Dean Kannemeyer and Stuart Randolph will attempt to complete an elusive Vodacom Durban July/eLan Property Group Gold Cup double together on Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend, with their hopes resting on the fancied four-year-old Dynasty gelding Solid Speed.

Kannemeyer also sends out two other runners in the Gold Cup, the reigning Equus Champion Stayer Hot Ticket, who is actually shorter in the betting than Solid Speed despite having to carry second top weight, as well as the biggest outsider in the race, the three-year-old Balance Sheet.

Kannemeyer felt Solid Speed had the best current form of the trio and added, “Bottom weights in the Gold Cup with solid form, who stay well and are sound, have got to be very competitive runners.”

He continued, “Solid Speed is well drawn (2) and he’s holding his form well. He ran a good race in the Gold Vase and the extra 200m should be okay. He has a good galloping weight of 53kg on his back, he’s got to be a big runner.”

Randolph had no problem riding 53kg in the July on the victorious Kannemeyer-trained Silvano gelding Power King and will likely have kept himself light in anticipation of this ride.

Kannemeyer said about the five-year-old Silvano gelding Hot Ticket (drawn 13), “He is an old campaigner, but he’s got a lot of weight to carry (59kg). But he’s a genuine staying horse.”

Kannemeyer felt Hot Ticket’s 6,65 length 12th in the July was a fair run and said, “He was caught three wide, but I think the July was just a bit too much for him. This will be more his type of race. He pulled up sound and took his race well.” He finished strongly last year with top weight for a gallant 2,85 length fourth and from that race is interestingly 2,5kg better off with the current favourite Wild One for a 2,35 length beating. He has had a successful wind operation since then and Kannemeyer is slightly concerned that over this two mile trip his marginally less than perfect breathing could have an effect.

Kannemeyer’s Silvano gelding Balance Sheet (drawn 10) is officially 2kg under sufferance. He said, “He ran a good race in the July consolation race (Gr 3 tabGold 2200 where he finished a five length 4th) and he was staying on. He’s always given me the impression he will stay all day but the race will tell. He’s a three-year-old but has only 52kg on his back, so has got to have a chance.”

Kannemeyer said about the riding arrangements, “Stuart rides work for me every day, Karl (Neisius) always rides Hot Ticket and can’t make the weight on Solid Speed anyway and I put Keagan de Melo on Balance Sheet.”

Yesterday (Monday) Hot Ticket and Solid Speed galloped on the top sand track at Summerveld together and Hot Ticket was the more eyecatching of the pair, although not much can be read into this as both are known as poor work horses. Balance Sheet had earlier strode out well with a companion on the beach sand.

Kannemeyer has won the July three times and the Gold Cup twice, but is yet to do the double in the same year.

Kannemeyer runs the three-year-old Trippi gelding Afrikaburn in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m where he carries 58,5kg, which puts him 6,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, Futura, according to official merit ratings, Futura. Afrikaburn won the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville as a two-year-old, but his last run on June 6 over 1100m on the Greyville polytrack followed a six month layoff, which included a rest on the farm and gelding.

Kannemeyer said, “In his comeback run he was short of his best and then we had another setback. We were trying to get another run under his belt but he had a virus. It’s not going to be easy but he’s doing very well, he’s recovered from the virus. It’s over 1800m so will be a hard race against the best horses in the country. Let’s put him to the test and see if he stays the trip. He’s had plenty of grass work, and is moving very well. He’s sound and he has the class, but we would have liked to have had a better preparation.”

Kannemeyer runs the four-year-old Dynasty gelding It is Written in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m. He said, “We took our chances in the July consolation and you can put a line through that. It was too far for him and I might have run him a bit close (to his victory in the KZN Breeders 1600 on the poly a week earlier). I’ve freshened him up and a mile on the poly will be his game.” He was only raised two points for that last win over course and distance and has come into his own in KZN, so should have a shout from the pole position draw.”

Kannemeyer looks to have a good chance in the third race on the day, a Juvenile Plate over1900m on the turf which will be contested by nine maidens. Kannemeyer’s Ideal World colt Cape Speed caught the eye in his second start over 1600m at Scottsville when flying up from way back for a 1,25 length second to Celtic Captain, who franked the form by winning a handicap over 1600m on the poly against older horses on Saturday. Kannemeyer said, “He’s bred to go the trip, he’s looking for the ground, this is his game. It’s maybe quite a competitive field, but he’s learning to race now.  After two runs the penny is starting to drop and I think he now knows what it’s all about, I think he’s got to be a good runner too.”

