It might sound sacrilege to say so but the unbeaten Run Fox Run could be worth opposing in the Champagne Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Brett Crawford warned earlier in the week that he would not risk the rising star if yesterday’s rain turns the ground soft but, even if it is not enough to keep her away, she could be vulnerable – and at yesterday’s 4-10 it makes sense to look elsewhere.

Lesedi La Rona may not be the most obvious on adjusted merit ratings – she comes out 5kg behind both Dynamic Diana and Canukeepitsecret – but she showed signs of fulfilling her two-year-old promise with a smooth win in a pinnacle last time and, highly relevantly, she made light of the good to soft ground. “She is back to her best,” confirms Candice Bass-Robinson. Her current 15-2 looks attractive.

Furthermore, while the favourite has won three of the last six runnings, the last three years have seen a succession of upsets with the winners being returned at 11-1, 25-1 and 8-1.

Glen Kotzen is the most successful trainer in this race with four winners and he is represented by the double-figure priced pair Too Phat To Fly and Ostinato. The latter has won twice when the word soft has appeared in the going description.

Only once in the past 15 years has the Champagne seen a smaller field than tomorrow’s nine but the six in the Final Fling is the smallest this century with Justin Snaith responsible for half the runners and Glen Kotzen (two) and Mrs Bass-Robinson the only other trainers represented.

Platinum Class is well-nigh unbackable at 2-7 but Richard Fourie’s mount is hard to oppose despite three of the last four favourites getting beaten. She comes out over three lengths better than the next highest-rated (stable companion Miss Katalin) and she has won in the soft. She was third in the Prix du Cap and the Olympic Duel and in the Ladies Mile last time she had Pearl Jam over a length back third and here she is 8kg better. Miss Katalin and Libra are also well held on that run.

If you are looking for a long shot then Coral Bay, the rank outsider at 22-1, just might be worth an interest. She appears to have completely lost her form but she is a Listed winner, she goes in the ground and Kotzen has won this race four times before.

BLOB The Durbanville meeting on Tuesday, July 30 has been switched to Kenilworth.

By Michael Clower

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

The Highveld Hawks, defending their title for the third time in succession, are set to get off to a smart start in New Turf Carriers Rider Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Muzi Yeni has drawn the plum ride on the Sean Tarry-trained Over The Limit while ‘stable companion’ Gavin Lerena will be aboard first timer Sacred Blues for Garth Puller, second and third favourites in the first leg and third race on the card.

Early favourite for the opening leg is Glacier Girl, Richard Fourie also having landed a plum draw on Alyson’s Wright’s filly. A close-up second in a work rider’s race for Mike de Kock last time out, Glacier Girl has her first run for Wright and the blinkers come off.

Over The Limit boasts some consistent Highveld form and with Tarry and Yeni both contenders for their respective national championships, both will be keen on a victory.

With riders and runners having been drawn out of the hat, nothing can be read into the riding arrangements but the bonus is that we have a dozen of the country’s premier riders in action.

Duncan Howells holds a strong hand in the second leg with Mocha Rose and La Valette, Lyle Hewitson and Keagan de Melo doing duty for the stable. Mocha Rose did not get the best of passages when down the field behind stable companion Barinois last time out with her recent form over course and distance more than useful.

La Valette started at long odds when making her poly track debut and appeared to take to the synthetic surface, staying on well behind the older Missibaba. A win for Hewitson would be further good news for the Hawks.

Sean Veale can strike back for the KZN Falcons aboard the Howells runner Barinois in the next. The synthetic surface seems to bring out the best in her, her last effort coming over course and distance when coming from last to win going away.

Miss Sabina looks a likely danger while Imperial Royal has a tricky draw to contend with but was a close-up third when up against stronger at her last start.

The final leg of the Cup could see the giant Haddington record the eighth win of his career. He is back over his favourite course and distance and Bernard Fayd’Herbe is sure to get the best out of Louis Goosen’s runner.

At around 13-1 in the market he looks fair value for money with Gimme A Cohiba and Anton Marcus weak 3-1 favourites in the early betting with O’Reilly and Don Pierro 6-1 chances according to bookmakers.

