Ladbrokes commenced their sponsorship of Gr 1 Gold Cup this year and the day produced a suitable sense of occasion as master jockey Felix Coetzee scored a record-breaking eighth victory in South Africa's premier staying event, steering home the Dean Kannemeyer-trained In Writing (ARG) in a driving finish. Princess Of Light (SAF) was a gallant second ahead of the winner's stablemate Blake (SAF) with top weight Seal staying on well for fourth.

As expected, the race proved to be an absorbing tactical contest. Breaking from a potentially awkward draw, Coetzee wasted no time in getting In Writing across and they led narrowly from Vettel as the field went past the winning post for the first time. The race really took shape after the first four furlongs, though, as Princess Of Light moved into the lead. In Writing slotted in perfectly on the rails in second, just ahead of Vettel, while Seal and Aslan were right there, as was Jeppe's Reef. Blake sat slightly handier than usual, having jumped from pole position, giving about six lengths' start with Gorongosa in the middle of the pack. Sage Throne tracked Blake while Kolkata sat in the second half of the field.

The next big move came about 900m out as Kolkata made up ground to challenge the leaders and he was poised to hit the front as they entered the straight. The action shifted to the outside of the track once they came off the false rail. Princess Of Light continued to plug away gamely up front with In Writing moving up to her inside. Blake started to run on to their right with Seal still very much a factor. Vettel and Kolkata started to falter under pressure while Gorongosa and Sage Throne started to make some headway to the inside, with nothing else running on from off the pace. In Writing gradually mastered Princess Of Light inside the last furlong but the race was not yet in safekeeping as the filly tried to fight back and Blake brielfy looked as if he might well run them all down with his usual late charge. Coetzee kept the Argentine-bred 6-year-old on the job, though, and In Writing galloped on powerfully to win by nearly a length, his rider punching the air with the long-awaited record finally in the bag. Coetzee dominated the Gold Cup for much of the 1980s, winning it five times in seven years and even after relocating to Hong Kong in 1990s, returned home to land two more victories, the last of them on Bella Bianca in 1998, at which point he drew level with the legendary Charlie Barends, whose seven wins from an earlier era had been one of the longest-standing records in South African racing.

At 53, Coetzee is still very much a force to be reckoned with and his delight at making the record his own would have been shared by his many fans. The race was a triumph for Kannemeyer in more ways than one. Apart from his runners dominating the finish, he has pulled off a remarkable training feat with In Writing, bringing him back from a serious tendon injury and reinventing him as a leading stayer, with the Equus award in that category now very much a possibility. On the verge of turning seven, In Writing is looking better than ever and Kannemeyer, along with owners Fieldspring Racing, will have plenty to look forward to when the Cape summer season gets under way. The placed horses all emerged with plenty of credit, none more so than the immensely brave Princess Of Light. According to pre-race reports, the Geoff Woodruff-trained filly was having her last run before heading to stud, but that seems a pity as she still has her 5-year-old season ahead of her and would have plenty to offer on the race track if she were to stay in training.

Marthinus Mienie, who knows her well, gave her a perfect ride and she responded by running the race of her life. There were doubts about whether she could really see out the two miles but she kept at it all the way to the line. Blake is a class act who can be relied on to give his best whenever he runs. He made a bold bid, as expected, but his stablemate simply saw out the two miles that much better than he did. Kannemeyer may well have a stranglehold on the Equus champion stayer award becAUS e Blake's cumulative achievements over the season also make him a very strong contender to get the nod, despite going down to his stablemate here.