Cape Speed and Afrikaburn worked together yesterday on the top sand and the two-year-old matched strides with his Gr 1-winning three-year-old companion, which augurs well for his run on Saturday.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Glen Kotzen has two outsiders in Gr 1s on Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend, Gone Baby Gone in the eLan property Group Gold Cup over 3200m and Light The Lights in the  Champions Cup over 1800m. However, his classy Jet Master mare Jet Belle looks to have an excellent chance of defending her crown in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

He said about Jet Belle, who is 2,5kg better off with any other horse in the Gold Bracelet according to official merit ratings: “Her sprint (Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m) was an incredible run, she was awfully unlucky as she couldn’t get a run three times, she should have possibly won. Obviously we were disappointed with her run in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (4,6 length 7^th over 1600m at Greyville) last time. She ran a bit of a flat race and we pulled a blood, but nothing was untoward. But she is flying at home, so I can’t really explain that below par run. She’s doing exceptionally well and we’ve got Anton Marcus up and I think it’s the right field for her.” She jumps from a plum draw of four.

He said about the four-year-old Greys Inn gelding Gone Baby Gone, who is 4kg under sufferance in the Gold Cup according to official merit ratings, “If you haven’t got a ticket you haven’t got a chance. The winner of the Gold Vase (Heart Of A Lion) is out so that’s one less to beat. At his best he definitely stays the trip, he was beaten three-quarters-of-a-length over this trip in the Chairman’s Cup in Cape Town. We also pulled a blood for him after the SABC Gold Vase (Gr 2 over 3000m at Greyville on July day) as we thought he would run a little closer than he did and we found he was a little bit anaemic. His blood picture showed he could use a little help so we’ve been working on that and hopefully we will see a horse who is going to finish off his race on Saturday.” Gone Baby Gone has a favourable draw of six with Warren Kennedy up.

The three-year-old Western Winter colt Light The Lights is officially 5,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse in the Champions Cup, Futura. He has been a touch disappointing during the Champions Season and in his last start in the Gr 2 tabGold 2200 he finished 5,5 lengths back in 6^th. Kotzen said, “We do feel he needs gelding. We fitted him with a pair of blinkers last time out and I thought he ran an okay race. That day he went down the inside and the going appeared to be much better on the outside. But in saying that he really needs to find his best form. We’re just going for the lucky last now and are going to geld him afterwards. But he’s very well in himself and anything from a mile upwards is a good trip for him.” He is drawn eleven with Johnny Geroudis up.

Kotzen’s four-year-old Kahal filly Euthalia returns from a four month break to run in a handicap over 1400 on the polytrack. She won her last start over 1600m on the poly and is now five points higher in the merit ratings. He said, “She ran an absolute cracker to win her last start and we had her lined up for her next run, but she threw a temperature, so we had to back off her for two weeks. But she’s fit and well again.” This looks to be a stronger field than she faced last time.

The yard run the three-year-old Fort Wood colt New Fort in a MR 78 handicap over 2400m on the turf ten days after he finished third over 1950m at Scottsville and Kotzen said, “He needs a nice fast pace or further because he takes time to unwind. He couldn’t really go with them last time and started coming back at them again towards the end. He will definitely strip a fitter horse and is going to love the 2400m.” This galloping type is starting to come into his own now and has a chance with Richard Fourie up but he has a tricky draw of eight to overcome in the 13 horse field.

By David Thiselton

Pictures: Jet Belle (Nkosi Hlophe)

Klawervlei Stud’s leading sire Captain Al inched ahead in the intriguing race for National Champion sire when his son and daughter, Captain Of All and Carry On Alice respectively, ran one-two in the R750,000 Gr 1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville on Saturday.

The race earned Captain Al R618,750 in total and enabled him to replace Dynasty on top, although the latter stayed in touch on the National log when his son Legislate ran third to earn R75,000.

According to Racegoer’s calculations Captain Al’s earnings for the season after Saturday were R15,769,025 and Dynasty was R357,075 off the pace on R15,411,950. The 2012/2013 season champion sire Silvano was just over R1 million behind the leader on R14,718,512 and Trippi’s expensive purchase into this country is now proving worthwhile as he was next best on R14,098,800.

The seven-times champion sire Jet Master is in fifth place, despite his youngest crop now being three-year-olds, but he is likely too far back on earnings of R11,783,212.

The title is likely to hinge on Super Saturday at Greyville next weekend and Dynasty has a couple of strongly fancied big race runners who could carry him to his first championship.

Captain Al’s chances of winning his first championship could well rest on the shoulders of Disco Al, who is second favourite for the most expensive race of the day, the Gr 1 R1,25 million eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m. Dynasty will be represented in the Gold Cup by Solid Speed, who will likely be a popular pundit’s selection. Silvano has a strong hand in the marathon event too as he will be represented by the reigning Equus Champion stayer Hot Ticket, the ever improving Vino Veritas and the talented three-year-old Balance Sheet. Jet Master has one Gold Cup runner, the Highveld raider Storm Warning.

Justin Snaith said after Saturday’s racing that Legislate would be unlikely to take his place in the Gr 1 R1 million Champions Cup over 1800m, but Dynasty will still have the likely favourite in the race, Futura. Silvano will have a strong hand in this race too with Punta Arenas and Ice Machine. Trippi and Jet Master each have one runner, Afrikaburn and Helderberg Blue respectively. Captain Al on the other hand will be empty-handed.

