Brett Crawford scored his second Grade 1 double of the season at Greyville on Saturday courtesy of Edict Of Nantes and Lady Of The House and stands a fine chance of becoming the first trainer since 2001 to do the Met-Vodacom Durban July double in the same season with two different horses.

Mike Bass achieved the feat with Bunter Barlow and Trademark in 2001 and also did the double with Pocket Power in 2008.

Lady Of The House (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Mayfair Speculators-owned Count Dubois colt Edict Of Nantes was an impressive winner of the Daily News 2000 under Anton Marcus.

His supporters will be waiting on tenterhooks to see how the handicapper views the race, but they need not be too anxious.

He beat the 106 merit rated SA Derby winner Al Sahem by 0,5 lengths and confirmed Investec Cape Derby form virtually exactly with Horizon.

The only other horse in the top five with form over a distance beyond a mile was the 81 merit rated Glider Pilot.

Therefore, Edict Of Nantes looks likely to be raised about five points to 107 and not much more.

It might have been a different story if the 101 merit rated SA Derby runner up Pagoda had finished fifth instead of sixth, as he could then have been used as a line horse.

As things stand Edict Of Nantes looks likely to have a nice galloping weight of somewhere from 54kg to 55kg in the July.

Betting World reacted by installing him the new 5/1 favourite. Al Sahem is at 11/2 and previous favourite Marinaresco is now 6/1.

Crawford won the Daily News in 2012 with Jackson. However, Jackson appeared to became a more and more difficult customer the older he got as an entire. He duly over raced in the July.

Piere Strydom (Nkosi Hlophe)

In contrast Edict Of Nantes looks to be an easy ride. He has it all, the gatespeed and early pace to help the jockey position him and the ability to be switched on and off at will. He has shown himself capable of quickening superbly off both a slow or a fast pace. He is going to be a hard horse to beat in the July as he looks likely to relish the 2200m trip and should come on from Saturday’s race.

On Saturday Al Sahem was unable to overcome a wide draw of eleven as easily as Edict Of Nantes had overcome his number nine draw. Edict Of Nantes ended up tracking Al Sahem and quickened past him despite being forced out wide. He then held Al Sahem at bay probably more comfortably than the winning margin suggests. However, in the latter’s defence he will relish the 200m further of the July and was coming off a hard Highveld season.

The front pair were clearly superior to third-placed Horizon.

The fourth-placed Glider Pilot is an A P Arrow gelding and is a half-brother to last year’s Daily News winner Rabada. He ran on well from second last to finish five lengths back in just his third career start and it will be will be interesting to see whether trainer Tyrone Zackey supplements him.

In a 5,5 length fifth was Copper Force. This year’s Cape Derby was thought to have been a below par race due to the US$500,000 CTS Mile being run on the same day, yet Copper Force, runner up in the CTS Mile, was comfortably beaten by two Cape Derby contestants on Saturday, the Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes and the Cape Derby fifth-placed Horizon. However, Copper Force was ahead of the Cape Derby runner up Zodiac Ruler and Cape Derby third-placed Captain Gambler, so has put his hand up for a July berth.

Zodiac Ruler stayed on from a good position for a 6,75 length seventh. He did take a bump at the start, which might have affected him. However, he was a borderline horse in 19^th on the first July log and might come under pressure for a place. However, the July scratchings of both Deo Juvente and Heavenly Blue, both near the top of the first log, will boost his chances.

Captain Splendid (Nkosi Hlophe)

Pagoda finished fast to beat Zodiac Ruler by 0,25 lengths, which might have been important as he was in 16^th place on the first July log.

It will be interesting to see whether Mayfair Speculators supplement their Woolavington 2000 winner Lady Of The House. Strydom overcame draw 18 of 18 to win last year’s July on the Mayfair Speculators-owned The Conglomerate and produced a virtual carbon copy race on Lady Of The House on Saturday. He was given confidence by Mayfair Speculators Racing manager Derek Brugman, who advised him she was looking for the trip. Strydom eased her to the front at the halfway mark. The rangy filly quickened at the top of the straight and stayed on resolutely. She hung inward in the latter stages, but she always looked likely to hold the narrow runner up Gimme Six at bay and the subsequent objection was overruled.

