Royal Victory is pictured winning the Betway Summer Cup comfortably (JC Photos)
Royal Victory will be out to emulate Puerto Manzano by winning Saturday’s R2 million Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge and thus completing the Betway Summer Cup/Premier’s double.
Puerto Manzano did that double last year and is also a participant in tomorrow’s weight for age 2000m event at the Champions Day meeting, which has ten races, including four Gr 1s, four Gr 2s and a Listed race.
Royal Victory has always displayed class and proved the bookmakers hopelessly wrong in the Summer Cup.
Some firms still had him out at 80/1 after the announcement of the final field and he romped home by 2,25 lengths despite jumping from draw 13.
The Nathan Kotzen-trained four-year-old Pathfork gelding carried bottom weight in that race and this is now a weight for age race, but he is now drawn three.
He also performed better in the Summer Cup than any of the other Premier’s Champions Challenge contenders with the exception of Puerto Manzano.
He beat the latter by 4,60 lengths, but was receiving 6kg.
So on paper Puerto Manzano has a fine chance of landing his third Gr 1 over the course and distance.
Puerto Manzano has a good draw of five, but does have to bounce back from a 14,75 length beating in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. Last year he was beaten 12,50 lengths two runs before the Champions Challenge in the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m, so perhaps not too much should be read into his preparation runs over too sharp distances.
He takes a while to get going which is why he loves the Standside’s galloping 2000m trip with its long straight.
Dave The King has settled down with gelding and if able to stay in the hands of Piere Strydom, rather than pulling, he will be dangerous from pole position. He is the most likely pacemaker.
Cousin Casey has had a perfect preparation and is bred for this trip. He has had terrible luck with draws and has another wide one. He is capable of turning it on from off the pace, but some have questioned whether being an entire is effecting him because he has not been as perfectly relaxed as he was a two-year-old in some of his races.
Son Of Raj ran a cracking fifth in the Horse Chestnut and will relish the step up in trip.
Safe Passage can never be discounted as he has a lot of class, although he has become unreliable.
Those are the ones who make most appeal for the Pick 6.
Zeus, who prefers further, could also be considered as he was beaten only 2,40 lengths in the Summer Cup, but he does face Royal Victory on the same terms.
Winchester Mansion is the Hollwyoodbets July winner, but hasn’t run since disappointing in the Summer Cup, although he is now 4kg better off for a 4,20 length beating.
Aragosta is not far off the best, while Future Pearl would prefer further but does have the Tarry factor.
Litigation also has the Tarry factor. He is in fine form, but is probably just below Gr 1 weight for age class.
Meridius has a fine turn of foot and the Peter yard, who also train the outsider Street Art, have caused a big upset in this race before.
The meeting banker looks to be Gimme A Nother in the Gr 1 TAB Empress Club Stakes over 1600m. It will be a surprise if she doesn’t increase her unbeaten run to seven races. The Tony Peter-trained Bavarian Beauty is a Gr 1 winner who has shown hints of top class ability and the same can be said for Mrs Geriatrix, so those two could be the ones to pick up the pieces if the long odds on favourite fluffs her lines.
Dyce and Thunderstruck are both drawn on the favourable standside in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint and should fight it out. The Peter-trained Rulership and Golden Sickle could make their presence felt, although the latter has a low draw, while Iphiko has a high draw and a lot of pace so could be dangerous.
In the Gr 1 SA Derby Marauding Horse has impressed with his continual progression and will relish the distance. He should fight it out with the big-hearted Gr 1 SA Classis winner Purple Pitcher. Mondial has been looking for this trip, so is one of the dark horses. Pure Predaror, Viva Brazil and Thunee Player are also interesting runners capable of progressiing over this trip.
In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks Silver Sancturuary will be hard to beat. Frances Ethel has a hard task on official merit ratings, but is on the up. Let’s Go Now is improving all the time and look for an improved run from My Soul Mate. Beating Wings could also earn.
The Gr 2 TAB Hawaii Stakes looks wide open beyond Sandringham Summit, who will have to be below his best not to win. Unzen loves the 1400m trip as does pole position-drawn-White Pearl and it will also be right up the alley of the classy Lucky Lad. Texas Red’s from is looking strong too.
Tony Peter should win the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery and Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery with the unbeaten pair Pistol Pete and Almond Sea.
The Listed 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m is open but Breeze Over is a big staying type who is drawn in pole and carrying just 50kg should go close.
The meeting kicks off with a Maiden over 1160m and the one to beat considering form and draws could be So Seductive.
