The Drakenstein Stud-based sire Trippi has justified his high price tag and is on the brink of landing his first National Sires Championship, but former champion Silvano looks to have more than just a fair chance of spoling the party on eLan Property Group Gold Cup day on Sunday.

By close of play on Monday Trippi on R18,451,175 was R761,775 ahead of Silvano. Reigning champion Captain Al was only about R100,000 behind Silvano in third place, but doesn’t look to have the runners at the Gold Cup meeting to make up the leeway.

Silvano, on the other hand, has many big race runners on Gold Cup day, so the championship might play out to a thrilling conclusion.

In the Gr 1 R1 million Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup, Silvano has no fewer than four runners, odds-on favourite Marinaresco, the officially best-weighted Punta Arenas, last year’s narrow runner up Ice Machine and also St Tropez. The first prize is R625,000 and Silvano could well make some serious inroads into Trippi’s lead in this race, if not overhaul him, because there is good place money on offer too.

Trippi’s sole runner in the Champions Cup is Baritone, who is not without a chance despite a wide draw.

Earlier, in the Gr 2 R1,25 million eLan Property Group Gold Cup, Silvano is also in the pound seats. He has last year’s runner up Balance Sheet involved as well as Zafira, who is from the stable of staying race maestro Weiho Marwing. Trippi, being a speed influence, has no runners in this event. The first prize in this race is R781,250.

In the Gr 1 R600,000 Thekwini Stakes, which carries a first prize of R375,000, Trippi has a lively chance with Dawn Calling, while Silvano is unrepresented.

However, in the Gr 1 R600,000 Premier’s Champions Stakes, Silvano has a chance with Palladium, while Trippi is unrepresented.

Earlier, in the Gr 2 R300,000 The Debutante, which carries a first prize of R187,500, Trippi has two chances with the promising Trippi’s Girl and Water Lily Lake, while Silvano has one runner, Arissa, who has the ability to upset.

In the R300,000 Umkhomazi Stakes, Trippi is the only one of the pair to have a runner, the speedily-bred topweight Flying Myth.

The race for the Sires title might go right down to the wire, because in the Gr 2 R400,000 Gold Bracelet, which carries a first prize of R250,000, Silvano has the useful Nightingale involved, while Trippi is unrepresented.

If Trippi does need a last gasp opportunity following that race he will get it in the form of Beloved Country in the Listed R150,000 Umgeni Handicap (first prize R93,750) and with two livewires, Night Trip and Tripandie, in the Listed R150,000 Darley Arabian. Night Trip goes for his third successive win in this race.

The 12^th race over 1900m on the poly, which is the last race of the South African season, carries a total stakes of R82,000, with a first prize of R51,250, and Silvano has two good runners in Night Shadow and Shimmering Brook, while Trippi is represented by Trip To Rio.

Trippi, a USA-bred horse by End Sweep, is the most expensive horse to ever be imported to South Africa.

The country is fortunate to have the Maine Chance Farms-owned Silvano as he was originally intended to be a shuttle stallion, but was unable to return home to Germany after his first season here due to an outbreak of African Horse Sickness, which led to a suspension on exports. Consequently it was decided to syndicate him and base him permanently in South Africa. Silvano was SA champion sire in the 2012/2013 season.

David Thiselton