Safe Harbour beat SA Fillies Classic winner Orchid Island into third and boosted her chances of a July berth as Orchid Island was in fifth place on the July log. Smiling Blue Eyes did her chances of getting into the July no good by finishing unplaced.

Captain Splendid was a fluent winner of the  Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, but Banner Hill did his chances of getting into the July no favours by finishing seventh.

Later, the former Gr 1 -winning sprinter Guiness made it a day for Mayfair Speculators to remember.  The cherry on the top was when Markus Jooste, owner of Mayfair Speculators, was able to watch his colours out in front for much of the way in the Epsom Derby, where his part-owned horse Douglas Macarthur finished a gallant seventh.

By David Thiselton

Edict Of Nantes was yesterday cut from 8-1 to 5-1 favourite with Betting World for the Vodacom Durban July following Saturday’s Daily News triumph. Second-placed Al Sahem has also been shortened (from 13-2 to 11-2).

Previous favourite Marinaresco, who runs in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on Saturday, remains on 6-1. Stable companion Horizon, third in the Daily News, has been marked out from 20-1 to 28-1.

Brett Crawford and Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

World Sports Betting has Edict Of Nantes at 9-2 with Al Sahem on 11-2 and Marinaresco on 13-2. Horizon is a 28-1 chance.

Brett Crawford, fresh from Saturday’s notable Grade 1 double, is planning more assaults on top prizes and Search Party and Gulf Storm, second and fourth to Bull Valley in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, both go for the Post Merchants at Greyville on Friday week.

Crawford said: “Gulf Storm is not drawn well and Search Party is also a bit wide but they will both run while Al Mariachi (third to Sand And Sea in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion) goes for the KZN Yearling Sale Million on Met day.”

Live Life, who disappointed in the South African Fillies Sprint, could seek compensation in the Mercury Sprint on July 15.

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “She jumped upwards rather than forwards leaving the pens and was immediately at the back but she will stay in Durban and I will nominate her for the Mercury. However she will come home if she doesn’t draw well.”

By Michael Clower

The Gr1 Daily News 2000 turned into a battle of the Derby heroes as Gr1 Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes and Al Sahem, triumphant in the Gr1 SA Derby, came together at the top of the Greyville straight. In a bruising battle that had the balance of the field chasing shadows, Edict Of Nantes gave Brett Crawford and Mayfair Speculators a Gr1 double after Lady Of The House out-gunned favourite Gimme Six in a controversial finish to the Gr1 Woolavington 2000.

Brett Crawford and Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

The betting also indicated a two-horse race with the eventual winner starting a marginal favourite at 22-10 and Al Sahem 26-10 with the balance 8-1 and better.

Earlier, Anton Marcus, first call rider for Mayfair Speculators, was on the ‘wrong’ one in the Woolavington but he picked right this time around. He also got it wrong in the Cape Derby where he put his faith in the Australian-bred Table Bay, only to be upstaged by Frankie Dettori who caught most napping on Edict Of Nantes for his first Gr1 victory in South Africa.

For that reason, many viewed the Cape Derby form as slightly suspect but in hindsight it has proven solid.

“What was meant to be was meant to be. I sat on his back in Cape Town and he is a totally different horse now,” said Marcus. “I think you will only see the best of him as he gets older.”

“I’m glad I could do it for Brett. I always seem to have found the second box for him. It was as if someone had put a piece of pork in the first box,” quipped Marcus, he of Jewish faith.

Marcus always had Al Sahem in his sights. Gingerbread Man, tracked by stable companion Secret Captain, set the early fractions with the two favourites racing off the rail in mid-field. The pair swept wide into the straight with Edict Of Nantes quickening just a little better and going past his market rival crossing the subway.

Edict Of Nantes (Nkosi Hlophe)

Al Sahem was far from done, sticking to Edict Of Nantes, but Marcus’s decision to go just a fraction earlier than Anthony Delpech proved the master stroke as Edict Of Nantes kept finding to the line, the pair separated by a half-a-length with Horizon three lengths back in third. Both the winner and runner-up are already short-priced for next month’s Vodacom Durban July and the return battle is eagerly awaited while for the balance of yesterday’s field, all will be on tenterhooks.

