Expert - Andrew Harrison's Bio

After graduating with an Honours Degree in Journalism from Stellenbosch University in 1980, Andrew Harrison immediately started as a cub reporter on The Natal Witness, a leading KwaZulu Natal newspaper in the same year. Andrew moved to the sports department covering (cricket/hockey) before taking over as Racing Editor in 1982. He was the Racing Editor for 25 years before being head-hunted by Gold Circle to head up their newly created Publishing Department after the company had signed a contract to supply Independent Newspapers with their racing content. Andrew held this position for 16 years before reaching retirement in February this year, however is still responsible for the editorial and tipping content for all Gold Circle tracks for both local and international customers.

 

Expert Column for Champions Cup Day (S2) (Andrew Harrison)

 

S2-2     World Pool with Gold Circle Debutante

Tough race with many in with winning chances in this G2 World Pool with Gold Circle Debutante over 1,200m.

 

ORIENTAL BOUQUET was beaten a piece of paper in a smart field last time in Bloodstock SA Sales Cup over 1,300m and an objection against the winner was over ruled. Her previous run is best ignored as she ran into a myriad of problems. ORIENTAL BOUQUET’s trainer Duncan Howells rates her highly and from a good draw she should be a major contender.

 

THE CHARLESTON has the worst of the draw but came off some useful Cape Town form when down the field from another tricky draw behind ORIENTAL BOUQUET. That was her first run since February and she is sure to have come on from that effort.

 

LEAVING LAS VEGAS went into the 1,160m G2 SA Fillies Nursery unbeaten in two and finished a creditable fifth behind the leading juvenile filly MRS GERIATRIX. She was well supported in the betting that day and from a good inside draw must have a strong winning chance.

 

AMERICAN GRAFFITI has a difficult draw to contend with but Lyle Hewitson will have been well tested in Hong Kong.

 

CAPTAIN’S CHRISTY has shown promise from the time of her debut win and won well in handicap company last time out.

 

SELECTIONS: 2. ORIENTAL BOUQUET, 13. THE CHARLESTON, 3. LEAVING LAS VEGAS, 12. AMERICAN GRAFFITI & 8. CAPTAIN’S CHRISTY

 

1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-2: Multiple – 2. ORIENTAL BOUQUET & 13. THE CHARLESTON
S2-3: Multiple – 1. COSMIC HIGHWAY & 14. QUASIFORSURE

 

S2-3     @Worldpool Twitter Handicap

The Listed 1,600m @Worldpool Twitter Handicap is also a competitive race.

 

COSMIC HIGHWAY could be the pick of the Dean Kannemeyer with rider Keagan de Melo aboard. He has had one sprint-up since arriving in Cape Town where he caught the eye when running on late from a wide draw and the step up in trip could be what he’s looking for.

 

Peter Muscutt was trying for QUASIFORSURE to qualify for the Durban July field but it became fairly obvious that the trip was out of his compass after two starts over 1,800m to 1,900m. He is back over his preferred trip 1,600m this time but barrier 14 is not in his favour. He does, however, have a smart turn of foot and given the right pace he will be a big runner.

 

LORD WILLIAM has been trying further in the G3 and finishing third in both races that he contested. He is more effective over this shorter trip and has a strong winning chance.

 

CAPTAIN FONTANE is seldom out of the money and his won over the same course and distance two starts ago. He is highly regarded in the stable and with strong heavy-weight rider in Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard he should put in another bold showing.

 

MERIDIUS has been in good form on the Highveld and is over what looks to be his optimum trip. He took a six-point hit in the handicap after his last win but his stable is in very good form.

 

SELECTIONS: 1. COSMIC HIGHWAY, 14. QUASIFORSURE, 6. LORD WILLIAM, 5. CAPTAIN FONTANE & 8. MERIDIUS

 

2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 1. COSMIC HIGHWAY & 14. QUASIFORSURE
S2-4: Multiple – 7. BLESS MY STARS & 9. HOLD MY HAND

 

S2-4     Riding High Together Gold Bracelet

Most pundits gave Sean Tarry’s filly BLESS MY STARS very little chance in the Durban July but ran well above most expectations to finish third behind WINCHESTER MANSION and star colt SEE IT AGAIN. She had smart Highveld form prior to that against her own sex and she does look to be the obvious choice in this line-up.

