Crown Of Gold bids for the PE Gold Cup double today
The novel attraction and spectacle of South Africa’s longest race features on this afternoon’s Fairview programme. The R150 000 Listed PE Gold Cup is run over 3600m and Tara Laing saddles the Silvano gelding Crown Of Gold who bids to win the race for the second year running.
Jockey S’manga Khumalo , who is scheduled to partner Whiteline Fever in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July, has been stood down for the second meeting in a row and his participation in the big Greyville meeting must now be in the balance.
Khumalo fell off Peep Show after winning the first at the Vaal on Tuesday and speculation is doing the rounds that he has injured his back and was also concussed.
But today’s eight-race Fairview meeting will be of more pressing interest and the focal point for punters looking to boost July punting coffers.
There is a mega net Pick 6 Carryover of R200 000. The exotic goes off in race 3 @ 13h55 and the estimated pool is expected to grow to R 900 000.
The feature is quite unique in global horseracing and while only a modest Listed race is bound to attract plenty of interest.
The longest major flat races in the world are the ‘cup’ races: the Melbourne Cup, the Ascot Gold Cup, the Gold Cup at York and the Prix Du Cadran in France.
Raymond Danielson rides the favourite
The Prix du Cadran, which is a Group I-level race, and the Gold Cup at York, are run at a distance of approximately 4000m, and are the longest Grade 1 races.
The other ‘Cup’ races are run at distances of 3200m.
In terms of Classics, the British St. Leger and its French equivalent, the Prix Royal Oak, are run at distances of 2800m to 3000m These are Group I races.
In the USA, the Jockey Club Gold Cup used to be run at the traditional ‘Cup’ distance of 3200m, but that was years ago.
Now the longest major stakes in the USA is the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita, which is run on the turf at a distance of 2800m. The Belmont stakes, at 2400m, is the second-longest major stakes race.
Crown Of Gold won a cracker last time out in the Glenlair Trophy, his first win since winning the PE Gold Cup beating Key Castle and Drill Sargeant last year.
Raymond Danielson rides him and again and he appears to hold all his rivals.
There can be no stamina doubts either and punters may be wanting to banker Crown Of Gold who is currently quoted at 16 to 10.
The day’s other feature is the R150 000 Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes, a fillies and mares race run over 1200m.
Justin Snaith holds a powerful hand with Captainofmysoul (our top-rated selection) and Variety Star carrying the flag for a yard well on its way to clinching the SA champion trainer title.
The first race is off at 12h40, which is also the Bipot opener.
