Motor racing and horse racing may be poles apart as far as the participants are concerned but it will be a ‘Day of Thunder’ at Greyville tomorrow with probably the finest day’s thoroughbred racing on the national calendar.

Ironically the eLan Gold Cup has been steadily down-graded to it’s current status of Gr3 but that has not detracted from it’s status as the most prized staying race on the calendar and this year has attracted a high class field headed by Vodacom Durban July runner-up, Made To Conquer who heads the weights.

Made To Conquer picked up a six-point penalty for his July efforts and will carry top weight of 60kg while in contrast, Gold Vase winner It’s My Turn, possibly a little unlucky not to have cracked an invite to run in the VDJ, was given a two-point relief by the handicappers after his convincing victory and is in receipt of 0.5kg.

It’s My Turn’s Gold Vase win over 3000m is proof that he stays the trip which is a big mark in his favour. Made To Conquer on the other hand is untried over the trip although he has smart staying form up to 2500m. Made To Conquer carried Jeff Lloyd to his best ever finish in the VDJ and the seasoned rider was of the opinion that his mount was a dower stayer and that the Gold Cup would be right up his alley.

Two others that will have their supporters are last year’s winner Hermoso Mundo and Strathdon. Weiho Marwing is an astute trainer of stayers and Hermoso Mundo has only had four outings this term. After a failed crack at the Summer Cup, the gelding was rested for some six months and has put in two promising comeback runs. However, he has 3kg more to shoulder this year and arguably meets a much stronger field.

Strathdon ran an indifferent race in the July consolation behind Head Honcho but did jump from the widest draw.

Prior to that he ran Made To Conquer to a neck in the 2400m Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, giving the winner 2kg. Grant van Niekerk earned a 10-day suspension for leaning on his rival for much of the way up the straight that day but there is a 4kg turn around in the weights and Strathdon should stay the extended trip which will make him many a punter’s first choice.

Last year’s winner and runner-up in the Gr1 Champions Cup, Sail South and Captain America respectively will do battle again. Couple them with Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner, Undercover Agent, Investec Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open, Cape Guineas winner Tap O’ Noth, Perovskia, Crowd Pleaser and Heavenly Blue on the comeback trail, victory will be hard-earned. However, Derby winner Eyes Wide Open has had an easy build-up and caught the eye when rattling home in the Thukela Handicap on July day and looks primed for this event.

The Gr1 Mercury Sprint has been moved from a standalone meeting to the Super Saturday undercard and again an Equus award could be on the line with some top sprinters in the line-up.

Victory for Pinnacle Peak, second in both the Gr1 Computaform Sprint and the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, could well earn national honours for Dorrie Sham’s gelding

With only two Grade One races each for Juvenile males and fillies, the Premier’s Champion Juvenile Stakes and the Thekwini Stakes for fillies are of premium importance.

Soqrat fought a titanic duel against stable companion Barahin in the finish of the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on July day, touched off in a photo finish. He has the best of the draw and a win will be of paramount importance for Mike de Kock’s colt. De Kock saddles another Australian-bred in Alyaasaat and another one-two is on the cards.

The absence of Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Celtic Sea has detracted a little from the Thekwini Stakes line-up and with Gr1 Allan Robertson winner Mighty High also a non-starter the door is open, but just who will be first home it is anyone’s guess.

By Andrew Harrison

South African Equine Health and Protocols (SAEHP), led by Adrian Todd, was charged with spearheading the equine industries efforts to implement long term sustainable export protocols in 2017. The equine industry has suffered due to onerous export requirements and SAEHP has been working hard in conjunction with the South African Dept. of Agriculture (DAFF) to improve exports for horses.  South Africa has been unable to export directly to most countries and horses currently have to embark on an arduous journey that takes a minimum of three months via Mauritius to reach Europe.

SAEHP and DAFF have made great strides towards resolving the issues and the onerous export requirements. Improvements in disease control and reporting have been made at home, and scientific advancements coupled with international lobbying and awareness campaigns are starting to show results.

“We are now in the audit process. RSA DAFF has officially communicated with the EU with an update on the implementation of recommendations from the 2013 audit. Furthermore there have been no cases of AHS within the control zone for a period of two years”, said Todd

“A new EU Commission Implementing Regulation has recently been published in the official journal of the EU. The existing protocol requires 40 days of quarantine in the free zone.  Once direct trade between South Africa and the EU resumes, direct export to the EU will require either 40 days quarantine in a vector protected quarantine station or 14 days in a vector proof (lockdown) quarantine station. This is keeping in line with the OIE recommendations and the risk assessment study and is a major achievement towards our goal. We are confident of the improvements that have been made and our efforts are ongoing”, he added.

Todd concluded by confirming that the intention is for horses to be exported directly to the EU in 2019.

By Liesl King

Featured Image: Adrian Todd (hamishNIVENPhotography)

The Grade 3 eLan Gold Cup is always a thrilling race to watch and is the highlight of the purists’ favourite SA Champions Season meeting, Super Saturday.