 

HOLD MY HAND has not been far off in the three features that she has contested during Champions Season although the Track And Ball Oaks over 2,400m appeared to be just beyond her compass last time out. The drop in trip will suit and she should prove a solid threat to BLESS MY STARS.

 

DAWNOFANEWDAY was a game runner-up in the Track And Ball Oaks and may have found the trip just a little too far. She has better form over this shorter trip although she did get a six-point shunt up the handicap for her Oaks showing.

 

SILVER DARLING ran a shocker in the G1 Durban July over 2,200m and it is best two draw a line through that showing. The stable has not had a happy Champions Season by their high standards but on her G1 Woolavington 2000 showing over the same course and distance, she is in with a good chance.

 

SAARTJIE ran well below form in the G1 Woolavington 2000 and is better judged on her narrow defeat in the G2 Fillies Guineas over 1,600m on this course. She has the best of the draw and Corne Orffer is up from Cape Town to ride.

 

SELECTIONS: 7. BLESS MY STARS, 9. HOLD MY HAND, 5. DAWNOFANEWDAY, 10. SILVER DARLING & 1. SAARTJIE

 

3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 7. BLESS MY STARS & 9. HOLD MY HAND
S2-5: Multiple – 13. LUCKY LAD & 5. MAIN DEFENDER

 

1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-4:
Banker – 7. BLESS MY STARS
Selections – 9. HOLD MY HAND, 5. DAWNOFANEWDAY, 10. SILVER DARLING & 1. SAARTJIE
S2-5:
Banker – 13. LUCKY LAD
Selections – 5. MAIN DEFENDER, 14. SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT, 2. LONGSWORD & 8. DOWN BY THE RIVER

 

S2-5     World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes

This G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1,600m has the makings of a brilliant contest.

 

LUCKY LAD does not have the best of draws but was a facile winner of the G1 Gold Medallion. He is unbeaten and has hardly been challenged in these four starts to date. Giving others hope is that he steps up to this trip for the first time from a draw that has beaten some of the best in the past.

 

On the other hand, the unbeaten MAIN DEFENDER was trained by Tienie Prinsloo at the beginning and won a maiden on his debut. Then he joined Tony Peter’s yard and won both starts in good fashion. Given his pedigree the step up in trip should be right up his alley. He also has the benefit of a favourable draw.

 

SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT has drawn one outside of LUCKY LAD and came from an almost impossible position when winning the G2 Golden Horseshoe over 1,400m. He has an electric turn of foot as he showed when coming from last, so the draw may not be too much of a disadvantage.

 

These three look the main contenders but Sean Tarry has a second string to his bow in the form of LONGSWORD who although only having shed his maiden last time out, he does have a good draw and comes from a strong stable so can finish in the money with some luck in running.

 

DOWN BY THE RIVER was a recent maiden winner but has made steady improvement and the step up in trip brought out the best in him. He has champion jockey elect Keagan de Melo aboard.

 

SELECTIONS: 13. LUCKY LAD, 5. MAIN DEFENDER, 14. SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT, 2. LONGSWORD & 8. DOWN BY THE RIVER

 

4TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-5: Multiple – 13. LUCKY LAD & 5. MAIN DEFENDER
S2-6: Multiple – 4. GIMME A PRINCE & 9. ISIVUNGUVUNGU

 

S2-6     Mercury Sprint

This is a tough contest but GIMME A PRINCE can seal top honours as the season’s best sprinter with victory in this G1 contest. He is over his best trip and was a cracking winner of the G1 Golden Horse Sprint carrying top weight in a handicap beating his smart younger rival THUNDERSTRUCK. There is a turn around in the weights in favour of GIMME A PRINCE which should in theory confirm the Golden Horse result.

 

A more likely danger is ISIVUNGUVUNGU although Peter Muscutt’s charge has been confined to 1,000m. He was beaten by GIMME A PRINCE in the G1 Cape Flying Championship but has subsequently won the G1 Computaform Sprint, one of the country’s premier five furlong dashes. If he can see out the extra 200m, he could turn the tables on his rival although he has a wider draw to contend with.

