Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

Power King (Nkosi - Hlophe)

Power to the King

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A capacity crowd of 55 000 held their collective breaths once again as the objection hooter sounded across Greyville Racecourse for the second consecutive year. It’s a race that every year throws up its fair share of drama and yesterday’s Vodacom Durban July was not different. The dreaded hooter sounded shortly after the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Power King (22-1) had roared to victory ahead of Punta Arenas (28-1), Tellina (25-1) with the closest of the fancied runners Futura (9-2) in fourth place. The quartet, with a pool of over R14 million, paid R82 000.

Power King (Nkosi - Hlophe)

Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

With a wall of horses across the track as the field headed over the subway it was still anyone’s race with most of the field still in contention. However, Randolph threaded Power King through a gap up the centre and set sail for home. But once through the gap Power King shifted outwards hampering a number of horses including favourite Legal Eagle. Randolph managed to straighten his mount as fellow outsider Punta Arenas loomed up on the stand side. The two came together at about the 100 m mark and initial views were that Power King had interfered with Punta Arenas.

Jockey Ian Sturgeon was quickly into the steward’s room to view the patrol film and decided to lodge an objection on the grounds of interference in the later stages. However, a view of the head-on showed Power King holding a straight course and it was indeed Punta Arenas who shifted out bumping the winner.

Once hearing all the evidence and viewing the head-on video footage the stipendiary stewards quickly over ruled the objection.

“Anton opened a gap and I got a clear split up the middle. I managed to straighten the horse up for the line, when Ian’s (Sturgeon) horse ran into me and turned my back end sideways. My horse was much more inconvenienced than his.”

Coming out of the steward’s room the two jockeys shook hands.

This was Kannemeyer’s third July victory after Dynasty and Eyeofthetiger and Stuart Randolph’s first. Power King is owned by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.

Kannemeyer said he had been concerned but the right decision had been made. “When you win this race it’s always the perfect ride,” he quipped. “We are very happy and the gods were very kind.”

“This was Lady Laidlaw’s first ever visit to Durban and Greyville and it was a great way to introduce her.”

Post-race and a now composed Lady Laidlaw said, “I calmed myself down first and looked at the film and my friend said the other rider had made the mistake. But my boy outdid them all.”

“My heart did sink when I heard the hooter,” said Randolph. “But after I looked at the head-on I knew I was safe. The other horse bumped me twice.”

An emotional Stan Elley, who retires from training after 40 years at the end of the month, was bitterly disappointed but said it had been a fair decision. “I have no complaints. If you had offered me second place at 6 o’clock this morning I would have taken it with both hands.”

Geoff Woodruff expressed similar sentiments about third-placed Tellina. “If you had offered me third yesterday I would have taken it. It also showed that he deserved his place in the field. This was his ninth placing in group races.”

By Andrew Harrison

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Same Jurisdiction to show her class

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The Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes has attracted an ultra-strong field headed up by Same Jurisdiction who is full of class and is course and distance suited.

She has enjoyed a good preparation and the draw is the only concern. Alexis won the KRA Fillies Guineas in fine style and has been putting in fantastic work at home. Carry On Alice has landed a good draw and has gone close in a Gr 1 over course and distance before.

Hammie’s Hooker has drawn in pole and put up a likely career best run in this race last year, so has an outstanding chance. Smart Call is the dark horse because a change to hold up tactics paid dividends in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and she is affective over this trip too. Inara wasn’t herself in the Woolavington and probably didn’t stay, but has as good a winning chance as any of the above. Jet Belle is versatile and would not be a shock winner. Red Flame is classy and is unfortunate that her career coincides with such top female milers. Jet Aglow could earn on best form. They are selected in the order mentioned for this and all other races. The classy Seventh Plain has landed a plum draw in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and wasn’t stopping when winning the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m. Arabian Beat relaxes well and is full of class, so will be right there if overcoming the draw.

Lineker is a classy individual suited to this trip and well drawn. Muwaary impressed over 1300m last time and being a relaxed type should help him overcome a wide draw to some extent. Redcarpet Captain has unfortunately drawn wide as he has enjoyed a better preparation than he did for the Gold Medallion and should enjoy this trip.

