Charles Dickens going for Gold

David Thiselton

The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is annually one of the highlights of the SA Champions Season and this year’s race will see racing enthusiasts flocking to the course just to set eyes on the exciting superstar, Charles Dickens.

The race also takes on special significance this season because it has the potential to cause an upheaval in the Hollywoodbets Durban July weight structure.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Charles Dickens was being compared to the likes of Horse Chestnut and Sea Cottage as he built up an increasingly impressive unbeaten record, culminating in a breathtaking performance in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

However, he then tumbled to his first defeat, albeit a narrow one, when the Ricky Maingard-trained Al Muthana produced a powerful finish on the outside rail at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the prestigious Gr 1 weight for age L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

Now the pair clash again tomorrow.

Charles Dickens, who was also defeated in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m, showed his miler class last time out when using his devastating turn of foot to easily win the Gr 2 WSB Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville, despite being ring rusty.

He will have come on from the run and gets a chance from draw four to exact revenge on Al Muthana.

The latter is not a straight forward horse to train, but Ricky Maingard left no stone unturned in preparing him for the King’s Plate and will have done the same for this race.

Al Muthana is the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge’s defending champion and Maingard will be particularly keen to win on Saturday so that the horse, as a multiple Gr 1 WFA mile winner, can finally receive the accolades he deserves.

Al Muthana comes off a good running-on 0,90 length third in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

Charles Dickens’ stablemate Trip Of Fortune won the IOS Drill Hall Stakes and before that won theGr1 WFA HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein Standside.

His unplaced run in the King’s Plate can be ignored as he was not well at the time and he should be right there on Saturday.

Cousin Casey is another one who could upset the applecart as he relaxes well in the running and has a fine turn of foot. Nothing went right for him last time out in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and he now has blinkers on from pole position. Twice SA Champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo is up because it was a late decision to run Cousin Casey here and regular pilot Grant van Niekerk had already been booked for Al Muthana.

Royal Aussie is untried at this level, but on formlines this horse with a lovely, uncomplicated action has a definite place chance.

Zapatillas ran on from a handy position to just get up in last season’s WSB Guineas, but will need some luck to find cover from the widest draw of all.

Rascallion will be producing his normal strong finish over a trip possibly a touch too sharp.

Do It Again has won this race before and this run will put the eight-year-old spot on for the July.

Safe Passage is a twice Gr 2 winner over a mile and looks ready to bounce back to form.

Bingwa has the ability to earn but needs things to go his way and has a tricky draw.

Charles Dickens is selected to beat Al Muthana with Trip Of Fortune, Cousin Casey and Royal Aussie next best.