Wild Coast – beautiful racecourse – and who has been nursing their handicaps?
I am back in Durban for the final push, as they say. It is Gold Cup week and it looks to be a cracking card. This year’s Gold Cup looks to be an extremely strong and competitive race and I am pleased to say I think we have two lively runners, writes Joey Ramsden.
We maybe went a bit too hard with Coltrane early on in the season so we have freshened him up and his last two pieces of work and his gallop were quite out of the ordinary. On his day, he is more than capable of accounting for this type of field. He appears to be a horse that is running off a reasonable mark here.
Disco Al – does he get the 3200m?
I can say exactly the same for Disco Al.
I am not entirely sure he gets the two miles but he is a horse which drops the bit in a race and needs an exceptionally strong ride when coming from off the pace. He will get that as the Master Marcus is in the irons and the two seem to complement each other like a hand in a glove. He could be a lively runner and is also off what seems to be a reasonable mark. Overall, the race does seem to be an exceptionally competitive affair and a high quality event and it is really good to see a strong Gold Cup.
I feel that staying horses are good for everyone; they are great entertainment and, as a trainer, I derive a huge amount of pleasure out of training stayers and winning the stayers races a) because one has to have a knack with them and b) the horses become old friends in the yard, seeing them day after day and year after year. There is nothing better than coming to work in the morning and seeing a familiar face hanging over the door to greet you.
Competitive
It is not just the Gold Cup on Saturday; there are also Gr1 colts and fillies races which look to be competitive events. Apart from Dennis Drier’s Chestnuts N Pearls, there does not appear to be a stand out young colt or filly yet. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top over the mile at Greyville.
Brutal Force -I think he will love the poly
There is also a highly entertaining Listed sprint race, the Umngeni Handicap, in which we have Brutal Force running on the poly track for the first time. I have a feeling he will love it but it is a tough and competitive event.
There is also a fillies and mares ten furlong WFA event, the Gr2 Gold Bracelet in which we have Gallica Rose. I think the last time we had a runner in this race was with Mother Russia when she beat the top class filly, River Jetez, trained by Mike Bass. These two fillies ended up battling it out for another year, with one beating the other and trading blows in the features. Both were extra ordinary fillies.
Golf
After the Gold Cup, the great and the good (and probably the bad) from racing all line up at the Wild Coast Sun for a smashing competition of golf.
I know some people like to nurse a hangover but there have certainly been a few boys nursing their golfing handicaps in order to get off a good mark for this contest. It is a contest that everyone in racing wants to try and win and slip on that green jacket but rarely do. The Wild Coast is a beautiful golf course and I am sure loads of fun will be had by all. I am also sure it will be won by someone with an extremely canny handicap.
Who will be this year’s victor is anyone’s guess but a good place to go is www.handicaps.co.za and see who has been putting in a few uncharacteristically high scores of late.
Home James
I am looking forward to the final week in Durban but nothing beats packing those bags up and coming home. The horses get a nice rest on the farm and we can all look forward to the new season. The slate is wiped clean and we can all start again.
It has been a highly entertaining season in Natal with us all having to get used to many changes; new training facilities and new racecourse configurations.
Personally, I think it will be a good idea to get together with the top guys to discuss what can maybe be done a little differently to try and improve things. It would also be a good idea to thank them for a wonderful season and maybe suggest ways to make it better for next season.
No one has the perfect product and constructive thoughts are best shared.
www.joeyramsden.com
