Canon Gold Cup: Pocket Power surprise Nomination

Pocket Power was something of a surprise nomination for the R1,2 million Canon Gold Cup (Gr 1) to be run over 3200m at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, August 1.



The Mike Bass-trained champion has a date in the Champions Cup to be run at Clairwood Racecourse on Saturday, June 25 and with a draw of 28 out of 29 nominations for the Canon Gold Cup, it would be surprising if the gelding takes his place in South Africa ’s premier event for stayers.



The race has attracted most of the country’s best including previous winner Diamond Quest who made a cracking return to form when running out a comfortable winner of the Schweppes Gold Vase (Gr 2) over 3000m on Vodacom Durban July day.



Both Pocket Power and Diamond Quest are trained by Mike Bass who has also nominated Bill Of Rights, Vodacom Durban July fourth, Thundering Jet and Meteor Shower.



SA Derby (Gr 1) winner Bouquet-Garni has been nominated by Mike de Kock along with the grey Equal Image.



John Vos has nominated Gold Bowl (Gr 2) winner Western Walk and the St John Grey-trained runner-up, Swarming, is also among the nominations.



Steady Chat, runner-up to Diamond Quest in the Schweppes Gold Vase, has come into her own since being tried over ground by trainer Paul Lafferty and should stand a strong winning chance should she stand her ground.



Veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris has Aquanaut Handicap (L) winner Santa entered and runner-up, Sunny Jim, out of the Geoff Woodruff yard is also among the nominations.







Please Note:

Supplementary entries close at 11am on Friday, 17 July 2009

Declarations close at 11am on Thursday, 21 July 2009







Gill Simpkins
Public Relations Manager

I always enjoy the Gold Cup and Gold Cup day, in fact prefer to the July, interesting to see Pocket Power in the field?

Wow, that is a surprise.

I was way more suprised to see Pick 6 in last years field

Very clever.
Field under sufferance, but three of the Bass runners much less than the rest.
Over this distance a kilo equals at least 2 lengths.

Wonder if the handicapper is able to weight PP over a set weight of 58kg - as is the norm for Gr1 handicaps (I think it is a rule).
Will it finally come to haunt the stupid Rule-makers?

Karel is spot on. To accept with PP would have the same effect on the weights as in the July. I guess these rules are a left over from the race figure days, which is stupid. Apples and oranges-but the rule makers just don't get it.

Handicapping "i know nothing"..help a dumb guy out,leaving pocket power in the field until final fields are announced, would this be an advantage to Bass`s other runners?

He would need to be in the final field. The weights then can't change even if he doesn't actually run. The race would then be virtually level weights...the hunt for light jockeys would be interesting to say the least. Bill of Rights would be a real beneficiary. Without PP he is just about top weight. With PP he would be practically level weights with every horse except PP. Not too shabby, mmm?

...betting on PP..again, punishments for suckers, what with BF left speechless