Brett Crawford joined Mike de Kock on five Gr 1s for the season, one behind the six of Sean Tarry, when Captain America won the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m at Greyville under his regular pilot Corné Orffer.

This race and the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, which was won by the Justin Snaith-trained Elusive Silva, made the Vodacom Durban July picture a touch clearer.

However, the panellists who have to choose the final field face an unenviable task.

Corne Orffer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Captain America’s two career Gr 1 wins have now both been in weight for age miles. However, his only attempt at the July as a three-year-old colt in 2014 can be ignored as he jumped awkwardly and lost a length and then over raced. As a relaxed six-year-old gelding his headstrong antics are now a thing of the past. In this year’s Sun Met he had to be used up early to find the lead from a wide draw, yet was only caught at the 150m mark. However, he was hardly tiring as he rallied to finish third. Furthermore, it was the fastest run Met since the first of Pocket Power’s Met victories in 2007. Another tick for Captain America’s stamina capacity can be found when viewing his Cape Derby run in 2014, where he over raced throughout but still managed to stay on strongly for second to Legislate. The Conglomerate showed last year that being handy in the July can be an advantage and it is easy to imagine Captain America running a similar race to last year’s winning one. However, against him will be the topweight he will have to carry. He is currently merit rated 116 and might get a point or two for Saturday’s win. The line horse is likely to either be the consistent 1,75 length third-placed Bela-Bela or the 2,5 length fourth-placed Sail South, who proved his Queen’s Plate run was no fluke.  Captain America ran to about a 117 compared to Bela-Bela. However, she was a touch unlucky and that might be taken into account. Compared to Sail South, Captain America ran to about a 118 or 119. However, it might be taken into account that coming from the back at Greyville gave Sail South less time to make up the leeway than he had at Kenilworth, where he was 0,75 lengths behind Captain America in the Queen’s Plate.

Elusive Silva (Nkosi Hlophe)

Betting World reacted by chopping Captain America from 33/1 to 14/1. Marinaresco had every chance from a midfield position, but faded tamely when it counted and behind the strong pace he would have preferred to have been further back. He has drifted out to 8-1. Bela-Bela’s running was taken up briefly at a crucial moment at the top of the straight, so her third was an outstanding effort. However, the bookmakers still have her at 25/1 and the reason might be the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes still being an option for her on the big day. The Conglomerate stayed on under a sympathetic ride and it was a pleasing preparation for the defence of his July crown, where he will have a fine chance at the weights.  Saratoga Dancer was perhaps a bit too handy in a strongly paced race and didn’t find extra in the closing stages. However, he was in 13^th place on the log so might be safe. Brazuca was doing his best work late in quite an eye catching preparation and in 11^th position on the log should get in. Master Sabina, who as the Summer Cup winner has likely booked his place, was also doing good work late. French Navy has never been one to run well fresh, but his well below par run will have been concerning for his supporters just three weeks away from the big race.

In the Cup Trial Elusive Silva booked his place in the July by quickening well off a slow pace and just pipping the pacemaker Crowd Pleaser. Third-placed Black Arthur will be the biggest headache for the panellists. They will attempt to find a place for him as he is 10/1 in the July betting and has enjoyed a fine preparation. After all, they did find a place for both Futura and Saratoga Dancer in recent years after they had finished third and fourth respectively in the Cup Trial. Also in the Cup Trial Nebula’s chances of making the final field disappeared. He was on the outside looking in on the log. He had the box seat in the running on Saturday, but in a slow-paced race could not match the finishing speed of the first three and ended second last in the nine horse field. The only horse he beat home was Master Switch, who was also on the outside looking in on the log, but he is just not the same horse at Greyville as he is at Turffontein and this was his fourth unplaced run at the Durban course in four starts. Trophy Wife attracted controversy when emitted from the final field last year, but this year there will be no repeat. She lost ground at the start and then swished her tail. She finished well, but the slow pace of the race worked against her and she could only manage sixth place, which won’t be enough to book a place. The long-striding Royal Badge can also be considered unlucky to have encountered a slow pace as he finished strongly from off the pace for fifth, which won’t be enough to persuade the panellists.

Nightingale ran on well for second in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m to keep her July hopes alive, but Silver Mountain will drop out of contention after being eased out of the race.

By David Thiselton

Betting World yesterday slashed Captain America from 33-1 to 14-1 for the Vodacom Durban July as a result of the six-year-old’s convincing win in Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

Stable companion Edict Of Nantes has been shortened from 11-2 to 5-1 clear favourite while Al Sahem (beaten half a length by Edict Of Nantes in the Daily News) remains on 11-2. However Marinaresco, who managed only a disappointing 11^th on Saturday, has been marked out from 13-2 to 8-1.

