Category Archives: Daily News

marinaresco

Marinaresco, big shoes to fill

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Can Marinaresco become the first since Pocket Power a decade ago to win all three legs of the Winter Series?

He certainly set about it the right way at Kenilworth on Saturday, outpointing the Winter Guineas field with a spectacular turn of foot and appropriately carrying the Marsh Shirtliff colours that his predecessor made famous. Furthermore, unlike most of those who have tried and failed in the intervening nine years, he almost certainly has the stamina for the final leg.

Mind you, he could yet be diverted to Durban. “I’m tossing a coin between the Series R250 000 bonus and the R2 million of the Daily News,” said Mike Bass, his tone of voice suggesting the money made it a no-brainer. But he added, almost in the same breath: “He will probably stay here – he will be a better horse next year that way.”

This was Bass’s eighth Winter Guineas and the first for Aldo Domeyer but many of those who plunged on the favourite from 9-2 to 2-1 thought he had blown it when he decided to cross over from his midfield draw and tuck in with only three behind him. It wasn’t just the punters either (Candice Robinson: “I thought ‘Oh gosh, it’s not going to be our day.’”) while a collective groan came from the stands when the commentator announced that Marinaresco was 15 lengths behind the leader.

Marinaresco 1

Marinaresco winning the Winter Guineas (Liesl King)

Domeyer, though, partnering his 75th winner of the season, kept his cool. “I was riding by instinct – there were a million instructions and even in the pens I wasn’t sure what I was going to do – but Grant van Niekerk had told me that he has a turn of foot.

“This is a good horse. I’ve never seen one with his acceleration. It was just a matter of choosing a gap and then he quickened instantly. After that he was only loafing in front. Since they gelded him he is showing himself to be the horse the stable thought he was going to become, and he is now one for the public to follow.”

However Brett Crawford, whose Grant Thornton Handicap winner Orion Quest is clearly going places, had no hesitation in naming the Winter Classic (May 21) as the next stop for Whisky Baron and Vilakazi who finished a close second and third. There will be another day too for Eighth Wonder who dropped out as if he had been shot. “I couldn’t understand why he didn’t go on in the straight but he returned with a severe nasal discharge,” reported Greg Ennion.

Always In Charge could be Durban bound after running out a hugely impressive winner of the Shopfit National Maiden under a confident MJ Byleveld. “Vaughan Marshall wanted to take him but I said that I don’t like horses going there that haven’t won,” Derek Brugman related. “Now we will sit down and discuss it.”

The Stormsvlei Mile on May 21 is next on the agenda for Captain’s Flame who belied her 10-1 price by romping away in the final furlong of the RTT Sweet Chestnut while third-placed Anglet will take her on again in that after failing to get a completely clear run. “We will then decide about Durban. This 1 400m was a little sharp for her and it got a bit tight,” said Paddy Kruyer.

The 14-10 favourite Qing finished with only one behind her. Anthony Delpech said he felt something was not right and, while the course vet could find nothing wrong, Chris Snaith was asked to report on the filly’s condition back home.

Andre Nel reckons a virus that affected his string earlier in the month was the reason for Dark Chocolate’s expensive flop when favourite three weeks earlier. She came good in the FNB Maiden to launch a stable double and Domeyer’s treble.

Glen Kotzen is now allowed to run horses from his Woodhill stables once more and, after celebrating with all-the-way Anthony Andrews-ridden Shizam in the Old Mutual Maiden, he said: “They asked us to do the responsible thing and we did it for the industry. Let’s just hope there are no more deaths.”

Eric Sands, who used to dominate the work rider races with Bizz Njokwa following orders to the letter, may have found another in the same mould. Storm Front was Siyamdumisa Tshaka’s first ride and the 23-year-old handled him in competent style.

Richard Fourie served notice that he intends to resume normal service after making most on Saint Roch for Adam Marcus in the last, saying: “I’ve not been taking many rides but I’m now getting back into things.”

