The Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m is always one of the trickiest races on Gold Cup day as the form is relatively unexposed and the young fillies improve at different rates.

Desert Rhythm is the favourite having won the Grade 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper over 1400m, despite the race not panning out perfectly for her. She was caught one wide in a handy position and shifted outward at the top of the straight, so she did well to still find an extra gear to win. On pedigree and on that performance this Mambo In Seattle filly should enjoy the trip and has a fair draw.

Desert Rythym (Nkosi Hlophe)

The classy and unbeaten Dynasty filly Lady In Black had to overcome a wide draw last time over 1400m on the poly and didn’t have cover in her handy position, so did well to find extra in the straight before pulling away in the closing stages. She beat the Listed Devon Air Stakes runner up Sequined cosily by 1,75 lengths. On that showing and on pedigree she will love the step up in trip, but on the downside she has a wide draw to overcome.

Folk Dance is unbeaten in three starts from 1200-1450m on the Highveld and last time she beat the promising and previously unbeaten Aurelia Cotta. Her form compares favourably with Desert Rhythm’s. She has drawn very wide, but Anton Marcus aboard is a bonus.

Meryl ran on well from way back to win the Devon Air Stakes over 1400m and the form compares favourably with the Golden Slipper form. She is drawn wide but Anthony Delpech stays aboard.

Holly Vision went handy from a wide draw in the Devon Air and stayed on well for third and was rallying at the line. She has a plum draw.

Rockin Russian stayed on well for fourth in both the Devon Air and Golden Slipper and on those showings this Seventh Rocky filly should handle this trip, so she should be right there from a good draw.

Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

Flichity By Farr had to be pushed all the way last time over course and distance in a Maiden Juvenile Plate, but produced a strong finish and the form has worked out quite well.

Too Phat Too Fly represents some strong Cape form and is a definite contender although her eight draw is tricky.

Illegal finished just two lengths behind Golden Slipper runner up Let It Flow over 1200m on debut and was then an impressive winner over 1160m. She is a half-sister to Silver Class, whose best trip is 1400m, but she covers a lot of ground.

Mara had the run of the race in the Golden Slipper, but was already beaten when baulked late, although she did rally and could have got closer, so she can’t be ignored.

Frederico’s Dream beat Illegal by 1,8 lengths when making her debut over 1200m and won next time over the same trip. She looks held by Folk Dance on strict subsequent formlines, but she is one of the dark horses as one who is likely to relish the step up in trip and she is well drawn under Piere Strydom.

Just My Style has a nice stride, but her form is questionable.

Sorceress beat an uninspiring maiden field cosily second time out when stepped up to 1400m.

Le Bella Mia has good sprint form, but over raced in front when stepped up to 1300m in the KZN Sales Million.

The selection is Desert Rhythm to beat Lady In Black. The well drawn pair Frederico’s Dream and Holly Vision should relish the step up in trip and are chosen to follow them home. However, it is especially hard to ignore Folk Dance and Meryl, while Too Phat To Fly and Rockin Russian also stick in the mind, while Illegal, who is not the biggest filly but covers plenty of ground, and Flichity by Farr, who has the potential to shine if less reluctant in the running, are dark horses who also make some appeal in a typically tough-to-analyse Thekwini.

By David Thiselton

The Pick 6, Jackpot and PA will be popular on the Gold Cup Festival Of Racing weekend and on day one those who do their homework should reap healthy dividends.

Captain America (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Grade 1 WSB Champions Cup over 1800m yields a possible Pick 6 banker in Captain America. He has the advantage of coming in fresh and it is his third place finish in this year’s very strong Grade 1 Sun Met over 2000m which puts him a cut above the rest of the field. He proved this point by winning the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge when going handy off a strong pace and kicking away. He has the identical draw of ten in this race. Bela-Bela was a touch unlucky in the Gold Challenge and could have got closer than a 1,75 length third, but a mile is probably her best trip. However, she has won two Grade 1s from 1800-2000m and from draw eight will make her presence felt in her swansong. Marinaresco proved in the Vodacom Durban July there is only one way for him to race and that is to be held up, so he will be hoping for a decent pace in the defence of his crown.

Those three are the fancies for the exotics, but some will choose to go wider. Sail South could win a Grade 1 if he ever settled as he over races in all of his runs yet still placed in both the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Gold Challenge. This trip probably stretches him due to his pulling antic, but he was flying from last under Richard Fourie in both of the aforementioned Grade 1s and this is the first time he has tried further than a mile. This race often favours fresh horses so the highly regarded Table Bay has to be considered too. His mile form now looks excellent and although he has to prove he stays further he will be out to prove a point having been left out of the Gold Challenge field. The Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Deo Juvente comes in fresh too. It’s MY Turn has a tough task on paper, but this is his third run of the SA Champions Season and he could be a dark horse. Matador Man is talented and relatively unexposed and is another outsider who could surprise.

