Clash of three two-year-olds could be highlight of Gold Cup meeting
Battle between Lucky Lad, Main Defender and Sandringham Summit has punters enthralled
25 July 2023 - 17:35
byDAVID MOLLETT
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Three highveld-trained two-year-olds are poised to serve up a treat for racing fans when they clash in the R700,000 grade 1 Champion Stakes at Greyville on Sunday.
While the World Pool Gold Cup is the topliner at the meeting, it is the battle between Lucky Lad, Main Defender and Sandringham Summit that has punters enthralled. The trio are trained by Sean Tarry, Tony Peter and David Nieuwenhuizen respectively.
Bookmakers have Lucky Lad as the clear favourite at 15-10 and it’s a position the son of Gimmethegreenlight is entitled to after reeling off four consecutive wins. The latest was a five-lengths romp in the Gold Medallion at Scottsville at the beginning of June.
Lucky Lad, bred at Varsfontein Stud, cost R850,000 when bought by Kentucky-based Antony Beck as a yearling. He has recouped that outlay and will add R437,500 to his bankroll if maintaining his unbeaten record on Sunday.
However, Tarry and jockey Richard Fourie will know they’ve got two big hurdles to overcome: two serious rivals in Main Defender and Sandringham Summit as well as a wide draw.
Main Defender also travels to the Durban track unbeaten and the son of Pathfork — bred by Jagessar Limited — showed he can handle the Greyville track with victory in the BSA Cup on July day. Craig Zackey retains the ride on the gelding, who is looking a bargain buy at R140,000.
Trainer Tony Peter may have allowed himself a wry smile when the barrier positions were announced. Main Defender is perfectly positioned in gate five whereas Lucky Lad and Sandringham Summit will have to overcome gates 13 and 14.
Sandringham Summit was this column’s selection for the Golden Horseshoe on July day and, turning for home, the colt looked to have about as much chance as the Springboks beating New Zealand after giving them a 10-points start.
Somehow jockey Calvin Habib weaved his way through to collar the well-fancied Gimmeanotherchance in the final strides. That run suggested Sandringham Summit will have no problems with Sunday’s distance of 1,600m.
Compared with Tarry’s operation, David Nieuwenhuizen would be the first to admit his stable hasn’t got the firepower of other yards so it will be thrilling that they’ve unearthed a star like Sandringham Summit. Like Lucky Lad, he was bred at Varsfontein Stud and cost owner Rakesh Singh the tidy sum of R1.7m.
It’s no surprise the colt was expensive at the 2022 National Yearling Sales as the mare Townsend won five races and the youngster’s half-brother, Eden Roc, won six races for popular owner Chris van Niekerk.
When it comes to making a final selection for Friday’s paper, it will be difficult to desert Sandringham Summit. He was a 6-1 chance on July day and is on offer at 15-4 this time.
On the Gold Cup front, bookmaker Lance Michael reports some support for Keagan De Melo’s mount, Black Thorn, who has shortened into 12.3-1 from 14-1. The five-year-old is one of two runners from the powerful Mike de Kock stable.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Clash of three two-year-olds could be highlight of Gold Cup meeting
Battle between Lucky Lad, Main Defender and Sandringham Summit has punters enthralled
Three highveld-trained two-year-olds are poised to serve up a treat for racing fans when they clash in the R700,000 grade 1 Champion Stakes at Greyville on Sunday.
While the World Pool Gold Cup is the topliner at the meeting, it is the battle between Lucky Lad, Main Defender and Sandringham Summit that has punters enthralled. The trio are trained by Sean Tarry, Tony Peter and David Nieuwenhuizen respectively.
Bookmakers have Lucky Lad as the clear favourite at 15-10 and it’s a position the son of Gimmethegreenlight is entitled to after reeling off four consecutive wins. The latest was a five-lengths romp in the Gold Medallion at Scottsville at the beginning of June.
Lucky Lad, bred at Varsfontein Stud, cost R850,000 when bought by Kentucky-based Antony Beck as a yearling. He has recouped that outlay and will add R437,500 to his bankroll if maintaining his unbeaten record on Sunday.
However, Tarry and jockey Richard Fourie will know they’ve got two big hurdles to overcome: two serious rivals in Main Defender and Sandringham Summit as well as a wide draw.
Main Defender also travels to the Durban track unbeaten and the son of Pathfork — bred by Jagessar Limited — showed he can handle the Greyville track with victory in the BSA Cup on July day. Craig Zackey retains the ride on the gelding, who is looking a bargain buy at R140,000.
Trainer Tony Peter may have allowed himself a wry smile when the barrier positions were announced. Main Defender is perfectly positioned in gate five whereas Lucky Lad and Sandringham Summit will have to overcome gates 13 and 14.
Sandringham Summit was this column’s selection for the Golden Horseshoe on July day and, turning for home, the colt looked to have about as much chance as the Springboks beating New Zealand after giving them a 10-points start.
Somehow jockey Calvin Habib weaved his way through to collar the well-fancied Gimmeanotherchance in the final strides. That run suggested Sandringham Summit will have no problems with Sunday’s distance of 1,600m.
Compared with Tarry’s operation, David Nieuwenhuizen would be the first to admit his stable hasn’t got the firepower of other yards so it will be thrilling that they’ve unearthed a star like Sandringham Summit. Like Lucky Lad, he was bred at Varsfontein Stud and cost owner Rakesh Singh the tidy sum of R1.7m.
It’s no surprise the colt was expensive at the 2022 National Yearling Sales as the mare Townsend won five races and the youngster’s half-brother, Eden Roc, won six races for popular owner Chris van Niekerk.
When it comes to making a final selection for Friday’s paper, it will be difficult to desert Sandringham Summit. He was a 6-1 chance on July day and is on offer at 15-4 this time.
On the Gold Cup front, bookmaker Lance Michael reports some support for Keagan De Melo’s mount, Black Thorn, who has shortened into 12.3-1 from 14-1. The five-year-old is one of two runners from the powerful Mike de Kock stable.
LATEST BETTING
(Supplied by bookmaker Lance Michael)
WORLD POOL GOLD CUP
1.67-1 Future Pear
l6.8-1 Aragosta
9.58-1 Crimson King
11.2-1 One Way Ticket
12.3-1 Nebraas, Shangani, Black Thorn, Arumagan
17.9-1 Fight Song
22-1 Others
CHAMPION STAKES
1.5-1 Lucky Lad
3-1 Main Defender
3.30-1 Sandringham Summit
18-1 Longsword, Pure Predator, Francine
25-1 Others
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