The Gr 1 R600,000 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m will give Captain Al a chance to bolster his earnings as he will be represented by Captain’s Causeway, who won easily on debut over 1200m but now has a wide draw to overcome. His Trippi stablemate Escape Route is drawn in pole position, but looks quite exposed. Dynasty, Silvano and Jet Master are empty-handed in this race.

Trippi has a fair chance in the Gr 1 R600,000 Thekwini Stakes with Old Em, who has struck as a sort with some ability and who could enjoy this step up in trip despite being out of quite a speedy mare. Silvan Jazz represents Silvano, but looks to have a mountain to climb on the bare form. Dynasty, Captain Al and Jet Master are not represented in this race.

The Gr 2 R350,000 Gold Bracelet sees the classy Jet Master mare Jet Belle defending her crown and he also has Gathering Fame in the race. Silvano is represented by a typically progressive sort, Gallica Rose, and the other three contenders for the National Sires title are all empty-handed.

The topweight for the Listed R150,000 Darley Arabian to be run on the polytrack is the talented Trippi gelding Night Trip, Jet Master has two runner MLJet and Mountain Master, and It Is Written will give Dynasty a good chance of increasing his earnings.

The joint-topweight for the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the poly is the Captain Al gelding Barbosa. Trippi will have a fair chance with Tiger Territory, who won over course and distance last time out.

The title looks likely to be fought out by Captain Al and Dynasty, but Silvano also has a shout if his Gold Cup and Champions Cup runners dominate the finish. It could yet go right down to the wire.

By David Thiselton

Picture of Captain Al supplied by Freemanstallions

Craig du Plooy is optimistic that he can resurrect his career with the backing of Snaith Racing and the tuition of Felix Coetzee.

The Final Fling Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday proved his point as he delivered 6-1 shot Cat And The Moon with a perfectly timed challenge to head her much better fancied stable companion Jet Supreme 100m out. As he passed the post nearly two lengths to the good, Du Plooy punched the air in delight.

The 40-year-old said: “It’s been a long time since I last won a feature as I have been off with a lot of injuries including breaking my shoulder, hand and wrist – each one in different falls. Almost as soon as I got going each time I broke something else.

“More recently Felix has been working on changing my style and making me look stronger in a finish – and he has been a big help.”

The master was on hand to witness his pupil’s success. The former champion explained that he had been asked to help by the Snaiths and added: “It is a lot of fun working with Craig. He is keen, enthusiastic and works very hard, and I’m thrilled that it has paid off.”

Du Plooy, who has himself taught many of the Cape Town work riders the rudiments of race-riding, has long been recognised as a good horseman but in recent months Justin Snaith has become convinced that he is a much under-rated jockey, saying: “He is improving a lot as a race-rider and he deserves to be given the opportunity.”

Forward Drive is a significant step nearer a place in the line-up for next January’s CTS Million Dollar after blitzing the older horses in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap under Brandon May.

Paul Reeves said: “This was a phenomenal performance and I am ecstatic. It’s hard enough to win from the front, never mind in this ground (heavy after 170mm of rain).”

Reeves earlier got off the 13-winner mark when Devin Ashby drove 12-1 chance Star Academy into the lead almost on the line in the Juvenile Fillies Maiden while May, 19, initiated his second double on the Stan Elley-trained Ledbury in the Mandela Day Maiden.

Grant van Niekerk, who turned down an invitation to take part in the Rider Cup, is still three short of his century after drawing a blank. He had to be content with two seconds and two thirds.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Craig Du Plooy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Last year’s runner-up Wild One is 4-1 favourite to give Mike de Kock his third Gold Cup in nine seasons on Saturday and Anthony Delpech’s mount has already been supported at 9-2 for the Elan Property Group marathon.

But there has also been money for stable companion Kingston Mines who has been cut from 8-1 to 6-1. The J & B Urban Honey Stayers winner will be ridden by Johnny Geroudis, successful on De Kock’s Thundering Star in 2007.

Betting World also go 6-1 about last year’s fourth Hot Ticket and the Lonsdale runner-up Disco Al while Solid Speed, who pulled a front shoe when third in the Gold Vase, is a 7-1 chance. The four-year-old will be ridden by Vodacom Durban July-winning jockey Stuart Randolph who won on Cereus in 2001.

Meanwhile, Dennis Drier is to take over Durban July runner-up Punta Arenas when Stan Elley retires from training at the end of the month. Drier will also train Pecan Nut who won the Listed Off To Stud Stakes for Elley at Greyville on Saturday and both horses are expected to campaign in Cape Town during the summer.

But arrangements for other Elley-trained horses, including Saturday’s Kenilworth scorer Ledbury and Betting World 1900 winner Dynastic Power, have still to be finalised.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)