In the first leg of the PA the two-year-old Touch Of Magic looks very classy and could make it two wins from two. The back up is Chamber Maid, who is suited to this trip and is well drawn.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m is a tough race, but the two-year-old Ishnana has excellent cruising speed and is selected. He will hopefully jump better than he did last time. Lil Red Rooster should go close from a good draw and Bonnie Dawn can feature if having more luck than last time. Varbration is knocking on the door, Cathedral County should have benefitted from his last run, Swakopmund and Gee Whizz have exceptional early pace and Surf’s Up won well last time, so it is an ultra tough leg.

Nebula (Nkosi Hlope)

It doesn’t get easier in the Listed Umngeni over the same trip, although Lloyd’s Legacy reproduced his “unbelievable” homework on the course last time when a cornell collar was introduced, so he can follow up from pole position in a race with a lot of pace in it. Hashtag Strat has high cruising speed and should be right there and of the closers Rodney is the choice for third ahead of Attenborough and Isca.

The Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m is also competitive but MacDuff and Nebula are the stand outs.

The fifth leg of the Pick 6 is the Grade 3 Gold Bracelet over 2000m and Nightingale is the class act having finished tie fourth in the July. However, Star Express is weighted to reverse form with her from both the Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Majorca over 1600m and she has a plum draw. Bella Sonata is the best weighted horse on official merit ratings. Premier Dance and Captain Gambler could be threats too.

The last leg is tough because most of the fancied horses are drawn wide. Kapen Pride is a Silvano half-brother to Bulleting Home and is crying out for this trip, but his wide draw is a concern as he was a bit keen early last time. Brighteyebushytail, a Dynasty full brother to a horse who won third time out over 2000m, will relish the step up in trip and is well drawn and Storm Ruler, Lucky At Last, Roy’s Kaitrina and Eccelerate have to be considered too.

By David Thiselton

South Side and Karl Zechner can give Glen Kotzen his fourth Champagne Stakes in nine seasons at Kenilworth tomorrow.

This improving filly with the bad knees has won four of her last five starts and she was most impressive when making every metre in a conditions plate here three weeks ago. The snag is that this, along with all her four previous wins, was over 1 000m.

Karl Zechner (Nkosi Hlophe)

Indeed Kotzen said afterwards that he thought it was probably her best trip and tomorrow she has another furlong to travel, on rain-softened ground into the bargain.

“She loves the soft,” says the three-year-old’s trainer, seemingly negating the latter doubt, “and Richard Fourie doesn’t think the trip is going to be a problem. He reckons she is a natural.”

Kotzen also runs last month’s 14-1 course and distance winner Anneline but this one surely has little chance on ratings. The stand-out from that point of view is A Time To Dream who comes out 3kg  (two and a half lengths) superior to South Side and even more above all the others.

She failed to last home over the 1 800m of the Final Fling last Saturday and, although she has twice won over 1 400m this season, she has not won – or even raced – over tomorrow’s trip for more than two years.

“It’s not a strong race and she is coming towards the end of her career,” says Justin Snaith, explaining why he is running her. “In the soft conditions this 1 200m will be like a 1 400m and I do think she can be in the money.”

Varumba and Felicity Flyer (third best on adjusted ratings) are both well held on South Side’s last run although Greg Cheyne’s mount failed to run up to her best in that race.

Hanabi won the Olympic Duel over this trip and her last run is best ignored because she threw away her chance by fighting for her head, while Love To Boogie may also be a little better than her most recent run would suggest.

By Michael Clower

Greyville Saturday July 29 tips and suggested bets by Warren Lenferna

R1 (6) Making Miracles (10) The Matador (8) Roy’s Riviera
R2 (1) Aquila Warrior (4) Coys (11) The Byzantine
R3 (4) Touch Of Magic (8) Chamber Maid (10) Lolita Delago
R4 (3) Lil Red Rooster (9) Ishnana (6) Cathedral County
R5 (8) Lloyd’s Legacy (2) Effortless Reward (1) Attenborough
R6 (4) Nebula (8) Macduff (6) Prince Of Wales
R7 (10) Bela-Bela (1) Captain America (2) Marinaresco
R8 (1) Nightingale (3) Bella Sonata (7) Persian Rug
R9 (9) Lucky At Last (14) Kapen Pride (13) Brighteyebushytail

Exotics

PA (R324)
Leg 1: 4 x 8
Leg 2: 3 x 9 x 6
Leg 3: 8 x 2 x 1
Leg 4: 4 x 8
Leg 5: 10 x 1 x 2
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 9 x 14 x 13

