Cup king Coetzee steers
In Writing to success
Report: South Africa, Saturday
Greyville: Ladbrokes Gold Cup (Grade 1 hcap) 2m, turf, 3yo+
GOLD CUP king Felix Coetzee pulled it of for an incredible eighth time when winning the first Ladbrokes-sponsored running of South Africa's premier staying race on Dean Kannemeyer's 13-1 shot In Writing.
He led early and then sat behind 33-1 chance Princess Of Light before coming again just inside the final furlong to score by three-quarters of a length. The winner's stable companion Blake was a length and a half back third, two and a half lengths in front of top weight Seal
Coetzee,53, said: "When I cantered him to the start he couldn't blow a candle and I knew he was spot on.
"Marthinus Mienie on Princess Of Light slowed it up a bit when he passed me and that gave In Writing a breather. After that it was just a question of letting him down. Dean had him trained to the minute, he ran to the line and I never even had to give him a smack."
Kannemeyer, who also won this 12 years ago with Colonial Girl just days after taking over the stable from his father, said: "In Writing was out for a year and a half when he pulled a tendon and it's not easy coming back from that sort of injury - 90 per cent of them don't make it as good.
"I was a little upset when the handicapper gave him 2lb extra for his last run but I didn't have him fully wound up that day, and the handicapper has been proved right!"
Also on Saturday
Greyville: Thekwini Stakes (Grade 1) 1m, 2yo fillies
All Is Secret (Vaughan Marshall/Anton Marcus) proved that her Golden Slipper running was all wrong when emphatically reversing the placings of three weeks ago with Golden Slipper runner-up Straight Set.
Marcus settled the 5-2 chance in mid-field before producing her in the straight to lead just over a furlong out. She then drew clear to beat evens favourite Straight Set by a length and three-quarters with her rider uncharacteristically waiving his whip in triumph.
Marshall had not originally planned to go for this but changed his mind when the owners said they wanted to run. The winner is to be aimed at the Cape Fillies Guineas next season.
Greyville: Premier's Champion Stakes (Grade 1) 1m,2yo
Marcus tried to make all on 13-10 favourite Black Toga and looked like succeeding when swinging wide on to the faster ground in the straight. But his mount had no answer when tackled by 10-1 chance The Hangman (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) inside the final furlong and was beaten two and a quarter lengths.
The winner encountered back luck in running in the Golden Horseshoe - he had to switch twice and his rider lost an iron - but here he showed his true colours. Golden Horseshoe winner War Horse failed to run up to that form and managed only sixth.
Greyville: Champions Cup (Grade 1) 1m 1f, 3yo+
KZN Derby winner Master Plan (Greg Ennion/Muzi Yeni), one of only two three-year-olds in the field, sprang an 11-1 surprise when coming with a sustained run to shade 9-1 chance Black Wing inside the last 50 yards and score by a short head.
Many of the fancied runners - including 33-10 favourite Chesalon - disappointed, possibly feeling the effects of their hard races in the Durban July.
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