Marinaresco can take another step towards Horse of the Year title

3.10 Greyville
World Sports Betting Champions Cup (Grade 1) | 1m1f | turf | 3yo+

Durban July winner Marinaresco (Candice Bass-Robinson/Bernard Fayd’Herbe) is favourite with the sponsors to repeat last year’s win – and victory would almost certainly clinch the Horse of the Year title for the four-year-old.

He faces a much stiffer task than 12 months ago but trainer Bass-Robinson said: “I think this race will be run differently from the July – it all depends on whether Captain America goes to the front – but my horse is fit and well, and ready to go.”

Captain America (Brett Crawford/Corne Orffer) won the Gold Challenge over a mile here last month and missed the July to go for this.

Jockey Orffer said: “The 1,800m (1m1f) will be no problem to him. He's a free-striding horse and a galloper. He doesn’t have to be in front but you need to sit second or somewhere he can use his action.”

Bela-Bela (Justin Snaith/Anthony Delpech), winner of the Garden Province over a mile on July day, is the third big name in the line-up, although no filly or mare has won this in 16 years.

Trainer Snaith said: “She has been easy-raced for the last four months and if ever there was a time to take on the top males, this is it. She's ready and I'm confident she'll give them a proper go.”

Ten Gun Salute (Duncan Howells/Weichong Marwing) had a rough passage in the July and may not be far away.