Cup Trial winner Elusive Silva has been cut from 14-1 to 15-2 third favourite and strong-finishing Tibouchina runner-up Nightingale [see replay above] clipped from 45-1 to 25-1, the same price as last year’s Durban July winner The Conglomerate (from 18-1) who was sixth in the Gold Challenge.

By Michael Clower

Brett Crawford is having the winter of his life and the dream may not have ended at Greyville yesterday when Captain America powered home in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

Crawford saddled the winners of both the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 last weekend. Captain America’s victory took him to three Gr 1 victories in the space of just two weeks and he has the Vodacom Durban July on the horizon.

Vijay Maharaj & Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

Captain America is an accomplished miler and in the absence of his nemesis Legal Eagle, who had his measure in both the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes last term and the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate in January, he made short work of a high-class field yesterday.

“When he quickens he gets a good couple of lengths on his field,” said regular pilot Corne Orffer. “He’s a very honest horse.”

Always handy from a wide draw, Captain America quickened up the inside rail in a matter of strides and had the race in the bag crossing the subway. Trip To Heaven and Bela-Bela chased hard in the minor placings but the winner was never seriously challenged.

Trip To Heaven, denied in the stewards room last year and a notoriously slow starter, ran true to form missing the break by a good couple of lengths but rattling home for second.

The filly Bela-Bela was also doing her best work late. Justin Snaith was more than happy with the showing of his filly but confirmed that she will not be taking her chances in the Vodacom Durban July. “Garden Province” he said, adding that, “unfortunately we will have to take on Just Sensual,” who an hour earlier had run out a comfortable winner of the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes. “A pity she’s not in the July,” he added wryly.

Disappointment of the race was favourite Marinaresco who was up with the pace for much of the race but failed to fire and finished with just one behind him.

The result of the Gr3 Cup Trial will have given the July selection panel further headaches although winner Elusive Silva did cement his place in the line-up with a courageous victory over Crowd Pleaser and stable companion Black Arthur.

Captain America (Nkosi Hlophe)

A touch worrying was the way Elusive Silva had his head turned to the side and drifting in under pressure before being straightened by Richard Fourie but he did enough to get up on the line to collar pacemaker Crowd Pleaser. “He ran green and was hanging in,” commented Snaith. “He’s a big strong horse and was always going to quicken even though they didn’t go a good pace.”

Snaith was batting for third-placed Black Arthur, close to the top of the betting boards for the Vodacom Durban July but until yesterday not certain of a place. “You don’t want to leave it this late,” he said. “But you can’t leave him out.”

Anthony Delpech, aboard Black Arthur, was up-beat. “I thought I was going to win it. He just lacked that little bit at the end. This was his second run after a long lay-off and he ran a great race.”

Crowd Pleaser did everything but win it. Keagan de Melo dictated the pace to a nicety on the instruction of Johan Janse van Vuuren and although giving the winner 4.5kg he was only collared one jump from the line. Master Switch, Nebula and Trophy Wife may well have seen their chances of making the July field out of the window.

Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual sharpened her pencil for the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes with a cracking win in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes although Anton Marcus was not altogether impressed with the performance of Joey Ramsden’s filly. “Halfway up the straight I gave her one and she shot away, but having said that I was a little disappointed. I thought that she would win a little easier than that. But she’s ready for the Garden Province. In the end I’m just happy to have a winner.”

Second-placed Nightingale finished best of the rest with Anna Pavlova running on nicely up the inside fence for third.

By Andrew Harrison

High flying trainer Brett Crawford said his Graded feature runners for Saturday at Greyville, Captain America, Sail South, Nebula and Chevauchee, have all been doing very well at Summerveld.

Callie-Jo Bouman, Chante Holloway & Captain America

Captain America has proven in the past to not need a lot of racing to reach his peak so should be in prime condition for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge following his running on 0,4 length fifth in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. He did not jump well in that race either. His best efforts lately have been either from the front or second in the running, but more importantly he settles wherever he is positioned these days, which allows his resolute finish to have its maximum impact. His last four Grade 1 weight for age (wfa) mile appearances have netted a facile win in the Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein in 2015 and three placed runs behind the current Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle. In the last of those runs Captain America finished second in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, so on form is the horse to beat on Saturday. However, he does have a tough draw of ten, but Crawford does not believe he needs to lead. Regular rider Corné Orffer rides Captain America.

