Category Archives: July

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ramsden happy with his duo

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Joey Ramsden continues to be happy with his Vodacom Durban July pair St. Tropez and The Conglomerate.

The pair have a hard task on paper being 3,5kg and 2,5kg under sufferance respectively according to official merit ratings.

The Conglomerate has never quite recaptured the form which saw him running on strongly to win last season’s Gr 2 KRA Guineas off the back of a fast pace. However, in his last two starts over 1900m and 1800m at Greyville respectively, where he stayed on into the money, the potential effect of his finish was blunted by a pace which was not strong enough on either occasion.

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

Furthermore, the Australian-bred by Lonhro has always looked a sort who would relish the July trip. He was one of a number of unlucky horses in last year’s July when finding his path completely blocked on the outside rail at a stage where he looked to still have plenty in the tank.

Ramsden said at the July final field and draw ceremony The Conglomerate had been putting in tremendous work at home, so he was disappointed, to say the least, to draw the very outside barrier position of 20, which will come into 18 on Saturday in an 18 horse line up.

On the plus side brilliant jockey Piere Strydom will be aboard. In Strydom’s third July win in 2012, he won from the very outside berth of 20 on Pomodoro.

Strydom said about The Conglomerate’s draw yesterday (Wednesday): “It’s not nice at all. Number one you give away start. Number two I need to get lucky by either getting ahead or for there to be enough pace to enable me to slot in, otherwise I will be caught wide again.”

He said about his chances, “I can’t say I have a good chance. Anton had the pick of the Markus Jooste crop, but there is still a chance though, because on form they are very close to one another.”

Speaking about his last July win from the outside draw, he said: “I was worried about the draw on Pomodoro but he had ability, he was a good sort. Whether The Conglomerate is as good, I am not sure.”

St. Tropez is typical of a four-year-old Silvano gelding in that he is progressive and the best might not yet have been seen of him, so his relatively lowly 99 merit rating could well be misleading. His running on second in his last start, the Gr 2 Betting World 1900, followed a six month layoff and Anton Marcus has been pleased with his work since, so he should be spot on.

The Conglomerate (Liesl King)

The Conglomerate (Liesl King)

He has had three runs at Greyville for a win and two seconds. Last year he ran in the July consolation race, the Gr 3 tabGold 2200, and was left with too much to do by a rider with not much experience of the course, although he was staying on well and finished a 3,25 length second. He jumps from draw ten on Saturday, which might be a fair draw as it will give Marcus options.

Marcus is going for a record-breaking fifth July win, while Ramsden is seeking his first July winner.

Ramsden runs Gr 1-winner King Of Pain in the Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m where he carries topweight of 60kg and has a plum draw of two with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up. Ramsden said this six-year-old Greys Inn gelding had missed a week of work recently due to a foot issue, so was not quite as fit as he would have liked him, but he added the horse could not be in a better place mentally.

King Of Pain’s biggest career win in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m in 2014 followed a four month break. In his only attempt at 3000m or beyond he was an impressive winner of the Gr 3 CTS Chairman’s Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth In February this year under the rider who knows him best, Fayd’Herbe.

Ramsden was of the opinion the track was hard at Scottsville when six-year-old Captain Al gelding Disco Al was defending his crown in the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m two Sundays ago and it had not suited him. He has been freshened up to run in Saturday’s Gr 3 Delta Air Lines 2200 from a plum draw of five under Strydom off an unchanged merit rating of 101.

He has proved affective over this sort of trip before and won Port Elizabeth’s biggest race, the Gr 3 Betting World Algoa Cup over 2000m, in both 2013 and 2014.

By David Thiselton

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

Master Sabina in top condition

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Geoff Woodruff has the Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina fit and well ahead of the Vodacom Durban July.

His big race jockey Gavin Lerena was happy with his final gallop at Randjesfontein yesterday (Wednesday). Lerena was released by the Hong Kong Jockey club about two weeks ago for compassionate leave after the passing of a relative of his, “Uncle George” Scott.

Master Sabina was due to travel down to Summerveld this morning and he will have a canter upon arrival.

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

Woodruff said his J&B Met run could be ignored. He said, “He was ridden back to front to try and overcome the draw and it didn’t work out.” He needed his last run, on May 21 at Turffontein Inside track, when 6,85 lengths back in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1800m and it was “factored in as part of his preparation.”

