David Thiselton

The seven-year-old Querari gelding Master Redoute will be out to defy 59 years of history by regaining the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville and trainer Andre Nel spoke about him as well as his other two runners on the day, O’Tenikwa and Zeitz, at Summerveld yesterday morning (Tuesday).

Nel agreed that Master Redoute, who won the race in 2024 off a 115 merit rating and runs off exactly the same mark this year, had enjoyed a good preparation and added, “He obviously stays very well. The hotter the pace the better for him. He’s an older horse now so is a bit out at the weights. He is having his last run. I am pretty sure he will be retired after this race.”

He added, “He is drawn wide, so he will be coming from off the pace. But that is fine, he is a horse who needs to be produced quite late anyway.”

Regarded as the country’s premier staying race, the Gold Cup had it’s inaugural running in 1920 and only two horses have regained the crown,  Humidor winning in 1933 at odds of 10/1 before being well beaten in 1934 at 25/1 odds and then winning at odds of  6/1 in 1935, while in 1965 Cuff Link won at odds of 12/1 before finishing 6^th at the same odds in 1966 and then winning it at odds of 9/1 in 1967.

Master Redoute came from midfield in 2024 in a stretched out field behind the good pace he relishes. He ran on resolutely in the straight to get up late by a neck from Shoot The Rapids, who was just a three-year-old at the time.

He is 5kg better off with Shoot The Rapids this year, although if weight for age improvement is considered he is effectively only 1,5kg better off as three-year-olds get a 3,5kg allowance over 3200m in July.

Master Redoute had a six month layoff after his Gold Cup win and went straight into the Gr 1 WSB Met, where he ran a fine 2,65 length ninth.

However, he then had a nine month layoff before his next run.

It then took him three runs to find his feet again and he then stayed on well to be a 4,05 length fourth to Ahead Of The Facts in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at odds of 33/1.

He followed that with a run over the too sharp 1900m trip in the Gr 3 WSB 1900 and he then ran a 2,60 length fourth in the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville before running an excellent half-a-length second in the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m to Ahead Of The Facts.

He will be 1,5kg better off with Ahead Of The Facts in the Gold Cup, so should beat him on paper. However, the latter was being eased at the line and is a progressive sort who should have come on from that run.

Master Redoute beat Shoot The Rapids in the Gold Vase by 0,80 lengths and he will be half-a-kilogram better off with him in the Gold Cup.

The question is whether he will get the good pace he needs?

There is not an obvious pacemaker in the race and it looks unlikely to be as fast as it was two years ago.

However, over 3200m there is an argument that stamina will come through in the end no matter the pace.

Master Redoute is a Sabine Plattner homebred and so is the yard’s other Gr 1 runner on the day, O’Tenikwa.

This four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding is known for his good gate-speed and early pace and with his big action and typical Vercingetorix courage he is sometimes able to free wheel out in front and find another kick at the end. This is what happened when he finished a 2,50 length second to the stalwart Questioning in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over the tough 1200m of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth sprint course in late February.

Nel said, “I think he is doing well, I have been impressed since being here at Summerveld. He is a horse who thrives on prep runs and he has had two good prep runs. The draw is important for him and 1200m is his best  distance, so I think he has got a lot going for him and I think he will go well.”

Nel admitted that his excellent gate-speed is actually a bit problematic as it never allows him to switch off behind cover. However, from a plum draw of three around the bend this long-striding galloper is going to be dangerous.

The yard run the Vercingetorix gelding Zeitz in the Listed Tote Stakes over 1600m. This Maine Chance Farms-bred Plattner-owned grey won his only previous start over this course and distance on July day last year with blinkers on and jumping from draw four.

Nel said he believed Zeitz had run a good race in the Hollywoodbets Durban July considering his tricky draw of 12 and the slow pace. He reckoned he probably didn’t quite stay the 2200m and felt the 1600m trip would a better distance for him. The blinkers are back on. He said he had come out of the race well, but admitted it was not ideal dropping straight from a 2200m trip to 1600m. His wide draw of 13 also makes it tough.

David Thiselton

The highest rated race at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting today a Progress Plate over 1200m.

 Esteemed looks promising and finished a two length second in the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery. He now gets 3kg  despite officially being rated 14 points higher than him and Richard Fourie rides. He has not raced for 16 months, but the De Kock yard should have the horse fit enough to run a good race. Amelia’s Legacy is full of class and her last couple of disappointing starts are simply due to her having lost her confidence due to a starting stall incident. This drop in trip might be what is needed to spark her and she could go close with a feather weight. The Last Duke will be racing fit and hence could upset the applecart against the aforementioned trio, who all have question marks hanging over them, as he has good Highveld form. Good For You is a Gr 2 winner who has the class to go close and he could well enjoy the step down in trip as a horse who can take a hold.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Trombolines is distance suited and should go close in his third run after a layoff over an ideal trip from pole position. El Dante has some class and will have come on from his last run so has a chance over an ideal course and distance. Next Of Kin is consistent and should be right there.

In the fifth race over 1750m Black Platina is a lot better than her last start and could bounce back over a suitable course and distance with Craig Zackey up. Chaos Queen could be in the shake up if repeating her last start. Takethegreenlight can be right there if able to overcome a tricky draw.