Gold Challenge contender Sail South has always had talent but has tended to over race. In this year’s Queen’s Plate he was dropped out to last and was duly seen to fight for his head on at least a couple of occasions. It was therefore a phenomenal effort to see him run on for a three length third to Legal Eagle, 0,75 lengths behind Captain America and 0,3 lengths ahead of Saturday’s favourite Marinaresco. In the Drill Hall he was no given the opportunity to fight for his head as he was taken to the front and set a good pace. He was only caught late and finished a 0,45 length sixth. Richard Fourie rides the improved six-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding for the fifth time in succession and they jump from a tricky draw of ten.

Nebula (Nkosi Hlope)

Nebula will need a big run in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m to book a Vodacom Durban July berth as he was on the outside looking in on the last July log. He won his KZN pipe opener hands and heels over 1600m on the poly, where he showed a fine turn of foot. The Algoa Cup winner will relish the step up in trip and is drawn in pole with leading jockey Greg Cheyne aboard. Cheyne had a bad fall on this horse in the Calulo Mile at Kenilworth in February. It was neither the horse nor jockey’s fault, but Cheyne was side-lined for three weeks. Nebula will need to improve on his run in the Gr 2 Peninsula over 1800m at Kenilworth in December, where he finished a 3,8 length seventh carrying 55kg and receiving 4kg from the winner. However, the winner was Whisky Baron, who of course went on to win the Sun Met. Furthermore, Nebula’s last start proved you can never write off a Silvano, they just get better and better with age. Silvano’s progeny have also proved themselves to have a liking for Greyville. Nebula himself has had four starts at Greyville, all over 1600m, for two wins, a third and a fourth and the third was in a Listed event.

Chevauchee has always been brimful of talent and races in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m. The lightly raced four-year-old High Chaparral filly has won two Listed events, over 1200m and 1600m respectively, so the 1400m trip should be right down her alley. Crawford said she had not handled Scottsville in her SA Champions Season pipe-opener in the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes so a line can likely be drawn through that unplaced run. The only other time she has finished out of the top three in a ten race career was in this year’s Gr 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m where she moved up well but then found no extra, so she likely didn’t see out the trip. Before that she gave each of the useful males Fifty Cents and Horizon 3,5kg in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth and ran a 1,75 length third behind them. She jumps from a tricky draw of eight in the 14 horse field on Saturday and Cheyne is aboard.

By David Thiselton

The Adam Marcus trained four-year-old gelding Royal Badge is rated a 150/1 shot with Betting World for the Vodacom Durban July, but a perusal over the progeny record of his under rated sire Go Deputy will quickly show he is not just a hopeful entry. He will stake a claim for a berth in the big race when he runs in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m on Saturday at Greyville.

Adam Marcus

Marcus said, “His biggest asset is he is an extremely good mover.”

He showed that in his Champions Season pipe opener on the Greyville poly over 1600m. He turned it on in the straight and his big stride carried him to a fast finishing fourth, 2,4 lengths behind Nebula, whom he faces on Saturday on 3kg better terms.

Marcus said, “It was a wonderful prep after a little break and he has improved from that run and is exceptionally well. I was very pleased with the acceleration he showed, so don’t think the 1800m will be too short for him. We have always thought of him as a horse who was on the up and at this time of the Champions Season it just takes one race to go your way and you suddenly have a boom horse.”

Unfortunately, Royal Badge’s regular rider Richard Fourie will be aboard the fancied July horse Elusive Silva on Saturday.

However, Marcus is pleased with the replacement Grant van Niekerk, whom he said should know Royal Badge as he has ridden him in track work in Cape own before.

Adam’s famous father Basil, who was a seven-times Hong Kong Champion jockey, had two July runners as a trainer in Jay Peg and Desert Links.

Grant Van Niekerk (Nkosi Hlophe)

Adam has not yet had a runner in the big race, but has earmarked a program for Royal Badge, which is based on the one Desert Links followed in 2008.

Desert Links won the Cup Trial, finished a 1,6 length fifth in the July and then won the Gold Cup.

Adam said, “It is very exciting to have a horse in contention for a place in the July and hopefully he gets in, that would be awesome.”

Looking at the stakes earners of Go Deputy’s first crop: Adobe Pink won two races in a busy season as a three-year-old and ended the season merit rated 76, but she won four on the trot as a four-year-old and ended the season merit rated 96; Pessoa was merit rated 78 entering the July of his three-year-old year and then won four on the trot, including his first three starts as a four-year-old, and he later added the Gr 3 King’s Cup to end the season merit rated 103; Changingoftheguard did well as a three-year-old winning two races including a Listed race and was merit rated 95, but an eight month break from January until September benefitted him because in his second start as a four-year-old he won the Matchem Stakes, beating the crack three-year-old King Of Pain. These are just three examples of the progeny of a sire who have always paid to follow the moment they turn four-years-old as the improvement is notable in virtually every instance.

