Emerald Cup qualifying criteria needs to be looked

Every year we have horses entered into this race and every year these untested horses fail. This year Whiteline Fever, who was strongly fancied finished last. The other untested horse Rio Carnival beat 3 horses home. It is unacceptable to punters and owners of proven sand performers that these untested horses get in because of the whim of Phumelelas selection panel. I would recommend that the panel looks at the many flops over the years and amend the conditions of the race to include performance on the Vaal sand.

The stake is now a million rand. That is more than enough to justify the costs of a raid by out of town horses prior to the race.

WF was running very well until breaking down badly

?........sand not for sissies.......but agree race is a farce.......when a horse that could not beat rats and mice in Kimberley spread eagled a bunch of over rated also rans.......sure the winner had his excuses not being that good in traveling to the other sand pit.......you can dolly up the day.......put up big prize money........but the fact is it is just another sand pit affair......the faluire of the P6 not getting past the 5 BAR mark and a poorer on course attendance speaks volumes that there is no rush to get to the sand...... :ohmy:

Well Tommy Gun looked a picture when at Kimberley

colors wrote: Well Tommy Gun looked a picture when at Kimberley

.....yet Oom Tobias said he flopped there because he does not travel well in the float.....maybe that info should have been made available before he flopped in Kimberley and poor sand pit die hards may not have thought 1/3 was a bargain..... :S

Over the Air wrote: Every year we have horses entered into this race and every year these untested horses fail. This year Whiteline Fever, who was strongly fancied finished last. The other untested horse Rio Carnival beat 3 horses home. It is unacceptable to punters and owners of proven sand performers that these untested horses get in because of the whim of Phumelelas selection panel. I would recommend that the panel looks at the many flops over the years and amend the conditions of the race to include performance on the Vaal sand.

The stake is now a million rand. That is more than enough to justify the costs of a raid by out of town horses prior to the race.

over the air just to correct you on your opening line because the 2013 winner in a rush HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED BEFORE on the vaal sand and he won

I have always maintained that runners in the race should have shown some form on the Vaal sand - so I agree with OtA - not so sure about 'over-rated also rans' but I suppose that is subject to opinion - though I'm sure Geoff Woodruff amongst others would not agree with that statement

The 'draw factor' imo is the single biggest 'no-no' - and I would not be surprised if the field gets smaller in the future - although both Uncle Tommy and Killua Castle earned nice purses for placing - so maybe if the prize money is big enough - many would take their chance even from a bad draw

Frodo wrote: I have always maintained that runners in the race should have shown some form on the Vaal sand - so I agree with OtA - not so sure about 'over-rated also rans' but I suppose that is subject to opinion - though I'm sure Geoff Woodruff amongst others would not agree with that statement

The 'draw factor' imo is the single biggest 'no-no' - and I would not be surprised if the field gets smaller in the future - although both Uncle Tommy and Killua Castle earned nice purses for placing - so maybe if the prize money is big enough - many would take their chance even from a bad draw

.....calling a spade a spade because all this racing hype tripe is wearing thin....I did not want to get involved in this meeting because racing on this surface always throws up some very odd results.....last year I backed the winner on his ped alone.....this year the race for me was a swirl.....put the entire field in my P6....and did not want to bet in the race....but I am also a bit of a compulsive fool.....played swingers boxed 5 horses that I thought could have merit and the class to get a squeak....the winner and fav were not in my selections but the 2nd and 3rd horses were....also brassed Anger not because of the draw....which I must add beat with consummate ease.....yet failed to stay on as he was used up to make the pace for his stablemate....gr8 tactics by the Spies team nice to see good people back in the limelight....but for me the whole over hyped day is wearing thin.... :whistle:

Only sand rating should be used for Emerald cup ,unless the turf rating has been confirmed by at least one sand run.............(.the 2 exceptions referred to this year belong to Van Niekerk and Jooste......................a coincidence of course!)

Pirates you are 100% correct about IN A RUSH my apologies!

This actually strengthens my argument as punters had no idea what the horse performance would be on sand.

Who in their right mind would want to put their good horses into a race in the sand-pit first of all ? Only if the prize money is good enough ?!

neigh wrote: Who in their right mind would want to put their good horses into a race in the sand-pit first of all ? Only if the prize money is good enough ?!

To each his own, I suppose, I'd much rather have my horse on the 'sand-pit' than on the rock-hard turf tracks in Gauteng this time of year :huh: