Bank on the Gold Standard

Some horses have big reputations before they even run and Gold Standard is one of those. He made his debut over 1200m at Kenilworth and finished second, beaten 4.25 lengths by Purple Tractor.

After that win, trainer Glen Kotzen confirmed the son of Trippi was highly regarded by the yard and would improve over further. His second race was over 1600m at Kenilworth but he drew widest of all and Gold Standard got lost in the running. He showed his inexperience but took off late to finish fourth, beaten just 2.35 lengths by Imperial Dancer.

In his third start, over 1600m at Durbanville, the three-year-old colt made no mistakes. Allowed to settle near the rear by jockey Greg Cheyne, Gold Standard knew exactly what was needed once the button was pushed. He flew past his rivals and went on to beat King Of The Rally by 3.25 lengths.

Kotzen knows what it takes to win races at Fairview and today his charge will face his toughest task to date when he takes on a fairly decent field in the Listed Racing Association Plate for three-year-olds, Race 6 over 1600m on the turf track.

Only eight horses are carded to go to post but the Western Cape trainers have moved east in droves and all of Justin Snaith, Joey Ramsden, and Candice Bass-Robinson have sent runners to contest this race.

Gold Standard has not always had the best of draws but this time he will jump from pole position and have the services of Craig Zackey.

Ramsden has I Travel Light and he looks to be the main threat. This son of Mambo In Seattle was rested after his maiden win in June and has comeback to score over 1400m at Kenilworth but was destroyed by a wide draw at Durbanville the next time out and after a slow start could not get into the race. This will be his third race after a layoff and should be at peak fitness.

Snaith saddles Cock-A-Hoop who scored an impressive debut win on the Polytrack at Fairview last time. On that run he looks to hold both Alan Greeff’s runners – Green Lantern and Off The Bit.

Green Lantern might not have enjoyed racing on the Polytrack and will relish a return to the turf where he won both his starts.