Royal Badge himself did well as a three-year-old, winning three races, but his first black type-earning performance came in the December of this season as a four-year-old when cruising to a 2,75 length win in the Gr 3 Grand West Cape Summer Stayers handicap over 2500m. He is now merit rated 95 and among his competition on Saturday will be another Go Deputy four-year-old, Go Direct, who has also proved progressive this season.

Royal Badge has a tricky draw of seven in the nine horse field, but in that last 1600m race he had a similar draw and was dropped out to second where he found the rail and switched off nicely.

By David Thiselton

Sixteen Vodacom Durban July contenders bidding for a berth in the country’s premier event and competing across three graded feature races topped by the R1-million, Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, is what awaits punters at Greyville in Durban on Saturday.

But last year’s winner of the R4.25-million race, The Conglomerate, as the first reserve is not guaranteed of a run in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge unless there is a scratching among the 14 whose places are secured – but he is currently 11^th on the official July Log and should still be included in the big race as last year’s winner.

2016 VDJ winner THE CONGLOMERATE

With nine feature events on the 10-race card the meeting is one of the biggest events on the South African racing calendar and the final opportunity for entries for the blue-ribbon event to make the final field for the first Saturday in July.

The Rising Sun Gold Challenge includes eight July entries including the surprise Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes winner Marinaresco that won the Mike And Carol Bass Champions Cup last year and the captain of the Brett Crawford stable team, Captain America, that ran a good race behind Marinaresco in the Drill Hall in his first outing since finishing third in the Sun Met and second in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Master Sabina, winner of the Summer Cup and French Navy, fourth in the Champions Challenge at Turffontein, are included along with Sean Tarry’s sprinters Trip To Heaven and Bulleting Home, the latter having won the King’s Cup at Greyville.

Star filly Bela-Bela will also take her place in the field in a bid to secure her July spot along with Saratoga Dancer that are ninth and 14^th on the July Log respectively.

The Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1 800m includes six July hopefuls including Black Arthur that was the boom three-year-old last season and last year’s Cape Winter Derby and recent Sledgehammer winner Elusive Silva. Master Switch and Trophy Wife, the latter having finished third in the recent Gerald Rosenberg, will add spice to the 1 600m weight-for-age event.

In the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes, Nightingale and Silver Mountain, both from the Candice Bass-Robinson yard, are the two July candidates hoping to make a strong enough impression to gain an invite into the big race but have a strong field of fillies to contend with.

By Richard McMillan

Brett Crawford will attempt to make it five Grade 1s for the season on Saturday at Greyville when the mellowed six-year-old gelding Captain America revisits a course, which was thought to not suit him as a headstrong three-year-old colt.

However, he will be facing a top class field in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m.

Captain America (Liesl King)

Captain America’s class was shown early in his career, but a headstrong tendency soon became evident. He needs to employ handy to front-running tactics at the highest level because he does not possess an instant turn of foot. Gelding and maturity have seen him able to settle nicely in front and he has developed into a dangerous front runner. The big six-year-old is thus back in KZN for the first time for three years. Against him is a high draw and he will need to jump better than he did in the recent Drill Hall Stakes.

Marinaresco clearly loves Greyville and the key is his exceptional turn of foot. He would prefer further than a mile, but proved his effectiveness over shorter when winning the Drill Hall Stakes. He has a plum draw on Saturday.

Trip To Heaven is another horse with an exceptional turn of foot. A mile stretches him, but he showed in this race last year his class can carry him to the line as he only lost the race in the boardroom.

The versatile Bela-Bela has been unplaced in both her starts against the boys, but those were in the July and the Met and it will be interesting to see whether the coupling of her speed and class makes her more effective against them over this trip.

Brazuca finished a narrow second to subsequent Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa in the Dingaans two years ago, so is a candidate here from a good draw.

His stablemate New Predator was fourth in this race last year, two lengths behind French Navy and the latter beat him by 1,7 lengths in this year’s Grade 1 weight for age Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein. New Predator has been top drawer over 1400m and might now begin seeing out 1600m better at a course which suits him, so he can’t be ignored, although his wide draw makes it tough.

French Navy is coming off an identical program to last year and his performances have been very similar, so he can place again, although his last win was way back in January last year.

Dual Guineas winner Janoobi is the only three-year-old contestant and has proven himself a dangerous front runner. The form of his Daisy Guineas win at this track is suspect, but the form of his Gauteng Guineas win is strong. His pole position draw helped his front-running style in the Daisy Guineas, but he now has a wide draw.