Punters are reminded that there is tote betting on the outcome of the Cup “twelfth” race on the card, there will be win, place and swinger options on the outcome where the jockey who accumulates the most points will be declared Victor Ludorum. The pools close at the start of race 3 (13.25).

By Andrew HarrisonTo take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

The Rider Cup takes place over four legs on the Greyville poly on Sunday and it should be a thriller.  

The KZN Falcons team is made up of Anton Marcus, Warren Kennedy, Sean Veale and Keagan de Melo.

The Highveld Hawks consists of Lyle Hewitson, Muzi Yeni, Gavin Lerena and S’Manga Khumalo.

The Cape Eagles team comprises Greg Cheyne, Richard Fourie, Bernard Fayd’Herbe and Corne Orffer.

The predicted order of finish in the first leg, an uninspiring maiden race is Over The Limit (Yeni), Sacred Blues (Lerena), Magic Bean (Marcus), Glacier Girl (Fourie), Tallulah Jet (Orffer), Retail Therapy (Veale), Duchess Lane (De Melo), Masters Beauty (Cheyne), Lady Clementine (Kennedy), Spanish Oasis (Khumalo), Amberbell (Fayd’Herbe), Jamie’s Joy (Hewitson). 

Over The Limit did well when dropped to this trip last time and has a plum draw. Sacred Blues makes her debut after catching the eye in a barrier trial. She is by Oratorio and is from the family of the useful sprinter Down To Zero. Magic Bean has a fair action and can improve on her debut which did not pan out well. Glacier Girl has some of the best form in the race and makes her debut for the Alyson Wright yard having been sold out of the Mike de Kock yard. First-timers Tallulah Jet and Retail Therapy are both bred for further but did it easily in a barrier trial and should be staying on. Duchess Lane showed pace last time with first time blinkers on over 1400m and should appreciate the step back down to 1200m.

In the second leg, a fillies and mares MR 72 Handicap, the predicted order of finish is Spam Alert (Fayd’Herbe), Myelisha (Khumalo), Stormbourne Thunder (Veale), La Valette (De Melo), Mitra Music (Orffer), Song Of The Forest (Marcus), Mocha Rose (Hewitson), Mambo Lyric (Yeni), Rock Pigeon (Fourie) , Eden Gardens Glitz (Lerena), Give Me A Break Nate (Kennedy) and Senorita Amor (Cheyne).

Spam Alert has only had one run in KZN and likely needed it. If reproducing her Cape Town form she will go close, although she hasn’t raced since April 5 and that also followed a three month layoff. Myelisha is a filly with some substance and enjoys the poly. She was given an eight point raise for her win last time out in February and hasn’t raced since, but on collateral formlines she comes out well. Stormborne Thunder, whose form is quite hard-knocking, will likely go to the front and under a nice galloping weight can stay on. La Valette was dropped out from a wide draw over 1200m last time and ran on well. Mitra Music did quite well last time in a relatively strong workrider’s event over 1100m and should be involved over a more suitable trip. Song Of The Forest could contest the early lead under Marcus.  

In the third leg the predicted order of finish is More Than A Dime (Fayd’Herbe), Barinois (Veale), Isla Morada (De Melo), Princess Analia (Hewitson)  Imperial Royal (Khumalo), Berry Flambeau (Fourie), Such A Rush (Cheyne), Bronnie (Yeni), Miss Sabina (Orffer), Jo Mambo (Kennedy)  Green Caviar (Marcus) and Keep It Real (Lerena),  

More Than A Dime looks to have scope so can follow up on her maiden win. Barinois comes from a yard who is out of form but at her best is able to run on strongly. Isla Morada is a courageous sort who should finish close to More Than A Dime on paper. Princess Analia is course and distance suited and has dropped to a competitive mark. Imperial Royal would prefer further but if getting to the front from a wide draw could be dangerous. Barry Flambeau bolted home in a workrider’s maiden in Jo’burg when stepped up to this trip and starts off handicapping on a reasonable mark.

