Grade 1-winning trainer Corrie Lensley has a fine chance of winning the R400,000 BSA Sales Cup with Now I Got You on Hollywoodbets Durban July day on Saturday.
The Admiral Kitten colt finished a 0,90 length second on debut to the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Mercantour (Var) over 1200m at the Vaal before finishing second in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1200m.
Yesterday Mercantour came out and franked his form by winning easily over 1200m at Turffontein Inside under Kabelo Matsunyane.
Maysunyane was happy to sit off the pace and allow market rival Ridgerunner to lead.
However, despite giving Ridgerunner 2kg and the rest of the field lumps of weight, Mercantour moved through a gap effortlessly and went on to win by a cosy 0,80 lengths easing up.
It was his 3rd win in his 6th start.
Now I Got You was receiving 3kg from Mercantour on that debut effort, but in third place 1,2 lengths behind him was the useful River Queraress.
He was receiving 4,5kg from the latter, but she went on to finish third in Grade 1 Allan Robertson.
Now I Got You ran roundabout the same time in the Gold Medallion as River Queraress achieved.
To be exact, he was just 0,08 seconds slower but did have to ease and switch in the closing stages.
Now I Got You in fact ran a quite astonishing race in the Gold Medallion.
He bounced out and led early, but got swamped at about the halfway mark.
For all money he looked like he was going to disappear out the back door.
However, he fought back and passed them all again to get up for second.
That suggests he will relish the slight step up in trip to 1300m and from draw two he is going to be hard to beat under Muzi Yeni.
Lensley has always struck as being a fine trainer and Now I Got You’s supporters will be confident of him arriving in tip top shape.
However, he has shortened into even money with Hollywoodbets.
Picture: Mercantour winning yesterday at Turffontein Inside (JC Photos).