Top Entries for Champions Day

Clash: The Real Prince and Dave The King Entered for G1 Champions Cup

- Jack Milner

While the Hollywoodbets Durban July was a flying success, racing fans are in for an even better treat on Champions Day at HWB Greyville on Sunday, July 27. It is the final big race meeting of the season and comprises four Grade 1, three Grade 2, one Grade 3, and two Listed races. The entire meeting is a Hong Kong World Pool event which will provide massive TAB betting opportunities for bettors.

While many people will be looking at the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m as the top event on the day, the meeting is headed up by the Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m, still regarded as the country's premier stayers' race.

There are 16 entries for the race, and much of the attention will be on Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles, a runaway winner of the Gold Vase over 3000m on Durban July day.

There has also been news that with the Hong Kong racing season ending next week, Keagan de Melo will be back in town and will be aboard Future Swing for Justin Snaith.

He is sure to pick up some other interesting rides on the day.

The Champions Cup is run under weight-for-age conditions, and that will make a huge difference to the outcome if compared to the Durban July.

While Eight On Eighteen is not among the entries, Durban July winner The Real Prince is there, along with Dave The King, Oriental Charm, Gladiatorian, and the luckless See It Again, who had to miss out on the Durban July due to a suspected virus.

The other Grade 1 races are the Mercury Sprint over 1200m and the two juvenile events, the World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champions Stakes and the Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes for fillies.

There is a supplementary entry stage on Tuesday, July 15, with declarations on Thursday, July 17.

Entries for Champions Day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, July 27.

World Pool Gold Cup (Grade 3) R1,000,000 3200m

8 Purple Pitcher (R Klaasen) 60.0

1 Son of Raj (A P Peter) 59.5