Made To Conquer will be attempting to be the first horse for 27 years to carry topweight to victory but he is up to it as he has a perfect racing temperament and plenty of class. He will stay the trip on pedigree being by Dynasty out of SA Oaks winner Festive Occasion. His rider Piere Strydom need no introduction, although he has only won the Gold Cup once.

It’s My Turn, also by Dynasty, showed in the Gold Vase when running on strongly that staying is what he has always been looking for and he has come down two points in the merit ratings. Anton Marcus’s only win in this race was 27 years ago on topweight Icona but he knows It’s My Turn well.

Let It Rain was unable to get to the front in the Gold Vase from pole position and had to sit one wide. If he finds the lead, or the rail behind a good pace, he will be a runner as he likes to stride out and stays well.

Hermoso Mundo defends his title, although he has to lug 3kg more than last year and has a tougher draw. However, he has his third run after a long layoff and comes in relatively fresh so has a fine chance.

Witchcraft is talented and on a line through Flichity By Farr has a fine chance on paper against the like of It’s My Turn. She has a big weight for a mare and appears to be at her best at Scottsville, but if she has a confident air about her before the start, like she did before her T&B Oaks win at Scottsville, she will likely run accordingly.

Strathdon disappointed in the Betting World 2200 on July day but that was partly due to him fighting during the attempt to drop him out from a wide draw. This time he is well drawn so there is unlikely to be a repeat and he is 3,5kg better off with Made To Conquer for a neck beating in the Lonsdale over 2400m at Greyville so is a huge runner.

Dark Moon Rising was well beaten in the VDJ but the muddling pace was against him. He has struck both his trainer and a couple of top jockeys as a stayer and could well relish this trip and is well drawn.

Wild Wicket is capable of a strong finish if left alone in the running and his draw of two will allow him to be ridden like that. His second dam produced a Gold Bowl winner and his sire Dynasty produced a Gold Cup winner and his damsire Jallad produced two Gold Cup winners, so he has the pedigree and is a dark horse.

Kitty’s Destiny has a wide draw and looks held by Let It Rain and Hermoso Mundo, although not by far and on Gold Bowl evidence he will be handy and staying on.

One Man Show had every chance in the Gold Vase but after quickening well was beaten 1,6 lengths by It’s My Turn and is now 0,5kg worse off. However, he now has his third run after a layoff.

Desert Wisdom is 3,5kg worse off than he would be if this was a normal handicap and he faces stronger than he has been in Port Elizabeth. The same can be said of Frikkie, who is 5kg worse off than he would be in a normal handicap.

One Direction stayed on well in the Gold Vase after going handy and has a chance as he is 1kg better off with It’s My Turn for a 1,55 length beating and is now drawn in pole.

Royal Utopia is 6kg better off with Witchcraft for a 4,5 length beating in the T&B Oaks and being by Ideal World out of a Fort Wood dual Grade 3 winner over 1800m she looks to have the class and the stamina in her pedigree. She does have a tough draw though.

The only three-year-old, Ballymaine would officially be 8,5kg under sufferance if this was a normal handicap. However, he is 4,5kg better off with It’s My Turn for a 3,25 length beating in the T&B Derby. If weight for age changes are included he is actually 5,5kg better off. That puts them together on paper. Furthermore, Ballymaine looks to be an out and out stayer who will relish the step up to 3200m. In his last start, an excellent preparation run over 1950m at Scottsville, he produced a good finish from off the pace.

Sheet Weaver is 2kg worse off with It’s My Turn from the Gold Vase despite being beaten 1,3 lengths, so has a tough task. However, he ran all the way to the line from a handy position and could earn.

It is an interesting race but Justin Snaith could make history by doing both the July and the Gold Cup trifecta as Made To Conquer, One Direction and Strathdon are selected to run one-two-three. It’s My Turn and Hermoso Mundo should also be included in the Pick and Jackpot. However, for back end of trifectas and quartets Ballymaine, Let It Rain, Dark Moon Rising, Wild Wicket, One Man Show, Witchcraft and Royal Utopia cab be considered in that order.

By David Thiselton

Four-time champion Anton Marcus, for so long first jockey to Markus Jooste and his Mayfair Speculators team, will be retained by Ridgemont from the start of next season. The expanding operation already retains Greg Cheyne whose contract will be continued.

Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter, still best known for his cricketing prowess- he was a member of England’s T20 team until injury ended his career, said: “Bringing Anton on board is another step in the right direction. We have an exciting crop of young horses entering the training yards and having both Anton and Greg on our team provides us with invaluable experience and expertise.”

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

The prolific-scoring Brave Move warmed up for her showdown with Fresnaye in the Final Fling Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday with an impressive piece of work yesterday.

Adam Marcus said: “It was her final work before the race. She went beautifully and I couldn’t be happier with her.”

Aldo Domeyer’s mount has been installed 11-10 favourite with World Sports Betting which has Fresnaye on 22-10. The latter’s stable companion Dynasty’s Blossom is on 5-1 and it’s 10-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower