Ten Gun Salute has been cut from 80-1 to 20-1 for the Vodacom Durban July as a result of his surprise win in the Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night.

Elusive Silva (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joint-favourite Elusive Silva (only fifth in the 1900) has drifted from 15-2 to 10-1 and Drill Hall winner Marinaresco now disputes favouritism with SA Derby hero Al Sahem on 13-2.

It’s My Turn, third under top weight on Friday, has been cut from 22-1 to 14-1 but stable companion Prince Of Wales (eighth) has been marked out from 33-1 to 100-1. The other big mover is the Brett Crawford-trained Nebula who has been slashed from 75-1 to 18-1 following his win in Friday’s Pinnacle.

Brett Crawford said yesterday: “Nebula is a smart horse and I thought he would win. He now goes for the Cup Trial on June 10 and then the July – hopefully with bottom weight. I was also pleased with Edict Of Nantes (second in the Allowance Plate in his first race since winning the Cape Derby) and he runs next in the Daily News (June 3).”

Last year’s July winner The Conglomerate, only sixth under top weight when starting favourite for the Pinnacle, has been eased from 30-1 to 40-1.

By Michael Clower

2017 Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting guide [as at 10:55am May 22]:

13/2 Marinaresco, Al Sahem; 10/1 Elusive Silva, Edict Of Nantes; 12/1 Heavenly Blue; 13/1 Its My Turn; 14/1 Black Arthur; 18/1 Nebula; 20/1 Ten Gun Salute, Horizon, Saratoga Dancer, Krambambuli; 25/1 Master Switch, Pagoda, Captain America; 30/1 Zodiac Ruler, Copper Force, Brazuca, Africa Rising; 35/1 Master Sabina, French Navy, Deo Juvente, The Conglomerate, Nightingale, Tilbury Fort, Orchid Island; 50/1 Bela-Bela, Liege; 80/1 Secret Captain, Prince Of Wales, Banner Hill; 100/1 Bi Pot, Witchcraft, Girl On The Run, Safe Harbour, Silver Mountain, Trophy Wife, Smiling Blue Eyes; 150/1 Royal Badge; 200/1 Bold Viking, Macduff; 250/1 Jubilee Line; 300/1 The Elmo Effect, Fort Meyers, Rocketball, Copper Pot;

Odds courtesy of www.trackandball.co.za and subject to change

The bookmakers were left a bit confused by the result of the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night and their lack of any knee jerk reactions might have been due to the testing going conditions in which the race was run coupled with the moderate pace. The July log panelists will also be left with a few headaches.

Ten Gun Salute(Nkosi Hlophe)

The famously hard working Ashburton-based trainer Duncan Howells was rewarded again for the commitment of himself and his team when Ten Gun Salute recovered from a pulled muscle in his back, suffered just two weeks previously in the Drill Hall Stakes, to put in a sterling performance.

It was ironic that Howell’s discarded former stable jockey Muzi Yeni was aboard. Yeni has now been aboard for all four of the Australian-bred four-year-old’s career victories and it was his good relationship with the horse which prompted owners Hein and Hester Kuhn to offer him the ride.

Howells had said before the SA Champions Season began that this horse had greatly benefitted from a farm holiday and gelding. “He had become very headstrong and difficult to hold in work, but he is now a completely different horse,” he had said. That was proven in no uncertain terms on Friday night. Yeni circled the field from the near the back as they entered the straight. Ten Gun Salute then moved up effortlessly under the hands and hit the front at the 300m mark.  Yeni only had to get to work in the final 150m and Ten Gun Salute won by a cosy 1,5 lengths.

The Henrythenavigator gelding raced off a 100 merit rating and under the conditions of the Betting World 1900 can be raised a maximum of only six points. That means as things stand he will carry exactly the same weight as he did in last year’s July, 55,5kg. He will thus be 2kg better off this year if weight for age is taken into account. Furthermore, he was only 3,25 lengths back last year, but had clearly improved this year with gelding.

Elusive Silva (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Betting World only have Ten Gun Salute at 25/1 for the July, although he did shorten from 80/1. This suggests they are not taking the 1900 result too seriously, especially when comparing him to Elusive Silva. The latter finished a 3,25 length fifth on Friday night, despite receiving 2kg from the winner. Ten Gun Salute will only have to give Elusive Silva 2,5kg in the July, as things stand.

Yet Elusive Silva only drifted out slightly to 10/1 in the July betting.

The going on Friday night was soft, heavy in places, and the official penetrometer reading was 29,3 and in Elusive Silva’s defence he did become cramped for room at a crucial stage in the straight. He was staying on at the line in a race which was not run fast enough for him. He will also relish the extra trip of the July.

However, the July log panelists have a headache as Elusive Silva was in 16^th place on the first log and in the 1900 was beaten by three July entries who were all below him, Ten Gun Salute, Tibury Fort and It’s My Turn. Dean Kannemeyer might also be tempted to supplement the progressive Silvano gelding Mr Winsome, who dead-heated for third, beaten two lengths running at level weights with the winner.

The three-year-old Horse Chestnut colt Tilbury Fort has always been noted for his courage and having run a good 2,8 length fourth in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, he proved his disappointing run in the Gr 1 SA Classic had nothing to do with his stamina capacity. He had the advantage of pole position draw on Friday night. He was able to get into the box seat behind his stablemate Serissa, who set nothing more than a steady pace. From there he stayed on resolutely for a 1,5 length second, receiving 4kg from the winner. On weight for age terms, he was only 1,5kg better off with the winner.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

It’s My Turn was one of the best value horses in the early ante-post betting at around 22/1 as he has the beating of Marinaresco on the form of the Met and the latter remains the joint July favourite with Betting World at 15/2.

On Friday night It’s My Turn overcame a draw of ten to be alongside Tilbury Fort in the running and he stayed on well to dead-heat for third, despite having to be switched from behind a slowing horse at the top of the straight. He gave the winner 2kg and was beaten only two lengths. Under the conditions of the race, placed horses can’t be raised, so he will carry 55,5kg in the July as things stand. This puts him on an even keel with Ten Gun Salute on the form of the 1900, but will also have come on from this run as it was his first since The Met.

It’s My Turn finished fourth in the July last year as a three-year-old carrying the same 55,5kg. Betting World have shortened him to 14/1.

Mr Winsome weaved his way through the field from last and was finishing fastest of all. Three-time July-winning trainer Kannemeyer often arrives in KZN without a July runner, but then one merges, and that one looks to be Mr Winsome this year. It would be no surprise to see him supplemented after this fine effort, particularly in light of him being part-owned by long-time stalwart KZN owners Roy and Gladys Meaker.

Rocketball (Nkosi Hlophe)

Prince Of Wales, a borderline horse on the first log did not enhance his chances of making the final field, as he could only stay on steadily for a 4,4 length eighth.

Master Switch was 20^th on the first log, but his 10,15 length eleventh was the third time in three outings at Greyville he has finished out of the frame.

Banner Hill, Macduff and Coper Pot did not enhance their chances of making the field, finishing 7^th, 9^th and 12^th respectively.

The long-striding Rocketball finished tailed off last and remains a massive disappointment.

By David Thiselton

Ten Gun Salute, amongst the fancied runners for last year’s Vodacom Durban July but in the doldrums since, burst onto the scene for this year’s edition with a scintillating performance in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night. Re-united with Muzi Yeni at the insistence of owner Heinrich Kuhn, the Duncan Howells-trained Ten Gun Salute blew away a high-class field that included current July ante-post favourite Elusive Silva.

Quoted at 80-1 before Friday, Track & Ball cut him to a still fairly generous 25-1 yesterday with Elusive Silva drifting to 10-1 and Marinaresco and Al Sahem firming slightly to 13-2, pretty skinny odds with five weeks still to the big race.

But it was touch-and-go whether Ten Gun Salute took his place in Friday’s line-up. “Two weeks ago he was a doubtful starter,” said Howells. “He pulled a back muscle in the Drill Hall Stakes and didn’t work for three or four days. “I had the physio work on him – Beth Shaw did a fantastic job – and then we worked him twice a day for the last week.”

“I was still in two minds but I trotted him out yesterday (Thursday) morning and he was sound so I thought, ‘what the hell’ and we took our chances.”

It proved an inspired decision. Racing well of the pace and wide for much of the early exchanges, Ten Gun Salute had two behind him turning for home. But Yeni set him alight as the field swung for home and the response was instant. Ten Gun quickly got the measure of the opposition in spite of drifting in and won in exceptional fashion.

“We always thought he was a good horse and he showed me what he is made of,” said Yeni. “I turned for home and got there a bit quicker than I wanted to. The pace was not genuine – it was quite slow –  and I was sitting three wide at one stage. His turn of foot was amazing.”

“We always thought highly of him. At least I know how to ride him now. Last year (in the July) I had him a little too close. If he gives the same type of finish he is a massive runner.”

As expected, Serissa set the pace for stable companion Tilbury Fort and it all worked out nicely for them except that Ten Gun Salute left Tilbury Fort for dead at the top of the straight. Tilbury Fort, always handy, stayed on for second while It’s My Turn was plugging on gamely in third. Mr Winsome also ran on well from behind for third while race favourite, Elusive Silva, turned for home ahead of Ten Gun but was blown away.

The 1900 was the only race run on the turf following torrential rains the previous week with the balance of the 10-race card switched to the poly track to avoid excessive damage to the turf surface.

Johan Janse van Vuuren has a small string based at Ashburton and Crowd Pleaser made all the running to win the Allowance Plate over 1800m. He was never really pressured and got home comfortably under Warren Kennedy. Investec Derby winner Edict Of Nantes, giving the winner 6kg, was doing his best work late, in a smart warm-up for the Gr1 Daily News 2000, impressing bookmakers who cut his odds to 11-1.

Favourite Secret Captain was one-paced throughout in a disappointing showing and there must now be doubts about his ability to stay further than a “mile” at this stage of his career. Howells, his voice but a rasping whisper after Friday’s urgings, said yesterday that he did not know what to make of the run. “He was staying on but didn’t quicken. He’s still immature and I think he will be a better horse next year.”

But as far as bookmakers were concerned, Nebula put up the best performance of the evening. A record priced yearling in his day, he has some way to go before recouping his R3,75 million purchase price but quickened smartly to land the Pinnacles Stakes over 1600m. “I thought it was a good effort,” said Peter Muscutt, assistant to Brett Crawford. “He took a heavy fall at his last start and it’s good to see that he has not lost his confidence.”

On Friday morning Nebula was on offer at 66-1 in the July ante-post market and Track & Ball slashed his odds to 16-1 come midnight.

Last year’s July winner The Conglomerate, raced handy throughout but was never in the hunt for the winner’s cheque as Anton Marcus nursed him home under a few back-handers. An each-way nibble at 33-1 may not be a sign of madness.

At Scottsville on Saturday, biggest upset of the day came in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator as rank outsider The Dazzler lived up to his name for owner/trainer and Winning Ways presenter James Goodman. Paying over R50 on the tote and having his first outing, The Dazzler showed an excellent turn of foot under replacement rider Keagan de Melo, who didn’t have to raise his crop in anger.

“I thought he was decent but we were taking on a strong field,” said Goodman. “We were up against winners and I thought third or fourth would be a good effort.”

It was more than just a good effort, and with a pedigree that suggests a ‘mile and further’ The Dazzler is one for the notebook.

