Turn It Up had Gold Medallion winner written all over him when cruising to victory in the Race Coast Sales Slipper recently, but there is now suddenly a major obstacle called Rich Man’s World in his way (Picture: Race Coast)
Today’s clash in the Godolphin Barb between Rich Man’s World and Master Magician caused a stir, but after the former had doddled to victory a quick mental scan of the opposition he would face in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion immediately brought the Sean Tarry-trained Turn It Up to mind.
Keagan de Melo said after Turn It Up had produced an electrifying finish in effortless fashion in the Race Coast Sales Slipper over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, “I haven’t felt a 2yo like this in a long time.”
Sean Tarry is known as The King Of Hollywoodbets Scottsville, having won a record 21 Gr 1s at the venue.
However, in the Gold Medallion his four victories is actually just one better than Marshall’s three Golden Medallion triumphs.
Tarry has dominated the Gold Medallion over the last few years, winning his first in 2019 with Eden Roc (Var), then with Thunderstruck (Rafeef) in 2022, Lucky Lad (Gimmethegreenlight) in 2023 and he got the exacta with Proceed (Gimmethegreenlight) and Cosmic Speed (Querari) in 2024.
Marshall has won ten Scottsville Gr 1s and has won a Gr 1 there in four different decades.
His three Medallion wins have been with Villandry (Var) in 2009, Always In Charge (Captain Al) in 2016 and with Ambiorix (Vercingetorix) in 2020.
Turn It Up is a half-brother to Tarry’s previous Gold Medallion winner Proceed.
Turn It Up, unlike Rich Man’s World, has been defeated once before.
On debut over 800m at Turffontein Standside on Betway Summer Cup day he was beaten 3,50 lengths by the Tony Peter-trained Heath House.
Heath House, who is by Erupt, followed up with a seven length win over 1000m and a 7,25 length win over 1000m.
However, the latter two wins were in a five-horse and a three-horse field respectively.
Heath House would likely not be seen as much of a threat to Rich Man’s World and Turn It Up, because he is known to be a ball of speed, a tearaway who would have a stamina doubt over 1200m.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see whether Heath House does go to the Festival Of Speed meeting.
Whatever happens, the clash between Rich Man’s World and Turn It Up is one which will cause a lot of excitement.
Rich Man’s World will likely be the favourite, considering he did not come out of second gear today.
How much more does he have is the big question?
Turn It Up was also effortless in his last victory and has a progressive profile.
Fourie would obviously like to stick with Rich Man’s World, but he is retained by Ridgemont, so it will depend on them having a participant.
Ridgemont (and Devin Heffer) are owners of the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner, the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Good Day Sunshine, but she fluffed her lines last time out in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and it seems if she does go to the Festival Of Speed meeting she will stick to the easier task in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship rather than take on he boys in the Medallion.
De Melo is retained by Turn It Up’s owner Laurence Wernars.
So it does look likely that both horses will have champion jockeys aboard and they will both have trainers capable of producing Gr 1 magic at the Pietermaritzburg venue.
It is going to be a humdinger and is one to put in the diary.