PICK 6 (R768)
Leg 1: 3 x 9 x 6 x 5
Leg 2: 8 x 2 x 1 x 4
Leg 3: 4 x 8 x 6 x 7
Leg 4: 10 x 1 x 2
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 9 x 14 x 13 x 7

JACKPOT (R48)
Leg 1: 8 x 2 x 1 x 4
Leg 2: 4 x 8 x 6 x 7
Leg 3: 10 x 1 x 2
Leg 4: 1

BEST BET
Race 8: 1

VALUE BET
Race 7: 12

Greyville Sunday July 30 tips and suggested bets by Andrew Harrison

R1 (12) White Winter (5) Flamboyant (1) Diamonds Forever
R2 (8) Damaraland (10) Trip Queens (2) Icy Spirit
R3 (4) Rock My Soul (2) Gat Henshaw (3) Opera Royal
R4 (11) Tsessebe (2) Neptune’s Rain (12) Virga
R5 (1) Desert Rhythm (9) Lady In Black (4) Frederico’s Dream
R6 (3) Captain And Master (1) Ancestry (9) Monks Hood
R7 (16) Kinaan (7) Royal Badge (1) Krambambuli
R8 (3) Al Mariachi (2) So Var (6) Sniper Shot
R9 (3) The Great One (10) New Fort (6) Night Circus
R10 (6) Liquid Rainbow (5) Calabash (8) Selvan’s Jet

Exotics

PA (R108)
Leg 1: 4 x 2 x 3
Leg 2: 11 x 2
Leg 3: 1 x 9 x 4
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 16 x 7 x 1
Leg 6: 3 x 2
Leg 7: 3

PICK 6 (R640)
Leg 1: 11 x 2
Leg 2: 1 x 9 x 4 x 3
Leg 3: 3 x 1
Leg 4: 16 x 7 x 1 x 4 x 14
Leg 5: 3 x 2
Leg 6: 3 x 10 x 6 x 11

JACKPOT (R80)
Leg 1: 1 x 9 x 4 x 3
Leg 2: 3 x 1
Leg 3: 16 x 7 x 1 x 4 x 14
Leg 4: 3 x 2

Listen to The Way We Argue – Ep 117 [July 28 – July 30]

SA Racing App podcast featuring Warren Lenferna and Andrew Harrison…

Alternatively please use the following link:

Kinaan, third behind Hermoso Mundo and Captain Splendid in the SABC Gold Vase on Vodacom Durban July day, can turn the tables on his rivals when he goes a furlong extra in the Gr3 eLAN Gold Cup at Greyville on Sunday.

Kinaan (Nkosi Hlophe)

The two-day Gold Cup Festival of Racing kicks off tomorrow with the Gr1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup and runs into a 10-race card on Sunday that includes the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes, fitting end to the current racing season.

Many of the exotic bet pools have been boosted by carry-overs, so in all it will be a tempting weekend for punters.

Kinaan, third beaten little more than a length by stable companion Enaad in last year’s Cup, has not won a race in a year-and-a-half which is not a great recommendation in itself but on the other hand, he comes into Sunday’s race with half a kilo less to carry than last year – given that Callan Murray makes the weight – and off a fine preparation.

The Vase was his third run after a break and he was running on strongly come the home straight to finish third. He meets Hermoso Mundo on 2kg better terms and the demoted Captain Splendid on the same terms.

Murray, now with international experience after a stint in Hong Kong, and a recent outing on the gelding, could have the upper hand this time around.

Krambambuli (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Gold Cup has always been the target for Royal Badge and Adam Marcus appears to have timed the gelding’s preparation to perfection. He has improved with every outing since arriving in KZN and now steps out over what appears to be his optimum trip with a competitive weight.

Krambambuli was given little chance by most pundits in the July but was only run out of it late, finishing under a length back to Marinaresco. He has some excellent form over ground but does have to shoulder top weight.

The mare Trophy Wife will more than likely be off to stud after Sunday but after knocking on the door for some time, finally got it right with a fine win in the Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m. This will be her first attempt at 3200m, but she is a class act and that could tell in the final analysis.

Banner Hill and The Elmo Effect strike as lively outsiders but Kinaan is a fairly confident selection.

Desert Rhythm will be attempting to sew up an Equus Award as Champion two-year-old filly when she runs in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes but Lady In Black and Folk Dance could make things tough.

Sean Tarry, having the season of his life, could pull off a Gr1 double with Captain And Master in the Premiers Champion Stakes. The colt was decidedly unlucky behind stable companion Purple Diamond in the Golden Horseshoe and given some luck in running over a more suitable trip, he looks good enough to turn the tables.

By Andrew Harrison