The Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m is often a Pick 6 stumbling block on Vodacom Durban July day but this year three highly promising horses stand out in a race which which will be one of the day’s highlights, although there are two relatively unknown quantities who punters will have to be wary of too.

Cue The Music has a superb pedigree, plenty of substance, is very laid back, has a good cruising speed and an exceptional turn of foot. He is a half-brother to the champion sprinter Val De Ra but the latter did win over this course and distance second time out.  Furthermore, Val De Ra was by the champion sprinter Var, whereas Cue The Music is by Oratorio, who won a Group 1 over this trip as a two-year-old and won the Group 1 Coral Eclipse over a mile and two furlongs as a three-year-old. Last time out in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion Cue The Music had no cover throughout and after moving up very well he was scythed down in the final strides. Anton Marcus now rides him from a plum draw of two and he is sure to find cover before using his turn of foot.

Barahin is a R2,6 million Gimmethegreenlight colt who has won two from three. Last time out he won the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes comfortably over the Golden Horseshoe course and distance, running on strongly from midfield to win easing up by 3,25 lengths. He still looked immature so there is plenty of improvement to come.  Bernard Fayd’Herbe keeps the ride and they jump from stall eight, as opposed to the six draw in the Gatecrasher.

Soqrat has won both of his starts over 1160m and 1400m respectively by wide margins and showed a fine turn of speed in the latter race. This classy looking colt is by Epaulette, who won two Group 1s in Australia over 1400m, and is out of a twice-winning Hussonet mare who is a three-quarters sister to a Group 2 winner who won from 1200m to 1500m. Soqrat should therefore be ideally distance suited and has a plum draw of four.

Tobie Spies upset the applecart when winning the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion with Van Halen and he has an unknown quantity in Basilius. This gelding won in commanding style over 1200m on debut down the straight at the Vaal and the form has been franked. His sire Potala Palace won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old and his dam by Spectrum won in the December of her two-year-old year over 1000m. Therefore, Basilius should have precocious speed and should be course and distance suited. A further plus is Jeff Lloyd is aboard.

Confessional is a good looking colt by Oratorio out of a full sister to Dynasty and he won his maiden well over this course and distance last time. He has scope for further improvement but on the downside he now has a wide draw to overcome and his time was 0,73 seconds slower than Barahin’s.

Provocateur is the second of the unknown quantities. He overcame a wide draw and sat in second without cover in the maiden won by Confessional, so did well to stay on for a one length second. In his next start with blinkers on over 1400m on the poly he went to the front and stayed on strongly to win by four lengths. Unfortunately he has another tough draw of eleven but he could be the pacemaker and is the dark horse.

Clifton Crusher ran on strongly in the Gatecrasher from draw 12 of 14, after being dropped out, and finished a 3,75 length third. However, he has to overcome a similar draw this time.

Across Seattle was a bit keen in the Gatecrasher from pole position so did well to stay on for fourth, a short-head behind Clifton Crusher, so if he settles better from a draw of seven he could earn again.

Goliath Heron was beaten 4,25 lengths by Cue The Music when fourth in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold medallion over 1200m. He has plenty of speed but on pedigree, being by Master Of My Fate out of a Silvano mare who won on debut over 1450m on the Vaal sand, he should stay the trip so has an outside chance from a good draw of six.

Sulka was staying on nicely in the Gold Medallion when a 5,75 length sixth so should enjoy this trip. However, he has a tough task reversing form with Cue The Music, although he does have pole position.

Crown Guardian produced a late surge to win over 1000m on debut at Kenilworth and came from some way off them to finish third over 1200m next time out in the Listed Somerset. However, the form was let down when Somerset winner Twist Of Fate ran downfield in the Gold Medallion.

Royal Italian, Rule The Night and In Cahoots look held.

By David Thiselton