Main Submission should be running on well and is the dark horse. Mogok Master’s last run can be ignored as he was badly hampered. He would prefer further but has a place chance if overcoming the draw. Beat The Retreat, Hip Hop Dancer and Never Settle make most appeal of the rest. The Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper does not have a vintage field and Princess Royal looks to be a good bet as one that has impressed in sprints and will relish the step up in trip. She is well drawn too. She has played up at the course before but behaved impeccably at the big Scottsville Sprint day.

Captain’s Song is unfortunately drawn wide but has class and with luck in running could be right there. Frosted Honey will relish the step up n trip and has some fair form. She has not had an ideal preparation but has been putting in exceptional work at home. Mella Maria should be running on strongly. Almashooqa ran around in the finish last time and could improve with blinkers but her formlines are suspect.

Ninefold improved in her work with pacifiers and could earn. Miracle Rising and Melliflora are improving types who could earn and Lauderdale could place too.

The tabGold 2200 could be won by the classy St. Tropez, who will enjoy the course and distance, and Ultimate Dollar, who has been working well, could follow him home. Dynamic, Mountain Master and Light The Lights could be next best. The SABC Gold Vase could be won by the big and classy staying type Wild Ash from Crime Victim, Heart Of A Lion, Solid Speed, Kolkata, J’s Outsider and Smart Mart. The Listed Canon Business Centre Handicap could be won by MLJet from Kochka, Bold Inspiration, Rampant Ice and Prince Of Orange.

The KZN Yearling Sale Million could be won by Hot August, who needed his last run and was bought and prepared especially for this race. Chosen Dash should be running on strongly. Natal was impressive on debut over 1000m, should appreciate the step up in trip and is well drawn.

Speedy Suzy has pace and from a good draw is a big runner if seeing out the trip. Royal Pleasure could overcome her draw with her gatespeed and is another who is a big runner if seeing out the trip. Var’s Dream will be running on strongly if seeing out the trip.

Master Sam, Trini’s Colateral, Shivering Sea, Cutting Edge, Just As I Said, Just Africa and Mayfair can’t be ignored in an open race.

Gumbi has some class and could win the first race from Firewood.

Resolution is primed for the second race and could beat Cathy Specific, Lertasha, Dashing Scarlet and Se Agabor. Rock Me Var could win the 10th from Bad Boy Buddy Boy, Mod Barley, Barborsa and Muscatt. Generalissimo could win the 11th from Equity Kicker, Triptique, Isphan and Belong To Me.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

dominic zaki

Zaki brings his best

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Dominic Zaki brings his Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat down from his Vaal base to run in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day and also has a big shout in the tenth race with Bad Boy Buddy Boy.

Zaki said about the Black Minnaloushe gelding Arabian Beat, “He’s doing very well, his prep went nicely. It’s just the draw (11) that’s a little bit of a worry, but besides that he’s a very classy individual.” Zaki had no concerns about him staying the trip and pointed out he was the type that switched off in the running. He confirmed that his last run in a Juvenile Plate over 1160m, in which he pulled 3,6 lengths clear despite giving the field weight, was merely a preparation for this race.

Zaki’s speedy three-year-old Captain Al gelding Bad Boy Buddy Boy comes off a front-running hattrick of 1000m wins and sneaks into the handicap with bottom weight in the Compendium Insurance Brokers MR 104 Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack. He said, “He’s drawn well with a low weight, he’s in hot form at the moment and he’s a big runner. I don’t think he will have a problem with the poly.”

He admitted his Jet Master filly Be Mine Tonight was an optimistic entry in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and felt that the draw was the only thing in her favour.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

Smart Call (Nkosi Hlophe)

Be wary of Smart Call

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Alec Laird’s Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Smart Call lines up in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July day and could be the dark horse in a vintage field.

Smart Call (Nkosi Hlophe)

Smart Call (Nkosi Hlophe)

Neil Bruss also has a talented runner in this race in Red Flame.

Laird’s assistant trainer at Summerveld Julia Pringle said about Ideal World filly Smart Call, “She’s good and will be okay over the trip as long as they don’t go too slow. We’ve freshened her up. She’s a very sound, solid filly.”

The interesting point is that she won the Woolavington largely due to a change of tactics. After being held up off the pace she not only displayed a fine turn of foot but also a resolute finish. She beat the like of July contenders Pine Princess and Tamaanee as well as dual Gr 1-winner Inara, so having finished a two length third to Siren’s Call in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas with front-running tactics, it will be interesting to see how she goes over the same trip when employing the new tactics.