It was not Delpech’s day as he also had to settle for second on favourite Gimme Six in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000. But he was not a happy camper after being pushed across the course by eventual winner Lady Of The House, lodging a protest against the winner on the grounds of interference in the latter stages.

There was little doubt that Piere Strydom allowed his mount to shift ground under pressure to the point that exchanges got tight as Delpech, who was coming from behind his rival, found himself cramped to the extent that he had difficulty using his stick.

The stipendiary stewards ruled that Gimme Six would not have beaten the winner and the result stood.

Strydom’s tactics in the finish were questionable but he again proved himself a master judge of pace.

Much as he did in last year’s Vodacom Durban July where The Conglomerate had the worst of the draw but sent to the front by Strydom, he gambled early and took decisive action. With some sedate early fractions, Strydom went for broke coming up the hill at the 600 m mark and pinched a few lengths on his rivals which proved to be the master stroke. Lady Of The House stuck gamely to her task to hold Gimme Six albeit in rather controversial circumstances.

In her warm-up for the Woolavington, Lady Of The House had finished a close-up third behind second-placed Edict f Nantes in an Allowance Plate although she was in receipt of 8.5kg from the Derby winner.

By Andrew Harrison

How do you sort out a dog-fight – an understandably repulsive ‘sport’ but possibly an appropriate analogy for the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville tomorrow?

The ‘fight’ centres around struggles for places in the Vodacom Durban July and with Africa’s greatest horserace just a month away, competition for places in the 18-horse field is now intense.

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

Tomorrow should sort out a pecking order as far as the three-year-old hopefuls are concerned. The Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 have attracted the cream of the crop but in many cases, July hopefuls that fall outside the preferred 18 on the log. At this stage of proceedings, they will need forward showings to come under consideration by the selection panel.

In the Woolavington, Safe Harbour, Orchid Island and Smiling Blue Eyes are all July entries. Safe Harbour ran Bela-Bela to within a length in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth back in January and more recently was beaten the same distance by Orchid Island in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. She has yet to race beyond 1800m and stable first call rider S’Manga Khumalo will be aboard stable companion Smiling Blues Eyes with Sean Tarry declaring Muzi Yeni on Safe Harbour which could prove telling.

With still two months of the season to run, Tarry is a shoo-in to top R30 million in stakes. His current tally sitting at R29 239 000.

Anthony Delpech is contracted to ride for Wilgerbosdrift and has been aboard Orchid Island in her last four starts. However, he has jumped ship to partner the Sanith-trained Gimme Six, not a July entry but still a possible with the final supplementary stage on Monday, June 12.

Two early fancies in the July ante-post market, Gr1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem and Gr1 Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes, are both due to line up in the Daily News 2000.

After interrupted preparations for both the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr1 SA Classic, Al Sahem was spot on for the Derby and won as he liked. The SA Derby has always been a useful pointer for the July and runner-up and Derby Trial winner Pagoda, 15th on the current July log, must also come into the reckoning. Geoff Woodruff’s runner has come into his own since he started racing in blinkers but has been a little under the radar.

Edict Of Nantes (Liesl King)

Brett Crawford’s runner Edict Of Nantes goes into the Daily News off an excellent effort in an Allowance Plate where he gave the winner, Crowd Pleaser, 6kg. The race was switched to the poly track and he was making up ground quickly over the final furlong which augurs well for tomorrow.

Both Al Sahem and Edict Of Nantes are certain of a July spot and Pagoda is also in contention. Others on the fringes include Africa Rising, Zodiac Ruler, Horizon and Copper Force. Africa Rising steps up to ten furlongs for the first time but his pedigree suggests that he should have no trouble seeing it out. However, his Daisy Guineas effort behind Janoobi does raise a few question marks. The three others mentioned are all in the same boat. Zodiac Ruler did the best of them in the Guineas and his second place in the Investec Derby will count in his favour. Horizon started odds-on for the Investec Derby but was beaten nearly four lengths. He opened his KZN campaign with a promising win over 1400m but disappointed in the Guineas again when starting favourite. The Daily News trip should be more to his liking and he may be worth another chance.

Copper Force is another borderline case but will probably need a seriously big effort tomorrow if he is to make the July field. Although he has not finished out of the money in eight starts he has finished behind Africa Rising and Zodiac Ruler in recent outings.

