The weight for age Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m features all of the top sprinters in the country still in training and is a particularly exciting race as it is around the bend at Greyville and the charge for home off the false rail is a spectacle to behold.

Bull Valley showed in the Tsogo Sun Sprint he has fine cruising speed and a tremendous kick, so he is going to be hard to beat from pole position. However, interestingly, Sean Tarry’s regular stable jockey S’manga Khumalo will be aboard Trip To Heaven and is replaced by Karl Zechner on Bull Valley.

Trip To Heaven is deservedly the highest merit rated horse in the field on 120, but the question will be how much ground he will lose at the start. This horse has a phenomenal turn of foot and his run here last year can be ignored as he lost plenty of ground as usual and was then rushed up and caught wide. He is sure to be given a better ride this year. The false rail is set to be five metres , so the front runners and inside drawn horses will not have as much advantage as they had in the recent Grade 2 Post Merchants, where there was virtually no false rail at all over this same course and distance. However, with the course running fast at present it will still not be easy for Trip To Heaven to make up the leeway.

Trip to Heaven (JC Photographics)

Sergeant Hardy could be a big runner from draw two as he has good pace and can stay on and he showed his liking for Greyville last time out when caught wide and coming from a long way back for second over 1100m. New Predator showed in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m he has some pace and his turn of foot and long-striding finish make him one of the dark horses over a trip too sharp, especially if the pace is fast.

Reigning Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars was dropped out last year from a wide draw and had too much ground to make up. In the recent Post merchants he was handy and stormed home for a 0,25 lengths second despite giving the winner Search Party 2kg. July-winning heavyweight jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe will be aboard, so there will be little or no dead weight to carry, but unfortunately Talktothestars has another very wide draw to overcome so will need more luck than he had last year.

London Call has 3,15 lengths to make up on Bull Valley from the Tsogo Sun and is only 1kg better off. However, he was right up at the front in the latter race until the closing stages and he has a good kick, so from a good draw of three here he could possibly last long enough to stay in the placings. He might be the pacemaker. Kangaroo Jack showed how good he was in last year’s Post Merchants over course and distance, where his devastating turn of foot was seen at its best, and after a recent preparation he will be a contender if reproducing that Post Merchants performance. His wide draw is not a great disadvantage for one of his hold up style.

Gulf Storm showed his class in the Tsogo Sun with a 2,55 length fourth, but he is worse off with Bull Valley now and will do well to repeat his fourth place of last year from a tricky draw of eight. Victorious Jay showed pace and a good kick from a good draw when a narrow second in the Drill Hall so could be dangerous here from a fair draw of seven.

Attenborough is an enigmatic sort with a lot of talent and over his ideal trip he could earn, but on paper he is well held on Tsogo Sun form by Bull Valley, Talktothestars, Gulf Storm and London Call. Champagne Haze is a dark horse considering the fine turn of foot he showed when winning the Gr 2 Senor Santa over 1160m, but it will be tough from the widest draw of all.

Rivarine has fine pace and possesses a kick, but will need to use his low draw to good effect to be able to reverse Computaform Sprint form with Talktothestars. Search Party is 2kg worse off with Talktothestars and has the widest draw of all to overcome in the 14 horse field, which will make it tough for him to repeat his start to finish Post Merchants win where he jumped from draw six. However, he has been progressive this season and can’t be ignored.

Anton Marcus did his homework in his usual professional manner to win comfortably on Red Ray last year and now rides his full brother Brutal Force. The latter ran a good fourth in the Computaform Sprint but was then tailed off in the Tsogo Sun when reportedly being hit in the eye by something and also found to be not striding out. However, he now has to overcome a wide draw of 12 and is not quite as talented as Red Ray, who overcame draw nine last year with his early pace and then still found a strong kick.

By David Thiselton

The Conglomerate, winner of last year’s Vodacom Durban July but only 13^th this time, had an operation yesterday to remove a chip from his near-fore joint.

Joey Ramsden said: “It happened in the race and is the reason why he didn’t let down.”

However stable companion Brutal Force is reported back on song for Saturday’s Mercury Sprint after suffering a freak accident in the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville. The five-year-old started third favourite that day but trailed in a long way last and the course vet reported him to be not striding out on his right fore.

Ramsden said: “Piere Strydom told me that after 50 to 100 metres the horse got something very sharp in his eye and, when he came back to the stables that evening, this eye was closed. He also picked up an infection in it from the bit of track that hit him.