Bruss’s Jet Master filly Red Flame is not far off the best of a fine generation of milers. Her fine turn of foot makes her suited to Greyville. She moved up from a handy position and stayed on well in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over1400m last time out. She was only two lengths back at the line, although she will now be 1kg worse off with the winner Hammie’s Hooker. She will prefer this trip and, having her third run after a rest, Bruss confirmed she was “spot on.” He said the same about Tiger Tiger, who contests the tenth race.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

Piere Strydom

Strydom boost for Nieuwenhuizen

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David Nieuwenhuizen has lively chances on Vodacom Durban July day and his confidence is enhanced by the 5000-winner jockey Piere Strydom being in the saddle for all three of his runners.

Lateral filly Sapsan runs in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and he said, “Piere always said she was looking for 1400m. It was a pity about her wide draw (13) but she is very, very well and I think she will give a good showing.” It does not look a vintage Golden Slipper field and having finished a 4,6 length fourth in the Gr 2 Nursery over 1160m, she only has 2,1 lengths to find with the like of Frosted Honey.

He runs Just As Well colt Just As I Said in the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m from a plum draw of 3 and said, “He has always been looking for further than sprints and the only reason he hasn’t tried them is because he always drew badly. This trip will definitely be right up his alley. Although he probably had to win that last start to get into this race, it was also a prep to put him right for this race and he is now tuned up.”

He has been close up to some good horses and looks to have a shout, especially considering Strydom has stayed aboard after he found another gear to just get up over 1160m last time in a competitive juvenile plate with the rest well beaten.

Nieuwenhuizen runs the three-year-old Way West filly Green Crest in the second over 1400m on the poly and said, “She’s well having bounced back to her previous form last time. We’re not sure how she will go on the poly. She usually prefers to run on from off them and they go fast on the poly so I’ve put the blinkers on to give her some pace.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3 – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

Weiho Marwing

Wylie Hall on track

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Wylie Hall will be the sentimental favourite of many for this year’s Vodacom Durban July and trainer Weiho Marwing confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that the good looking five-year-old bay had enjoyed a good preparation.

Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Australian-bred Redoute’s Choice entire has not run since winning the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein, in which he impressed jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe. The Challenge was also the last run he had before last year’s July, which he controversially lost on objection, so he clearly enjoys running fresh. He appears to have really come into his own this year but that is also reflected in his merit rating and weight as he is now a 116 and carries 58kg compared to 109 and 57,5kg last year.

However, taking weight for age changes into account, he will effectively face Majmu on identical weight terms in the July as he did in the Challenge, when beating her by 1,25 lengths. He also has a draw of two compared to six last year and is likely to be up near the pace again. On the downside, his collateral form with July favourite Legal Eagle, through Killua Castle and Judicial, suggests on paper he has over four lengths to find on the crack three-year-old.

Marwing said Bilateral always did well in KZN so expected a good run from her in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, but she does face a huge task against a vintage field.

Lertasha (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lertasha (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marwing described his progressive three-year-old Go Deputy gelding Rampant Ice as a versatile type and having run on in eyecatching fashion from well back in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas he is interesting in the Listed Canon Business Centre Handicap over the same course and distance, although he does have a tough task carrying topweight off a merit rating of 106

Marwing said Isobar was “fit and well” ahead of that race, despite returning from a six month layoff. He ran on well from a similar wide draw the last time he tried this course and distance in the Christmas Handicap, despite later having been found to be coughing.

Marwing felt the 1400m trip would be too sharp for Fulcrum in the first.

However, he expected the Australian-bred filly Lertasha to go well in the second race, provided she took well to the poly. She is a talented filly and should have grown into her tall frame by now, so should be coming into her own. She was right up there throughout when winning over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track last time, so will be interesting on the Greyville poly, which often has true paced races.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

Geoff Woodruff

Tellina is better now than ever

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Geoff Woodruff’s Vodacom Durban July runner Tellina travelled from Randjesfontein to Summerveld yesterday and is quietly fancied by many for Saturday’s big race at Greyville.

Tellina (JC Photos)

Tellina (JC Photos)

“He’s been doing very well, doing great work at home, we’ve got a ticket and we’ll give it a bash.” The five-year-old Silvano gelding’s big race jockey Johnny Geroudis, who won the July on Teal in 1995, has galloped him a couple of times and was “very happy”. Woodruff agreed that at the weights Tellina had a chance, and hoped to get “a bit of luck in the running, unlike last year.” He felt Tellina was in even better shape now than he was for last year’s July, in which he finished a 1,85 length fourth. That is an interesting comments as he raced off a merit rating of 110 and carried a weight of 58kg last year, as opposed to 108 and 54kg this year. He added, “He’s definitely improved with the gelding, he’s much freer.”

