Cape trainer Joey Ramsden’s star grey gelding King Of Pain defends his Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge crown at Greyville on Saturday and will need to run a big race to book his place in the Vodacom Durban July.

King Of Pain is the highest rated July entry not in the top 25 on the log, but this can only be a reflection of his last two runs, because on top of his Gold Challenge win last season he also ran second to Futura on final weekend of last season in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville

He lacked zest in his first KZN run this season in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hal Stakes over 1400m and then didn’t enjoy the sprint for home next time out in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m at Greyville.

However, Ramsden is bullish about him bouncing back.

He is away in the UK for the Epsom Derby but said on his blog, “Hopefully he has turned the corner. He looks magnificent and is loving his work, his ears are pricked and he looks to be having a good time. I hope he translates that into a really good and competitive run, I am sure he will.”

He is drawn well in six with regular pilot Bernard Fayd’Herbe up.

By David Thiselton

Picture: King Of Pain (Nkosi Hlophe)