Marinaresco to reinforce he’s a champion in this Cup

Marinaresco is not the biggest of horses but he is all heart. He will attempt to become only the second horse this century – after Futura – to win the Grade 1 World Sports Be ing Champions Cup in two successive years.

As his record indicates, he also has a particular preference for Greyville where he has raced five times for three wins and one second-place finish. Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson is quick to take the blame for his poor run in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m in which he ran un- placed behind Captain America.

“We wanted to try and keep him up with the pace but that is not the way he likes to run,” she said a er his Durban July victory. No 12 draw is a disadvantage but as he will be dropped out, that might not mean much.

Bela-Bela could be having her final race and looks handily weighted under the race conditions. She has raced well against the boys before and many fans will applaud the grey filly going out with a Grade 1 victory.

She gave her own sex a hiding in the Garden Province Stakes over 1600m at the course last time and trainer Justin Snaith intimated she would get a crack at the males down the line. This is it.

Jockey Anthony Delpech is expecting a big run. “She’s in a good space right now and will give them a run for their money.”

Captain America finished ahead of Marinaresco in the Sun Met and Gold Challenge but on both occasions the la er ran be- low par. Over this course and distance Brett Crawford’s charge is likely to find Marinaresco at his best. Captain America has won all of his races over 1400m and 1600m but his class has seen him place over further. He is the runner Robert Fayd’Herbe, assistant to Bass-Robinson, fears most. “He has the ability to get away from us and we might not be able to reel him in.”

For the rest, those beaten by Marinaresco in the July are worse o at the weights and look unlikely to reverse the form.