The Mike de Kock-trained Wild One put in pleasing work at Summerveld on Tuesday under big race rider Anthony Delpech and remains the favourite for the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m to be run on Super Saturday at Greyville over the weekend.

Delpech said Wild One was never one to show much at home, but both he and De Kock were very pleased with his wellbeing.

De Kock also emphasised that this horse was at present very sound.

The yard were bullish about his chances.

Owner Sean Phillips bought Wild One back for R200,000 at a January dispersal sale, which speaks volumes for the regard in which he is held, considering he will turn six on Gold Cup day. The decision could well pay dividends.

The Mogok gelding jumps from a plum draw of five and is coming off two excellent second places in the Gr 2 Cup Trial over 1800m and the KZN Breeders Million Mile respectively, which were both run at Greyville. On those two runs he looks to have improved, so looks capable of handling the overall six point merit rated raise he has been given since finishing a 0,5 length second in last year’s the Gold Cup. He has clearly benefitted from the long layoff he was given after his gallant effort in that big race.

De Kock and Delpech had an early morning start on Tuesday when leaving the Wild Coast at 4:30 a.m in order to gallop Wild One at Summerveld, before returning to the coastal resort to play in the second round of the popular Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament.

De Kock is no slouch at the game and finished second overall off his single figure handicap.

The coveted “Green Jacket” was won by Odyar Nelson, who fought back doggedly after starting the second day with three “black outs”. He overtook overnight leader Yogesh Chetty late on the final nine and was able to hold his nerve to deny the consistent De Kock.

The Lady’s “White Jacket” was won by Sandi Burger.

The best gross score was achieved by Dean Waterston, who plays off a handicap of two.

The tournament above all emphasises the togetherness of the racing fraternity and always provides an excellent freshener before the new season, although it does usually occur after the Gold Cup, which has been postponed this year due to the inclement weather last weekend.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Geoff Woodruff will attempt to end a hoodoo when sending out the robust Australian-bred mare Wild Ash in Saturday’s Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m at the Super Saturday meeting at Greyville.

The five-time champion trainer has finished second in the country’s premier staying race no fewer than four times.

Wild Ash had a pleasing grass gallop last Friday at Summerveld, where she has been staying in the Dennis Bosch yard.

The Gold Cup will be the culmination of a carefully laid out plan.

She needed her penultimate start when fifth in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2400m at the Vaal and then showed her class over staying trips last time out when rallying back in the Gr 2 Gold Vase over 3000m at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July day to finish a 0,75 length second. She beat Solid Speed by a neck in the Gold Vase and will now be 3kg worse off. However, she should now be cherry ripe and that last race proved she would stay this trip.

Woodruff also pointed out that as a relatively lightly raced horse, considering she is turning five on Gold Cup day, she would not be going in “tired”.

He was also not concerned about her Gold Cup jockey Donavan Mansour having never been aboard her in a race before as he said she was “a pretty straight forward ride”. However, he admitted that her draw of 12 was a tad tricky.

Woodruff has pointed out before that he hardly considers Wild Ash to be a filly as she is a “big, strong girl” and quite masculine in countenance. She will definitely not be intimidated by her male rivals or be pushed around.

The Dylan Thomas mare has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weigh of 52kg and as a 20/1 shot with Betting World she could offer good each-way value.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Geoff Woodruff

According to the weather experts the Super Saturday eLan Property Group Gold Cup racemeeting rescheduled to 1 August will take place under excellent weather conditions.

On raceday golf will be played at Royal Durban which means that there will only be limited parking on the golf course and this parking area is now officially SOLD OUT.

In order to accommodate as many cars as possible in the limited parking that has been made available we appeal to drivers to park efficiently and to cooperate when directed by parking attendants.

For those that choose to park in the streets around Greyville Racecourse please note that there will be an added security presence in these areas. Racegoers are advised not to park illegally such as on red or yellow lines or in areas that block entrances to private properties.

As from tomorrow (Wednesday July 29) bookmakers, in general, will no longer be pricing up ante-post betting and the betting will now only be available on the day of the racemeeting. Prices will be up at 10.00am sharp at which time claims will be available. Ante-post betting will only be available for major feature races.

Michael Weare confirmed that Betting World: “with due respect for the concerns of fellow bookmakers but in the best interest of punters will continue to price up at least 24hrs prior to each racemeeting.”

More to follow…

Joey Soma runs the Eyeofthetiger gelding Savage Wind in Saturday’s Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m and expects him to find the frame.

Talking about the pace of the race, Soma reckoned the topweights would not get home in a fast race and those that wanted a true test would not want it slow. He added Savage Wind was one of the few horses who would be happy with any pace. In the past he had sometimes had the tendency to pull, but appears to be over it as he  settled well in a very slow paced race in his last start when a narrow 0,2 length third in the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville.

Soma said, “He is a nice consistent horse over this distance and is getting stronger and stronger the older he gets.”

Savage Wind is better off at the weights with all the horses that finished around him in the Track and Ball Derby, Disco Al, Hot Ticket and Kingston Mines, yet at 16/1 with Betting World is longer priced than any of them. However, Soma admitted the pace in that race had been false.

He concluded, “He is the type of horse that could finish second in a maiden or second in the Gold Cup.”

The promising young apprentice Callan Murray rides from a wide draw of 15 and Soma said, “He knows him well as he works him every day. He will play it by ear and just allow him to do his own thing.”

Soma also runs the former Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m and said, “She has been very disappointing in her last two races, especially in her last one (tailed off last in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m). I have discussed it with the connections and it is likely that if she runs another bad race she will be retired to stud but otherwise she might race for another season. We couldn’t find much to explain those last two races, although she was a bit above herself on the day of the Cup Trial.

“I have freshened her up and she has been working very well, so we hope she can show some of her old brilliance. There is not much between her and Jet Belle on the form of the Summer Cup and the Paddock Stakes. She has pole position draw and she does get on well with Piere Strydom (rode her to a narrow and unlucky second in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m as well as a narrow second in the Gr 2 Jo’burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m).”

David Thiselton