Two other July hopefuls in action at Greyville are Rocketball and Banner Hill who take their chances in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. Rocketball will have to up his game substantially to have any chance of making the July field while Banner Hill finished four lengths off Ten Gun Salute in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 which may have compromised his chances. Glen Kotzen said Banner Hill’s original target for the winter season had been the Gr3 Gold Cup but decided to nominated for the July after a fluent Champions Season opener. Victory on Saturday will definitely put him back into the reckoning.

By Andrew Harrison

Geoff Woodruff’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 runner Pagoda and Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 pair Bi Pot and Al Danza arrived at Summerveld on Wednesday night and all looked to have travelled well.

The five-times champion trainer lamented his bad luck with draws in Durban this season and this trio were the latest to be “drawn out in the bush”.

Geoff Woodruff (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, he thought all three had the form to be contenders in their respective races.

Mogok gelding Pagoda is currently in 15^th place on the Vodacom Durban July log and Woodruff aims to “pop him into the July” with a low weight.

He clarified, “The Daily News is always a tough race for the Johannesburg horses because they have just come off a long, hard season and it is more a race to keep the horses going for the July and also to show them the course.”

He reckoned Pagoda was a July type of a horse and the big race had always been his target. He said, “He is small and neat and has a nice turn of foot. If you have a three-year-old coming into the July with 53kg or 54kg you know you are in the hunt.”

Pagoda would, as things currently stand, have to carry 53kg. However, off his 101 merit rating he would be 2kg under sufferance.

Last time out in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m on the tough Turffontein Standside track, Pagoda was running close up to the eventual winner Al Sahem midway through the race when an incident caused him to be shuffled right to the back.

Woodruff said, “That was not the plan at all, but Gavin (Lerena) had him on the rail and he became caught in a box behind a slowing horse.”

Pagoda then ran on strongly from last to finish a 1,75 length second. Woodruff said realistically Pagoda might have finished closer, but doubted he could have won the race. He also felt realistically Pagoda would not be able to reverse form on Saturday with Al Sahem facing him at level weights again.

As things stand, Pagoda will receive 0,5kg from Al Sahem in the July. However, if the latter converts favouritism on Saturday the weight differential might change significantly.

Keagan De Melo (Nkosi Hlophe)

In his penultimate start Pagoda was reminiscent of one of the best Mogok’s, The Apache, in that he crept up steadily in the straight until the 300m mark and then when Lerena pressed the button he kicked impressively and went away from the field to win by 3,3 lengths. Chase Maujean replaces the now England-based Lerena and will have to negotiate a number ten draw in a twelve horse field.

Woodruff said the Judpot filly Bi Pot had not been “over raced” this season and she was “fit and well.”

He added, “She ran a very good race in the SA Fillies Classic and I think she is Gr 1 class, but I would have been much more confident if she had landed a better draw.”

This filly has a lovely, long stride and she turned it on impressively in the SA Fillies Classic to hit the front. She was only caught late, so should be suited to the tight Greyville track. She subsequently ran fourth in the SA Oaks over 2450m, reversing form with SA Fillies Classic winner Orchid Island. So, she should relish this 2000m trip and looks to be a massive runner despite having to jump from draw 12. Maujean will ride her for the fifth time in succession.

Woodruff admitted the Captain Al filly Al Danza had a stamina question mark. The Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas is the longest race she has run in to date. Woodruff revealed she had been cut into from behind in that race, so she did well to stay on from a box seat for a 3,75 length fourth. It also gave reason to hope she could stay Saturday’s 2000m trip. Keagan de Melo rides from draw 13 in the 15 horse field.

By David Thiselton

SA Derby winner Al Sahem has been installed 19-10 favourite with World Sports Betting for Saturday’s Daily News 2000 but Brett Crawford reports that Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes – second favourite at 3-1 – is in particularly good shape for the showdown.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

Crawford, who completed the Cape Derby-Daily News double with Jackson five years ago, said: “Edict Of Nantes has come on a lot from his recent Allowance Plate second, he has been doing well and we are very happy with him.”