 

GLADATORIAN caught most by surprise when winning at lengthy odds in the G2 Post Merchants when getting the better of THUNDERSTRUCK. He is worse off at the weights with THUNDERSTRUCK but does have pole position draw.

 

SURJAY has been run out of late in his last two, including the G1 Golden Horse Sprint. He is 9lbs worse off with GIMME A PRINCE on that showing but Brett Crawford is in good form of late.

 

SELECTIONS: 4. GIMME A PRINCE, 9. ISIVUNGUVUNGU, 6. THUNDERSTRUCK, 7. SURJAY & 1. GLADATORIAN

 

5TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-6: Multiple – 4. GIMME A PRINCE & 9. ISIVUNGUVUNGU
S2-7: Multiple – 3. FUTURE PEARL & 6. SHANGANI

 

2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-6:
Banker – 4. GIMME A PRINCE
Selections – 9. ISIVUNGUVUNGU, 6. THUNDERSTRUCK, 7. SURJAY & 1. GLADATORIAN
S2-7:
Banker – 3. FUTURE PEARL
Selections – 6. SHANGANI, 7. NEBRAAS, 4. ARUMUGAM & 13. ARAGOSTA

 

S2-7     World Pool Gold Cup

FUTURE PEARL has cracking staying form and is a winner of the G3 Gold Bowl over 3,200m and the G3 Gold Vase over 3,000m, both races over marathon trips. He carries 1lb less than he did in the 3,000m Gold Vase, a race that he won with plenty in hand. He has a good draw and he must have a strong chance of earning stayer of the year of he can pull this one off.

 

Given the compress weights for this year’s race, last year’s winner SHANGANI is in with a fighting chance of lumping 132lbs to victory. He has been lightly raced since his last win and caught the eye when fourth in the G3 Track And Ball Derby over 2,400m. He should strip at his peak.

 

Lyle Hewitson teamed up with NEBRAAS to win this race two years back and will be aboard Sean Tarry’s runner again as he takes a break after the Hong Kong season. NEBRAAS has been a little off form of late but stays well and Tarry has a knack of priming his horses for the occasion.

 

ARUMUGAM was well fancied by the stable when running way below form in the G3 Gold Vase over 3,000m after finishing second to FUTURE PEARL in the G3 Gold Bowl over 3,200m. Young apprentice Kaidan Brewer gets on well with the gelding and it could make all the difference to his chances.

 

ARAGOSTA has some steady form over 2,400m. With maestro Mike de Kock at the helm he is in with a strong chance if he stays the trip.

 

SELECTIONS: 3. FUTURE PEARL, 6. SHANGANI, 7. NEBRAAS, 4. ARUMUGAM & 13. ARAGOSTA

6TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-7: Multiple – 3. FUTURE PEARL & 6. SHANGANI
S2-8: Multiple – 11. SEE IT AGAIN & 10. PRINCESS CALLA

 

S2-8     The HKJC Champions Cup

SEE IT AGAIN and CHARLES DICKENS are head-and-shoulders the best 3YOs this season, the former over a middle distance and the latter over a mile. Victory for SEE IT AGAIN could well earn him top honours in the end of season awards. He ran a tremendous race when touched off in the 2,200m G1 Durban July, giving his older rival around 8lbs. If he has recovered from that race which is always a lung-buster, then he should have this at his mercy.

Something of an unknown, even given her record is the filly PRINCESS CALLA. She sprints and goes 1,600m comfortably but the question is whether she can step up the extra 200m against top class male opposition. There is no doubting her ability but this will be an acid test.

 

ZAPATILLAS has not found the form that saw him winning the 1,600m G2 KZN Guineas last season but has had his problems. He finished a creditable third behind CHARLES DICKENS and AL MUTHANA in the 1,600m G1 Gold Challenge, his first run in just over three months, and he could be the dark horse in the race.

 

G1 King’s Plate winner AL MUTHANA was completely out-pointed by CHARLES DICKENS in the G1 Gold Challenge, reversing the order in the King’s Plate. In the King’s Plate it may well have been that the rider of CHARLES DICKENS was over confident and caught napping. The HKJC Champions Cup is 200m further, but on a line through CHARLES DICKENS he should not be able to match SEE IT AGAIN.

