All eyes will be on the ultra-consistent seven-year-old gelding Earth Hour in the third and last leg of the World Sports Betting East Cape Poly Challenge (Non-Black Type) over 1600m on Friday.

Earth Hour is in a very good position to win the consolation bonus of R50,000 for the horse that performed the best over the three legs of the Challenge.

“I think he has a very good chance in the race. His work has been good. I am very happy with him,” trainer Juan Nel told Henk Steenkamp about Earth Hour.

“We were a bit lucky to beat Marmara Sea last time (in the second leg over 1400m). That is racing and it depends on how things work out on the day.

“On paper it should be between Earth Hour and Marmara Sea but the other runners are all in with a chance,” Nel added.

Champion trainer Alan Greeff will saddle three of the seven runners in the race – Marmara Sea, American Landing and Dubula.

Dubula is the only runner still in the running for the bonus, but must win to keep his chances alive.

If Dubula wins and Earth Hour runs second, the bonus still goes to Earth Hour. If Dubula wins with Earth Hour in third place, the bonus will be shared.

“There is no doubt Dubula is capable of winning the race, but I am confident Earth Hour will give a good account of himself,” Nel said.

At the beginning of the Challenge, Nel made it clear that the consolation bonus was the target with Earth Hour.

“That was why I ran him in the first leg over 1200m (to qualify for the bonus a horse must run in all three legs and win at least one).

“In the other two legs we are there to win. The bonus is just that, a bonus,” Nel explained.

Earth Hour’s regular jockey Luyolo Mxothwa is currently serving a suspension and Callan Murray will be in the saddle.

“Luyolo and Callan had a chat (about Earth Hour). Things should be fine,” Nel said.

Nel gave some comments on his other runners on Friday:

Race 2: ANGEL BOUQUET: We try her here because there isn’t a race on the grass for her.

I can’t be confident of a good run as she hasn’t performed on the poly.

Race 5: MEERCAT: She had a good last run and her work has been good.

A similar effort is expected.

Race 6: ARRABIATA: Her work has been good and she drops in class.

We put on the small blinkers to sharpen her up a bit and I think the 1600m will suit her.

Race 8: HOMER FIDGET: His post maiden run surprised me. I didn’t think he would run that well but it showed that he improved.

He is in the same form and should be running on.

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