Champions Cup a real thriller

HOPEFUL: ROYAL VICTORY COULD PROVIDE A SENTIMENTAL FAREWELL FOR STRIKER

- Jack Milner

The Gold Cup race meeting is arguably the best race day on the South African calendar.

There are 10 races on offer, all of them features. Four Grade 1s, three Grade 2s, one Grade 3 and two Listed races make up the card and the entire meeting is a Hong Kong World Pool event so punters can bet large amounts on TAB with virtually no effects on the payouts.

In addition, there will be a R1-million carryover to the Pick 6 with a likely pool of R10 million while R500,000 will be added to the Quartet pool for Race 7, the HKJC Gold Cup over 3200m and that is likely to reach R2 million.

While the Gold Cup remains a Grade 3 race, it is still regarded as the country's premier stayers' event and 13 runners are headed up by Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles, who staked his claim with an impressive three-length victory in the Gold Bowl over 3000m at the same course on Durban July day.

The four-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding could not have been more impressive with that win and the manner in which he left his opposition standing indicates the extra 200m will make no difference.