Anton Marcus’s mount shouldered top weight in that Allowance race, his first appearance for 16 weeks, and Crawford makes the point that the colt will be better suited by the extra furlong on Saturday.

Horizon is 11-2 third favourite and WSB’s other prices are 6-1 Pagoda,7-1 Zodiac Ruler, 10-1 Africa Rising, 12-1 Copper Force, 14-1 Secret Captain, 20-1 Captain Gambler, 50-1 Dark Moon Rising, Gingerbread Man, Glider Pilot.

In the Woolavington Daisy Fillies Guineas winner Gimme Six is 5-2 favourite to confirm the placings with 6-1 shot Final Judgement who has a length and a half to make up but Glen Kotzen, successful with Imperious Star seven years ago, is cautiously optimistic.

He said: “Final Judgement is flying – she has had a good prep and is doing really well. Also I think she is going to enjoy the Greyville 2 000m.

“She had one run over 1 800 and that was in the Paddock Stakes when she finished just over two lengths off the winner but it could be a different story against her own age group. She has tended to get a bit flat-spotted over shorter distances so maybe she will be even more effective over further.”

Orchid Island is 6-1 to give Mike de Kock his fourth Woolavington in nine seasons and other prices are 6-1 Epona, 7-1 Safe Harbour, 10-1 Bi Pot, 12-1 Smiling Blue Eyes, 14-1 Wind Chill, 16-1 Oriental Oak, Lady Of The House, 20-1 Al Danza, 25-1 The High Life, Party Crasher, 50-1 Dress For Success, 66-1 Onesie.

By Michael Clower

The grey filly Bela-Bela was the only July hopeful in action this past weekend and trainer Justin Snaith will have been well pleased with her showing in Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Up with the pace throughout, Bela-Bela finished just off the leading pack in a sprint that will have sharpened her up no end in the lead up to the Vodacom Durban July come Saturday, July 1.

Bela Bela (Tracy Robertson Photography)

Saturday at Greyville should sort out a pecking order as far as the three-year-old hopefuls are concerned. The Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 have attracted the cream of the crop but in some cases, July hopefuls that fall outside the preferred 18 on the log. At this stage of proceedings, they will need forward showings to come under consideration by the selection panel.

In the Woolavington, Safe Harbour, Orchid Island and Smiling Blue Eyes are all July entries. Safe Harbour ran Bela-Bela to within a length in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth back in January and more recently was beaten the same distance by Orchid Island in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. She has yet to race beyond 1800m and stable first call rider S’Manga Khumalo will be aboard stable companion Smiling Blues Eyes with Sean Tarry declaring Muzi Yeni on Safe Harbour which could prove telling.

With still two months of the season to run, Tarry is a shoo-in to top R30 million in stakes. His current tally sits at R29 239 000.

Anthony Delpech is contracted to ride for Wilgerbosdrift and has been aboard Orchid Island in her last four starts. However, he has jumped ship to partner the Sanith-trained Gimme Six, not a July entry but still a possible with the final supplementary stage on Monday, June 12.

Two early fancies in the July ante-post market, Gr1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem and Gr1 Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes, are both due to line up in the Daily News 2000.

After interrupted preparations for both the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr1 SA Classic, Al Sahem was spot on for the Derby and won as he liked. The SA Derby has always been a useful pointer for the July and runner-up and Derby Trial winner Pagoda must also come into the reckoning. Geoff Woodruff’s runner has come into his own since he started racing in blinkers but has been a little under the radar.

Al Sahem (JC Photographics)

Brett Crawford’s runner Edict Of Nantes goes into the Daily News off an excellent effort in an Allowance Plate where he gave the winner, Crowd Pleaser, 6kg. The race was switched to the poly track and he was making up ground quickly over the final furlong which augurs well for Saturday.

Both Al Sahem and Edict Of Nantes are certain of a July spot and Pagoda must be thereabouts. Others on the fringes include Africa Rising, Zodiac Ruler, Horizon and Copper Force. Africa Rising steps up to ten furlongs for the first time but his pedigree suggests that he should have no trouble seeing it out. However, his Daisy Guineas effort behind Janoobi does raise a few question marks. The three others mentioned are all in the same boat. Zodiac Ruler did the best of them in the Guineas and his second place in the Investec Derby will count in his favour. Horizon started odds-on for the Investec Derby but was beaten nearly four lengths. He opened his KZN campaign with a promising win over 1400m but disappointed again in the Guineas again when starting favourite. The Daily News trip should be more to his liking and he may be worth another chance.

