fond memories!”

As for the rest of the report, further credit to TSA, who wrote:

Foaled in Australia, the Kia Ora Stud-bred Igugu was the second named foal of the unraced Zarinia (IRE). Purchased at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by Livestock Traders for A$65,000, the filly was sent to South Africa where she was then sold as part of the Summerhill Stud draft at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale in 2009 when secured by Andre Macdonald for R1 million.

With part of the filly purchased privately to race in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum after her first few starts, the Mike de Kock-trained Igugu went on to claim the Gr1 South African Fillies Classic and the Gr1 Woolavington on her way to a stunning victory over Pierre Jourdan (SAF) in the 2011 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, her eighth win from just 10 starts.

After a break, she resumed with a win in Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge before capturing the Gr1 J&B Met over Bravura (SAF) and Gimmthegreenlight (AUS).

Set to take on the world, Igugu raced in Dubai, Hong Kong and in the UK, but another victory eluded the Champion mare, and retirement beckoned.

Having produced her first foal on February 1, 2015, the now two-year-old filly has been named Atlaal (GB) (Dansili (GB)) and is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum in the stable of Hugo Palmer, while her second, a colt by the very same sire was foaled on February 18.

Covered by Invincible Spirit (IRE), the Australian Stud Book reports Igugu died on November 24, 2016.

Igugu’s Race Record: Horse of the Year in South Africa in 2010-11. Champion 3YO Filly & Middle Distance Horse in South Africa in 2010-11. Champion Older Female in South Africa in 2011-12. 10 wins from 1200m to 2450m, £7,955, R5,684,375, 645,920Dhs, Greyville Woolavington S., Gr.1, Durban July H., Gr.1, Kenilworth J&B Metropolitan H., Gr.1, Turffontein South African Fillies Classic, Gr.1, South African Oaks, Gr.2, Ipi Tombe Challenge, Gr.2, Gauteng Fillies Guineas, Gr.2, Johannesburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge, Gr.3, 2d Kenilworth Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr.1, Newmarket Rosemary S., L, Turffontein Emperors Palace Ready to Run Cup, 3d Meydan Balanchine S., Gr.2.

Mikedekockracing.com

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

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.

Lloyd’s Legacy (Nkosi Hlophe)

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 (Nkosi Hlophe)

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

Three useful runners from the Mike de Kock stable will travel to Durban on Friday for this weekend’s Gold Cup Festival of Racing at Greyville.

Kinaan (AUS), third in the Gr3 eLAN Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m last year, comes into this year’s race off a similarly good preparation and Mathew de Kock commented: “He’s well weighted and nicely drawn, he’s a horse with a chance.”

Mujallad (AUS), is an improving young horse and one his rivals will have to contend with in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. “Mujallad is starting to put things together, he has improved more since his most recent win and he also has the benefit of a good draw. I think he will run well.”

Trip To Rio is not the easiest of customers around, but the stable found what looks like an ideal race for him, a MR77 Polytrack Handicap over 1900m. He posted a good win in a stronger race when last taken to the Polytrack a year ago so is in with an obvious chance of fighting out the finish.

Callan Murray will partner the trio, keen to get back among the winners after his spell in Hong Kong.

Mikedekockracing.com

Ten Gun Salute is in fine fettle before Saturday’s Gr 1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup. He put in a good piece of work at Ashburton yesterday morning under regular workrider Kospendule Hlongwe but Duncan Howells is cautious about his chances.

Ten Gun Salute (Nkosi Hlophe)

“This is a strong field and one has to be realistic about his chances. Every time he has stepped up to Grade 1 level he’s been found wanting and you can only make so many excuses.”

That said, “He has a good draw which is a bonus and I think he may be better suited to this trip. I think the July may have been a little too far for him although he did run into a lot of trouble in the race.

“I think this race is a lot different to the July.”  Not so cut-throat and if he can reproduce his Gr2 Betting World 1900 performance, “I don’t say he can’t win it but he will be right on top of them at the finish.”

By Andrew Harrison

The Grade 1 Premiers Champions Stakes over 1600m is one of the highlights of the second day of the Gold Cup Festival Of Racing weekend and will form an important part of the Pick 6, which has a guaranteed pool of R5,5 million and an expected pool of R6 million.

The race is full of class, but complicating matters is that a lot of the fancied runners have tough draws.

Captain And Master (Nkosi Hlophe)

The best prospect in the race is likely Captain And Master, who has a magnificent stride and is full of class. After the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, trainer Sean Tarry explained due to his lack of early speed he was strongly rousted from the off and this caused him to over race. After S’Manga Khumalo had eventually restrained the big horse, he was second last. All thing considered, he did exceptionally well to run on for third, beaten 1,3 lengths, using his big stride.  On the downside, he did go down to the start quite strongly that day, so it can’t be taken for granted he will settle on Sunday, especially as he has a tricky draw of nine.

