Full Field For Gold Cup – Crimson King Absent

Sean Tarry runs two past winners of the race in the Gr 3 R1 milllion World Pool Gold Cup, to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 28, including hot favourite Future Pearl who will once again be ridden by Richard Fourie (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

There will be no Hollywoodbets Durban July/World Pool Gold Cup double winners this year because the Brett Crawford yard’s only entry Crimson King, who was strongly fancied last year before being scratched, has been scratched this year at declaration stage and JP van der Merwe is without a ride.

Sean Tarry has a strong hand in the 15 horse field with the reigning champion and hot favourite Future Pearl and the former winner Nebraas, who are drawn nicely in six and five with Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena aboard respectively. Future Pearl is an impressive specimen and for a big horse has a fine turn of foot. Nebraas is seven years old but has a fine chance on paper at the weights.

Justin Snaith, who will be out to keep Tarry at bay in the trainers championship race, runs the talented One Way Traffic from pole position with Keagan de Melo up and Future Swing with S’Manga Khumalo up from draw eleven. The latter won his only atttempt at a staying trip, in a Listed race over 2500m, and could be anything over this trip.

Mike de Kock runs former SA Derby winner Aragosta, who does not appear to like Hollywoodbets Greyville, from draw ten with Serino Moodley up.

Tony Peter runs another former SA Derby winner Son Of Raj for Durbanite owner Steven Chetty from barrier position four with Calvin Habib up.

Frank Robinson runs the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase winner and runner up Madison Valley and Shoot The Rapids from draw seven and draw 15 with Kaidan Brewer and Muzi Yeni aboard respectively. Shoot The Rapids is weighted to turn the tables on Madison Valley, but at the same time has a tough task at the weights with Gold Vase third-placed Nebraas.

Mike and Adam Azzie’s charge Breeze Over is a big horse who is greatly benefited by a good draw, so draw two will do fine and Rachel Venniker replaces Muzi Yeni, who has jumped ship after the Twice Over gelding’s 4,95 length eighth in the Gold Vase.

The Andre Nel-trained Master Redoute has proven class over long distances as the winner of the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and he should be a big runner from draw three with Corne Orffer up.

Piet Botha runs Baratheon, who was a fine third in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, beaten 1,35 lengths by Down To Business, who was unfortunately scratched from the Gold Cup earlier this week. Baratheon’s only attempt beyond 2400m was in last season’s Western Cape Stayers, when a 4,40 length eighth to Salvatore Mundi and well beaten by Nebraas and Master Redoute, although he does now get weight from both of the latter.

Master Fuego ran a fine 1,90 length third in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200 in his first attempt at a trip beyond 2200m, but this is a kilometre further. He  has plenty to prove from draw nine, but his trainer Dean Kannemeyer has won this race three times.

Kannemeyer also runs Ponte Pietra, who is drawn 12 and comes off a 3,30 length sixth in the Splashout 2200, which was also his first attempt at a race beyond 2000m. He is by Vercingetorix, who has sired Gold Cup winner Nebraas, and he is out of a Galileo mare so is an interesting runner.

Raiseahallelujah ran a gallant 3,85 length fourth last year from pole position and has the same task, being under sufferance with bottom weight of 54kg, this year but also has to overcome a wide draw of 13.

Zeus has a fine record over staying trips but goes particularly well for Gavin Lerena, who has been aboard for all ten of his wins. However, despite Zeus carrying topweight of 60kg, Lerena is sticking with Nebraas and Grant van Niekerk gets the ride.

The two reserves are Street Art and Indian Ocean.

The full field is shown below: