Jack Milner
The Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 30 July, and although the race has been downgraded over the years to a Grade 3 event, this 3200m race is still perceived by the punting public as the premier stayers’ race in the country.
Last year’s winner, Sean Tarry-trained Nebraas, is regarded by many as the best equine marathon runner in the land but there are some younger stayers hungry to wrest that tag from him.
One of those is Paul Peter-trained Lamborghreeni, a three-year-old gelding who has only raced six times. The son of Gimmethegreenlight only began racing in February and after three runs that were clearly too short, Peter tried him over 2400m. The result was instantaneous as Lamborghreeni raced away to beat Flag Bearer by four lengths. His next two starts were over 2400m on the Turffontein Inside track and he proved too good for the opposition in both of those races.
Peter has entered him into the Gold Cup but right now his chances of getting in are on the cusp as only 15 runners will be allowed to run and there have been 24 horses nominated.
So Peter will run his charge in Race 3 at Turffontein on Saturday, a Middle Stakes, also over 2600m on the inside track.
While with his first two wins Lamborghreeni took a clear lead and galloped on strongly, when he tried the same tactics last time, he was passed in the straight but still was able to reclaim the lead to beat Arlington Action by 1.30 lengths with Flying First Class another short head back in third.
Both the two will be reopposing this time and under the race conditions, David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Flying First Class is 5.5kg better off.
It is worth mentioning she has also been nominated to run in the Gold Cup.
That should give her a clear advantage but the manner of Lamborghreeni’s victory gives one the feeling he had plenty in reserve.
In addition, he only has 50kg to carry and with Warren Kennedy in the irons, he still looks the runner to beat.
A bigger concern could come from White Fang, who is also a strong frontrunner. After a few poor runs, this Mike and Adam Azzie-trained gelding bounced back to best with a runaway victory last time over this course and distance.
That could see Lamborghreeni and White Fang cutting each other’s throats while the others will be sitting back and waiting to pounce.
However, with S’manga Khumalo aboard White Fang, you have two of the country’s best jockeys in competition so this race could turn into a tremendous tactical tussle.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Total Protection, 7 Main Mission, 4 Going Global, 1 Clap Of Thunder
Race 2: 8 Tabby Kat, 1 Nice Move, 7 Summerland, 2 Look To The Stars
Race 3: 5 Lamborghreeni, 4 Flying First Class, 2 White Fang, 7 Arlington Action
Race 4: 2 Origami, 4 Youcanthurrylove, 3 London Roads, 7 Jaimala
Race 5: 6 Sound Of Summer, 3 Castletown, 5 Expressfromtheus, 2 Outofthedarkness
Race 6: 6 Meet The Captain, 1 Coming In Hot, 2 Corvette Captain, 5 Baby Dont Hurt Me
Race 7: 4 Mathis, 1 Constable, 2 Tuscan Winter, 3 Sound Of Hounds
Race 8: 2 The Makwakkers, 6 Trust The Fire, 7 Roger The Dodger, 9 Laetitia's Angel
Race 9: 9 Silly Fella, 5 Wind Sock, 4 Stolen Thunder, 1 High Moon
BEST BET
Race 1 No 8 Total Protection
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 4 Mathis
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1x8
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 1, 8
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 4: 3, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 1, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 4, 5
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6
Leg 5: 1, 4
Leg 6: 2, 6, 7
Leg 7: 4, 5, 9
PICK 6
R2250
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
Leg 2: 3, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 8
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6, 7, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9
JACKPOT 1
R180
Leg 2: 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6, 7, 9
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6, 7, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9