By Michael Clower

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

French Navy hiked three points

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The Sean Tarry-trained Count Dubois gelding French Navy has been raised three points for his Gr 1 Daily News 2000 win on Saturday and will go into the Vodacom Durban July with a merit rating of 113. This means, based on July favourite Futura’s current merit rating of 120, he would have to carry 54,5kg in the big race as things stand.

The 108 merit rated third-placed The Conglomerate was used as “the line horse” in the Daily News and his merit rating will remain unchanged, so as things stand he will go into the July 1kg under sufferance carrying the minimum weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg. Second-placed Ertijaal was raised four points to 110, meaning he will scrape into the July’s handicap with 53kg, while fourth-placed Rampant Ice was raised six points to 106 and it remains to be seen whether he will be supplemented for the big race.

The Alec Laird-trained Gr 1 Woolavington winner Smart Call was raised eight points to 109, based on her 2,25 length defeat of the 103 merit-rated line horse, third-placed Trophy Wife. However, Laird has said Smart Call will likely be rested for the remainder of the season.

Second-placed Pine Princess, beaten a quarter-of-a-length, remains on a 109 merit rating so will go into the July with 52,5kg as it stands. Fourth-placed Zante was the only other horse to be affected and her merit rating was raised nine points to 101, although she is not currently a July entry. The fifth-placed favourite Inara remains on 110, but she was scratched from the July yesterday (Monday) morning and will likely be aimed at the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over the more suitable 1600m distance.

By David Thiselton

Picture: French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

SEAN TARRY

Daily News 2000 Raceday Wrap

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The devastating form of Gauteng trainer Sean Tarry continued at the weekend with his three-year-old Count Dubois gelding French Navy sailing through in the finish to win the R2-million, Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and ensuring his crowning as the Champion Trainer of South Africa for the current season.

Ridden with great confidence by jockey Raymond Danielson, and having also won of the Grade 1 SA Classic at Turffontein in March, the powerful bay laid claim to the title of top three-year-old male in South Africa and cemented his place in the field for the R3.5-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July.

Shortly before that, the 12-1 chance Smart Call from the Alec Laird stable caused an upset in the R1-million, Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 when she gave her sire Ideal World his first Grade 1 success beating home Pine Princess and Trophy Wife.

The Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup was won in fine style by the Dynasty gelding Solid Speed adding yet another win to Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s outstanding run of success this season. It was the four-year-old gelding’s third straight win since coming to Durban.

In the Daily News 2000 expectations were that favourite The Conglomerate along with Ertijaal and Deputy Jud, were likely to fight out the finish and when The Conglomerate and Ertijaal came together in the home straight it all seemed to be going to plan. Ertijaal gained the upper hand and set sail for the judge but out of the pack, having found a gap from the middle of the field, French Navy shifted into top gear and joined Ertijaal in the final dash to the line, finishing the stronger and going on to win by 1.25 lengths.

The Conglomerate stayed on to secure third place ahead of Rampant Ice and Mac De Lago.

In the post race interview, Tarry praised owner Chris van Niekerk for his support and the manner in which he did not interfere in the preparation of his horses allowing Tarry freedom to train the runners as he saw fit. He said the five-week break between the SA Derby and the Daily News 2000 this year – compared to the four or even three weeks of previous years – had allowed him time to freshen the gelding up for this race.

He felt French Navy did not quite get the 2 450m of the Derby in the soft going but praised the laid-back Danielson for a perfect ride. He quipped that Danielson was so laid back that at times “you almost had to take his pulse to see if he was alive.”

Danielson said in his interview that he had told Tarry after the first time he rode French Navy that the gelding had a lot of potential. He said he had feared there would not be a pace in Saturday’s race but he felt the pace was on as the gelding was off the bridle. “But he picked it up going through the 800” and when he found a way through a tight field the gelding took off and won very impressively.

For trainer Mike de Kock the day was not the best the stable had enjoyed, starting off with the withdrawal of his star filly Majmu from the Woolavington 2000 a few hours before the start of the meeting, reportedly having spiked a temperature. However, it might not have been too much of a disappointment for De Kock who, in a pre-race interview recorded earlier in the week, he had not appeared that excited about the filly taking part in the race.

