What Ctiteria gets you a run in 600K EMERALD CUP in Sept.

Hi all, 1st nominations came out today for the EMERALD CUP to be run later this month at the VAAL SAND TRACK. At present there are 41 nominations, with more to follow at 2nd nomination time.

So far 6 runners have been entered from Natal. I am presuming NONE of them have RACED ON SAND ( I may be wrong ) cause they all have a sand MR of 0 - yet they all have a pretty HIGH GRASS MR.

If the acceptances were based on Grass MR alone - ALL of these horses would probably get a run in this feature race.

QUESTION - Should these grass SPECIALISTS be allowed to run in this race , if they've NEVER raced on SAND BEFORE ?

Only a small field of 12 can start ( unless it's changed from last year )

To get a look into this race, should horses not have AT LEAST ONE OR TWO RACES ON SAND - Vaal or Kimberley, before they are entitled to run in the BIGGEST SAND RACE ON THE CALENDAR ?

What has happened to our SAND champions of yesteryear ? Of the final field of LAST year, ONLY 1 runner has been nominated so far - that is DYNAMITE MIKE, who finished 2nd last - last year. SCRUTINIZE has been entered as well - he won the supporting feature of last year ( very unlucky NOT to get into the BIG race some say )

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA ?

let's debate.

I don't think we need to debate, according to the RA's 'Keeping You on Track':

'Conditions for the race have changed this year, and one of the main factors for the handicappers to consider is whether your horse has good enough sand form to qualify to run. There is certainly no guarantee that a top turf horse will get into the field.'

So the KZN entries would have to run (and perform well) on the sand dyring the next week or two, in order to be eligible for a run in the Cup.

Or not?

look at today's CITIZEN racing back page.... big write up on the DURBAN hopefulls ( I must have E.S.P. )

does anyone know if some of these Durban nominated horses are due to test the sand track BEFORE the big one ?

FRODO I hope that you're right with the " changed conditions " & that we are not swamped by Durban horses, RACING ON SAND FOR THE 1st time.

Mark Dixon had a horse WIN on Sand last Saturday - NOTTGALASHIA, perhaps she may be an added runner at 2nd noms. Personally I do not have a problem if raiders like this test the sand surface FIRST, before trying to get into the BIG RACE.

It will be interesting to see which ones make it into the final field; looking again at the statement from the RA:

'There is certainly no guarantee that a top turf horse will get into the field.'

It says there is 'no guarantee'; they don't say that 'a top turf horse will definitely not make the final field'.

I guess time will tell...I have not seen the noms but playing devil's advovcate - what would you prefer (and how will the handicapper choose between) an above average horse that has won 3 or 4 races on the sand, or a top KZN horse that has no sand form?

I say restrict this Emerald race to the tried & tested SAND horses. There are plenty of feature turf races around the country.

As you say time will tell.... what were the circumstances that SCRUTINIZE did NOT make the big race last year ? was he overlooked cause of some HIGH MR TURF horses ?

Renegade can win the race but the draw is all important

Renegade with a good draw will be hard to beat

Th Kimberley king " LAWFUL LEADER " belonging to Mary Slack could take some beating if drawn well. Sand MR 110 - SHOULD CARRY TOP WEIGHT.
I think he's won 5 of 6 on the sand ( i know it was Kimberley )

I may be wrong, but hasn't Lawful Leader run on the Vaal sand last year and ran downfield? Does sand form in Kimberly translate to sand form at the Vaal?

Power, as far as I know the Cup is over 1400; Renegade imo is doubtful over the trip?

Frodo, believe it or not Lawful Leader is an 11 TIME WINNER ( albeit 9 of them in Kimberley )
He seems to be a serious SAND horse, hence his MR of 110

Should he take up duty in this big race I wouldn't leave him out of quartets.
He has run once before at the vaal he ran 5th, the results don't show if it was sand or turf.
He started his career off in Cape Town..... obviously the sand is his game !

Lawful Leader maybe to short.

Fair Brutus seems to be better of the 1400 these days. My pick for the race if he runs.

Elvis, only the race will tell, but I believe he is a serious KIMBERLEY horse, yet to be proven on the VAAL sand - I seem to remember that 5th was on the sand (and I think he was favorite)

Where do you find the noms?