THE CANON GOLD CUP SUPER SATURDAY
- A SPECIAL RACEDAY
The thoroughbred, through a form of genetic management by breeders,
comes in various forms from sprinters to middle distance performers and stayers and the racing organisations throughout the world prepare
programmes to develop the talents of each type of animal.
In South Africa the
ultimate test of the stayer is the R1 million, Grade 1, Canon Gold Cup,
run over 3 200m at Greyville Racecourse, traditionally on the first
Saturday in August however set for 30 July 2011.
The
Canon Gold Cup has a long and proud history, having been run for the first
time in 1921. It has always been seen as the leading race for stayers in
the country and one of the “big three” races staged in KwaZulu-Natal
during Champions Season. The others are the Vodacom Durban July and the
Champions Cup, previously run at Clairwood, which will now be run on Canon
Gold Cup day at Greyville along with a host of other graded races.
Now
known as "Super Saturday" KwaZulu-Natal’s second biggest racemeeting topped
only by the Vodacom Durban July. It nevertheless has
all the fashion, fun and frivolity deserving of a racemeeting of its
stature. The tempo is nevertheless less frenetic and the fashion is more
elegance and style – not too much flesh and a lot more about
sophistication.
The
Canon Gold Cup creates a special atmosphere, starting as it does on the
main straight in front of the stands and the crowds that line the track
cheer them on their way. Then it is with a roar of excitement that they
welcome them back into the straight for that crucial battle to the line.
It
takes a special type of horse and a special type of jockey to win the race
and one of the greatest of all was the great Charlie Barends who won the
race seven times. He was aboard favourite Chez Monty who in 1950 became
the first horse to win the race two years running.
It
was a feat that was not to be repeated for 53 years until the Dennis
Drier-trained Highland Night beat Amphitheatre and Fantastic Horse to the
line, following up on his defeat of Badger’s Coast and
Jackson Square
the year before.
For
three years, success in the marathon event went to trainers based in the
Western cape - Joey Ramsden with Major Bluff in 2004, Brett Crawford with
Reveille Boy in 2005 and Mike Bass with Diamond Quest in 2006. In 2007 the apparent Cape stranglehold was broken by world
renowned trainer Mike de Kock with the 4-year-old colt, Thundering Star
but in 2008 it went back to the Cape with Desert Links trained by Basil
Marcus and
again in 2009 with Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer’s Mokaro trained by Stephen
Page. The
De Kock magic was back in 2010 with Ancestral Fore winning the race for
international owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
Since the involvement by Canon as sponsors of this great race it has grown
again in stature and a new dimension has been added to the meeting with
Gold Circle incorporating its biggest annual fundraiser drive to the day’s
proceedings.
As
part of the company’s community service programme, it provides free
marquees, tables and chairs to approximately 18 fundraising organisations. These
organisations utilize these facilities to host guests and supporters on
the day to boost their operating funds for the year.
With
classy fashion shows and entertainment programmes, Gold Circle offers it’s thanks to all those who have
supported racing in the province through the year. These include the
owners, trainers, jockeys and, in particular, the racing public.
Together they form the foundation of what makes Canon Gold Cup "Super
Saturday" a very
special event on the country’s racing, social and charity calendar.
Past years news:
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2010 raceday
fashion
TEN YEAR HISTORY
|
Year |
First |
Age |
Second |
Age |
Third |
Age |
|
1996 |
Festive Forever |
6 | Milleverof |
7 | Dupa Dice |
5 |
|
1997 |
Sciantiso |
7 | Yankee Blue Dill |
5 | Tickets and Tax |
6 |
|
1998 |
Bella Bianca |
5 | Kale |
4 | Parisian Tango |
5 |
|
1999 |
Place of Gold |
4 | Golden Hoard |
6 | Yankee Blue Dill |
7 |
|
2000 |
Colonial Girl |
4 | Fairfields Fancy |
6 | Technique |
5 |
|
2001 |
Cereus |
4 | Sequoia |
5 | Reef Road |
5 |
|
2002 |
Highland Night |
5 | Badgers Coast |
6 | Jackson Square |
7 |
|
2003 |
Highland Night |
6 | Amphitheatre |
5 | Fantastic Horse |
5 |
|
2004 |
Major Bluff |
5 | Double Reef |
8 | Superwood |
5 |
|
2005 |
Reveille Boy |
6 |
Eurovision |
6 |
Red Badge |
7 |
|
2006 |
Diamond Quest |
5 | Eurovision |
7 | Cycad |
6 |
|
2007 |
Thundering Star |
4 |
Omaha Beach |
6 |
Pacific Warrior |
6 |
|
2008 |
Desert Links |
5 |
Membrado |
5 |
Omaha
Beach |
7 |
|
2009 |
Mokaro |
4 |
Noblewood |
5 |
Bill Of Rights |
6 |
|
2010 |
Ancestral Fore |
3 |
Vertical Takeoff |
4 |
Predestination |
4 |