His chances in the classic event for fillies was left to his SA Oaks winner Pine Princess to fly the flag and she came close to pulling it off but for a sustained finishing run by Smart Call who came up on her outside and beat her to the line by about a neck.

Having been a pace-maker in a few of her previous races, it could have been assumed by other riders in the race that she would once again go out to make the running but this time Weichong Marwing held her back and Anthony Delpech took Pine Princess to the front ahead of Tamaanee with Smart Call slotting in third. Pine Princess shook off the attentions of Tamaanee in the straight and looked on course for victory until Smart Call unleashed her finishing effort with her and Pine Princess fighting it out to the line.

Trainer Alec Laird said after the race that he had decided to give the ideal World filly her last crack at a Grade 1 race and had changed tactics, allowing her to be settled in instead of going to the front and that tactic had worked out. He said he had always thought that on pedigree Smart Call would stay the distance.

Inara from the Mike Bass stable that had started favourite for the race, ran well below her best to finish just out of the placings when touched off by a fast-finishing Zante for fourth place.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

French Navy steals the headlines

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French Navy finished like a train from well back in the running to win the Daily News 2000 rather convincingly at Greyville on Saturday.

Jockey Raymond Danielson was more elated about this victory than the geldings Gr 1 SA Classic win and said, “This was at Greyville and I know now that he likes the course.” The Count Dubois gelding was the highest merit rated horse in the weight for age race so shouldn’t be too badly punished by the handicapper and will be a big runner in the July.

Danielson knew French Navy was top class when winning his maiden aboard him over 1600m last October. He described him as lazy at home and also lazy in a race. That is until he hits the straight and he then becomes electrified. He was concerned he was too far back on Saturday and didn’t mind pushing him along, as he was confident he would find his usual finish.

The De Kock-trained Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal relished the faster ground and the 2000m trip and ran a gallant second. The Joey Ramsden-trained favourite The Conglomerate ran well enough for third, but was never a serious threat and will likely drift in the July betting. The Weiho Marwing-trained Rampant Ice, fifth in the KRA Guineas, relished the step up to 2000m and finished fourth ahead of Mac De Lago, who had finished second in the KRA Guineas.

By David Thiselton

Picture: French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

French-Navy [Daily News 2000]

French Navy too strong in Daily News

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Sean Tarry is having a mighty season and if there were any doubts that he would not be crowned Champion Trainer come the end of July they were dispelled at Greyville yesterday as French Navy capped a disappointing day for rival Mike de Kock. Tarry’s gelded son of Count Dubois proved too strong for De Kock’s Cape Derby winner Ertijaal and favourite The Conglomerate in the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

In doing so French Navy also stamped himself a leading contender for the Vodacom Durban July to be run in a little over a month and there are sure to be some major changes to bookmaker’s boards come this morning.

Winner of the SA Classic and third in the SA Derby, French Navy was still expected to play second fiddle to stable companion Siren’s Call who had come within an ace of winning the Triple Tiara in a year where the three-year-old fillies have proved to be a vintage crop. However, the filly ran a flat race and was in trouble even before the field turned for home.

Raymond Danielson explained, “When I rode this horse for the first time I told Mr Tarry that he had a lot of potential. I was afraid that there would not be a pace because he can get a bit lost in a race. But the gas was on, at least I thought so, because he was off the bridle.”

“Things got a bit tight,” said Tarry later, “but he got a run.”

“This came five weeks after the Derby and I think the gap made a big difference, I was able to freshen him up. In the past I think the gap was four weeks and sometimes even three.”

“I felt he did not get the 2450 of the Derby, especially in the going.”

Tarry has had a remarkable few years with stalwart owner Chris van Niekerk and heaped praise. “It’s nice to have an owner that understands that you need to do what you need to do and not try and train the horses. A lot of people don’t realise that we are dealing with flesh and blood and things don’t always go right.”

“You need things to go right and fortunately things have gone very well, very smoothly (this season).”

The laid-back Danielson is an integral component of the Tarry setup on the Highveld and can be frustrating to work with. “Sometimes I have to take his pulse to see if he’s alive,” quipped Tarry. “But he rode a great race from that draw.”

