Gr1 Gold Cup runners
July 15, 2015Juvenile features, Gold Cup
July 17, 2015GOLD Circle will be looking into possibly reducing the width of the spur for next year’s Vodacom Durban July in order to encourage the runners to spread themselves out over the entire width of the track.
Graeme Hawkins, Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing executive, felt that a 2m spur would probably serve the race best and discussions in this regard will shortly be taking place.
In this year’s July the horses appeared to be thrown outward by the 4m wide spur and did not make use of the inside section of the track.
There were consequently traffic problems towards the outside, although the shifting outward by the winner Power King did not help matters and appeared to be the cause of quite a few hard luck stories. Winning jockey Stuart Randolph consequently landed a two week suspension.
There is also an inquiry into third-placed jockey Johnny Geroudis’ weighing-in in excess of 1kg. On paper it appears that his mount Tellina, who finished 1,25 lengths back, would have won the July if carrying the correct weight and this is supported by the handicappers awarding him a four point merit rated raise from 108 to 112, while the winner Power King only went up three points from 106 to 109, while second-placed Punta Arenas went up two points from 109 to 111.
Meanwhile, the spur for the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m on Super Saturday, July 25, originally intended to be set at 6m, will also be subject of discussion by Gold Circle.
It might be reduced in width, although the size of the field will have an influence on the decision. The final field for the Gold Cup was announced at a function at 17h30 on Tuesday and the barrier positions were also drawn.
The spur for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m on Saturday is due to be set at a minimum of 3m.
1 Comment
Having no false rail or spur at entrance of the straight for these Grade 1 races, especially for Greyville, might be a better idea. This will encourage jockeys making their moves early in the races, ensuring a good pace in these races,even without a pacemaker in the race. Also, having a 2 meter spur might create problems where jockeys will try to go for a rails run from the back and there is no gap for these horses to run into, resulting in the horse not being ridden out, which is unfair to the punter. and will still cause traffic problems
Secondly, it was reported that the Greyville straight was reduced from 32 meters to 16 meters to accommodate the poly track. It does not seem possible to me that 18 horses can finish in line at the finish with all the jockeys being comfortable enough to ride out out their horses, if in a handicap race the field is expected to finish close to each other or equally.
I believe that the fields should be reduced to 16 runners and 4 places. Honestly, who would want to back a horse that is a weak favourite to pay 1 rand a place and this would not encourage new punters(strike a winning bet and no profit).
The length of the straight can also be increased at Greyville, by having a false rail on the bend but no spur at the entrance of the straight. This will create a gentler angle coming into the straight. The sharper bend created by the wide false rail and spur on July day encouraged jockeys to dart to the outside rail at the straight entrance, so that the mounts don’t lose momentum turning onto the straight.
Hopefully the powers that be, Gold Circle, read my comments and take it into consideration. It might make for good for racing.