National Champion trainer Sean Tarry passed the milestone of R30 million in stakes earnings with more than a month of the season to go and after another fantastic Vodacom Durban July day on Saturday there is a possibility he might even reach an incredible R40 million for the season.

Tarry scored a Grade 2 double on the day and then went within a head of landing the big one.

In the Durban Golden Horseshoe Tarry had two horses among a classy field and those who followed the superstition of backing the Chris van Niekerk red capped horse on July day were smiling. Both of Van Niekerk’s Tarry-trained July winners wore the red cap and he had three runners on both of those occasions.

Purple Diamond was an unconsidered 20/1 shot on Saturday, while Captain And Master was a fancied second favourite.

Purple Diamond, a bay colt by Var, came from some strong sprint form lines in Cape Town. In his second start in Johannesburg, when stepped up to 1450m, he won a maiden in good style. However, even at that stage, he looked like one who was looking for further.

On Saturday, he found the box seat on the rail in about fourth place under Nooresh Juglall, a former twice SA Champion apprentice, who had flown in from Singapore for the day.

Desert Rhythm’s superior stamina reserves might well have won him the race as he stayed on resolutely all the way to the line after being sent for home at the top of the straight. Earlier, the bookmakers favourite Varallo had looked the winner after showing a good turn of foot to overtake the pacemaker and Tote favourite Hakeem with 200m to go. However, Varallo, who still showed signs of greenness, began faltering in the last 100 metres and it was left to the staying on pair Purple Diamond and Ancestry to fight it out. Purple Diamond managed to just get his nose down on the line and considering the quality of the field will be a big runner if he lines up in the Premiers Champion Stakes over the more suitable 1600m trip.

Meanwhile, Captain and Master, a rangy son of Captain Al, had gone down to the start a bit strongly and then pulling hard in the early stages. Terry explain later that this this horse lacks early pace so and had to be rushed up to try and find position and this caused him to over race. S’Manga Khumalo had no option but to restrain the horse and in doing so he ended up a long way off the pace.

However, the big bay produced a fine finishing run from a hopeless position and finished third, a good feat considering the energy he had wasted early in the race. If he lines up in the Premiers Champion Stakes he will likely be left alone in the early stages. Whatever, happens this horse has a giant stride and looks to have the potential to set the world alight next season, as long as he earns to settle.

Flying Free was bumped at the top of the straight and had to be steadied before making his run, so did well to finish fourth. Varallo and Hakeem might be ridden more conservatively if they line up in the Premier’s. Woljayrine ran on well for sixth.

However, one of the most eye catching performances was from the rangy Naafer, who stayed on for seventh and could have got closer with a bit more luck. He should be a huge runner in the Premiers.

in the Gold Circle Golden Slipper over 1400m, Tarry’s Desert Rhythm was backed to favourite and displayed a fine turn of foot before staying on resolutely to win in good style by a length under Khumalo. However, the race was run 0,83 seconds slower than the colts and geldings race. Desert Rhythm, who is by Mambo In Seattle, looks likely to enjoy 1600m, so could follow up in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes.

Tarry also had the fourth placed horse Rockin Russian and this horse stayed on in eye catching style, so should also be a big runner in the Thekwini. The runner up, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Let It Flow, ran on resolutely. Third-placed Tsessebe also ran on well. Neptune’s Rain, who was too far back from a wide draw, stayed on well for sixth. All three of the latter mentioned horses will have chances if running in the Thekwini.

There are three big days of the SA Champions Season left, Mercury Sprint day, Champions Cup Day and Gold Cup day. Tarry stands a chance of reaching the R40 million mark if he wins the big ones on each of those days as they carry total stakes of R1,685, R1 million and R1,25 million respectively, while the Premiers Champion Stakes and Thekwini Stakes both carry prize money of R750,000 apiece.

By David Thiselton