He was gelded before finishing fifth in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and fourth in the J&B Met. He is 4,5kg better off for a 3,1 length beating by Futura in the Met and this is why many rate him the best value horse in the race at odds of 25/1.

Woodruff regarded July favourite Legal Eagle’s win in the Gr 3 Jubilee over 1800m, in which he gave his own Killua Castle 1kg and a 5,1 length beating, as “a stunning run”. “They went a decent clip, carrying topweight like that as a three-year-old I thought it was super impressive. He actually surprised me by how well he won and there weren’t mugs behind him.” Woodruff regarded Legal Eagle as the one to beat, but added, “I don’t know how Anton (Marcus) is going to do 54kg.”

Killua Castle (Liesl King)

Killua Castle (Liesl King)

Woodruff runs the strapping Dylan Thomas filly Wild Ash in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase and said, “Her last run was just a come on run and she took it well. She’s nicely drawn and has a manageable weight, she’s quite useful and she will stay all day. I don’t consider her a filly, she’s a very masculine girl and she has a touch of class about her.” Woodruff “most definitely” gives her a winning chance. She has had the advantage of altitude training and was on the same float as Tellina yesterday. The Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup will be a consideration depending on how she goes here.

Killua Castle was also on yesterday’s float and will run in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200. Woodruff said, “He’s doing very well, he galloped with Tellina for the July gallop and they both galloped well. It’s a big weight but Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s a heavyweight jockey so he’s not carrying much dead weight. I certainly think he’s in with a shout. He hasn’t yet proved himself suited to Greyville, but in fairness he hasn’t been given much opportunity to.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R3.6 million.

Charles Laird (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird represents a dynasty

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Charles Laird will represent a famous dynasty in this year’s Vodacom Durban July. His charge Ice Machine put in a fine gallop under big race jockey Donovan Dillon on the top sand track at Summerveld yesterday in his final bit of work for Saturday’s prestigious event.

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird said, “He’s come through his prep very well. Always the downside is that he missed his last race (the Gold Challenge). We’ve tried to make it up, I hope we have.”

Consequently, the classy six-year-old Silvano gelding put in the fastest piece of work at the July gallops and impressed all and sundry.

Ice Machine has a reputation as an unsound type but Laird confirmed that he was “very, very sound” at present and added, “He’s always been sound with me, people say he’s unsound but he was scratched that last time only because he stood on a stone at the course.”

Laird admitted there would always be a stamina doubt and said, “You’ve just got to ride him very quietly, he has a tremendous turn of foot and I said to Donovan try and ride him to place and see how we go.” Furthermore, training measures have been taken to counteract his apparent lack of stamina.

Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)

Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird said about his chief Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe (1400m) contender Main Submission, “He showed tremendous speed on debut, but I’ve always believed he is a miler plus. He’s very well, his prep’s gone good. It might be a little soon for him (this is only his second start), but I’m hoping not.” The Oracy colt has seen the Greyville turn, but only on the polytrack. He continued, “Red Hot Poker is an honest type, he’s drawn very wide and it’s not easy for him.”

Laird did not regard his Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper contender Ninefold’s unplaced run in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over the 1400m course and distance as disappointing at all and said, “She’s a very green filly and she got absolutely lost around the turn. We’ve put a pair of pacifiers on her, we took her to the Greyville course proper last Wednesday and she galloped very, very well. If she doesn’t get lost early on she’s a big runner.”

“Resolution (race 2) is doing very well, she’s going to stud, we’ve prepped her, she likes the course and distance, I think she will run very well.”

Admiral's Eye (Nkosi Hlophe)

Admiral’s Eye (Nkosi Hlophe)

“Bold Inspiration (race 8), we would love a bit of rain, he’s very, very well. In his last start Stuart (Randolph) said while he was on the bit he was very, very happy, but he does feel the going, so I’ve put special shoes on him. If it’s not too hard I think he will run well.”

“Admiral’s Eye (race 9) has a very tough task and it’s her last start before going to stud.”