Copper Force is another borderline case but will probably need a seriously big effort on Saturday if he is to make the July field. Although he has not finished out of the money in eight starts he has finished behind Africa Rising and Zodiac Ruler in recent outings.

Two other July hopefuls in action at Greyville are Rocketball and Banner Hill who take their chances in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. Rocketball will have to up his game substantially to have any chance of making the July field while Banner Hill finished four lengths off Ten Gun Salute in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 which may have compromised his chances. Glen Kotzen said Banner Hill’s original target for the winter season had been the Gr3 Gold Cup but decided to nominated for the July after a fluent Champions Season opener. Victory on Saturday will definitely put him into the reckoning.

By Andrew Harrison

Duncan Howells has had blinkers in mind for Secret Captain for a while and this talented grey has his first run in the headgear in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday.

The combination of Secret Captain’s form and his style of racing has Howells baffled and he is still not sure what his best trip is. He pointed on the one hand to the Captain Al colt’s good sprint form, in which he has always displayed a good turn of foot, and then added, “When you watch this horse galloping he looks to be a horse who needs ten furlongs and he is also a half-brother to Bela-Bela, but he seems to battle to quicken in races over further.”

Horizon (Liesl King)

Another confusing aspect is that in his races over a mile and beyond, he stays on late after that initial flat-footedness.

Howells is thus hoping the blinkers will help him quicken.

He reckoned Secret Captain’s last run on the poly over 1800m could be ignored. He said, “He ran way below his handicap mark and I don’t think it had anything to with the surface, rather it was the sharp corner and the short straight which didn’t suit him.”

That race was a case in point of the long-striding horse not quickening effectively, but then staying on late. He was beaten 2,35 lengths by Daily News second favourite Edict Of Nantes and now has to face him on 9kg worse terms.

However, the run must have been all wrong because in his previous start he had stayed on resolutely for a decent 1,75 length second in the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas on the Greyville turf, beating the like of prominent Daily News contenders Zodiac Ruler, Copper Force, Horizon and Africa Rising. He will face all of those horses on the same terms on Saturday.

Howells concluded, “He definitely has the ability, otherwise I would not be running him here. He has been showing exceptionally good work and if he stays he will give a very good account of himself.”

Secret Captain has been priced up at about 25/2 and stable jockey Keagan de Melo is up from a pole position draw.

Secret Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Howells also runs the Querari gelding Gingerbread Man, who was beaten 6,8 lengths into eighth in the Daisy Guineas. However, a closer look at the race shows him to have a big action and he was staying on in eye-catching style from last.

Howells said there were no other races for Gingerbread Man off his 90 merit rating.

He added, “I think he was a bit too far back in the Guineas.”

Howells said this gelding had always shown good track work. He believed he would stay on pedigree. He is out of a Fort Wood mare, Ginger Tree, who won over 1800m and who is a full-sister to Rhizome, who won six times from 1600m to 3000m. Further down his female line there is plenty of stamina as well as class and his fourth dam, Nagaika, produced three horses who went on to be sires, including Connaught, who finished second to Sir Ivor in the Epsom Derby. Howells hoped Gingerbread Man could earn a share of the R2 million stake money.

Howells rates the Gimmethegreenlight filly Girl In Gold, who runs in the first race over 1600m, and she certainly caught the eye on debut over 1400m at Greyville when caught very wide and running on strongly for fourth. He will target her at the Gr 1 Thekwini depending on how she fares on Saturday.

Meanwhile, he will target the Gr 1 Allan Robertson third-placed Neptune’s Rain at the Gr 2 Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day. He believed she was unlucky to have had a low draw last Saturday, which forced her to be handy while her best form had been when coming from off the pace.

Howells’ Betting World 1900 winner Ten Gun Salute will go straight into the July. The back issue he had is almost completely clear now and the fact he had it might have turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He was hardly blowing after his exceptional 1900 victory, so the yard have learnt he does not have to be given a lot of work to be at his peak.

By David Thiselton