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 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.

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