Graeme Hawkins has tipped See It Again to win the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Graeme Hawkins analyses the five biggest races on World Pool Gold Cup day
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
Champions Season comes to a thrilling climax at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday with an all-star cast competing across ten feature races which include South Africa’s most coveted race for stayers, the R1-million World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m, as well as four high quality Grade 1 events.
WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Gr 3) – 3200m
It has been more than two decades since Highland Night recorded back-to-back victories, but the Sean Tarry-trained Future Pearl is bidding for the Golden Double when he takes on 14 rivals in Sunday’s 2024 renewal of Africa’s greatest race for stayers. Future Pearl ran a cracker in the recent Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m when running on very strongly from far back to finish sixth just over two lengths behind Oriental Charm.
Future Pearl has always enjoyed racing at the HOllywoodbets Greyville circuit, has won both his starts over the trip and Champion Jockey Richard Fourie has a good strike rate on the 4yo son of Futura. He does have 4,5kgs more to shoulder than when winning this race last year, but that is unlikely to prove an insurmountable obstacle and Future Pearl remains a confident selection to take the lion’s share of the purse.
His biggest danger could be stable companion Nebraas, himself a former winner of the World Pool Gold Cup. The 7yo son of Vercingetorix signalled a return to form when finishing a good third under 60kgs in the Gold Vase three weeks ago and at the revised weights – he now only has 55,5kg on his back – he should comfortably have the measure of Madison Valley and Shoot The Rapids who finished ahead of him then.
With Tarry doing everything that he can to close down Justin Snaith for the National Trainers Championship title, a one-two finish in the World Pool Gold Cup would certainly go some way to bridging the gap.
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB CHAMPIONS CUP (Gr 1) – 1800m
Cousin Casey, Royal Victory, Flag Man and See It Again, who finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in the Hollywoodbets Durban July three weeks ago, renew rivalry in a vintage edition of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champions Cup, but this time at weight-for-age terms. That See It Again was unlucky not to finish a lot closer in the HDJ was plain for all to see as he met with interference at a crucial stage of the race, and he will be a popular choice to turn that form around.
He meets Cousin Casey on 4kgs better terms and is 3kgs better off with both Royal Victory and Flag Man and on that basis See It Again should have their measure this time around. He certainly deserves his first Grade 1 victory of the current season and hopefully the son of Twice Over enjoys a trouble-free passage. But having mentioned that he should have the measure of his HDJ conquerors, See It Again may have most to fear from Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winner, Dave The King.
Mike De Kock elected to side-step the HDJ to bring his charge into this race a little “fresher” than his principal rivals here and there is no doubt that Dave The King is a better horse for having been gelded earlier this year. His last two wins have been ultra impressive, and he seems a lot more settled in his races. He is a relentless galloper and Piere Strydom, who has ridden Dave The King several times previously, will know that he must position See It Again in the right spot to have a timeous crack at Dave The King.
See It Again is selected to take top honours ahead of Dave The King, Cousin Casey and Royal Victory but winning won’t come easily and we should be in for a grandstand finish.
THE MERCURY SPRINT (Gr 1) – 1200m
I can only imagine the grimace on Sean Tarry’s face when confronted with the news that his star sprinter Lucky Lad had drawn the widest gate of all in this year’s renewal of the R1-million Mercury Sprint. Lucky Lad has run his two worst career races at Hollywoodbets Greyville, but both of these were over 1600m and there is no doubt that he is a far different proposition over the shorter trips. His ability to quicken from well off the pace is truly amazing and his last three victories have come in spectacular fashion – but these were all down the straight, and there has to be a question mark as to whether he can replicate those kind of performances around the turn from a deep draw.
Richard Fourie will probably ride him for luck and trust the 3yo son of Gimmethegreenlight to mow his opposition down from well off the pace with his trademark flying late charge. Surjay, I Am Giant and At My Command are all well drawn and any of this trio could pick up the pieces if Lucky Lad fails to overcome the mighty challenge that lies before him. There is much at stake, as victory for Lucky Lad could well earn him the Equus Trophy for Champion Sprinter.
WORLD POOL MOMENT OF THE DAY CHAMPION STAKES (Gr1) – 1600m
Cosmic Speed was an impressive winner of the Golden Horseshoe (Gr2) over 1400m on “July” day and with Proceed now a scratching, the 2yo son of Querari can follow up and stake a strong claim to being voted Champion Two-Year-Old Colt for the Season at the Equus Awards in Cape Town on 15 August. Interestingly though, Richard Fourie has been booked to ride stable companion Legend Of Arthur who was a trifle disappointing when a beaten odds-on favourite at Turffontein earlier this month.
Legend Of Arthur may have needed that run but the fact remains he has twice been beaten by Mount Pinatubo who re-opposes here. I am going to trust my gut and suggest that Cosmic Speed, with Grant Van Niekerk in the irons, could be the “right” one in a very competitive Feature. Great Plains blotted his copybook last time but races from a kinder barrier position here and could surprise while The Specialist is another not to be dismissed lightly. Candice Dawson saddles two “livewires” in the form of Grand Crescendo and Truth but I am going to row in with the Tarry yard and go for Cosmic Speed to edge out Legend Of Arthur.
DOUGLAS WHYTE STAKES (Gr1) – 2yo fillies – 1600m
Quid Pro Quo stands on the threshold of re-writing the record books by becoming the first filly in history to win the unofficial triple crown for juvenile fillies, the Alan Robertson Fillies Championship (Gr 1) over 1200m, the Golden Slipper (Gr 2) over 1400m and the Douglas Whyte Stakes (Gr 1) over 1600m. Standing in her way is the wide gate of 12 in the field of 13 runners and regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo will be hoping for a bit of luck and a solid early gallop.
On form Quid Pro Quo is difficult to oppose but bad draws can be a great leveller and Fatal Flaw, runner-up in the Golden Slipper, can get closer this time around. World Of Alice, Sorceress Supreme and Whistle The Tune have all cracked decent draws and could get into the mix. Spirit of Levana and unbeaten Lock And Key each bring strong form into the race, although the latter is drawn worst of all.
Quid Pro Quo gets the nod, despite her poor barrier position, but if she does enjoy more than her fair share of good fortune, we could be in for a rough result as most of these fillies are unexposed over the trip.
CARRYOVERS
All ten races have been designated World Pool status and massive tote pools will be the order of the day. In addition, the Pick 6 starts with a carryover of R2-million and the pool is expected to reach as much as R15-million while the Quartet for Race 7, the World Pool Gold Cup, has been boosted with a carryover of R1-million and is expected to top the R5-million mark. The first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville is due off at 12:05 on Sunday.
Parking and entrance to the race track is free of charge and, the high quality racing aside, there is much to keep families entertained throughout the afternoon.