Andrew Harrison

2017 Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting guide [as at 1:12pm May 19]:

7/1 Elusive Silva, Al Sahem, Marinaresco; 12/1 Heavenly Blue; 13/1 Edict Of Nantes; 15/1 Black Arthur; 16/1 Its My Turn; 18/1 Horizon; 20/1 Master Switch, Hat Puntano #, Pagoda, Saratoga Dancer; 25/1 Africa Rising, Krambambuli, Captain America; 28/1 The Conglomerate; 30/1 Copper Force, Brazuca, Deo Juvente, Zodiac Ruler; 33/1 Prince Of Wales, French Navy; 35/1 Nightingale, Master Sabina; 40/1 Bela-Bela, Secret Captain, Orchid Island, Banner Hill; 50/1 Liege; 66/1 Nebula; 80/1 Ten Gun Salute; 100/1 Witchcraft, Bi Pot, Safe Harbour, Macduff, Girl On The Run, Silver Mountain, Trophy Wife, Smiling Blue Eyes; 150/1 Bold Viking, Jubilee Line, Tilbury Fort; 200/1 Copper Pot; 250/1 Royal Badge, Rocketball; 300/1 The Elmo Effect, Fort Meyers;

Odds courtesy of www.trackandball.co.za and subject to change

Please be advised that Vodacom Durban July entry, Master Sabina, has changed stables and will now be trained by Justin Snaith as from 18 May 2017.

Following a track inspection at Greyville this morning, tonight’s Grade 2 Betting World 1900 is the only race that will be run on the turf. All other races have been switched to the Poly Track.

The inspection panel, comprising of, two Gold Circle racecourse managers, trainer Garth Puller, National Horse Racing Authority (NHA) chief stipendiary steward Shaun Parker, NHA vet Roehan Sutherland, and Gold Circle Racing Executive, Raf Sheik, decided that the track had not dried out sufficiently following last week’s down-pours that dumped over 200 mm of rain on the course.

The average penetrometer reading for the course was 29 but the area near the finishing post, that does not receive as much sunlight as the rest of the course because of the shadow cast by the grandstand, read 34.

Raf Sheik, Gold Circle’s Racing Executive, said that the decision was taken in the interests of safety and also to prevent irreparable damage to the turf surface that would affect the balance of Champions Season.

Sean Tarry and Keagan de Melo could hold the key to tonight’s Gr2 Betting World 1900. While much of the pre-race interest has been centered on the obvious Vodacom Durban July entrants, notably the Justin Snaith pairing of It’s My Turn and Elusive Silva, Geoff Woodruff’s runners Master Switch and Go Direct while the Glen Kotzen-trained Banner Hill has also attracted attention after his recent victory.

A little under the radar have been Tarry’s July entries Tilbury Fort and Copper Pot but the key runner here could be Serissa. Tarry’s veteran galloper is the only obvious pacemaker in the line-up and with nothing to lose as far as the July is concerned the obvious instruction to De Melo will be to control the pace to suit the other stable runners.

Serissa (Nkosi Hlophe)

It’s probably best to put a line through Tilbury Fort’s run in the SA Classic and concentrate on his previous efforts, which although seemingly nothing special, had shown glimpses to suggest that one write’s off his chances at your peril.

Tilbury Fort has drawn in pole but stable companion Copper Pot’s faces an uphill task from gate 14.

For most a solid gallop would suit, especially the likes of Elusive Silva who finished with a rattle to win the Sledgehammer from Helderberg Blue. What was more impressive is that this was his first outing in nearly ten months. It was also his first race since gelding and with a handy weight and a plum draw his is likely to start close to the top of the boards.

Ominously, Jubilee Line has hardly garnered a mention in pre-race speculation but with Mike de Kock at the helm and Callan Murray riding with supreme confidence, he too must come into the reckoning.

With many of the runners fighting for a place in the July it is likely to be a rough-and-ready contest and while one can reasonably expect a July entrant to make it into the winner’s enclosure, the list of possible winners is a long one.

The Allowance Plate and the Pinnacle Stakes that follow directly after the Betting World 1900 also have July entries battling for a place. Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes is sixth on the July log and since he has not been out since the Derby and carries 61kg, this is possibly a pipe-opener and fellow three-year-olds Bold Viking and Secret Captain could prove better propositions, the latter off 52kg and a plum draw possibly the pick.