“Chosen Dash (12th) is very well, I don’t know if his grass performance is as good as his poly (easy winner on poly on Sunday), but at Scottsville he definitely showed that the 1000m was far too short, he’s taken the race very well, drawn a little bit wide but you can expect him to be competitive.”

Charles’ grandfather Alec got the Durban July ball rolling by riding the winner in 1911, his legendary Great Uncle Syd Garret followed up by riding two July winners and training three, his equally famous Uncle Syd holds the record of seven July winners as a trainer, his cousin Alec trained London News to victory in 1996 and Charles himself trained Hunting Tower to win the race in 2007.

Charles’ father Russell was a top trainer in his own right and once labelled the Laird’s ‘The Sob Mob’, “When we win we cry, when we lose we smile.”

Red Hot Poker (Nkosi Hlophe)

Red Hot Poker (Nkosi Hlophe)

A victory for the six-year-old Silvano gelding Ice Machine will likely be particularly emotional this year.

He is owned by one of Durban’s most passionate racing couples, Roy and Gladys Meaker. The Meaker’s became involved in racing in the 1970s through trainer Sonny Whiteford’s daughter-in-law. It wasn’t long before they tasted the adrenalin rush of big race success and in the 1976/1977 season they won the Holiday Inns with Gigantic and the J&B Met with Bahadur. Their first experience of “July Fever” was with those two horses, who ran in the big race as three-year-olds in 1976, finishing fifth and seventh respectively at odds of 7/1 and 6/1.   Gigantic ran in four July’s in total, without ever placing. The Meaker’s other July runner has been Secret Rites, who finished 10th as a 6/1shot in 1993.

Ice Machine is currently a 40/1 shot with Betting World, but if he stays he has the class to give the Meaker’s a first July place, or even a dream win. The day will coincide with their granddaughter Mia’s birthday and Roy’s birthday is on Sunday. Ice Machine’s biggest fan is likely the Meaker’s son Shawn, who is awaiting Saturday with more than just keen anticipation.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

Sean Tarry (Liesl King)

Legal Eagle good to go

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Champion trainer elect Sean Tarry has a Vodacom Durban July favourite for the first time this year in the exciting three-year-old colt Legal Eagle. However, the pressure is eased by the fact that he has not only won the July twice but has no fewer than five runners in the big race this year.

Legal Eagle (JC Photos)

Legal Eagle (JC Photos)

He said, “Legal Eagle’s prep has gone very well. I would have been happy if he had run a place in the Jubilee. Without being very hard on him he surprised me, not that he won but by the way that he won. I haven’t had to be overly hard on him. He had a lovely gallop last week Wednesday, he’s come through it well and won’t do much before he leaves on Thursday. Let’s just hope that he travels well.”

“French Navy’s preparation has gone smoothly, he’s handled the travel no problem, and everything at this stage is good. He’s a tough horse, he’s a big, burly horse, he copes with everything, takes it in his stride, he has a great temperament.” Tarry was not concerned about his weight and said, “54,5kg for a horse that’s won two classics is fair.”

“Halve The Deficit’s form is quite solid. If the two opposition horses to beat are Wylie Hall and Majmu (and obviously also respect for Futura) then, based on his meeting with them in the President’s Champions Challenge, at the weight turnabouts he should finish on top of them. He’s probably had a better prep for the July this year than he did last year and I think he’s in a better place. I think my two three-year-old males are better horses, but that’s not to say that he is without a chance. Piere (Strydom) will know what to do from that draw and he knows the horse well, he’s versatile, he can come from off them or he can go handy.”

Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)

Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)

“Gold Onyx’s last run was disappointing, obviously he over raced and was too handy carrying 60kg. He emptied out quicker than I would have hoped, but he rode him completely differently to how he is normally ridden. Obviously from the draw (18) he will just be dropped to the back and hope that he runs on. He quickens up well and comes from off them in most of these big races where they never go hard. They crawled in Cape Town and he still finished off well.”

Tamaanee was found to have a lifted shoe after her disappointing run in the Woolavington and it was bent into her foot so there were genuine excuses. Tarry also felt that being strange to the course had affected her.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said, “Her last run has taken the shine off her completely. I thought her previous win In the Gerald Rosenberg was exceptional, she won in a very good time on the same day as Wylie Hall and Majmu over the same distance. The form is very good, there have been four winners from that race, and I wouldn’t discount her. She would have learnt a lot from her two visits to Greyville. She has a nice light weight and if she can race up handy I think there are a few positives that people seem to be overlooking.”

