Marinaresco will attempt to become only the second horse this century to win two Champions Cups (following Futura in 2014 and 2015) at Greyville on Saturday week.

Candice Bass-Robinson confirmed the four-year-old a runner at the weekend despite his 17 out of 17 draw, saying: “The draw doesn’t really matter so much with him and [together with Captain America] he is the best horse in the race. He has only had three runs in Durban this season and he might as well take his chance.”

El Picha in 2000 is the only horse to win both the Durban July and the Champions Cup in the same season in the last 17 years but Marinaresco is 22-10 favourite with race sponsor World Sports betting which has Captain America on 9-2. It also bets 11-2 Bela-Bela, 8-1 It’s My Turn, 10-1 Black Arthur, 12-1 and upwards others.

However Majorca winner Nightingale (12-1) will miss the race to run in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet on the same card. She is the highest rated in that 2 000m race but has to give weight all round.

Mrs Robinson will run both 16-1 chance My World and Helderberg Blue (18-1) in Sunday week’s eLan Gold Cup. Riding arrangements have still to be finalised.

Mike de Kock’s SABC Gold Vase third Kinaan has been installed 5-1 favourite with WSB, ahead of the promoted winner of that race Hermosa Mundo who is on 11-2 while the relegated Captain Splendid is a 6-1 chance, the same price as stable companion and Durban July fourth Krambambuli.

By Michael Clower