That was his first run for four months. Interestingly, his Summer Cup win was his second run after a one year layoff and followed an unplaced run over the same Turffontein Inside track 1800m as his last run.

Summer Cup winners have a poor winning record in the July, but significantly the last horse to go on to achieve the double was the Woodruff-trained El Picha in the 1999/2000 season.

El Picha also became the second horse in history to defend his July crown.

Master Sabina has proved his liking for the July course and distance in the past as he was an impressive winner of the consolation race, the Gr 3 tabGold 2200, in 2014, although he did it off a 100 merit rating. He is now merit rated 108, meaning he is one of a mere five horses in the July who are not officially under sufferance.

He is drawn eight which should allow him to do it the way he likes it and that is to come from a midfield position.

Gavin Lerena won on him in the Summer Cup off a 105 merit rating from draw 7. He carries the identical weight on Saturday of 56,5kg and also face French Navy on the same terms despite having beaten him by 0,6 lengths.

On paper this relatively lightly raced six-year-old must have a big shout.

By David Thiselton

Trophy Wife looking fine

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The Sean Tarry-trained filly Trophy Wife travelled down to Summerveld today for her Vodacom Durban July engagement on Saturday and looked fine upon exiting the float at about 2pm.

Tarry said, “I am happy with her and I don’t think the 2200m trip is a concern. It is a rough race and you need a heap of luck, but it won’t be a bother if she loses her usual one or two lengths at the start as she is drawn wide and we are going to come from off them anyway.”

S’Manga Khumalo rides Tropy Wife from draw 14.

Meanwhile, French Navy and Samurai Blade have both been doing well at Summerveld.

Jockey Weichong Marwing said he would have preferred a wider draw for French Navy, who is drawn in barrier four. However, Tarry did not envisage a problem. He said if the pace was slow French Navy could well find himself handier than usual, which would be fine. However, if they went hard he would be happy to see him well back. He said the big horse would simply be kept where he was comfortable.

Samurai Blade will be ridden by Andrew Fortune. However, Lyle Hewitson rides him regularly in work and said the July Gallop was the best he had ever felt him, so he could be a dark horse from a plum draw of six.

Tarry felt he had a strong chance with Visuality and Myfunnyvalentine in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper, but seemed more bullish about the former due to her draw of seven compared to the latter’s barrier position of ten. He felt Visuality could well be looking for the 1400m trip and it certainly looked that way when she finished strongly for a close third in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m. Piere Strydom has stayed aboard.

David Thiselton

Snaith fancies…?

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Twice Vodacom Durban July-winning trainer Justin Snaith has his own personal fancy among his four runners in the big race, but believed it would be unfair to name the horse because of the nature of the race.

“It all depends on how the race pans out and also if the best horse wins he or she would have to be a superstar because the weights are designed to give every one of the 18 horses a chance. If Abashiri won carrying 59kg or Bela-Bela won giving just 1kg to the three-year-olds males, you would have to say, wow superstar! But if the race was run five times in the same day you would probably get five different results.”

Snaith said a couple of weeks back he was not bothered by the pundits who were saying this year’s Vodacom Durban July could not be won by a three-year-old.

Black Arthur (Nkosi Hlophe)

Black Arthur (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said, “I don’t care if people are saying this is a weak three-year-old crop, because I know my three-year-olds are certainly good enough to win the race.”

Bela-Bela, Black Arthur and It’s My Turn are officially 2kg, 0,5kg and 2,5kg under sufferance respectively at the weights. Snaith had said, “In six months time they won’t have those ratings.” In his opinion the innate ability of all three is better than their merit ratings suggest.

He used the Cape Derby to emphasise the point, “They rated It’s My Turn after his two lengths Cape Derby win only 101, which was a surprise. They didn’t seem to rate the field and there is now a question whether they were right or not.” At the time the general feeling was the Million Dollar race had diluted the strength of the Cape Derby field. However, the form of the Cape Derby has now turned out to be exceptionally strong, with the like of Marinaresco (3rd), Black Arthur (4th) and Liege (9th) among the eight winners which have come out of the race.

Furthermore, whilst the form of both Black Arthur and It’s My Turn is now looking strong, Anthony Delpech has still opted to ride Bela-Bela, which says a lot about how good she must be.

