TODAY, NATION?SPORT?racing reporter Lindon Yarde assesses the chances of the final six entrants in Saturday’s Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah.
Dancin David
Owner: Sir David Seale
Trainer: Liz Deane
Record: three wins, one third, from six starts
At Gold Cup distance: three times, winning twice
Dancin David’s starts since romping to victory in last year’s Sandy Lane Gold Cup have been just four races with two wins.
He scored against horses rated 115-140 with the penny stamp of 114 pounds then successfully gained the stewards’ verdict in the Amstel Cup for the top-rated horses over 2 000 metres and was elevated to the top position.
That win, however, did cost him as he sustained an injury that required him going under the surgeon’s knife resulting in a recuperation time of seven months.
Badly in need of some track time, he returned earlier this month against horses rated 105-125 and finished one from last. That race was won by the out of form Giovedi.
There can be no doubt about Dancin David’s class and previous form but the biggest question is his fitness in his defence of the Gold Cup.
Discreetwon
Owners: Martin and Daniel Raizman
Trainer: Roger Parravicino
Record: four wins, one second, five thirds, two fourths, from 13 starts
At Gold Cup distance: three times, winning twice
Discreetwon has gone to post on eight occasions in the past 12 months, with his best achievement being his victory against horses rated 100-120.
His two third-place finishes were in the Victor Chandler (1 570 metres) and the Coolmore “Home Of Champions”, both stakes and trophy races with the latter over 1 800 metres being the more impressive.
He is still impoving but has some class about him and there is no doubt about his form and fitness.
Daga
Owner: Blue Diamond Racing
Trainer: Anderson Ward
Record: seven wins, three seconds, one third, two fourths, from 20 starts
At Gold Cup distance: five times, winning once
Daga went to post eight times during the period, finishing second three times and third once against the top-rated horses at various distances. Those seconds were behind Giovedi, Dancin David, and Discreetwon, with a third-place finish behind Erados and Aristodemus.
The high point of her consistent form was when she won this year’s Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes & Trophy for the top-rated horses over 1 800 metres.
That victory could not have been more timely as it finally ended an 18-month drought and put to bed the myth that she does not stay nine furlongs. She certainly has the class, form and fitness to be successful in such a prestigious race.
Just Call Me Roger (Trinidad and Tobago)
Owner: Paul Mouttet
Trainer: Glen Mendez
Record: three wins, four seconds, two thirds, one fourth, from 16 starts.
At Gold Cup distance: two times, winning once
The performances of the United States-bred Just Call Me Roger at Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad can be described as modest. Six of those recent starts came on the turf, the highlight of which was his winning the 2012 Independence Cup over 1 800 metres.
That was supported by another win over 1 700 metres, one second and a third. His major challenge will be racing in the opposite direction.
Meteorite
Owner: Gay Smith
Trainer: Edward Walcott
Record: three wins, three seconds, one third, one fourth, from 13 starts
At Gold Cup distance: two times, no wins
Meteorite had nine starts during the year’s span but is yet to win a race beyond 1 570 metres. He has represented himself consistently well when competing against horses rated between 58 and 85. This really doesn’t augur well for him against what is supposed to be a 115-140 rated field.
His greatest accomplishment is defeating 2011 Derby and Tanglewood winner Kendal Moon in the BVC Stakes & Trophy.
He has, however, suffered defeats at the hands of Aristodemus and Discreetwon.
Graeme Hill
Owners: Bill and
Haley Blevins
Trainer:
Jonathon Simpson
Record: two wins, one second, four thirds, one fourth, from 15 starts.
At Gold Cup distance: Five times, won once
Due to injury, Graeme Hill has been limited to only four starts in the period which saw him being defeated twice by stablemate Giovedi, Dancin David and Erados.
After impressively winning last year’s Coolmore “Home of Champions” Stakes and Trophy, he later had a foot injury that required surgery. The operation resulted in a four-month layoff but there is still a big question mark over his fitness.
However, his connections would have been extremely pleased with his comeback run in the E. Keith Walcott, QC, Memorial Handicap where he closed nicely to finish fourth.