Last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner The Conglomerate has been winless since, his best effort coming when runner-up in the Sansui Summer Cup. Off his current merit rating he will come into the July nicely handicapped and Joey Ramsden is likely to have left some meat on the bone and would more than likely be happy with a forward showing. Two that will need a bold effort if they are to come into the reckoning for the July are Nebula and Royal Badge.

By Andrew Harrison

It’s on the cards, or in this instance, it’s in the entry lists for the four Grade 1 races on Tsogo Sun Sprint day at Scottsville on May 27 that this meeting could host one of the most talented and competitive gatherings of speed horses ever seen in the country.

With Scottsville in Pietermartizburg having become known as the Mecca of sprint racing in Africa featuring four Grade 1 sprint events over 1 200m on the same card and making up the four legs of the Jackpot, every one of the four special events have drawn entries loaded with talent.

Always In Charge (Nkosi Hlophe)

The races are the R1-million Tsogo Sun Sprint, the R750 000 South African Fillies Sprint, the R750 000 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the R750 000 Allan Robertson Championship and with such talent on show things are likely to be very hot on the challenging 1 200m track.

Top sprinters like Trip To Heaven, Talktothestars, Purple Tractor, Always In Charge, Attenborough, Barbosa, Lord Balmoral and Moofeed are among the 32 entries for the Tsogo Sun Sprint and there are many other talented nominees that could make this a highly contested race where any one of the final entries could win.

The grand dame of sprinting fillies, Carry On Alice, is likely to take her place in the final field for the South African Fillies Sprint along with The Secret Is Out, Green Pepper, Vision To Kill, Live Life, Exquisite Touch, Real Princess, Joan Ranger and Jo’s Bond with the star fillies and mares Bele-Bela, Just Sensual, Dawn Calling and Sail using the race as part of their season preparation programme but talented enough to make their presence felt.

The two-year-old contests are packed with potential future champions with runners like Woljayrine, Sir Frenchie and Varallo, the first three past the post in the Godolphin Barb Stakes matching strides in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion with Naafer that was runner up to the sensational Mustaaqeem in the Gauteng Nursery and Sentinel Stakes winner Arianos Bagofgold.

The first four past the post in the Strelitzia, Neptune’s Rain, Made In Hollywood, Gold Image and Princess Peach, could renew their battle in the Allan Robertson Championship and match their talents with the Pretty Polly Stakes and Gauteng Fillies Nursery winner Princess Peach and the Tony Ruffel Stakes winner Daring Diva.

Overall, the number of talented sprinters entered for this famous meeting is awesome and extremely exciting.

By Richard McMillan

African Night Sky faces only six rivals in his bid to become the fourth horse in five seasons to complete the Winter Guineas-Winter Classic double at Kenilworth on Sunday.

African Night Sky (Liesl King)

But Our Mate Art (second), Loadshedder (third) and Turbulent Air (fifth) take on Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount again in the Highlands Stud-sponsored feature as does the Cape Guineas fourth Elevated who flopped in last month’s Grade 3.

Riaan van Reenen, who won this 1 800m test with Sweet Virginia 12 years ago, said: “Nothing showed up after the Winter Guineas but I had issues with Elevated beforehand, time got hold of me and he had to go into it needing a run.

“He also got bumped at the start and then ran a flat race. But he has come on since and has been doing well at home. This will be his third run after a lay-off and he should go well.”

Ngaga, unbeaten in three starts and half-sister to Vodacom Durban July and Met winner Igugu, has her first race since straining a suspensory on New Year’s Eve in the Stormsvlei Mile.

The in-form Grant van Niekerk rides her for the first time and Andre Nel said: “She is working well and doing well.”

By Michael Clower

Lyle Hewitson has been discharged from hospital after suffering a broken collar bone in a nasty fall at Fairview on Saturday after his mount Gitano Giant broke down.

