Rich Man’s World Should Get the Money, Money, Money

Rich Man’s World free wheels to victory after showing a devastating turn of foot in the Godolphin Barb at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time out (Race Coast)

The Gr 1 Gold Medallion is the most expensive race at Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting and although the Vaughan Marshall-trained Rich Man’s World looks hard to beat there could be some value for places on one other runner in particular.

The Boland Stud-bred Rich Man’s World was supposed to make his debut on December 21 but he  pulled a muscle behind and he had to have some work done on him before making his belated debut on February 25 over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, starting at 7/2. He led from start to finish and when Richard Fourie was asked whether he felt threatened by the challenger Winter Pirate, who was the well supported 18/10 favourite, he replied, “No, I was absolutely cantering.”

Winter Pirate then came out and won by 2,75 lengths at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1000m and the runner up in that race, Tag And Release,  has won twice since, while the third-placed horse Enticement has won as well.

In his second start Rich Man’s World started at 1/3 odds with Sean Veale up and won by 5,25 lengths without coming off the bit, despite giving 3kg to the rest of the field, who were mostly first-timers.

The runner up Redford was a 2,25 length second to Tag And Release next time out, which is decent form considering Tag And Release’s collateral lines with Rich Man’s World.

Rich Man’s World then traveled to KZN and Vaughan Marshall gave him a sight of Hollywoodbets Scottsville by running him in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m, in which he was to meet the unbeaten Mike Miller-trained Master Magician, who had won his first two starts over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by 5,40 lengths and 4,20 lengths respectively.

Rich Man’s World drifted out from 56/100 to even money as Master Magician was given steady support at 14/10 and a horse called Flamethrower was backed in from 14/1 to 8/1.

However, it was no contest with Rich Man’s World cruising in by 7,50 lengths.

He treated Master Magician’s attempt to kick away from the field with contempt and cantered up to him with Fourie still sitting still.

A shake of the reins saw Rich Man’s World kicking clear before free-wheeling for the last 50m.

Richard Fourie said in the interview afterwards that he “eventually had to move” before grinning sheepishly at the owners and saying, “Catch a feel! Sorry.”

He then admitted the horse had hardly come out of first or second gear.

His odds of 8/10 with World Sports Betting could prove to be generous as he looks to be a superstar in the making.

However, when watching replays of the second favourite Haute Couture’s debut the aforementioned price might not be so generous after all as he looks to be a serious racehorse too. He showed good cruising speed and a magnificent turn foot and has a good action.

WSB make him a 5/2 shot.

The place value could lie with the Sean Tarry-trained Egremont, who caught the eye showing a fine turn of foot on debut. The son of Skits Skizzle is out of a Captain Al mare Cals Crush, who won four races over 1000m.

Better Never Ends has a resolute finish and this Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery winner is on the up, so he could also possibly make the frame.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Time Is Precious is by Querari out of Vercingetorix mare, Twilight Hour, who won on debut over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He has a fairly big action and finished well when winning the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m. He could earn a cheque.

Kudikuran should appreciate the step up in trip and could earn.

Those are the ones who make most appeal and they are selected in the order mentioned.

However, the best value could lie in backing 17/1 shot Egremont for the first three.

The full field for the R1,75 million Gold Medallion is: