The Grade 3 eLan Gold Cup is always a thrilling race to watch and is the highlight of the purists’ favourite SA Champions Season meeting, Super Saturday.

Made To Conquer will be attempting to be the first horse for 27 years to carry topweight to victory but he is up to it as he has a perfect racing temperament and plenty of class. He will stay the trip on pedigree being by Dynasty out of SA Oaks winner Festive Occasion. His rider Piere Strydom need no introduction, although he has only won the Gold Cup once.

It’s My Turn, also by Dynasty, showed in the Gold Vase when running on strongly that staying is what he has always been looking for and he has come down two points in the merit ratings. Anton Marcus’s only win in this race was 27 years ago on topweight Icona but he knows It’s My Turn well.

Let It Rain was unable to get to the front in the Gold Vase from pole position and had to sit one wide. If he finds the lead, or the rail behind a good pace, he will be a runner as he likes to stride out and stays well.

Hermoso Mundo defends his title, although he has to lug 3kg more than last year and has a tougher draw. However, he has his third run after a long layoff and comes in relatively fresh so has a fine chance.

Witchcraft is talented and on a line through Flichity By Farr has a fine chance on paper against the like of It’s My Turn. She has a big weight for a mare and appears to be at her best at Scottsville, but if she has a confident air about her before the start, like she did before her T&B Oaks win at Scottsville, she will likely run accordingly.

Strathdon disappointed in the Betting World 2200 on July day but that was partly due to him fighting during the attempt to drop him out from a wide draw. This time he is well drawn so there is unlikely to be a repeat and he is 3,5kg better off with Made To Conquer for a neck beating in the Lonsdale over 2400m at Greyville so is a huge runner.

Dark Moon Rising was well beaten in the VDJ but the muddling pace was against him. He has struck both his trainer and a couple of top jockeys as a stayer and could well relish this trip and is well drawn.

Wild Wicket is capable of a strong finish if left alone in the running and his draw of two will allow him to be ridden like that. His second dam produced a Gold Bowl winner and his sire Dynasty produced a Gold Cup winner and his damsire Jallad produced two Gold Cup winners, so he has the pedigree and is a dark horse.

Kitty’s Destiny has a wide draw and looks held by Let It Rain and Hermoso Mundo, although not by far and on Gold Bowl evidence he will be handy and staying on.

One Man Show had every chance in the Gold Vase but after quickening well was beaten 1,6 lengths by It’s My Turn and is now 0,5kg worse off. However, he now has his third run after a layoff.

Desert Wisdom is 3,5kg worse off than he would be if this was a normal handicap and he faces stronger than he has been in Port Elizabeth. The same can be said of Frikkie, who is 5kg worse off than he would be in a normal handicap.

One Direction stayed on well in the Gold Vase after going handy and has a chance as he is 1kg better off with It’s My Turn for a 1,55 length beating and is now drawn in pole.

Royal Utopia is 6kg better off with Witchcraft for a 4,5 length beating in the T&B Oaks and being by Ideal World out of a Fort Wood dual Grade 3 winner over 1800m she looks to have the class and the stamina in her pedigree. She does have a tough draw though.

The only three-year-old, Ballymaine would officially be 8,5kg under sufferance if this was a normal handicap. However, he is 4,5kg better off with It’s My Turn for a 3,25 length beating in the T&B Derby. If weight for age changes are included he is actually 5,5kg better off. That puts them together on paper. Furthermore, Ballymaine looks to be an out and out stayer who will relish the step up to 3200m. In his last start, an excellent preparation run over 1950m at Scottsville, he produced a good finish from off the pace.

Sheet Weaver is 2kg worse off with It’s My Turn from the Gold Vase despite being beaten 1,3 lengths, so has a tough task. However, he ran all the way to the line from a handy position and could earn.

It is an interesting race but Justin Snaith could make history by doing both the July and the Gold Cup trifecta as Made To Conquer, One Direction and Strathdon are selected to run one-two-three. It’s My Turn and Hermoso Mundo should also be included in the Pick and Jackpot. However, for back end of trifectas and quartets Ballymaine, Let It Rain, Dark Moon Rising, Wild Wicket, One Man Show, Witchcraft and Royal Utopia cab be considered in that order.

Gold Circle