Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dennis Drier was thrilled with the win of the “old man” Punta Arenas under Keagan de Melo in Saturday’s Gr 3 Delta Airlines 2200 at the Vodacom Durban July meeting on Saturday and will enter him for both the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup and the Gr 2 eLan Property Group Gold Cup.

Drier said the way the seven-year-old Silvano gelding switched off in the running, he should stay the 3200m Gold Cup trip.

Drier said Sail, who ran a fine third in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper on Saturday, was on track for the Gr 1 Thekwini.

Drier’s two-year-old Mauritzfontein-owned Var filly La Revere was impressive over the Scottsville 1000m under Sean Veale two weeks ago.

Drier said he had not discussed her future with Jessica Slack of Mauritzfontein yet, but was eyeing the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m on Gold Cup day for her.

The Drier-trained Count Dubois filly Anime might also become a candidate for that race considering the good impression she created over 1000m at Scottsville yesterday when wining a maiden by 4,75 lengths. Her owners Mike Fullard and James Drew also own Punta Arenas.

David Thiselton