Lyle Hewitson

The leading apprentice now faces a race against time to be ready in time to ride in the Vodacom Durban July.

However, he did not sound optimistic and said, “I will use all means possible to heal it better and faster but I will only come back when strong enough and the July is only six weeks away.

Hewitson had his first ride in the professional ranks on March 6 last year and has already notched up 177 winners, including one overseas.

He had a ride in last year’s July, setting the pace on Dynamic and finishing a 3,95 length 12^th.

He has wrapped up this year’s SA Apprentice Championships already, having had 103 winners this season, 76 clear of joint second-placed Eric Saziso Ngwane and Diego de Gouveia.

He was also seven clear of Callan Murray, on 36 winners to 29, when the latter ended his apprenticeship earlier in the season.

By David Thiselton

The cold front which has brought heavy rains to KZN has made full work for Summerveld horses impossible. Trainer Justin Snaith, whose three charges Elusive Silva, It’s My Turn and Prince of Wales are at the top the boards for Friday night’s Gr 2 Betting World 1900, said it would consequently be impossible to predict just how well his charges would run.

Elusive Silva (Liesl King)

Snaith pointed out, on top of the horses’ interrupted program, another important aspect to training was for a horse to go into a race feeling well and he added, “They have been soaking wet for three days, there has been a huge amount of rain.”

However, on the bright side, he said the Summerveld polytrack had allowed the horses to canter and he had also been “over the moon” with the well-being of the horses at the time of the cold front’s arrival.

He also singled out Elusive Silva as a horse who had proven himself to be “useful” in soft conditions.

He added, “Above all it is important for racing to go ahead.”

Elusive Silva is the current Vodacom Durban July joint-second favourite, not surprisingly after his impressive win in the Listed Sledgehammer over 1800m at Greyville. Snaith pointed out he had needed that run and would still be well weighted for the Betting World 1900 as his merit rating of 99 happened to be at the top of one of the merit rated bands.

He said Prince Of Wales, a running on third in the Sledgehammer, had probably needed the run even more than Elusive Silva had and would now be 1kg better off for a two length beating.

Elusive Silva was in 16^th place on the first July log, while Prince of Wales was among the first five horses just outside the top twenty. The former will thus need a good run to solidify his place and the latter will need a big run to impress the panelists.

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

It’s My Turn finished fourth in last year’s July. He will carry 60kg on Friday night and will have to give the whole field at least 2kg. It will be his first run since finishing a decent 5,65 length eighth in the Sun Met, where he carried a 2kg Gr 1 penalty. Interestingly he finished just 1,6 lengths behind the current July favourite Marinaresco in the Met at level weights. He will receive 4,5kg from the latter in the July, as things stand, yet Marinaresco is a 15/2 shot and It’s My Turn is at 22/1.

Snaith said It’s My Turn would not be at his best on Friday night as he had to ensure he lasted for the entire SA Champions Season. However, he rated him a July dark horse.

“He will be better weighted in the July than he was last year,” he concluded.

Snaith also spoke of the well-being of Zodiac Ruler, who made a decent start to his Champions Season campaign by finishing second in an Allowance Plate over 1400m and then third in the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas.

Zodiac Ruler was in 17^th place on the July log and It’s My Turn was in 18^th place.

Snaith said Krambambuli, whose last two runs have yielded wins in the Gr 2 Blue Label Telecoms Cape Stayers over 2800m at Kenilworth and the Non-Black Type Highland Night Cup over 2400m, would likely be weighted out of the Gold Cup, so this race was currently not on his list of targets. Krambambuli has virtually booked his July berth as he was in 13^th place on the log.

Meanwhile, the yard’s champion filly Bela-Bela will start her Champions Season campaign in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting. The connections, whilst keeping in mind how valuable she already is, would decide the rest of her Champions Season campaign after that race. Snaith said a tilt at the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge might be one of the options. Her two Gr 1 wins have been in the Woolavington 2000 and the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m and she is currently ninth on the July log.

By David Thiselton