PREVIEW:GREYVILLE (DAY/NIGHT) - SATURDAY 28 JULY 2012

LADBROKES.CO.ZA GOLD CUP



Scratchings up to date as at 05h30 Thursday 26 July 2012.

RACE 1:Juvenile Plate 1100m Bend

TWITTER (Vaughan Marshall/MJ Byleveld) ran well in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville two months ago. The shorter trip could suit more. CONTADOR (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) was three and a half lengths behind TWITTER in the same race. Is 2kg better off. Should finish closer. LUXARDO has steady maiden form. Will have more to find. NIGHT CLUB (Pat Lunn) did not show in a MR 74 last time. Chance on earlier better form. Fifth place should be a straight shoot out between PIANO MAN and I AM WILL.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TWITTER * (1); 2nd - CONTADOR (2); 3rd - LUXARDO (7); 4th - NIGHT CLUB (4); 5th - I AM WILL (6)

RACE 2:MR 78 Hcp 1300m Bend

PINOT NOIR (Duncan Howells/Anthony Delpech) is unbeaten this C & D (2 from 2). Did not show in a feature last time. The pacifiers were on that day and they have been removed for today's race. Should be right there. STOLEN DESTINY has been in top form and also has a distinct liking for this C & D. Will be running on. Sean Cormack rides. Stable companion, LIVE CONTROVERSY is also in good form and must not be overlooked. DRUM SCORE (Sean Tarry/Anton Marcus) is consistent and will be doing his best work late. The biggest improver could be DUBAI DIZZY (Mike De Kock/Felix Coetzee). FRENCH REEF could improve.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PINOT NOIR * (4); 2nd - STOLEN DESTINY (3); 3rd - LIVE CONTROVERSY (2); 4th - DRUM SCORE (6); 5th - DUBAI DIZZY (11)

RACE 3:MR 100 Hcp (F & M) 1400m Bend

MISS IPANEMA (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) has only won over the distance and is holding form well. Was not disgraced in the Grade 2 Fillies Guineas last time. Stable companion, HAPPY HEART was running on late over 1600m last time. Good chance this afternoon. MOMBASA (Mike Bass/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) has raced against stronger and is ideally distance suited. Her efforts against PRINCESS VICTORIA were with merit. Chance despite the 61.5kg she will have to carry. CRISSY SANCHEZ (Sean Tarry/Anthony Delpech) tries this far for the first time. May improve further. SWEET ARIA has steady form but takes on stronger and over a distance she is not sure to stay. SHE'S A DIME has good form but against weaker.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MISS IPANEMA * (2); 2nd - HAPPY HEART (5); 3rd - MOMBASA (1); 4th - CRISSY SANCHEZ (7); 5th - SWEET ARIA (6)

RACE 4:MR 78 Hcp 2400m Bend

CANTERBURY TALE (Mike De Kock/Anton Marcus) has been running on strongly against stronger. First time this far, but should see it out. DOLOMITE (Kumaran Naidoo) takes a huge drop in class but has 61.5kg to carry. Has won over the distance. Should prefer current company. BAMAKO (Sean Tarry/Anthony Delpech) dropped in class last time and won well over a similar distance. Yet to run at this track. LOOK AFTER ME has shown good form since coming to Durban for the Winter Season. Good chance. GANDOLF THE GREAT could cause a minor upset.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CANTERBURY TALE * (3); 2nd - DOLOMITE (1); 3rd - BAMAKO (2); 4th - LOOK AFTER ME (5); 5th - GANDOLF THE GREAT (9)

RACE 5:Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes (R500 000) 1600m Bend

STRAIGHT SET has yet to run a bad race. Ran a good race in the Golden Slipper last time. KING'S TEMPTRESS finished ahead of ALL IS SECRET last time. The gap was almost two lengths. They meet at level weights and the gap should be pretty much the same. ALL IS SECRET will enjoy the extra 200m. Anton Marcus rides. FIRE WHEEL (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) has fair post maiden form. Finished quite a distance behind the aforementioned three in the Golden Slipper. FIVE RINGS has the form but this will be her toughest task to date. Place chance at best.

SELECTIONS: 1st - STRAIGHT SET * (3); 2nd - KING'S TEMPTRESS (2); 3rd - ALL IS SECRET (1); 4th - FIRE WHEEL (5); 5th - FIVE RINGS (8)

RACE 6:Grade 1 Premier's Champion Stakes (R500 000) 1600m Bend

A competitive Grade 1 race. WAR HORSE is top class. The way in which he won the Golden Horse on July Day was most impressive. Expect another cracking run. The biggest improver could be THE HANGMAN (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom). Had to switch late last time in the same race that was on by WAR HORSE. Look for an improved run. BLACK TOGA (Vaughan Marshall/Anton Marcus) has won three from four. Has a big chance if seeing out the 1600m. ACT FAST (Vaughan Marshall/MJ Byleveld) ran a decent post maiden last time. The blinkers go on. More to do but may pick up a place along with SHIMMER AND SHINE (Greg Ennion/Bernard Fayd'Herbe).

