Strong entry for Supreme Cup
The race has attracted 40 nominations and it will be interesting to see how the panel manage to whittle it down to just 14 runners.
CAPE Town-based trainer Justin Snaith, who set up his satellite yard on the Highveld, has started to nominate runners for local feature races.
His first two entries are for the R1-million Supreme Cup, sponsored by the South African Police (SAP), over 1 450m on the Vaal sand on Saturday, September 26.
His entries, Dynamic and Ultimate Dollar, are in decent form but are yet to race on sand.
Dynamic spent the winter season in KwaZulu-Natal and although he left winless, he did run a 2.35-length fourth behind Dynastic Power in the Grade two Betting World 1 900 at Greyville and finished a 1.75-length third behind Punta Arenas in the Grade three Cup Trial over 1 800m, also at Greyville.
Dynamic has not raced since the Vodacom Durban July when he finished fourth in a four-length, behind stablemate Ultimate Dollar in the Grade three TabGOLD 2200.
Ultimate Dollar had three runs in Durban, including an unplaced effort in the Grade two KRA Guineas behind The Conglomerate, before winning the TabGOLD 2200.
The race has attracted 40 nominations and it will be interesting to see how the panel manage to whittle it down to just 14 runners. Proven performance on the sand is a key criteria for any nominee but there are some excellent runners who do not meet that rule. The panel is however also entitled to include other factors, such as current merit rating and competitiveness in Graded and Listed Stakes races. Sean Tarry has nominated Willow Magic who finished a 0.75-length second behind Legislate in the Grade Gold Challenge over 1600m at Greyville. Joey Ramsden has entered Brutal Force while Mike Azzie has put Deputy Jud on the entry list.
Among the horses who have won on the sand last Saturday’s Grade three World Sports Betting August Stakes winner, Roman Carnival, will be chasing the R100 000 bonus offered to any horse who can win both sand races.
Supplementary entries close at 11:00 on Monday, September 7, after which the weights will be published. The draws will be done electronically by the NRB.
Declarations close at 11:00 on Tuesday, September 15, but the final field will only be announced on Wednesday, September 16.
