Media Release- Golden Horse Sprint Raceday Entries
- Bob Brogan
-
Topic Author
- Administrator
-
- Posts: 82524
- Thanks: 6461
Media Release- Golden Horse Sprint Raceday Entries
15 years 1 month ago
2009 Golden Horse Casino Sprint Champion – Earl Of Surrey
John Lewis/Gold Circle
Equus champion Pocket Power was a surprise entry for the Golden Horse Casino Sprint (Gr 1) when first nominations were published on Friday. In the same vein, last year’s winner Earl Of Surrey, who has not set foot on a racecourse since that win, was also among the list of 34 entries at this initial stage.
The R600 000 Golden Horse Casino Sprint will be run over 1200m at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, May 29, along with three other Grade 1 sprints, namely the SA Fillies Sprint, the Gold Reef Resorts Medallion and the Allan Robertson Championship.
Trainer Mike Bass has indicated that the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (Gr 1) is “Pocket’s” primary mission for the Champions Season and will take the rest of the season as it comes.
However, a warm-up for the Challenge in the Golden Horse would add a whole new dimension for a gelding who is not short of speed and the tough Scottsville six furlongs would make for an ideal prep run if needed.
With this season’s build-up to the Vodacom Durban July thrown into disarray courtesy of the soccer World Cup, trainers have had to think out of the box and the traditional build-up to Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Evening has had to be given a re-think.
Duncan Howells has nominated Friday evening’s Drill Hall Stakes winner Tropical Empire and although it may already be a case of Champions Season mission accomplished for the Australian-bred son of Second Empire, victory in the Golden Horse would put the cherry on the top. "It is short of his best distance, but I don't see why we can't freshen him up and take our chances," said Howells after the Drill Hall win.
Tropical Empire was very unlucky in the Golden Horse in 2008, when having to be snatched up at a time he was travelling very well.
Another former Golden Horse winner, JJ The Jet Plane, has not been seen out since a spell overseas but has been nominated by trainer “Lucky” Houdalakis while Mythical Flight, who is slowly working his way back to form after an overseas sojourn, is among the top ranked runners and after a bold showing in the recent Computaform Sprint, will be close to peak form for this race.
A notable absentee at this stage is Warm White Night who appeared to battle in the sticky going of the Computaform Sprint last weekend, finishing last. However, Private Jet, just in front of Warm White Night last Saturday, is among the entries.
A striking fact is that only seven of the 34 horses nominated are rated below a 100 merit rating, making this one of the strongest possible line-ups for one of the most important Grade 1 sprints on the racing calendar.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Bob Brogan
-
Topic Author
- Administrator
-
- Posts: 82524
- Thanks: 6461
