The Champions Cup Day meeting to be held on 28 July at Greyville is probably the most looked forward to meeting of the year by the racing purist, because many of the feature races on the day are championship deciders.
In the G1 HKJC Champions Cup (1800m) the big horse Dave The King has settled down well from gelding and from a likely handy or front-running position his massive stride could carry him all the way to the line. See It Again is the best weighted and will be running on strongly. Flag Man will go close having done so well in the Durban July from a wide draw. Cousin Casey is in fine form and at last gets a good draw in a big race. Royal Victory will be running on strongly from a tricky draw.
They are taken in that order but it is hard to separate those five and it is hard to leave out Barbaresco, who should relish the step down to this trip, and Double Superlative, who has proven Group 1 weight for age-winning class and should be ideally distance suited.
The World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m is only a G3 these days, but is nevertheless the country’s most prestigious staying event.
2021 winner Nebraas proved his well being in the G3 Gold Vase over 3000m last time and is taken to beat his more fancied Sean Tarry-trained stablemate Future Pearl, the 2023 winner who is not surprisingly favourite as he is progressive and for a big horse has a magnificent turn of foot.
Shoot The Rapids is progressive and will stay all day. Master Redoute has proven class over marathon trips. Breeze Over is an out and out stayer who needs a good draw and he got one. They are taken to finish third, fourth and fifth respectively.
In the G1 weight for age Mercury Sprint over 1200m Lucky Lad has a wide draw but his exceptional turn of foot can carry him to victory as he is better off at the weights than the horses he beat in the G1 Golden Horse Sprint. At My Command should go close from a good draw. I Am Giant and Royal Aussie should be right there.
In the G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes (1600m) Cosmic Speed stayed on strongly to win the G2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m last time and was not stopping at the line, so he is taken to beat Grand Crescendo, who impressed last time out. The Specialist is also taken to be a threat, while Legend Of Arthur has impressed and can earn and Mount Pinatubo finished strongly last time to beat Legend Of Arthur by two lengths over 1400m, so he is also a runner.
In the G1 Douglas Whyte Stakes (1600m) Quid Pro Quo has an exceptional turn of foot and should stay the trip, but the impressive Lock And Key should be staying on strongly too, while World Of Alice has been eyecatching and should relish the trip and Fatal Flaw and Whistle The Tune can also earn.
