PE-based jockey Teaque Gould has taken the opportunities created by the lockdown travel restrictions with both hands and produced a vintage ride to win the R85 000 Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup on the stamina loaded Judpot gelding Africa’s Gold at Fairview on Friday.
Once our longest race, the PE Gold Cup was being run over 3200m for the first time on Friday and produced a top drawer finish, with the Alan Greeff duo of Africa’s Gold (16-1) and the more fancied Tiger Ridge mare Meryl (47-20) going hammer and tongs to the wire.
Teaque Gould keeps Africa’s Gold in front as Meryl (Charles Ndlovu) tried hard late (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The photo showed that Africa’s Gold had gotten the verdict by a short head in a time of 212,31 secs after a courageous display of pacemaking, crowned by a never-say-die ride by Gould, who can put big shows together when he puts his mind to it and gets the chances.
Peter Wrensch’s Cape raider Troop The Colour (19-4) was full of merit for his 3,235 length third after the long haul up the Garden Route and paid the expenses for his trip with a game try.
The 2019 winner Onesie (6-1) lacked the spark of her previous efforts, but banked fourth cheque, a further half length back.
Formerly based in Gauteng and then the Cape where he battled a bit, Africa’s Gold has won two of three starts in the Eastern Cape and it was good to see part-owner, and his former trainer, Jurgen van Heerden on course, to lead him in.
He was bred by Malachi Stud and Racing (Pty) Ltd and is by A.P. Indy stallion Judpot out of the five-time winning Al Mufti mare, Africa’s Touch.
Judpot moved from Varsfontein Stud to Syd & Colin Birch’s Vogel Vlei Stud in Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape for the 2019 breeding season.
Africa’s Gold has won four races with five places from eighteen starts for stakes of R261 050.
Reigning East Cape Champion Alan Greeff trained four winners on the day, two of which were ridden by Teaque Gould.