 

TRIP OF FORTUNE made the trip from Cape Town to land the G1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, a rare achievement for horses making the trip from Cape Town to the rarified air of the Highveld. He was well beaten by CHARLES DICKENS and AL MUTHANA in the G1 Gold Challenge but was subsequently supplemented for the G1 Durban July where he was never certain to see out the trip under top weight. This race will be more within his range.

 

SELECTIONS: 11. SEE IT AGAIN, 10. PRINCESS CALLA, 2. ZAPATILLAS, 12. AL MUTHANA & 3. TRIP OF FORTUNE

 

7TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-8: Multiple – 11. SEE IT AGAIN & 10. PRINCESS CALLA
S2-9: Multiple – 4. DISTANT WINTER & 2. LET’S GO NOW

 

TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-8: Multiple – 11. SEE IT AGAIN, 10. PRINCESS CALLA & 2. ZAPATILLAS
S2-9: Multiple – 4. DISTANT WINTER, 2. LET’S GO NOW & 9. EGYPTIAN MAU
S2-10: Multiple – 7. AFRICAN SKYLINE, 1. MISTER MASTER STARTER & 2. WARSHIP

 

S2-9     Douglas Whyte Stakes

The 1,600m G1 Douglas Whyte Stakes is a tricky contest.

 

DISTANT WINTER may just have needed her run in the 1,400m G2 Golden Slipper behind MRS GERIATRIX as she had some smart Cape Town form before that. The Slipper run should have brought her on nicely and from a good draw she should make a bold bid.

 

Sean Tarry has another lively feature runner in LET’S GO NOW who has won her last two over the trip which is always a bonus in these races. This race comes just a week after her last success but Tarry is a master craftsman and with the benefit of a good draw adds to her chances.

 

EGYPTIAN MAU has been up against the best in recent features. She took on males in the 1,200m G1 Gold Medallion and may well have finished closer except for finding interference. Richard Fourie takes over in the saddle and she will be a big runner, this being the visiting trainer’s only runner on the day.

 

BAVARIAN BEAUTY has shown up well in her three sprints and given her pedigree should enjoy the step up in distance. She too has a favourable draw and punters will get an early line on her chances with JUST BE LEKKER lining up in the first race of the day.

 

SECRET IDENTITY started favourite in her last start on this course but may have been undone by a wide draw as she was finishing like an express train. She has pulled another wide marble in what is arguably a much stronger field.

 

SELECTIONS: 4. DISTANT WINTER, 2. LET’S GO NOW, 9. EGYPTIAN MAU, 3. BAVARIAN BEAUTY & 12. SECRET IDENTITY

 

8TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-9: Multiple – 4. DISTANT WINTER & 2. LET’S GO NOW
S2-10: Multiple – 7. AFRICAN SKYLINE & 1. MISTER MASTER STARTER

 

S2-10    LHKIR in December Umngeni Handicap

Tough handicap to finish off the day.

 

AFRICAN SKYLINE has only once finished out of the money in 17 starts which is something of a remarkable record. He has finished runner-up in his last three and should finish close-up again from a mid-gate draw.

 

MR MASTER STARTER has warmed up nicely after two recent starts and from the best of the draw should see him close although the one concern is that the 1,000m trip may be a touch on the sharp side.

 

WARSHIP is a filly taking on males and will not get the benefit of Rachel Venniker’s weight claim as she is rides at her minimum weight. But the filly is over her best course and distance from a good draw which should see her run a big race.

 

PRAY FOR RAIN won well first run for his new stable, but that was on the polytrack. Lyle Hewitson rides for his father Carl Hewitson and a win would be a fitting end to the day.

 

LOVE IN WINTER has come good in two starts on the polytrack when trying blinkers. The blinkers have been removed but Vaughan Marshall’s colt only carrying 116lbs which will make him competitive.

 

SELECTIONS: 7. AFRICAN SKYLINE, 1. MR MASTER STARTER, 2. WARSHIP, 4. PRAY FOR RAIN & 8. LOVE IN WINTER

 

 

 

 

 

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