“He is back to his best now but he has a ridiculous task from his 12 draw. On the all-weather at Greyville you’ve got a chance from a wide draw but it’s very hard on the turf course. Having Anton Marcus is a big help but we are still going to need a miracle.”

Ramsden has long complained about poor draws in KZN features – two years ago Act Of War had a Durban holiday after being repeatedly scratched from wide draws – and he added: “Every year we seem to get hit with wide ones and in the Merchants I don’t think I have ever caught a decent draw.”

By Michael Clower

Vaal-based Johan Janse van Vuuren has successfully found a sound base in the tranquil surrounds of the Ashburton training centre from which to raid Champions Season and he saddles ten runners at today’s Greyville poly track meeting where he looks to be in for a good afternoon.

Van Vuuren has also tempted champion jockey Gavin Lerena to delay his return to the UK to partner New Predator in Saturday’s Gr1 Mercury Sprint and also to try and make amends on the smart gelding Doosra in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap that heads today’s card.

Doosra has lost his way a little after a barn-storming start to his career and has dropped in the handicap from a career high of 98 to today’s 94, two pounds lower than when he was heavily supported in the market to win the eThekwini Sprint run on July day.

New Predator (Nkosi Hlophe)

He finished six lengths adrift of the winner Bishop’s Bounty but it was a race not without incident. Doosra clipped heels coming out of the gate for which Keagan de Melo picked up a suspension but more was to come as he was never out of trouble in the straight after running into serious traffic.

With a plum draw, he looks capable of making amends today but he does face a competitive field.

Buffalo Soldier is another that has lost his way a touch but has been up against some strong opposition since returning from a break in April. This will be his third run after that rest and now slightly down in class he looks a serious threat to Doosra.

Joey Ramsden obviously has a high opinion of Macduff after running him in the Sun Met and also entering him for the Vodacom Durban July, so back to a sprint for his last start, many can be forgiven for thinking that the 1200m trip would prove too short. However, fitted with blinkers, he finished like an express train and ran out a smart winner. Today’s seven furlongs would appear to be more to his liking and the Australian import is another to consider along with Pillar Of Hercules and Never Settle.

Palladium has been a frustrating horse to follow, having run up a string of promising performances but not following up when expected. So, although he is struggling for his next win he takes a big drop in class when he runs in the last and Charles Laird’s runner can finally get it right. Dennis Drier is involved in a tight tussle with Duncan Howells for the KZN trainer’s championship and he will be looking to Friend Request to cut back on his rival’s narrow lead. Friend Request was a convincing winner over course and distance last time out and has a strong chance of following up at Palladium’s expense.

Janse van Vuuren can start his run in the second where he is triple-handed. Picture Me is a first timer by Elusive Fort and White Winter a filly by Warm White Night, but stable companion Virga has had two outings, the last time finishing a distant runner-up to subsequent Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Brave Mary. Unless there is a springer amongst the first timers that form looks solid enough.

Van Vuuren saddles Shakespeare Inlove in the second. She found some market support when making a promising enough debut and should come on lengths from that effort.

A quick Van Vuuren treble is on the cards with Hard Ball in the third. The Australian import has been knocking at the door for some time now and steps up to what could prove to be a more suitable trip. Two possible dangers are Roy Had Enough and Air Salute, the pair finishing within a length of each other last time out.

By Andrew Harrison

Krambambuli, fourth in the recent Vodacom Durban July, heads the weights for the R1,25million Grade 3 eLan Gold Cup to be run over 3200m at Greyville on Sunday, July 30.

For the first time, the Gold Cup meeting will take place over two days of the weekend July, Saturday 29 and Sunday, July 30, with the Grade 1 Champions Cup the highlight of the Saturday card and the Gold Cup plus the two final two-year-old Grade 1 races of the season, namely the Premier’s Champion Juvenile Stakes and the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes supporting Gold Cup Sunday.

Ten Gun Salute (Nkosi Hlophe)

Vodacom Durban July winner Marinaresco and Rising Sun Gold Challenge victor Captain America head the 17 nominations for the Grade 1 Champions Cup to be run over 2000m. Marinaresco, runner up in last year’s July, made amends in the Champions Cup and will be out to defend his crown. Also nominated are Garden Province winner Bela-Bela, and July runners It’s My Turn, French Navy, Ten Gun Salute and Nightingale.