Purple Diamond was the surprise winner of the Golden Horseshoe and will relish the step up in trip. Piere Strydom will help him overcome his draw of 12, which is compared to his two draw in the Golden Horseshoe.

The third of the Tarry runners is Warrior’s Rest, a huge son of What A Winter. His father was a champion sprinter, but he is out of Badger Land mare who has produced the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Viva Maria and he looks to be crying out for this trip. From a good draw this big, long-striding galloper makes appeal as the dark horse in a race which lacks pace as he should stay all the way to the line.

S’Manga Khumalo (Liesl King)

Ancestry was dropped out from draw eight in the Golden Horseshoe before finding a good position on the rail. He overtook Purple Diamond, but the latter rallied and got his nose back in front. The Oratorio colt should handle the step up in trip on pedigree.

Monks Hood was caught outside of Ancestry in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m and finished only 0,75 lengths behind him. This classy Querari colt, who was highly impressive on debut over 1200m, has another wide draw to overcome, but he should enjoy the step up in trip and Anthony Delpech keeps the ride.

Borya was only a head behind Monks Hood in the Gatecrasher when drawn two and staying on well. He followed up with an easy win over 1400m on the poly and should enjoy this trip but he has a wide draw of 13 to overcome.

Cat’s Legacy over raced a little  in the Gatecrasher behind a slow pace but followed up by running on well for third in the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m, where he gave the impression he could stay this 1600m trip. However, he has a wide draw and looks a sort who would appreciate a good pace.

Eyes Wide Open won his maiden over this trip at Scottsville in eye catching fashion and could be anything. On debut over 1400m at Scottsville, from which the form has worked out well, he was caught wide and was green around the turn and it was also clear in the straight that this galloping type would prefer further. Richard Fourie rides.

Chantyman was slow away and caught wide on debut when third in a weak maiden over 1400m on the poly. He then won from pillar to post by over seven lengths in a moderate 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate at Scottsville. His dam, who won over a mile, has to date produced sprinters, so there is a stamina doubt despite him being by Oratorio and he also has a tough draw.

Mujallad improved to win comfortably over 1400m last time and the form doesn’t look bad, so he could earn from a fair draw.

Leftrightgoodnight, who was well beaten by Mujallad, will appreciate the trip, but needs plenty of improvement.

Purple Diamond (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sea King was caught wide in the Gatecrasher when beaten 5,1 lengths and then followed up by winning a Juvenile Plate over 1600m after being dropped out from a wide draw and coming from last. He narrowly beat his more fancied stable companion Pack Leader, who was noticeably green and has scope for improvement. Interestingly they both beat Eye’s Wide Open’s conqueror Cool At Heart, but the latter looked to race too strongly in front over the step up in trip. Sea King and Pack Leader both have good draws.

The impressive looking galloper Leslie Shadowliner’s race was run in the Gatecrasher before the turn as he was caught hopelessly wide. However, he showed a fine turn of foot over 1200m in his easy debut win. On a combination of pedigree and racing style he should handle the trip from a good draw.

The Gatecrasher and Golden Horseshoe both look to be the best pointers, which brings Warrior’s Rest into it too as he was on top of the like of Naafer in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over a trip short of his best and the latter caught the eye in the Golden Horseshoe.

Captain And Master is selected to beat Monks Hood, Warrior’s Rest and Purple Diamond, but Ancestry, Leslie Shadowliner and Eyes Wide Open are the hardest of the others to ignore in a competitive event.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith fully expects Bela-Bela to put it up to Marinaresco and Captain America in the World Sports Betting Champions Cup at Greyville on Saturday although he stops short of predicting outright victory.

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith, who won the race with Futura two years ago, said yesterday: “I think this is by far the strongest Champions Cup in years.

“Normally it’s an end-of-season race with one outstanding horse left after the rest have packed their bags and gone home. This time we’ve got the winners of the July, the Gold Challenge and the Garden Province all taking each other on.

“But Bela-Bela is going to give them a go. I had it planned all along that the Champions Cup was going to be part of her programme – that’s why she missed out the odd race – and she has been raced easy during her four months up here.

“If there was ever a time for her to take on the best this is it. She is doing well, she has matured and she is ready.”

Snaith also runs Black Arthur and It’s My Turn, seventh and eighth in the Durban July but less than a length and a half behind Marinaresco– “I couldn’t be happier with either of them than I am at the moment and I think I have them spot on. They will run good races.”

