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 6th 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.