Krambambuli heads an entry of 28 runners for the Gold Cup that includes Hermoso Mundo and Captain Splendid, the pair recently involved in a tight finish to the Gr3 SABC Gold Vase.

The Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes has attracted 31 nominations including recent Grade 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper winner Desert Rhythm who will be looking to cement her place at the top of the two-year-old female rankings and Equus Champion. Her cause has been helped by a plum draw at 6.

In opposition will be the first five past the post in the Golden Slipper, Let It Flow, Tsessebe, Rockin Russian and Neptune’s Rain.

Purple Diamond, surprise winner of the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe on July day, runner-up and beaten a short head, Ancestry, and the unbeaten Sand And Sea are among the 20 nominations for the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes which will make for a cracking race if all three stand their ground. Also in the mix is Captain And Master, the more fancied of the Tarry runners in the Golden Horseshoe and possibly a touch unlucky after finding traffic.

By Andrew Harrison

The Gold Cup Festival Of Racing will be run over two days at the end of July and has all the makings of being, and becoming, one of the great racing celebrations in the country featuring 19 races over the two days headed on the Saturday by the Grade 1 Champions Cup and on the Sunday by the iconic marathon event, the eLAN Gold Cup.

The Festival, which begins with social events like the Gala Dinner on the Thursday and Golf Day on the Friday, will include a variety of entertainment on both race days to give the occasion an incredible festive atmosphere.

Marinaresco & Candice Bass-Robinson (Nkosi Hlophe)

Entries for the main feature events of the weekend closed on Monday with 28 horses being nominated for the eLAN Gold Cup and 17 for the Champions Cup, both races attracting an outstanding level of quality that should guarantee racing of the highest level to close off SA Champions Season and the South African 2016-2017 racing season.

The R1-million, Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1 800m could see the Vodacom Durban July winner Marinaresco going for the double having won the race last year trained by Mike Bass and staged as a tribute to Mike and his wife Carole with Mike retiring following a life-threatening illness. Under Mike’s daughter Candice, Marinaresco made history when winning the Vodacom Durban July in that he was saddled by the first lady trainer to ever win the big race.

Marinaresco’s participation in the race is yet to be confirmed but if he does run and win again, it would be one of the great fairy tales of South African racing.

Candice Robinson has also nominated her outstanding filly Nightingale that ran the race of her life when fourth by less than half a length to Marinaresco in the Vodacom Durban July having previously finished second over 1 400m in the Tibouchina Stakes.

It is a power-packed entry that includes the winner of the Premier’s Champion Trophy at Turffontein, Deo Juvente from the Geoff Woodruff stable, as well as the runner-up in that race, the Tyrone Jackey-trained Judicial. Brett Crawford has nominated his powerful Captain Al gelding Captain America that won the Rising Son Gold Challenge as well as Sail South that finished fourth in that race.

Justin Snaith has entered three horses headed by the brilliant filly Bela-Bela that cruised home in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. Black Arthur, third in the Cup Trial and It’s My Turn that was third in the Betting World 1900 and strongly fancied to win the Vodacom Durban July, are his other entries.

Add to the list the winner of the Betting World 1900 Ten Gun Salute from the Duncan Howells yard that found traffic problems when unplaced in the July and French Navy from the powerful Sean Tarry stable and you have what could be an outstanding field.

The eLAN Gold Cup over 3 200m carries a stake of R1.25-million and is the premier marathon race in the country.

The entries include the winner of both the Gold Bowl at Turffontein and the SABC Gold Vase, Hermoso Mundo, from the Weiho Marwing stable that will be going for the big staying race treble. He is likely to start as favourite but could find strong opposition from the Justin Snaith duo of Krambambuli and Captain Splendid, the latter having finished a head behind Hermoso Mundo giving the Marwing runner 1.5kg. Krambambuli had won the Highland Night Cup prior to running an outstanding fourth by less than half a length in the Vodacom Durban July where the 2 200m was short of his best trip.

Marwing has also entered the Dynasty gelding Let It Rain that finished fourth in the Gold Bowl and third in the KZN Derby and Adam Marcus has nominated Royal Badge that filled second place in the Betting World 2200. Candice Bass-Robinson has nominated Helderberg Blue and My World, the latter having finished second to Captain Splendid in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.

The two-day festival promises to be an absolute feast of racing and entertainment with betting pools in the millions of rands on both days.

By Richard McMillan