In the sixth race over 1200m the talented Showgirl returns from an eight month layoff but can get away with it over this trip and she could be well ahead of the handicapper off a 76 rating. Xenophon looked to be a fair sort in the making at one stage so has been disappointing in his last two starts but he can bounce back. Gorgeous Guy also has ability but needs to bounce back.

In the eighth race over 1200m Hah Lah Lah looks to be going places and can make it three wins from four starts. Best Of All and Kalahari Roller could be a threat. Masterofthedesert could be ahead of the handicapper having won on his KZN debut and being raised only three points and Military Command has plenty of ability.

In the ninth over 1200m Rags To Riches won well second time out and the form has worked out well and she can beat home Sovereign Gem and Lady Jean.

In the third race over 1400m Prized Possession look promising and can get off the mark.

In the second race over 1000m Cartel Queen is consistent and has the form to go close.

In the first race over 1200m Egolee made a fine debut and could go one better.

RACE 1

10 EGOLEE 9 MULHOLLAND DRIVE 4 CELTIC MOON 11 MIST IN MARYLAND

Preview: 10 EGOLEE made a fine debut and should improve. 9 MULHOLLAND DRIVE made a good debut on the Highveld and is a contender. 4 CELTIC MOON made a fair debut and can earn. 11 MIST IN MARYLAND looks capable of improvement and can earn. (David Thiselton   10-9-4-11)

RACE 2

7 CARTEL QUEEN 3 SURREAL SONG 9 PREDATOR’S CROWN 2 LIZ HURLEY

Preview: 7 CARTEL QUEEN has some consistent form and should go close. 3 SURREAL SONG has run some fair races on the Highveld and has a chance. 9 PREDATOR’S CROWN has run two good races and should be right there. 2 LIZ HURLEY has shown enough to earn here. (David Thiselton   7-3-9-2)

RACE 3

2 PRIZED POSSESSION 3 DEONARIE 1 SATISFIED 5 ROCCO’S PEACE

Preview: 2 PRIZED POSSESSION has run two good races and is the one to beat. 3 DEONARIE has ruin three good races and has a good chance. 1 SATISFIED has run three good races on the Highveld and has a chance. 5 ROCCO’S PEACE improved second time out and could earn. (David Thiselton   2-3-1-5)

RACE 4

1 TROMBOLINES 5 EL DANTE 2 NEXT OF KIN 6 BEYOND ALL DOUBT

Preview: 1 TROMBOLINES is a promising sort who can progress further. 5 EL DANTE has a touch of class and could be in the shake up. 2 NEXT OF KIN has the form to be a contender. 6 BEYOND ALL DOUBT cones off a short layoff but can be thereabouts on form. (David Thiselton   1-5-2-6)

RACE 5

5 BLACK PLATINA 6 CHAOS QUEEN 8 TAKETHEGREENLIGHT 3 LACRYMA CHRISTI

Preview: 5 BLACK PLATINA comes out well on some formlines in this contest. 6 CHAOS QUEEN can go close if repeating her last start. 8 TAKETHEGREENLIGHT ran a cracker over this trip on the poly last time out. 3 LACRYMA CHRISTI can earn if repeating his decent last start. (David Thiselton   5-6-8-3)

RACE 6

5 SHOWGIRL 7 XENOPHON 3 GORGEOUS GUY 2 JET LEGACY

Preview: 5 SHOWGIRL has shown a lot of class and over this trip can get away with a layoff of eight months. 7 XENOPHON has been a touch disappointing but has the ability to earn here. 3 GORGEOUS GUY needs to bounce back from two below par runs. 2 JET LEGACY could be in the shake up on best form. (David Thiselton   5-7-3-2)

RACE 7

4 EXOCET 1 ESTEEMED 7 AMELIA’S LEGACY 6 THE LAST DUKE

Preview: 4 EXOCET has won two out of three and could progress again. 1 ESTEEMED was second in the Gr 2 SA Nursery and should make a bold bid. 7 AMELIA’S LEGACY has shown a lot of class and is still trying to get her confidence back after a starting stall incident. 6 THE LAST DUKE can earn if producing his best. (David Thiselton   4-1-7-6)

RACE 8

8 HAH LAH LAH 6 BEST OF ALL 3 KALAHARI ROLLER 5 MASTEROFTHEDESERT

Preview: 8 HAH LAH LAH is a promising sort who could be going places and he can win again. 6 BEST OF ALL is 2kg better off with Hah Lah Lah for a one length beating. 3 KALAHARI ROLLER is a hard knocking sort who should be right there. 5 MASTEROFTHEDESERT won well on his KZN debut and only got a three point raise so he could be ahead of the handicapper still having had some good Cape Town form. (David Thiselton   8-6-3-5)

RACE 9

14 RAGS TO RICHES 8 SOVEREIGN GEM 2 LADY JEAN 1 SAKURA HANAMI

Preview: 14 RAGS TO RICHES won well over course and distance second time out and the form has worked out well. 8 SOVEREIGN GEM ran well on the poly last time and has won down the HWB Scottsville straight. 2 LADY JEAN has been a bit disappointing but is capable of being a contender. 1 SAKURA HANAMI has come down to a competitive mark and could earn. (David Thiselton   14-8-2-1)

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Nottingham and Wolverhampton (UK) – 21 July 2026