­  – Snaith will run last weekend’s Final Fling runner-up A Time To Dream in the Champagne Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday even though the four-year-year has not raced over as short a distance as 1 200m for more than two years.

By Michael Clower

Two big carryover-boosted Pick 6 pools and an exciting big-race double across two days are the highlights of tabGOLD’s betting line-up for the Gold Cup Festival of Racing at Greyville this weekend.

The two-day festival is headlined on Saturday by the R1-million World Sports Betting Champions Cup and on Sunday by the R1.25-million eLAN Gold Cup, South Africa’s premier equine marathon.

To celebrate the occasion the Tote is running a special Festival Double and adding R100 000 to the pool.

To win horseplayers must pick the winner of the Champions Cup on Saturday and the Gold Cup on Sunday. There will be consolation payouts for first and second, and second and first, with 15% of the pool set aside for each consolation.

Due to software issues probable payouts displayed will be to 100% of the pool, when in fact only 70% of the pool is for winning the double outright. So deduct 30% from any probable payout displayed to get the true likely dividend.

The Festival Double pool is already open. To play at any Tote use the normal betting form and mark venue oval 10 or SPQ in KZN.

There are big Pick 6 carryovers to both meetings – Saturday’s pool should hit R4 million and a R1.75-million carryover to Sunday is expected to generate a pool of R6 million! The Tote has guaranteed a R3.5-million Pick 6 pool for Saturday and R5 million on Sunday.

Here are the highlights of the Tote’s betting line-up for Greyville this weekend:
SATURDAY 29 July

Race 4: Pick 6 MEGAPOOL – R1 million carryover, GUARANTEED pool R3,5 million – likely pool R4 million plus!

Race 7: Champions Cup Quartet MAXIPOOL – R100,000 carryover, likely pool R1,5 million!

SUNDAY 30 July

Race 2: BiPot Leg 1 – R45,000 carryover, likely pool R600,000!

Race 3: PA Leg 1 – likely pool R1,5 million!

Race 4: Pick 6 MEGAPOOL Leg 1 – R1,75 million carryover, GUARANTEED pool R5 million – likely pool R6 million plus!

Race 5: Jackpot Leg 1 – R50,000 carryover, likely pool R1,5 million!

Race 7: Gold Cup Quartet MAXIPOOL – R300,000 carryover, likely pool R3 million!

NOTE: Tote Place payouts on first 5 runners to finish in Gold Cup!

* Likely Tote Win pool Gold Cup: R1,2million!

* Likely Tote Place pool Gold Cup: R900,000!

The eLan Gold Cup over 3200m to be run on Sunday is the big one in the Gold Cup Festival Of Racing Weekend and this year’s compressed handicap event is full of staying class.

Hermoso Mundo will be attempting to be the first horse to the “Gold” hattrick in the same season, having won the Gold Bowl over 3200m and the Gold Vase over 3000m. His winning run in the latter race was hindered by interference from Captain Splendid and he would have otherwise won going away. He is a big, long-striding sort who makes more appeal than the Gold Cup favourite Kinaan on pure looks and racing style, especially as he is by Ideal World whose progeny appear to continually improve with age.

However, he is 2kg worse off with Kinaan for a 1,55 length beating. Kinaan has looked to be an easier ride with the cheek pieces fitted for his last 3 starts. He has been given a perfect Mike de Kock-like big race preparation and De Kock is going for his third Gold Cup win in a row and a fifth overall.

Krambambuli (Nkosi Hlophe)

Krambambuli carried 61,5kg in the Highland Night Cup over 2400m at Greyville in April and quickened from a handy position behind a steady pace to hit the front and win easing up by two lengths. On Sun Met day in the Grade 2 Cape Stayers over 2800m he produced a resolute finish to win full of running. He beat last year’s Gold Cup runner up Helderberg Blue by 1,25 lengths in the latter race. Helderberg Blue beat Kinaan in last year’s Gold Cup by 0,25 lengths when facing him on only 3kg worse terms than weight for age. However, Krambambuli must now face Kinaan on 7kg worse than weight for age. History is also against him as the last topweight winner was 26 years ago.

Captain Splendid will be a big runner, having lost the Gold Vase on objection and now being 2kg better off. He led early before sitting on the rail behind the lonely leader Banner Hill and after appearing to initially be treading water in the closing stages he managed to rally when Hermoso Mundo came alongside him. Therefore, he might be able to stay the extra 200m, especially if finding a nice position earlier from a plum draw, as he did when winning the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m.

