Golden Palm is a banker consideration in the first leg of the Pick 6. (JC Photos).
The Pick 6 pool for World Pool Gold Cup day has a R1 million carryover and the pool is expected to reach R10 million so is well worth playing.
In the first leg, the Gr 1 Douglas Whye Thekwini Stakes over 1600m, the Alan Greeff-trained East Cape raider Golden Palm has proven class and this Gr 2 winner is drawn in pole position over a step up in trip which she should manage, so she looks hard to beat under Richard Fourie. She could be a banker. Limitless Sky ran third to two topclass sorts in the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper and that makes her a threat, but she has a wide draw to overcome. A Bit Of Class looks promising and has scope for plenty of improvement. Tina Lovelace was not beaten far in the Golden Slipper from a wide draw so is capable. One Fine Winter has only 2,30 lengths to make up on Golden Palm on 1160m form and if she proves suited to this trip she could be a factor, although on pedigree there could be a stamina doubt. Alta Capitana looks open to improvement.
In the second leg, the Gr 1 Wold Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m, Jan van Goyen is a promising sort who is drawn well and as he has plenty of scope for improvement he could be right there. Chronicle King comes off a fine win in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at this course and he should handle the step up in trip and is well drawn again. World of Royalty impressed last time out over this trip and did it in a good time and he has a scope for plenty of improvement and has a fair draw of six. Tin Pan Alley has 1.6 lengths to make up on Chronicle King from the Golden Horseshoe and has a better draw than he had there. Soldier Boy was beaten just 2.5 lengths in the Golden Horseshoe from a very wide draw and is now drawn in pole so he could be a big runner here. Malmesbury Missile was beaten just 1.1 lengths in the Golden Horseshoe, but now has a tougher draw. Count of Rouen is well regarded and although he has 4.1 lengths to make up on Golden Horseshoe form he has a much better draw this time.
In the third leg, the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m, Tenango is a top class sort who is unfortunately widely drawn, but his style of racing is to come from well off the pace with a blistering finish, so he could still do it. William Robertson is a top class sprinter who is a Gr 1 winner this season and if able to put his Post Merchants run, when beaten 8.9 lengths from a wide draw, behind him he will be a big factor from another tough draw as he possesses a very strong finish. I Am Giant won well over course and distance in the Grade 2 Post Merchants last time out and although this is a tougher task this is now his third run after a layoff and he should be a huge runner. Mia Moo won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint last time out and is now drawn in pole, so has a chance. Mrs Browning was beaten only a head in the SA Fillies Sprint and from a plum draw of 2 with Richard Fourie up she is a runner. Asiye Phambili was only just touched off in the SA Fillies Sprint from an unfavourable draw and she now has another unfavourable draw, but she has the class and the turn of foot to overcome it. Cafe Culture won the Gr 2 Post Merchants last year and if able to get into a nice handy position from a wide draw he could be a factor. Surjay won this race last year, but that was from draw two and he now has the widest draw of all, although he is not out of it as he is still holding form. Questioning is classy and is 4kg better off than I Am Giant for a 4.4 length beating in the Post Merchants and he now has a good draw too as opposed to a bad draw in the latter race. Whistle the Tune was beaten just 1.4 lengths in the SA Fillies Sprint and is in fine form, so from a good draw she could be a factor despite it looking to be a tough task at the weights.
In the next leg, the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m, Shoot the Rapids was unlucky to lose this race last year and is better than his last run when beaten 4.85 lengths by King Pelles in the Gr 3 Gold Vase over 3000m, so he could bounce back here. Madison Valley ran a cracking fifth in the Gr 1 Hollywood Durban July and from a fine draw has a fine chance considering he ran on superbly last year from well off the pace. King Pelles is a top class stayer and goes well for S’Manga Khumalo, so he is the one to beat in his bid to win a fourth Gr 3 staying race for the season. Holding Thumbs is a classy stayer who has finished second to King Pelles in his last two starts and as he is now 1kg better off with King Pelles for a three length beating in the Gold Vase he could get closer. Future Swing has been a bit off form, but at his best he could be a factor in this race considering he was a close up fourth last year. Field Marshall was beaten 3.6 lengths in the Tote Derby and that gives this progressive sort an outside chance as he is 1kg better off. He has the widest draw to overcome, but might be sent to the front. Nebraas is a former winner of this race, but he has 7.65 lengths to make up on King Pelles from the Gold Vase and he is only 1,5kg better off. Cape Eagle has 7.1 lengths to make up on King Pelles from the Tote Derby over 2400m and is 3kg better off and he is interesting stepped up in trip. Blackberry Malt ran well over 2200 meters last time and should stay the trip, so could be a factor.
In the fifth leg, the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m, Dave The King comes in nice and fresh and as a horse with a giant stride who is capable of unwinding a finish from 800m out he is hard to beat at this track as he proved when winnning the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 16000m for the last two years and by winning this race last year. The Real Prince proved his class in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and will be a big runner if at his best from pole position as he is equally effecive over this trip, although the July is a tough race and he will not be as fresh as Dave The King. Fire Attack comes in nice and fresh and possesses a tremendous finishing kick, but he does have to overcome a wide draw. Gladatorian was a touch unlucky when beaten just 0,35 lengths by Dave The King in the Gold Challenge and he should be equally suited to this trip and he has a good draw for a change so he could be right there, although he also ran in the July, which could have taken something out of him. See It Again missed the July with an abnormal blood count. He looks to have settled down after gelding as he was back to his best when just touched off by Gladatorian in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall over 1400m and he was then badly hampered in the Gold Challenge so a line can be drawn through the latter run. Royal Victory has been supplemented so must have come out of the July well. However, he was beaten just over three lengths in this race last year. Montien gets a good draw for a change and that is important for him as a handy to front-running sort. He will be dangerous at his best as he has proven capable of mixing it with the very best from 1600m up to 2000m.
In the last leg, the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m, My Soul Mate has the advantage of coming in fresh having not run on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and as she has a plum draw she could reverse form with Little Suzie from the Gr 2 Woolavingtn 2000. Lock And Key has always looked full of promise and was impressive over 1750m last time so should stay this trip and could well be better than her rating suggests. Little Suzie is on the up and comes in nice and fresh but she does have a tricky draw. Rainbow Lorikeet is capable of winning this as she was unlucky in the Woolavington and she has a fair middle draw, but running in the Hollywoodbets Durban July might have taken a bit out of her. Mocha Blend comes off a good 1,50 length third in the Woolavington 2000 and is 1,5kg better off with Little Suzie but does have a tricky draw. She’s Bomber comes off a fine win in the Gr 3 Tote Oaks over 2400m, but she is 5kg worse off with My Soul Mate for a mere 0,30 length beating. Knockout was a one length third in the Tote Oaks and has a plum draw here but she is 3kg worse off with My Soul Mate for a 0,70 length beating. Let’s Go Now is better than her last start and can be a factor if bouncing back. VJ’s Angel is a Gr 1 winner over 1600m at this course but has become unreliable.