Saratoga Dancer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sail South is much improved this season as he has settled better than in the past and he finished third in the Queen’s Plate, beaten 0,75 lengths by Captain America and he was 0,3 lengths ahead of Marinaresco. He has a tricky draw but Richard Fourie up is a bonus.

It will likely be a July preparation run for dual Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina, who would prefer further. However, he is drawn inn pole and it’s a first run for a new yard, so this classy sort can’t be ignored.

Bulleting Home quickened away from the field in the Kings Cup and then finished fifth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. However, it will be tougher here at Grade 1 weight for age level.

Saratoga Dancer has a fine turn of foot and consequently loves Greyville. He showed he is effective over shorter distances when third in the Drill Hall, beaten a head by Marinaresco, with whom he is now 2kg worse off.

Deo Juvente was 0,8 lengths behind New Predator in the Charity Mile when giving the latter 0,5kg and he was a neck behind Saratoga Dancer in that race when giving the latter 1,5kg. His surprise win in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge constituted an improved performance over 2000m, so if he does the same over this trip he is a contender.

Victorious Jay won a mile race in good style on Met day and then finished a head second in the Drill Hall, so has come into his own. However, he will be 2kg worse off with Marinaresco from the Drill Hall and has a wide draw to overcome.

Reserve runner The Conglomerate is the Vodacom Durban July champion, but in this weight for age event looks well held on recent form.

Reserve runner No Worries is an enigmatic customer who has matched the best on a couple of occasions, but he is held on recent form.

Reserve runner Table Bay is much vaunted and none of the three three-year-olds who have beaten him over a mile this season are present here.

By David Thiselton

Last year’s Vodacom Durban July runner-up Marinaresco is reported in good heart for the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on Saturday although there is some concern about the trip despite the horse’s win in last month’s Drill Hall over 200m shorter.

Marinaresco Liesl King

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “Marinaresco has been doing well and he is on target for Saturday even though a mile will be a little sharp for him. We have kept him a bit fresh for the race as he needs to be like that to run well over a mile.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who again has the mount, is bidding for his third Gold Challenge win. He scored on the odds-on Pocket Power in 2009 and on 40-1 shock King Of Pain three years ago.

Saturday’s Grade 1 is expected to have an important bearing on the July even though the race’s record might suggest otherwise. Since Flaming Rock won both races for Chris Snaith in 1991, the only Gold Challenge winner to repeat the feat in the same season has been the Justin Snaith-trained Dancer’s Daughter who dead-heated with Pocket Power in the 2008 July.

By Michael Clower

They filled the next three places behind surprise winner Bull Valley in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville a week ago and they will go to battle again in the R400 000, Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1 200m at Greyville on Friday, June 16.

Two of them, Search Party and Gulf Storm, that finished second and fourth respectively, are from the stable of top Cape trainer Brett Crawford who triumphantly won both the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Woolavington 2000 at Greyville last weekend and will be on a high with strong hopes of snatching the honours in this top sprint event also.

Separating them at the line in the Tsogo Sun Sprint is the Dennis Drier-trained gelding Barbosa that showed a return to form in the Scottsville race with the promise of potential further improvement when he steps out on the polytrack for this race.

A full field of 14 runners will face the starter, with three reserves, with the Overlord gelding Talktothestars from the Coenie De Beer stable topping the weights and nicely drawn at three. While he disappointed in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, his previous effort when second to superstar Rafeef in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint was confirmation that he had not lost the enthusiasm for racing and at the weights he has a 1.5kg advantage over his rivals on merit.

Search Party could be the Crawford stable elect with Corne Orffer in the irons and with steady improvement in each of his recent races he could be one of the strongest contenders in the race. Stable companion Gulf Storm, however, will have a major task ahead of him from the widest draw but cannot be discounted.

The Drier stable is in top form and in addition to the success in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville, the five-year-old Seventh Rock gelding Guiness gave his opposition a hiding in a MR 95 handicap over 1 000m at Greyville at the weekend confirming the form of the stable.

Gareth van Zyl fields the Captain Al gelding Redcarpet Captain that has won his last two starts over 1 200m on the Poly and the Alec Laird-trained Amazing Strike, winner of his last two starts, will be out to strike again.

Professor Brian from the Joey Ramsden yard has won his last three starts, the most recent over the course and distance in comfortable fashion and in a good time and with a light weight to shoulder again could put the cat among the pigeons in what has the makings of a thrilling speed encounter.

By Richard McMillan