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Justin’s father, the former July-winning trainer Chris, digs at his son by saying he is the only trainer in history to have won two Julys without crossing the line in front once. He is referring to Dancer’s Daughter dead-heating in 2008 and Legislate winning the race in the boardroom in 2014.

Justin quipped, “Maybe I can win it and fill some of the places too, that will keep him quiet for a few years!”

Bela-Bela, like Dancer’s Daughter, is a grey filly, and like Legislate, was bred by Cheveley Stud and sired by Dynasty. Both Dancer’s Daughter and Legislate were three-year-olds when winning the July. It’s My Turn is also by Dynasty, whose progeny love Greyville due to their ability to turn it on so quickly.

Anthony Delpech has won three Graded features for Snaith this SA Champions Season, including doing the Canon Guineas and Daisy Fillies Guineas double on Black Arthur and Bela-Bela respectively. The twice South African Champion jockey holds the record of most wins in a South African season, an incredible 334, and is going for a record-breaking fifth July victory.

Delpech spoke highly of Black Arthur after the Canon Guineas. On the same night he called Bela-Bela “special”, but questioned whether she would stay the 2200m July trip.

However, his opinion on her stamina capacity changed emphatically after she had won the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 easing up. Furthermore, upon climbing off, he described her as being second only to 2011 July-winner Igugu as the best filly he had ever ridden.

Later that day Delpech rode Investec Cape Derby-winner It’s My Turn to an unlucky second in the Gr 1 Daily New 2000. However, Black Arthur would likely have been his choice of the colts if Bela-Bela had not stood her ground.

It's My Turn (Liesl King)

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

In his days as stable jockey to Mike de Kock, Delpech seldom got his big race choices wrong and rode three July winners for the great trainer.

Douglas Whyte, an ex-patriot South African who has won the Hong Kong Championship thirteen times, will arrive on the morning of the race. He will be hoping Black Arthur gives him his first July winner.

Richard Fourie who won the big race on Legislate, albeit via the boardroom, is aboard It’s My Turn. He said, ““At Greyville if you have a Dynasty you have a big chance.”

The yard’s other runner Dynamic is also by Dynasty. He has a tougher task than the others as his official merit rating puts him 3kg under sufferance and as a six-year he is obviously more exposed than the three-year-olds. However, he is drawn in pole and his mere participation has made waves as he is the mount of eighteen-year-old apprentice sensation Lyle Hewitson, who joined the professional ranks just over three months ago.

Snaith said he could not have been happier with all of his contenders’ preparations.

He added on the day he looked strong in the last two races and among the few runners he gave chances in those races he mentioned Victoria Lavelle as having been badly weighted in her last race and she was now well weighted, while he said Baritone had been putting in outstanding work.

David Thiselton

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

Abashiri ‘a special horse’

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Mike Azzie said if Triple Crown hero Abashiri was not at his peak on Saturday for the Vodacom Durban July he would be pretty close to it. He is also expecting a good run from Oomph in an earlier feature.

Azzie said he had to put out of his head everybody saying Abashiri had too much weight to carry in the July, “because this is not a normal horse, this is a special horse.”

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Go Deputy gelding with the giant stride carries 59kg, the biggest weight ever allotted to a three-year-old in the big race.

He has not run since winning the SA Derby on April 30, where he had to dig down deep.  However, Azzie said the big horse’s work had been very good. He said big race jockey Karl Zechner was confident.

Abashiri certainly caught the eye at the July gallops and the exceptional turn of foot he has shown in his last two races should make him suited to Greyville.

Oomph has the second run for the yard in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

The Tiger Ridge colt was the talk of the town in Port Elizabeth after three facile wins over 1200m and he was then purchased by Azzie’s chief clients Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren.

However, Azzie said the colt had been well in need of his run in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, as they had backed off him in PE before he had arrived at Summerveld. He said the horse had tightened up and improved since the Medallion.

Azzie’s runner in the first over 1400m on the poly on Saturday, Peep Show, runs off an 83 merit rating compared to her 97 sand rating. However, she hasn’t run since January.

Deputy Jud (Nkosi Hlophe)

Deputy Jud (Nkosi Hlophe)

Azzie said he had seen Peep Show brighter than she currently was, and he would have liked her to be a little more crisp, but he was hoping she wouldn’t need it. He said if the four-year-old Ideal World filly reproduced her best on the sand she would be a tough nut to crack as she was capable of galloping flat out for a mile.

