Cape trainer Stan Elley dealt many Vodacom Durban July hopefuls a double knockout blow at Greyville on Friday evening when his two rank outsider runners, Dynastic Power and Punta Arenas, filled two of the first three place in the R350 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900.
Victory or a bold showing was necessary for many of the runners to impress the July selection panel but for most of the more fancied contenders there must be little hope left of making the final 18 in Africa’ Greatest Horseracing Evening on the first Saturday in July.
The race was won by the four-year-old Dynasty gelding Dynastic Power under a perfect ride by Greg Cheyne at odd in the region of 50-1 with “veteran” July campaigner Punta Arenas, starting at similar odds, filling third place behind a fast-finishing Power King from the Dean Kannemeyer stable. A Victory for Power King would have given the popular Cape trainer a hat-trick of wins on the night his having won the two previous races with Dynastic and Master James.
For Dynastic Power, with a gutsy fourth place in the J&B Stayers as his most impressive credential, there will be a glimmer of hope for a place in the Vodacom Durban July with Punta Arenas throwing his hat into the ring for serious consideration.
For the more fancied runners in the race, horses like Jet Explorer, Bold Inspiration, Jayyed, Double Clutch, De Kock and Solar Star, the future appears less bright when considering the current contenders on the July Log and even Helderberg Blue may find his 17th position on the log under threat.
Power King, who was listed just outside the top 20, will have improved his chances of a run particularly as he gained his second place finish with a flying run from the back of the field and could be considered unlucky not to have won.
The Mike de Kock-trained three-year-old Jayyed could still have a chance of making the big-race field if he can up his game and win the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 for which he has been nominated while some of those beaten runners could make a final bid if competing in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge or the Cup Trial.
Stan Elley said in the post-race interview that the win by Dynastic Power had been a “super, super moment” and he hoped that Punta Arenas could be given another chance in the Vodacom Durban July.
Picture: Dynastic Power (Nkosi Hlophe)