Drama at the gate saw Ultimate Dollar a late scratching as he kicked the back gate after being loaded. From the jump a very headstrong Run Rhino Run grabbed a hold of the bit and carted Keagan de Melo into the lead and stretching the field as he set solid early fractions.

As the field settled Mljet tracked the pacemaker with Ertijaal and Deputy Jud handy and Anton Marcus stalking Ertijaal on the favourite The Conglomerate. Danielson had French Navy settle in the back half of the field.

Approaching the 600 m mark Piere Strydom was hard at work on Siren’s Call and her race was run but Danielson eased French Navy off the fence preparing for a dash up the centre.

Run Rhino Run emptied out in a hurry at the top of the straight as Ertijaal and Mljet moved in with the Cape Derby winner moving the better. However, Danielson managed to ease through some traffic and French Navy, once in the clear, quickened up to collar Ertijaal and win comfortably.

Second with Ertijaal and 35 minutes later with Pine Princess, Mike de Kock’s day had already started badly. At nine o’clock yesterday morning the field for the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 were racing for second as the grey filly Majmu was unopposed in the betting and to all intents and purposes looked a racing certainty.

Half an hour later De Kock was on the telephone with the news that the hot favourite had spiked a temperature and would not be making her way to Greyville.

The defection of the favourite threw the race open although duel Gr1 winning filly Inara was cut to 18-10 in Majmu’s absence with Tamaanee and Pine Princess the only others in single figures.

But of the trio only Pine Princess featured in the finish as the 12-1 chance Smart Call turned the tables on many of her rivals. She put in a sustained finish to out-gun pacemaker Pine Princess with the less fancied of the Tarry runners, Trophy Wife third ahead of a fast-finishing Zante.

“I thought on pedigree she would stay but I don’t know if you noticed but we rode her differently this time,” said an emotional Alec Laird post-race. After a second to Siren’s Call in the Gauteng Guineas, Smart Call subsequently finished in the pack in the SA Classic and the Empress Club Stakes. “I decided to have one more crack at a Group 1 and thank God it worked out.”

Veteran Weichong Marwing was in the irons and all the cards fell his way. “The race panned out well and I got a nice slot,” he said.

“This was Ideal World’s first Grade 1 winner and I was wearing Grandma’s broach for luck,” enthused owner Jessica Slack who inherited the famous Mauritzfontein Stud and Oppenheimer colours from her equally famous Grandmother, Bridget Oppenheimer. Indeed, Smart Call has a solid Mauritzfontein pedigree being by resident stallion Ideal World out of a mare by the Mauritzfontein-bred champion, Horse Chestnut.

The change of tactics on Smart Call may well have caught the rest of the field napping. She will have been tagged as an obvious pacemaker given her recent record but it was apparent early on that this was not going to be the case as all hung back in the hope of someone taking the initiative.

That arrived in the form of Pine Princess. Anthony Delpech, switched from Majmu to De Kock’s second string, set off in front on a soft lead with Tamaanee and Inara in close attendance and Marwing tucking in Smart Call just off the pace.

At the top of the home stretch Delpech looked to have ridden the perfect race as the field battle to close the gap but a furlong out the pictured changed. Smart Call finished with a telling run on her outside and got home with a neck to spare.

 By Andrew Harrison

Picture:

Majmu (JC Photo)

July form on display

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The Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 to be run at Greyville tomorrow have become the two biggest pointers to the Vodacom Durban July. The country’s premier race has been dominated by three-year-olds in recent years and there is always a mad scramble for the line in both races knowing that a place in the July is the reward for a prominent finishing position.

This year is one of the few times in history that the Woolavington is being seen as a pointer of equal importance to the Daily News. There are no fewer than six three-year-old fillies in the top 20 of the July log at present and four of them will be running in the Woolavington, while one of them runs in the Daily News. There are five three-year-old males in the top 20 on the log and four of them will be running in the Daily News.

