Dave The King winning the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The weights point to See It Again winning the Gr 1 weight for age HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m at the big World Pool Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting on Sunday, but a good case can be made for Dave The King.
The big Mike de Kock-trained Global View four-year-old was beaten only a short-head by See It Again in last year’s race and that was when he was still an entire. As a gelding he has settled down a tad and although he still likes to use his massive stride, he does not take as strong a held as he used to. From a wide draw he will have plenty of room to get to the front or near the front and last time he was not bothered about being one out and one back without cover for much of the journey. He would probably prefer 1600m because Muzi Yeni went early in him in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge because he said he could no longer hold him. However, he stayed this trip well enough last year and was also a 0,70 length second to See It Again in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. Fresh horses, as opposed to those who have run in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, are said to do well in this race. Dave The King is at a further advantage this year, in that case, because there is only three weeks between the July and the Champions Cup this year as opposed to the four weeks there was last year.
See It Again will come in to this race after just two runs as opposed to three last year, so that should stand him in good stead. He used to sometimes jump a tad slowly and that cost him last year, because he was too far back. However, he jumped on terms in the July. Hopefully, he can do the same again. It would be no surprise to see him land a third career Gr 1 over an ideal trip despite having to jump from the widest draw of all.
Flag Man was forced to go more handy than usual in the July from a wide draw. This time he can afford to be dropped out from draw five out of nine. He has a good turn of foot and a resolute finish so should be right there.
Cousin Casey has not won for 20 months. but is in fine form at present and loves this track. From pole position he is a big runner over what should be an ideal trip.
Royal Victory only had one run going into the July and is reported by trainer Nathan Kotzen to have come out of that race very well. He has been eating every morsel and is nice and fresh, so he should be cherry ripe over an ideal trip. Muzi Yeni is an expert at slotting in from wide draws and draw seven out of nine should not pose too much of a problem. Royal Victory has won over 1900m on this course coming from last before. He will likely come from off them again here.
Barbaresco is an interesting runner because the 2200m trip of the July could have blunted his finishing speed. He ran on strongly in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, despite having been hampered halfway through the race, and this trip should be ideal.
Double Superlative would not be a surprise winner. He is the winner of two of the most prestigious races in the country, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the Gr 1 WSB Met. He was said to be a run short of his best going into the July so should be cherry ripe and he is impossible to ignore.
Purple Pitcher was off the bit a long way out in the July and, although a courageous sort who is diffcult to overtake when in the front, he is likely better suited to a galloping course.
Hluhluwe was thought at one stage to be crying out for middle distances. However, he has flattered to deceive on the three occasions he has run over trips of 2000m and beyond. However, he has not had much luck and might enjoy the drop down to 1800m too.
The selection is Dave The King to beat See It Again and Flag Man, with Cousin Casey and Royal Victory next best.
The bold need to include only Dave The King and See It Again in their Pick 6 but the risk averse will have to also include Flag Man, Cousin Casey, Royal Victory, Barbaresco and Double Superlative.