Azzie has July reserve runner Deputy Jud in the Gr 3 Delta Air Lines 2200m where he jumps from draw nine. His recent runner up finish in the Track And Ball Derby proved he was in a good space and his merit rating is unchanged, so he must have a shout.

Black Minnaloushe gelding Greek Legend has been a touch disappointing in three runs in KZN, but being a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag makes him an interesting runner in the Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m.

The yard run Lazer Star in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. She was bought out of the Ormond Ferraris yard mainly for breeding purposes and on previous evidence the 1600m trip might stretch her, although she is drawn well and it is her third run for the yard.

Splendid Garden carries topweight in the eighth, the Compendium MR 103 handicap over 1000m on the poly, and has a tough draw of nine. However, he has come a point down in the merit ratings and this talented but temperamental sort can’t be ignored coming off two Gr 1s where he was not disgraced.

By David Thiselton

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Marinaresco loves to win

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Mike Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe is happy with the yard’s Vodacom Durban July day string at Summerveld.

He stuck his neck out and named Helderberg Blue as their best runner on the day and this in-form Gr 3 Delta Air Lines contender certainly looked a picture when putting in a slow canter on the beach sand at Summerveld yesterday (Tuesday).

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Meanwhile, the yard continue to be happy with July contestant Marinaresco. This Silvano gelding is a three-parts brother to Bulsara, who finished a 2,2 length fifth to Igugu in the 2011 July, despite carrying roundabout 1,5kg overweight.

Marinaresco, like Bulsara, has an exceptional turn of foot. Fayd’Herbe added, “He is a fighter, he likes to win.”

Jockey Grant van Niekerk has declared he is no longer worried by Marinaresco’s wide draw.

The yard run all of Inara, Silver Mountain and Lanner Falcon in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and Fayd’Herbe was reluctant to separate them. He said, “All is well and may the best one win.”

The yard were also bullish about Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase contestant Three Balloons. Fayd’Herbe said, “He is coming to hand and 3000m is his distance.”

He said Ernie had also been doing well ahead of the tabGold Sprint over 1200m, where he has a wide draw in his first race on the poly.

David Thiselton

Kannemeyer duo spot on

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Three-times Vodacom Durban July-winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer said both of his candidates for this year’s race, five-year-old Solid Speed and three-year-old Mambo Mime, were “spot on.”

Asked on which one he preferred he said, “On their home work Mambo Mime, but Solid Speed has never been a good work horse. Solid Speed is a five-year-old and Mambo Mime is a three-year-old and they carry the same weight, so that’s a different ball game.”

Jockey Keagan de Melo said he had been very happy with Mambo Mime and based on the feel the horse gave him believed he would definitely stay the 2200m trip. He is drawn in 12 and should be running on like he was in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. On Monday he worked with Dynastic on the beach sand at Summerveld and drew clear effortlessly.

Jockey Stuart Randolph is also happy with Solid Speed. The latter represents the same owner, trainer and jockey as last year’s winner, Power King, runs off the identical merit rating of 106 and is drawn in barrier 5 compared to Power King’s 6.

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the VDJ Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the July Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Balance Sheet and Solar Star both looked well in their workouts on the beach sand this week ahead of their engagements in the Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m.

Kannemeyer has always believed Solar Star would get this sort of trip. He pointed out the latter had stayed on well in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, where he finished fifth, only 1,65 lengths behind the winner Balance Sheet. However, Solar Star will now be only 0,5kg better off with his stable companion, so won’t find it easy to reverse form, especially considering Balance Sheet is proven over the trip, having finished second in last year’s Gold Cup over 3200m.

Kannemeyer runs Impala Lily in the first over 1400m on the poly and believes she will appreciate the step back to 1400m. It looked that way in her work out on the beach sand on Monday as she is a robust sort with big hind quarters. Her pole position draw is a further plus.

Cape Laddie ran a fine race under Anthony Delpech last time when caught wide over 1400m on the poly and still managing to stay on for a one length second to the fair sort Irish Pride.

He is now drawn well over the same course and distance in Saturday’s second race, but he does have to deal with a one point merit rated raise and Delpech was concerned about it being his second run after a long break.

