Expert - David Thiselton

David Thiselton grew up not far from South Africa's main training centre, Summerveld, as a child and has been following racing since Mazarin won the 1971 Durban July. His knowledge of racing included a total of five years living in the UK where he ate and slept the sport. His formal entry into the industry was in 2006 when joining Gold Circle as a racing journalist and over the ensuing 18 years he has won three Equus Print Media awards.

Greyville Racecourse – Track Analysis (Gold Challenge):

Durban’s Greyville Racecourse is a clockwise venue with a 2800m turf course that envelopes another synthetic strip. It imitates a triangular configuration of Great Britain’s Ascot Racecourse, with a 430m homestretch.

The course is deceptive as there is a significant climb before the final bend. From the 1600m mark to the 1200m mark there is a gradual drop of 3m. From the 900m mark to the 400m mark on the final turn there is a gradual climb of 4m. There is also a four-degree fall/camber from outer to inner on the turn. The rest of the track has a one-degree fall/camber. The sweeping final bend with it’s camber allows wide runners to slingshot themselves into the thick of the fray. All races from the 1600m mark to the 1000m mark start on the bend.

For the 1600m G1 Gold Challenge, draws 1-6 are optimum. Horses drawn wider can often be caught out wide.

In last year’s Gold Challenge, the local star and now retired CHARLES DICKENS, drew gate 4 and benefitted from a strong early pace set by COUSIN CASEY, allowing jockey Aldo Domeyer to place the colt mid-field on the rail. The field fanned out at the top of the straight off the spur (false rail) giving CHARLES DICKENS a dream run up the inside rail. AL MUTHANA, who had beaten CHARLES DICKENS in another G1 before, was caught wide on the turn and made his run up the outside of the field. Taking the shortest way home, CHARLES DICKENS quickened smartly to hold a late-charging AL MUTHANA.

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