Banner Hill wasn’t suited by front running tactics in the Gold Vase, but was only beaten 2,8 lengths and is now 2kg better off with Hermoso Mundo. He came from last when winning the slow run Chairman’s Cup over this trip. He used the same hold up tactics in the Lonsdale Stirrup, but off a slow pace over that shorter trip was making inroads too late.

My World by Ideal World stayed on for third in the Chairman’s Cup and second in the Lonsdale. He is now 3,5kg better off with Banner Hill for a 1,15 length beating, but is 1kg worse off with Captain Splendid, despite being beaten 0,5 lengths. He should enjoy this trip.

Royal Badge has an impressive stride and is 2,5kg better off with Krambambuli for a 1,95 length beating in the Cape Stayers over 2800m. However, he has to prove he stays 3200m having been a touch disappointing in the Chairman’s and he might prefer a more galloping track than Greyville.

Mr Winsome, who had no luck in the July, has won both of the 2400m races he has run in, including the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby. On pedigree this typically progressive Silvano gelding should stay the trip, although he has quite a wide draw.

Trophy Wife is a class act being a leading member of a celebrated female crop and she appeared to relish the step up to 2400m last time out, when winning the Queen Palm carrying 61,5kg. She could bow out in style, despite quite a wide draw.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Cool Chardonnay has finished second in both of his 3200m starts and the formlines of both look very strong as he beat Enaad, last year’s Gold Cup winner, and Smart Mart, last year’s Gold Vase runner up, in the respective races. He has pole position draw and like Hermoso Mundo is trained by Weiho Marwing, who is a renowned trainer of stayers. However, this is his first run at Greyville.

Zante won the Queen Palm by six lengths last year and comes off a win in the Track and Ball Oaks. In both those 2400m events she took up the running at halfway and didn’t stop galloping, so has to have a chance under Gavin Lerena.

Francia is 1,5kg better off with Zante for a 2,75 length beating and beat both Captain Splendid and My World over 2400m at Durbanville in last September, but is now worse off at the weights with both of them.

Fortissima won the Grade 3 RA Handicap over this trip last November and is 6kg worse off with Kinaan after beating him by 8,8 lengths in that race. She bounced back to form last time with a win over 2450m. She does take a while to get going in the straight and it remains to be seen whether she will be suited by the short Greyville straight.

Let It Rain stayed on well for fourth in the Gold Bowl and is 3,5kg better off with Hermoso Mundo for a 5,75 length beating. He is 3,5kg better off with Mr Winsome for a 4,5 length beating in the Track and Ball Derby and is another who might prefer a galloping track like Turffontein.

The Elmo Effect was beaten 0,3 lengths by Fortissima over 2450m last time and is now 4kg better off, but he failed in his only attempt at this trip in the RA Handicap after setting the pace.

Royal Honour has a tough task on her South African staying form.

By David Thiselton

Corne Orffer is optimistic that Captain America can follow up his Rising Sun Gold Challenge win in Saturday’s World Sports Betting Champions Cup and he sees no problem with the extra furlong despite the evidence of the Sun Met.

In that 2 000m Kenilworth race Captain America made the running but started to hang to the right from over 400m out as if his stamina was coming to the end of its tether.

Captain America (Wayne Marks)

But Orffer, the one man really in a position to know, disagrees and explains: “I wish I could have ridden the Met over again because I feel he would have been closer had I let him go to the outside rail in the straight rather than trying to keep him in.

“Every now and again he has a tendency to hang to the right. He did it with me in the Queen’s Plate too.”

But was it lack of stamina? “No,” Orffer is adamant. “He was loving it out in front. He wasn’t using himself up, he was just cruising along and when Anton Marcus on Legal Eagle moved up my horse came right back at him. Indeed I felt he was looking for something to run with.

“He doesn’t have to be in front either. He is a free-striding horse, a galloper, and the important thing is not to get him stuck in behind horses. You need to sit second or somewhere where he is capable of using his action.

“In the Gold Challenge he took off in the straight and shot up like an arrow. The 1 800m will be no problem to him.”

But what about the draw, ten out of 12? Isn’t that going to pose problems?  Orffer shakes his head and grins. “In fact I’m ecstatic about that. I was very happy about his ten draw in the Met too because with what would be regarded as a semi-bad draw you have got time to play around.

“In the Drill Hall I was drawn four, I missed the break by a fraction and I was swamped. I was then stuck in a pocket and I couldn’t get out. Last time he was also drawn ten, he jumped nicely and I could choose my own time to get across.”

Does he see any dangers beyond Marinaresco? “I would say Bela-Bela. She is top of the game among the fillies and you’ve got to respect her on the way she won last time. I make the top three Captain America, Marinaresco and her.”

By Michael Clower