The 2022 Gold Cup will be held next Monday (8:15 p.m.) with the maximum number of participants. Up to 22 horses passed the second forfait, but because in San Sebastian no more than 15 can run in a race, yesterday the reinstated ‘Autumn Pride’, ‘Say Good Buy’ and the English ‘Winter Reprise’ had to be eliminated. ‘The Way of Bonnie’ will defend last year’s title in a select test in which twelve males and three mares, twelve old horses and three classics will take part.
From France will cross the border ‘Berkane’, Mauri Delcher’s Parisian trump card, and ‘Ninth Titan’, Philipe Sogorb’s candidate who will depart as a great threat from ‘The Way of Bonnie’. Guillermo Arizkorreta’s pupil will face the very complicated challenge of doubling victory in the test consecutively, something that only ‘Chacal’ has achieved.
‘Navia’, ‘Tarantela’ and the three-year-old ‘Lovely Diamond’ will be the participating mares. ‘Scalambra’ in 2015 was the last female to win Gold. In addition to Miguel Alonso’s filly, ‘As a Charm’ and ‘White King’, the Derby twin, will represent the class of 2019. The last three years to prevail was ‘Flanders Flame’ in 2016.
Completing the list of contenders are ‘Chevalier Cathare’ and ‘Furioso’, third and fourth in the last edition, ‘Finely Tuned’, ‘Il Decamerone’, ‘Oxalis’, ‘Philau’ and ‘Stelvio’. Little more can be asked of the best race of our turf. Six races will be held in a meeting with 58 participants and which will start at 18.05.