Majmu will be the star attraction on the day and will be hard to beat in the Woolavington. The other two-time Gr 1 winner in the race Inara has 2,5 lengths to make up on her from the Avontuur Estate Fillies Guineas. Majmu proved she stayed 2000 last time out when second in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge against the boys and as she carried a Gr 1 penalty her performance was of at least equal merit to that of the winner Wylie Hall. That was her second run after a layoff and she might do even better on Saturday. She is drawn seven and considering the number of gears she has it will take a world class horse to get the better of her down the straight.

Inara has the advantage of previous course experience. She has improved from her last outing, which she needed, and this agile filly will likely be looking to use her pole position draw coupled with her fine turn of foot to steal a march on Majmu. She should enjoy this trip having got home in the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m despite running quite wide and having to be eased and switched in the straight.

Tamaanee won impressively last time out when stepped up to this distance for the first time in the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and her time was actually 0,43 seconds quicker than Majmu’s on the same day, despite the fact that she was carrying 2,5kg more. On that performance she will be in the first three here.

Pine Princess showed both a fine turn of foot in her Gr 1 SA Oaks win and courage as she fought back after being headed. She looks to have improved and although she would prefer further she can’t be discounted as she really looked to be enjoying herself in the latter win. She does have a tough draw of eleven and will likely go handy.

Zante will relish this step up in trip and will be doing her best work late. She has an outside place chance.

Trophy Wife has a big heart and has improved into a fair sort. She was making late progress in the KRA Fillies Guineas and is said by the Tarry yard to be at her peak for this race.

Olma has been impressive over this trip on the Greyville polytrack and there is nothing to stop her from doing just as well on the turf.

Smart Call and Silver Class should enjoy this trip on pedigree.

Sensible Lover, Indaba and Mamsita will need a lot of improvement to feature.

The Daily News 2000 is very open and any of the 16 runners could win it.

Ertijaal will relish the trip as well as a return to firmer ground and displayed a fine turn of foot in the SA Derby so should enjoy Greyville.

Siren’s Call is one of the best of a vintage three-year-old fillies crop. She has a huge heart and an outside draw might not necessarily be a disadvantage as she will be away from the scrimmaging.

Mljet has been disappointing but blinkers and a change of environment in a new yard could reignite him. He has a fine chance on collateral form with The Congolmerate.

The Conglomerate won the KRA Guineas easily and will relish the step up in trip.

Mac De Lago should not be underestimated as he possesses plenty of class and has a fine turn of foot, while on pedigree he should enjoy the trip.

Light The Lights finished third in the KRA Guineas and has been looking for this trip.

Jayyed is another classy sort who could be reignited by blinkers.

Run Rhino Run has also been looking for this trip and should be finishing fast and the same can be said of Rampant Ice.

French Navy possesses a strong finish when getting going. Ultimate Dollar will relish the trip and also finishes well, although he takes a bit of time to wind up.

Deputy Jud is in the top 20 on the July log but does strike as a staying type who might not be suited to Greyville which is best suited to horses that can quicken instantaneously. However, he could possibly set a good pace.

Amsterdam also looks likely to prefer a more galloping track. Unparalleled is yet another who will be finishing well.

Prince of Orange has been consistently found out at this level.

Ertijaal is taken to get the better of Siren’s Call and Mljet in the Daily News while Majmu will be hard to beat in the Woolavington and is taken to finish ahead of Inara and Tamaanee.

The Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m could be won by the ever improving Solid Speed from Sun On Africa with Kingston Mines, Gone Baby Gone and Coltrane next best.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Majmu (JC Photo)

Mike Azzie

Azzie trio warrant respect

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Mike Azzie has three runners in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, Deputy Jud, Amsterdam and Prince Of Orange, and all of them have been prepared out of his Champions Season yard at Summerveld.

His Judpot colt Deputy Jud was third in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m in very soft going and second in the Gr 1 SA Derby in slightly soft going.

Azzie said, “He took a while to adjust to Summerveld but has settled nicely in the last couple of days. I would have liked another week to get him to his peak but I am not unhappy with him, he is looking good, moving well and eating well.”