Tarry added that how the race unravelled was out of his hands. However, his prediction was that the pace would not be a slow one.

Carry On Alice will also be travelling down from Johannesburg for the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and Tarry said, “I’m not that confident of her over a mile, but if she got the mile as a two-year-old here, then if she’s going to get a mile anywhere it’s going to be at Greyville.

Gold Onyx (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gold Onyx (Nkosi Hlophe)

She had a wide draw in last year’s Thekwini and now she’s well drawn. Also her other two attempts at a mile weren’t bad. In the Majorca she ran a week after the Cape Flying, so that wasn’t ideal, and in Jo’burg it was her second run after a rest in the soft so that wasn’t ideal either. I can’t be as bullish over a mile, but I think she has plenty in her favour and is a massive runner.”

He continued, “Master Archer (race 1) has a bad draw, but good form. His last run can be ignored as he found trouble and was drawn 16. I think it’s an open race but he has a chance.”

“Kolkata (race 4) will bounce back. The change of season affects him, he’s had a few respiratory issues but I think we’re on top of them. He’s dropped nicely in the ratings, I think he will be there.”

“Escape Route (race 6), first time out he ran a place behind Redcarpet Captain coming from last. I think he is a horse who gets lost in his races and this Greyville 1400m may be a bit sharp for him, but we’re hoping that it’s a pointer for us for the Gr 1 mile on Gold Cup day. So, although we’re hoping he goes close here, we’re thinking more of it as a prep.”

“The Hangman (race 8) is in a good space, moving well, loves the course and distance. He’s in Jo’burg, he seems to enjoy the travelling, he could have an each way chance.”

“Rikitikitana (race 12), it’s a R1 million race and we managed to get him in at the last minute. It’s a tough race, he will be running on and we will be hoping for the best.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: BiPot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 2 – estimated pool R700,000.

Stan Elley

Elley’s pair on track

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Stan Elley has two chances of achieving an elusive win in the Vodacom Durban July before retiring at the end of this season and he is happy with both of his charges, Punta Arenas and Dynastic Power.

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Interestingly, both of these horses are former winners of the Winter Derby over 2400m at Kenilworth. They have performed well over shorter too so the July trip of 2200m should be just about their optimum.

Punta Arenas has had a fine Champions Season. He finished third in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 before winning the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, both at Greyville under his July jockey Ian Sturgeon. Elley said about the evergreen six-year-old Silvano gelding, “He got his normal draw (19), I don’t expect anything else! But he thrives out here in KZN, he just loves it. Greyville is his best track, it’s not an ideal draw, but we’ve been there before and he knows how to do it from there. I think wherever you’re drawn in the July you need a bit of luck in running, we’re just going to have to get a little bit more lucky! When he’s well he really enjoys his work and he is enjoying it at the moment, he’s loving life, he’s just thriving.”

The four-year-old Dynasty gelding Dynastic Power won the Betting World 1900 under his July jockey Greg Cheyne and had genuine excuses for his poor run in the Cup Trial. Elley said, “He came out of that last race with a very sore stifle, which I reported to the stipes. I don’t know how it happened, but those injuries often happen when they jump out of the starting stalls. When we tried to flex that back leg he almost hit the roof, so it was significant.

“He was out of work for four or five days, but as such he had a harder gallop than most of them at the July gallops. I thought he worked very well, he went a good pace and he still finished it off. I think among the long shots he has as good a chance as any. He’s doing well, he’s spot on.

Dynastic Power (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dynastic Power (Nkosi Hlophe)

“There’s very little to choose between him and Power King, he’s beaten us at level weights, we’ve beaten him at level weights. Wherever the one is the other should be, and he’s 14/1 and we’re 75/1!”

Dynastic Power, as things stand, will jump from the same barrier position of 12 he had in the Betting World 1900.

Elley also runs the five-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding Big Cat from draw nine under Grant van Niekerk in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200. He said, “It’s a race we targeted last year and we got him in with bottom weight, but then he went wrong on the morning of the race. So we came with the same target this year and he’s in with bottom weight, although he’s 1kg under sufferance.

“I think it’s the trip he’s been looking for and I think he will run a big race. He’s a fit horse, he’s thriving. He’s spot on for the race, he did his final pace work this morning (Tuesday) and worked very nicely.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: BiPot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 2 – estimated pool R700,000.