Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty is confident of the chances of Dark Moon Rising in the R1,25 million eLan Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville on Saturday.

Dark Moon Rising (Candiese Marnewick)

Jockeys Anthony Delpech and Anton Marcus once told Lafferty he would “not train a better stayer” than this Ideal World gelding.

Lafferty said, “We have Keagan de Melo who has done very well on him before. He has always reminded me of a very good stayer. I don’t think there will be a great pace. I have respect for the top two, Made To Conquer and It’s My Turn. But we are in with a big chance. I know I said that for the Vodacom Durban July but it was just the most amazing pace which disappeared after a furlong. The muddling tactics in the July certainly didn’t help. But he’s doing very well at home, his stamina is good and I am confident he will get every inch of the trip.”

Asked on his draw of six, Lafferty said, “I’m very happy. I don’t think it is the worst draw in the world. In a race like that, unless you have an out and out stayer, you can get a position as they have so far too run, so I think he will sit maybe in midfield around there. And if he gets a clear run towards the outside he really runs on strongly. The race will tell but I am confident.”

Dark Moon Rising carries 57,5kg and is only 2,5kg better off with Made To Conquer for a 7,60 length beating in the July.

He is priced up at 16/1 by WSB.

By David Thiselton