Deputy Jud is a big galloping type and, regarding his suitability to Greyville, Azzie said, “It’s always a worry with a tight track, but he did finish a close second to Ertijaal on the Turffontein Inside track. That’s a tight track, although not as tight as Greyville, and he did handle it reasonably well. I always say a good horse can handle any track.”

The Windrush gelding Amsterdam was bought into the yard after finishing a 0,75 length second in the SA Classic but was then beaten by a long way in the SA Derby. Azzie said, “It was a shocking run and the jockey got off and blamed himself but I don’t think he did anything wrong, I just think it was a pretty flat run.I think we will only see the best of this horse in six months time, he is tall and needs to furnish into his frame and build some muscle.”

His third contender, the Indigo Magic colt Prince Of Orange, has also just been bought into the yard and looks to have a bit to do on form having been beaten 4,5 lengths, eight lengths and 14,5 lengths respectively in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, the SA Classic and the SA Derby. However, Azzie was upbeat about him and said, “He has done well since arriving in our yard and has blossomed. I think he could be the surprise of the race.”

Azzie runs the Go Deputy first-timer colt Abashiri in race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m, and the Querari filly Melliflora in the second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1600m. He said, “Meillflora should be in the shake up. Abashiri is a really smart colt but is big and burly and we need to get on the road to see where to go with him.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Mike Azzie

the conglomerate kra guine

The Conglomerate will love the trip

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The Conglomerate, as short as 7-1 for the Vodacom Durban July, bids to become the third consecutive KRA Guineas winner to land the Daily News at Greyville on Saturday and Joey Ramsden believes his horse will be ideally suited to the trip.

He said yesterday: “The Conglomerate is bred to get ten furlongs and this is what he has been crying out for. He should run well but whether he is good enough is another question.”

Dual Grade 1 winner Inara is a 50-1 chance in the July betting and Mike Bass reports her in fine form for the Woolavington but he is understandably afraid of Majmu.

Bass, successful with Sun Classique eight years ago, said: “Inara ran second to Majmu  in the Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas and whether she can do any better over this longer trip I don’t know. She is in good shape but if she again ran second I would probably be happy enough.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: The Conglomerate (John Lewis)

Blinkers for MLJet

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Former top Gauteng-based jockey Gavin van Zyl has only had his trainer’s license for eight years at Summerveld but already has a fine record in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and has two more chances of adding to that record on Saturday.

He won the race with The Apache in 2011, finished third with Shogunnar in 2012 and second with No Worries in 2013. His chief hope in the R2 million race this year will be a newcomer to the yard, MLJet, which is pronounced [Mil-yet] and is the name of one of the Adriatic Islands of the Dalmatia region of Croatia.

Van Zyl has decided to fit this talented Jet Master gelding with first-time blinkers.

He said, “He is in good shape. His sand work is not as good as his grass work, but he put up very exciting work on the grass at Summerveld with blinkers on a week ago. He is drawn second widest but is a 102 merit rating, which he has earned somewhere along the way, so we expect him to run a very competitive race and if he brings his grass work and the form of his second to The Conglomerate in the Politician Stakes to the course he is in with a shout.”

MLJet’s 0,5 length runner up finish to The Conglomerate in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on January 10 was viewed as yet another disappointing run at the time, but now looks very good on paper. He was giving The Conglomerate 3kg that day and the latter is currently the joint Vodacom Durban July third favourite after his impressive win in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas.

Overall MLJet has been one of the most disappointing three-year-olds of the season. He looked set for big things after two impressive wins in Juvenile Plates at Clairwood last year were followed by an unlucky 0,25 length third to Equus Champion colt Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.

He has not lived up to expectations, and joined Van Zyl’s yard after a disappointing run in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on March 28, his second after gelding, although the very soft ground probably went against him in that race.

He has not raced since then as an intended preparation in an Allowance Plate at Greyville on May 8 had to be scrapped due to a lack of entries.

Warren Kennedy rides from draw 15 in the 16 horse field and it should be remembered that in the recent Gr 2 Betting World 1900 the first five were drawn in double figures, partly because they avoided the scrimmaging on the inside around the first turn.