David Thiselton

rabada its my turn

Brugman on Rabada

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Derek Brugman has given his side of the Rabada saga after trainer Mike Azzie was forthright in saying he did not want to run the Vodacom Durban July contestant in this Sunday’s KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Azzie believes the three-year-old has a big chance in the July due to a preparation which has gone perfectly, on top of the horse’s obvious ability as a twice Gr 1 winner. He is also convinced Rabada will stay the trip.

He pointed out little had gone right for Rabada in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and yet he had still won the race.

Azzie’s bullishness will be dampened by running Rabada in the Million Mile, as he believes this will upset the horse’s July preparation and affect his chances of winning the big race.

However, Brugman, racing manager to champion owner Markus Jooste, said Rabada’s chief mission, from at least two months ago, had been the Million Mile. The July was always just going to be a bonus.

Rabada (Left) It's My Turn (right)-Nkosi Hlophe

Rabada (Left) It’s My Turn (right)-Nkosi Hlophe

Brugman often applies the adage “keep yourself in the best company and your horses in the worst” and said this was a case in point.

He said Azzie, due to the excellent preparation Rabada had been enjoying, recently requested a diversion from the original plan and asked whether the Million Mile could be skipped. However, Brugman had simply made a decision to stick to the original plan.

He is not regarding the Million Mile as a foregone conclusion and recognises the tough task on paper Rabada has with the like of Malak El Moolook and Intergalactic, due to the structure of the weights.

However, as it is a limited race with a first prize of R625,000, he and the owners believe it an opportunity too good to miss, especially when considering Rabada still has his entire four-year-old career ahead of him.

Brugman said Rabada would be monitored after the Million Mile and a decision would then be made whether to run him in the July or not.

However, he added no rash decisions would be made and they would not run the horse in the July just for the sake of it.

Punters who backed Rabada after the final field announcement will get their money back if he is scratched.

Meanwhile, first reserve runner Trophy Wife did her compulsory July gallop at Randjesfontein earlier this week, but it was unfortunately not recorded and this was apparently due to a hitch with the camera.

David Thiselton

Impressive gallops all round

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The Vodacom Durban July gallops were enjoyed by an enthusiastic crowd yesterday and all of the horses worked well.

The first pair out were French Navy and Samurai Blade and trainer Sean Tarry was pleased with both. Lyle Hewitson works Samurai Blade often and described his last two pieces of work as fantastic, adding yesterday’s work had been the best he had felt the horse.

The second favourite Black Arthur was next out and worked exceptionally well. He was clearly enjoying himself. Trainer Justin Snaith confirmed the horse had been a bit above himself, having not raced since winning the Canon Guineas in early May, so this should bring him spot on for the race.

Later, his stablemate and July favourite Bela-Bela strode out well and her lovely action included her usual rhythmic nodding of the head, an indication she was enjoying herself.

The other Snaith pair It’s My Turn and Dynamic were not asked to do a lot but pleased their respective big race riders Richard Fourie and Lyle Hewitson.

The Mike Bass-trained Marinaresco put up a tremendous gallop and showed just how well he can quicken.

Ten Gun Salute was another who quickened well and the gallop pleased trainer Duncan Howells.

The latter’s stablemate Saratoga Dancer also strode out well.

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the VDJ Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the VDJ Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed worked on the poly together with his Dean Kannemeyer-trained stablemate Mambo Mime and both did well, crossing the line as one.

Joey Ramsden’s aim was to show the public the well-being of his pair and them moving well and he felt both The Conglomerate on the poly and St. Tropez on the turf achieved that.

The Gavin can Zyl-trained Rocketball was a bit keen when the stable companion kept it at a crawl early on, but he stretched well in the straight and is looking in fine shape.

Abashiri showed his giant stride and was looking well. His Mike Azzie-trained stable companion Rabada cantered slowly at Summerveld, having been excused from the Greyville gallops as he runs on Sunday in the KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Mac De Lago worked on the poly and wasn’t asked to a lot but strode out well.

Reserve runner Deputy Jud was not asked to do a lot.

Master Sabina put in a good televised gallop on the Highveld with a companion.

In the ensuing panel discussion at Greyville yesterday Kevin Shea made Solid Speed and French Navy his best value bets, Garth Puller opted for Black Arthur and St. Tropez and Track and Ball bookmaker Pierrick Maujean selected Solid Speed and Mambo Mime.

However, the July beans indicate the race rests between Abashiri, Rabada and Mac De Lago.

David Thiselton