In the last leg over 1900m the predicted order of finish is Gimmie A Cohiba (Marcus), Three Dog Night (Lerena), Techno Captain (Hewitson), O’Reilly (Yeni),  Gibraltar Green (De Melo), Sea Sponge (Cheyne), Al Jackman (Veale), Master Sam (Orffer), Don Pierro (Fourie), Everlasting Love (Khumalo), Hyaku (Kennedy), Haddington (Fayd’Herbe), 

Gimmie A Cohiba has a wide draw but Marcus knows this horse well and if positioning him well his long stride will be effective in the straight. Three Dog Night won a maiden over 1600m at Turffontein with a sustained finish last time and will appreciate the step up in trip. Techno Captain is widely drawn but has come down to a nice mark and steps back up to a more suitable trip. O’Reilly ran a cracker last time over 2000m on turf considering he was considerably under sufferance and caught wide in the running. However, he does have another wide draw. Gibraltar Green won well over 1600m on the poly three runs ago albeit off a six point lower mark. This is a more suitable trip and his last run can be ignored as he was squeezed out in the straight. Sea Sponge has a chance on formlines with Gimmie A Cohiba. 

It is going to be tight but on these predictions the Highveld Hawks will narrowly beat the KZN Falcons with the Cape Eagles third.

The top jockey will be very tight on these predictions. Anton Marcus and Sean Veale emerge as joint-winners and Bernard Fayd’Herbe is just one point further back in third.

There is all to play for and it should be an intriguing event.

By David Thiselton

Rich overseas races could be an option for the dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again in the second half of next season if the European Union agrees to relax South Africa’s equine export protocols.

Jono Snaith said: “If the protocol opens up before the end of this year then we could discuss an international campaign – but not until that happens.”

The now world-famous gelding is due to head back to Cape Town later this month and Snaith Racing’s master strategist outlined immediate plans, saying: “He will have about a month off at our farm just relaxing. He has the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met on his radar so we have plenty of time.”

The 2018 Met winner Oh Susanna has been scratched from the WSB Champions Cup but she will stay in training as a five-year-old and has a third consecutive Cartier Paddock Stakes win as a prime target.

In the meantime Justin Snaith seeks an elusive first eLan Gold Cup and he has booked last year’s winning jockey Anton Marcus for Doublemint and Bernard Fayd’Herbe for Made To Conquer while Richard Fourie rides last year’s fourth Strathdon. If recent history is any guide the one to be on is the favourite because the best-backed horse has won the last four runnings.

Brett Crawford is aiming for his fifth Champions Cup in seven seasons and he reports last year’s runner-up Undercover Agent in good shape: “That was a good run in the Gold Challenge. There were top horses around him and he has been doing well at home since.”

Crawford will be two-handed in the Mercury Sprint with Corne Orffer on Bold Respect and Donovan Dillon on Search Party. Last year’s fourth Sunset Eyes goes for a possibly easier option in the Umngeni Handicap.

By Michael Clower

Piere Strydom has been booked to ride the topweight in the eLan Gold Cup, the Frank Robinson-trained Roy Had Enough.

Robinson noticed there was a gap in the Mauritius program so contacted Strydom. The latter agreed to fly over from his current island base.

Roy Had Enough finished a fantastic 2,75 length seventh in the Vodacom Durban July. 

The winner Do It Again shoved him outward at the top of the straight but he regathered and ran on strongly from near the back.

The Australian-bred four-year-old Pierro colt remains on a merit rating of 108 but that means he has to carry topweight in the Gold Cup.

However, Robinson revealed Anton Marcus had got off Roy Had Enough after his running-on win in the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m, which was run just two weeks before the July, and immediately suggested he go for the Gold Cup.

Robinson was excited to have booked Strydom for the ride.

The maestro 5000-winner-plus jockey has won the Gold Cup just once before but is known as a master tactician and judge of pace.    

Roy Had Enough has a good draw of eleven among the 26 entries still standing and is quoted at 16/1 with Track And Ball.

By David Thiselton