The yard also run the Silvano gelding Dante’s Legacy, who will be wearing blinkers for the first time since he tried them against MLJet as a two-year-old over 1500m at Clairwood, a race he was beaten in by 10,65 lengths.

No Worries came in unheralded two years ago and Dante’s Legacy has a similar profile. His only run over this trip was in the Listed Derby Trial and looks good on paper as he finished 2,85 lengths behind the subsequent Gr 1 SA Derby winner Legal Eagle and was giving the latter 2,5kg. He finished a decent fifth in the SA Derby, beaten 10,25 lengths, but he was only 3,25 lengths behind Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal.

Dante’s Legacy has been at Summerveld for about a month and Gavin’s son and assistant trainer Gareth said, “He is doing well and we are looking for him to be a bit sharper with the blinkers on. We are hoping for a first four finish.”

Van Zyl also runs two horses in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, Heart Of A Lion and Sun Of Africa.

He said, “  Heart of a Lion is well and if he repeats his last two runs he is in with a chance (third in both the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m and the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m). Sun Of Africa is well weighted if he can repeat the form of his second behind Bezanova (that was over 1600m but he won well over 1900m at Greyville as a two-year-old) and he is not without a winning chance. He has been working very well.”

Both horses are taking in this race on route to the Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m on June 21 and the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m on July 25.

By David Thiselton

Picture: MLJet (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mountain Master (Nkosi Hlophe)

Countdown begins for the July

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It’s the last chance saloon situation for most of the 21 Vodacom Durban July hopefuls that take to the Greyville course in Durban on Saturday at the Daily News 2000 racemeeting.

The current July Log only features 10 of the runners that will compete in the R2-million, Grade 1 Daily News 2000, the R1-million, Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 and the R250 000, Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and while a few could consider their positions on the Log secure, even they will have to produce top performances to prevent being dislodged.

For Kingston Mines and Mountain Master, the 2 400m of the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup is where their fate will be determined and both will need to produce very impressive performances. Neither feature in the top 25 on the Log and the selection panel may well consider that for Kingston Mines the 2 200m journey of the July is far enough below his best to include him in place of a well-formed and better distance-suited runner.

He has won the J&B Stayers in the Cape over 2 850m and the Caradoc Gold Cup over 2 800m at Turffontein and his merit rating is low at 100 compared to other contenders but a very convincing win in the Lonsdale could swing things in his favour.

Mountain Master has an even lower rating but he did place over 2 000m at Turffontein and he was not disgraced when 2.65 lengths fifth in the Betting World 1900.

Among the Daily News 2000 runners, stable companions French Navy and the filly Siren’s Call from the Sean Tarry stable are in 6th and 7th positions respectively on the Log and they need only show that they are in good fettle to secure their places in the big race field. Ertijaal from the Mike de Kock stable is in 10th place on the Log could also be safe if producing a good run.

The Conglomerate jumped into 13th place after winning the KRA Guineas very impressively and on his Highveld form Deputy Jud is currently in 15th place. Both are still not safe unless they produce the goods on Saturday by winning or finishing close up.

For most of the other July hopefuls in the Daily News 2000 it will have to be all or nothing and only a win or high placing could have the July Selection Panel giving them a second thought. Many have ratings below 100, far below any of the current contenders on the log.

From the Woolavington 2000 field, the filly Majmu from the De Kock stable is 4th on the Log and on her record must be a definite inclusion in the July and the Mike Bass-trained filly Inara, although down in 8th position, should also be secure based on her rating and her impressive double Grade 1 victories in the Cape.

Pine Princess, in 9th place, beat Siren’s Call in the SA Derby and placed in top company from 1 600m to 1 800m before that which should be enough to secure her a place in the Vodacom Durban July. Tamaanee from the Tarry stable is, however, in the danger zone in 14th place but her rating of 105 from winning the Gerald Rosenberg might swing things in her favour.

As it is in the Daily News 2000, the balance of the July hopefuls will need something very special to sway the panel.

With the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Cup Trail to come the week after this meeting where some older hard-knockers will be making their final bids for a big race run, all the July hopefuls racing this weekend will have to give it a full go as things could still change drastically before the final Vodacom Durban July field in announced.