The Hong Kong World Pools Gold Cup race day looks to be a race day like no other, with four Grade 1s, three Grade 2s and a Grade 3 on the card.
Ironically this is the one day of the year when a Grade 3 gets more attention than the Grade 1s on the card, and this year there is a 16-strong field for the R1 million World Pool Gold Cup.
The race sees the winner of the Gold Vase, Future Pearl, as the favourite, with Richard Fourie in the irons. This impressive Sean Tarry stayer has already made an imprint in his short career, winning the Gold Bowl and Gold Vase and now goes for the stayer’s “Triple Crown” as he bids to win the Gold Cup.
Everything looks to be in his favour, as he has the draw and the form. On the day, he really should be able to sit anywhere he wants in the race and with the services of the man for the big occasion in the form of Richard Fourie. He looks very hard to beat, especially after the Gold Vase run.
Black Thorn, Aragosta and Senso Unico look to be the dangers in the race and must be considered to make up the exacta positions.
Opinion: Based on the way Future Pearl won his race on Durban July day, he should win quite comfortably, and he does look to be a banker in all bets.
The race after the Gold Cup, the HKJC Champions Cup (Gr1) should stop the nation as we will see the Durban July favourite, See It Again, in action four weeks after his near miss in Africa’s biggest race. He takes on a stellar field, and it is a weight-for-age race, so the best horse should be right there at the finish.
Many purists have argued that the ride of Piere Strydom was not good enough last time out, and many debates have suggested that another jockey may have won on Saturday, 1 July. However, he has another chance in a Grade 1 and should be ready to rock and roll.
The only issue for See It Again looks to be the draw of 11, which should bring other protagonists into the race, such as Al Muthana, Dave The King, Zapatillas and Safe Passage.
Opinion: I made the Durban July a two-horse race and will do it again with Dave The King and See It Again.
On paper, See It Again is the horse to beat; however, this will be Keagan De Melo’s last Grade 1 before he leaves for Hong Kong, and this will be the best way to cap off the season for South Africa’s Champion jockey. He has drawn one, and if he can have things his own way in front, he should be able to keep rolling.
Written by: TheSportsCaster – Click Here to place your bets at World Sports Betting