SELECTIONS: 1st - WAR HORSE * (1); 2nd - THE HANGMAN (7); 3rd - BLACK TOGA (2); 4th - ACT FAST (8); 5th - SHIMMER AND SHINE (3)

RACE 7:Grade 1 Ladbrokes Gold Cup (R1 000 000) 3200m Bend

GORONGOSA (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) is unbeaten over the 3200. She is a top class stayer and looks to be the pick of Mike De Kock's runners. Will be running on late. Stable companion, VETTEL, with Anton Marcus aboard will more than likely set the pace, but could be hard to catch if a few lengths ahead at the top of the straight. KOLKATA (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) has placed second this C & D and ran a good race in the Gold Vase at this track on July Day. Could be a great double for the trainer/jockey combination (July and Gold Cup). With 54kg on his back could be difficult to beat. BLAKE (Dean Kannemeyer/Karl Neisius) will be flying the Cape Town flag in this race. Has hardly done anything wrong in his career and his latest form has been very good. SAGE THRONE looked impressive in the July Gallops a little over a month ago and was just over six lengths behind POMODORO in the big race three weeks ago. Expect a good run over this extra 1000m. Others to consider for the larger exotic perms are SEAL (Gavin Van Zyl/Robbie Fradd), ILSANPIETRO (Mike De Kock/Kevin Shea) and CAPTAIN'S WILD (Mike De Kock/Karis Teetan).

SELECTIONS: 1st - GORONGOSA * (8); 2nd - VETTEL (12); 3rd - KOLKATA (17); 4th - BLAKE (3); 5th - SAGE THRONE (4)

RACE 8:Grade 1 Champions Cup (R700 000) 1800m Bend

CHESALON (Mike Bass/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) ran a cracker in the Durban July last time when staying on well for a close up third. If he can repeat that run, then he should go extremely class. Is 2kg better off than SOLO TRAVELLER (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) for a head beating in the July. Was running on that day. WHITELINE FEVER (Sean Tarry/Anton Marcus) is badly out at the weights with both on their runs in July. GOLD ONYX (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) has a chance on his run in the Durban July. MASTER PLAN (Greg Ennion/Muzi Yeni) won the Grade 2 Derby very well last time. Has a chance on that run but could have more to find in this field.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CHESALON * (3); 2nd - SOLO TRAVELLER (5); 3rd - WHITELINE FEVER (13); 4th - GOLD ONYX (7); 5th - MASTER PLAN (12)

RACE 9:Grade 2 Gold Bracelet (R200 000) 2000m Bend

BEACH BEAUTY (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) was quietly fancied for the Durban July last time. Was not disgraced in that race. Has won this C & D. Is well weighted. HAPPY ARCHER (Sean Tarry/Anton Marcus) also has good form and takes on slightly stronger. Loves the Greyville track. CHECCETTI (Mike De Kock/Kevin Shea) finished a close up second in his latest start. That was on Sunday. Not to be taken lightly. FREQUENT FLYER (Brett Crawford) and BELOVED BETTY (Glen Kotzen) both have place chances.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BEACH BEAUTY * (1); 2nd - HAPPY ARCHER (2); 3rd - CHECCETTI (4); 4th - FREQUENT FLYER (3); 5th - BELOVED BETTY (7)

RACE 10:The Darley Arabian (Listed) (R150 000) 1900m Bend

TRIBAL DANCE (Vaughan Marshall/MJ Byleveld) has very good form but over further. On form has the beating of this field. HEAVY METAL (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) takes a huge step up in class but respect on his win in a novice plate last time by ten lengths. TAIPAN (Sean Tarry/Anthony Delpech) has the form to go close. Has faced some decent fields. RED FORT ran a fair post maiden last time. ASTRO NEWS, with Anton Marcus aboard may improve over this shorter trip.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TRIBAL DANCE * (1); 2nd - HEAVY METAL (5); 3rd - TAIPAN (2); 4th - RED FORT (6); 5th - ASTRO NEWS (4)

RACE 11:Pinnacle Stakes 1400m Bend

COPPER PARADE (Joey Ramsden/Kevin Shea) was not disgraced in the Mercury Sprint last time. Has not won in a while but could be better suited to shorter. ALWAYS AL (Sean Tarry/Anthony Delpech) is unbeaten this C & D (3 from 3) but this will be must stronger. MIKE'S CHOICE is also well suited to this C & D and must have a chance. MALIYAKHE is inconsistent but can upset at best. WILD TYPE (Gavin Van Zyl) also takes on stronger but can place.

SELECTIONS: 1st - COPPER PARADE * (1); 2nd - ALWAYS AL (10); 3rd - MIKE'S CHOICE (5); 4th - MALIYAKHE (2); 5th - WILD TYPE (8)

RACE 12:Umngeni Handicap (Listed) (R150 000) 1000m Bend

TETELESTAI (Duncan Howells/Anthony Delpech) has excellent form this C & D and has only been out of the top three once in nine runs over this C & D with four wins. Was running on last time. Looks like the one to beat. PUNTA DEL ESTE (Dennis Drier/Muzi Yeni) takes on far stronger but with only 52kg on his back could force his way into the money. The blinkers go on COOL SPENDER (Sean Tarry) and this is his third run after a nine month rest. Has yet to show at this track though. NEVER FOREVER (Dennis Drier) runs well this C & D but is a bit off form. CAPTAIN'S SECRET (Mike Bass/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) has lost form but against much stronger. Look out for a good run.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TETELESTAI * (2); 2nd - PUNTA DEL ESTE (10); 3rd - COOL SPENDER (8); 4th - NEVER FOREVER (9); 5th - CAPTAIN'S SECRET (3)

BEST BET:                    RACE 9 - NUMBER 1 BEACH BEAUTY (13/20)

VALUE BET:                RACE 7 - NUMBER 8 GORONGOSA (83/10)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 3 - NUMBER 2 MISS IPANEMA (62/10)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9

PICK SIX: RACES 4 - 9 (Couplings taken into account)

JACKPOT 1: RACES 5 - 8 (Couplings have NOT been taken into account)