David Thiselton
The Listed Durbanville Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth tomorrow is a fascinating contest and could be fought out by those who stay a true two miles.
The pace is likely to be set by the Mike Stewart-trained Hospitality, who is an out and out stayer.
"Everything will be in his favour," said Stewart. "He will get the fast ground that he likes and over this 3200m trip they should go slowly enough for him to be able to get to the front. He will dictate the pace and hopefully win."
Hospitality is well drawn in three, but on the downside he did get a five point raise for his last win in the Listed Woolavington Handicap over 2400m.
The top weight is Sangria Girl, a very big and game six-year-old mare who won the Grade 2 J&B Reserve Stayers over 2800m back in January and has won twice since then, including in her penultimate start over 2400m at Durbanville when dead-heating with 62,5kg on her back.
Trainer Greg Ennion said, "Her last run in Port Elizabeth can be ignored because of the conditions. Her blinkers were covered in mud. Her work has been excellent. She carries a big weight, but has won with big weights before."
She is drawn in pole, but her pilot for her last two starts, Karl Neisius will ride Golden Parachute. Aldo Domeyer rides Sangria Girl.
Golden Parachute finished second in the Grade 2 Mercedes Benz Gold Vase over 3000m on Vodacom Durban July day and is now one point lower in the handicap.
Mike Bass said, "He is doing well, looking very well and working well. He is distance suited and is slowly coming down to the handicap mark that he should be on."
Joey Ramsden has a good record in Cape Town staying races and has another chance with Predestination, whom he implied should do better than in his start when a disappointing eighth, 4,95 lengths behind Hospitality with whom he is now 1,5kg better off.
He said, "He scoped a little bit dirty after his last start. He enjoys the distance and I think he will be a big runner."
Riaan van Reenen runs both Sun City and Posh Boy and said, "I'm not too confident, they are both going the trip for the first time."
However, they have both been in good form over 2400m and have both been seen to be running on over that trip.
Sun City is 1,5kg better off with Hospitality for a 3,95 length beating in the Woolavington.
He beat Golden Parachute by 1,6 lengths in that race, but is now 1kg worse off.
An interesting contender is the Stephen Page-trained Jagermeister, who is distance suited.
Page was not concerned about his last start, when nine lengths back in the Woolavington.
He said, "In that race he was caught wide trying to get handy on a tight course. The 3200m is his game and he has been prepared for this race. He needs a strong rider and Gerrit (Schlechter) has won on him before."
Jagermeister has won twice recently over 2400m and is only three points higher than his last win so could feature.
Sudden Storm, Hospitality's stable mate, is an eight-year-old entire, who was fancied for the Vodacom Durban July as a three-year-old before being injured.
Stewart said, "On his day he can beat Hospitality, but he often doesn't respond when coming under pressure and doesn't enjoy the whip. So he's a difficult ride and as an entire he can be a bit grumpy."
The Justin Snaith-trained Prince Asad has had two Grade 2 wins over staying trips in his career, one as a three-year-old over 2400m and the other in the J&B Reserve Stayers over 2800m in January 2008.
He is 2,5kg better off with Hospitality for a 3,85 length beating in the Wollavington over 2400m and Snaith said, "He came back from a long rest and has slowly come back to form. I think he is now ready to start running into the money again, although he will have to overcome the wide draw. We are expecting a nice run."
Caymen Island tries the trip for the first time and trainer Yogas Govender said, "He is just below Grade 2 level at his best. He hated the soft going in the Algoa Cup. He is doing well but the big concern is whether he gets this trip. Bernard (Fayd'herbe) got off him in a recent run and said that he felt he would be suited by much further. So we are trying the trip but only Wednesday will tell whether he gets it."
Casey's Son is an honest sort who seldom runs a bad race and ran a fair race over 2400m recently.
Trainer Glen Kotzen had a go at the handicapper regarding this horse.
"He didn't travel well when we sent him for the Algoa Cup, but really this horse had been shockingly treated by the handicapper as he is about the same as he was when last winning over two years ago despite it being clear that he can't win off this mark."
The two bottom weights, Grey Cossack and Jarvik are way out of the handicap and can't be fancied.
The selection is Golden Parachute to beat home Sangria Girl, with Hospitality, Predestination and Sun City next best.
In other important raceday news, Joey Ramsden said about the well-bred Azeroth, who runs in the sixth, "He came off the farm and I had him nowhere near his best last time. He will still need this one more run."
Glen Kotzen said of Paddy O'Reilly, who is 9kg best in the fourth, a Graduation Plate, "He has cost himself at the start, but Malan du Toit (a horse whisperer) has done a lot of work with and will accompany him to the start. If he breaks on terms he should win."
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