Eight On Eighteen could bounce back to his best in the Champions Cup
Justin Snaith has enjoyed a magnificent campaign in KZN, claiming the exacta in the Gr 1 R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July and also winning two Gr 2s, five Gr 3s, one Listed race and one Non-Black Type event.
If the KZN Championships was decided on stakes earnings he would have run away with it having accumulated R11,820,556 in stakes in KZN this season to date with the next best being Gareth van Zyl on R6,600,181.
Van Zyl has had 49 wins in KZN this season with Alyson Wright next best on 46, but Van Zyl will retain his title because Wright only contests one more race this term.
Snaith can add more Graded wins to his tally on Sunday at World Pool Gold Cup day, where he contests three races with a strong team of horses.
In the R1 million Gr 3 Gold Cup over 3200m he has three runners, Ahead Of The Facts, Native Ruler and Magic Verse. The field is down to 12 runners after the scratching of Enflame and his runners are drawn six, eight and four respectively and will be ridden by Richard Fourie, Keagan de Melo and Tristan Godden. They are quoted by Hollywoodbets at 3/1, 8/1 and 14/1 respectively.
Jonathan Snaith said about them, “Ahead Of The Facts has established himself as South Africa’s leading stayer this season, but a 20-point rise in the ratings over the past seven months means the handicapper is beginning to catch up with him, especially over this testing 3200m. Even so, he remains in with a genuine winning chance. With Richard Fourie in the saddle and his trademark consistency, he deserves the utmost respect.
Native Ruler had little luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and, with a clearer passage, could easily have finished third. He has come through that race in outstanding order and is thriving at home. If he sees out the 3200m, he is capable of running a huge race and looks outstanding value at around 8-1. He is an underrated horse with his best racing ahead.
Magic Verse returned to something close to his best with an encouraging performance last time out when winning the July consolation race. While there are slight stamina concerns over the two miles, a slow run race, which appears very likely, would significantly increase his chances.”
The yard have a strong team of four in the Gr 1 wfa HKJ Champions Cup over 1800m, Eight On Eighteen, See It Again, Legal Counsel and Malmesbury Missile, who will respectively be ridden by Richard Fourie from draw four out of eight, Keagan de Melo from draw three, Callan Murray from draw six and Gavin Lerena from draw eight. They are quoted at odds of 2/1, 22/10, 10/1 and 25/1 respectively.
Jonathan said, “Eight On Eighteen is looking an absolute picture heading into Sunday. While there has to be some caution after his disappointing last start, virtually everything went against him on that occasion in a slowly run race that didn’t suit. His preparation has been faultless, his work has been excellent, and at his best he is an exceptionally difficult horse to beat. Pure class.
See It Again has been aimed specifically at this race and arrives in peak condition. He has enjoyed another outstanding campaign and victory here would see him complete the remarkable feat of winning three Gr1 wfa races in three different provinces as a six-year-old. On current form, he looks the horse they all have to beat. He is a Warhorse.
Legal Counsel may be feeling the effects of a demanding Hollywoodbets Durban July, which would have taken plenty out of him. Nevertheless, he has produced a series of top-class performances throughout the season on weight for age terms and, returning to what is arguably his ideal trip, he cannot be dismissed if reproducing his very best. He is an exciting prospect for the Cape Summer, which he will take in after a nice break.
Malmesbury Missile is probably at his most effective between 1400m and a mile, but if the pace is moderate he has enough quality to stay on into the money. At 25-1, he appeals as an interesting outsider, although the running of the race will have to go his way. Gavin Lerena is a huge asset to his chances.”
The yard have one runner in the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m and Jonathan said about the 25/2 shot who will be ridden by Muzi Yeni from draw four, “Kubu takes a significant step up in class but enjoys a favourable weight pull against many of her rivals. While this is undoubtedly a stiff assignment, she has been working nicely at home. A top-three finish and valuable black type would be an excellent result, but she would need to deliver her best performance yet.”
