Category Archives: July

Dean Kannemeyer & Lady Christine Laidlaw

The perfect blend of sport and fashion

Posted on by

The Vodacom Durban July has become South Africa’s premier crowd gathering event due to the perfect blend of sport and glamour.

Winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s views in the aftermath contrasted strongly with those of celebrity Pearl Thusi, the well known and outspoken TV and radio presenter, actress and modelling agency owner.

Dean Kannemeyer & Lady Christine Laidlaw

Dean Kannemeyer & Lady Christine Laidlaw (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kannemeyer compared his victory on Saturday with his previous two July wins: “The first time I won it with Dynasty (2003) I was over the moon. When I won it with Eyeofthetiger (2006) it was just as exciting and today was even more exciting. Owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, everybody wants to win the July. When you win the July you walk off the grandstand and it is like putting on your Springbok jersey and saying you have arrived. Gary Player says it’s like winning The Masters.”

A particularly satisfying aspect to this year’s win was that he had done it for one of his most loyal, big spending owners Lady Christine Laidlaw. He said, “It was the first time Lady Christine had come to Durban. It was fantastic for her, she’s flown in for the week to see her horses run and the other one Solid Speed ran a very good race (third in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase). She was absolutely thrilled and I’m thrilled for my whole team.”

Jehan Malherbe from Form Bloodstock found and bought Power King and added another honour to his glittering career as a bloodstock agent. He also found and bought Eyeofthetiger as a yearling, while he clinched the deals with two July winners that Mike de Kock bought in training, Bold Silvano and Igugu. Lady Laidlaw’s first horse with Kannemeyer was Noordhoek Flyer, a dual Guineas winner and now sire who was also found and bought by Malherbe.

Her first July runner, also bought by Malherbe, was Capetown Noir, a champion miler and now sire, who was always suspect over the 2200m trip and ran unplaced in the big race twice.

Kannemeyer spoke of the continual improvement Power King had shown since being gelded last November and said he had also enjoyed an excellent preparation. He had viewed him as well handicapped on his Betting World 1900 run, in which he made up some twelve lengths in the straight to finish second, and on the weight turnarounds with a few horses he met during the Cape Summer Of Champions Season.

Furthermore, he was well drawn and receiving weight from some of the three-year-olds and was one of the of the stand outs at Summerveld in the week of the July.

Kannemeyer said, “On all of that we just needed a bit of luck and I thought we’d come into play. In the race I was very happy with where he was sitting, I was actually surprised, I thought he would be further back. So Stuey (Stuart Randolph) got him into a nice position, he came into the straight and had a look for room and then he quickened up well.”

Regarding the objection he said, “You’re always going to worry but the way I read the race was that the second horse was causing interference and my horse was staying in a straight line. But the decision was the right decision by the board so I was pleased about that.”

Power King (Nkosi - Hlophe)

Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, it didn’t stop Randolph being punished with a two week suspension by stipendary stewards as Power King has earlier hung to his left, which caused mayhem and was costly to a number of horses.

Kannemeyer continued, “Well done to Maine Chance Farms and Silvano. We bought a few Silvanos this year, we are always a great supporter of Silvano, he is a top stallion. They take a bit of time, but it all worked out. I have a great team behind me.”

Kannemeyer was also pleased to have buried a false perception by winning the July with a four-year-old as opposed to his two previous wins with three-year-olds and quipped, “Some people say Kannemeyer can only train three-year-olds … aah haa … I did also win the Gold Cup with In Writing as a seven-year-old. And I won the Gold Cup with a filly (Colonial Girl 2000), they said I could only train colts!”

A July-winning conditioner will usually only bask in glory for an evening, knowing that in this fickle sport you are only as good as your last win.

He will soon have to return to the grindstone, pouring through catalogues and pounding the sales grounds looking for the next champion, early mornings preparing horses and identifying those that will go far. These special individuals must take the baby step of their first race, a nerve-wracking moment for any trainer, and they must then be nurtured along until they are ready to face the cream of their generation. They can’t be underdone if they are to produce their best and it is even worse if they are “over the top”.

Illness and injury are always close at hand with a breed that is notoriously fragile. If ever there are people that are slaves to their profession it is the racehorse trainer, but they usually become very fond of their horses and critical remarks about their horses are not taken kindly. The pressure is great and trainers with July runners often become more and more edgy as the race approaches. Taking all this into account, it is not surprising that the joyous moment of July victory can be likened to the release of a steam valve and is usually accompanied by much emotion.

However, to Pearl Thusi the July is a whole different ball game. Later in the evening when asked who she had fancied for the big race she replied, “Legal Eagle … did he win?!”

She continued, “You must remember that historically women are here to look good and men are here to bet and I’m quite okay with that history continuing because I’m not a gambler.”

She hosted an event at the July this year. She invariably chooses a young up and coming designer for her outfit in order to showcase his skills and was looking stunning in a cream and white number. She named the July as her favourite horsey social occasion and praised the professional approach of the organisers.

By David Thiselton

same jurisdiction

Where to next?

Posted on by

Dean Kannemeyer is to wait until Power King recovers from his exertions in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July before making any plans about the four-year-old’s future. He said: “Power King was a little wobbly and exhausted straight after the race so we will let him get over this and then decide where we go.”

Kannemeyer, winning the great race for the third time, explained that the horse had not been straightforward to train:  “He had a few soundness problems as a young three-year-old. Then he was haemoconcentrating and so I said to Lady Christine Laidlaw that there was only one way to deal with that and we gelded him.

“But the July is the ultimate race for a trainer in South Africa and I am over the moon to win it again.”

Lady Laidlaw raised the interest levels of the foreign media contingent by reacting positively to overseas campaign suggestions but the horse seems far more likely to stay in this country.

Stuart Randolph had to shed almost four kilos in three weeks to do 53k – “It wasn’t a strict diet but I watched it and the weight slowly came off”- and he is now facing a fortnight’s suspension.

Nothing to do with the Punta Arenas bumping match but everything to do with the way he came across Legal Eagle, Gold Onyx and Halve The Deficit as he began his run. “He cleaned up half the field,” commented a brassed-off Sean Tarry who trains all three.

This was the second successive year that the historic race has been decided in the boardroom but, even more remarkably, the first three are all by Silvano and were all bred by Maine Chance.

Duncan Howells has already mapped out Same Jurisdiction’s future and, after the way she justified 17-10 favouritism under Anton Marcus in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province, he was talking about her in the same breath as Via Africa. He said: “You cannot believe the improvement she has made in the last two months and not even Via Africa galloped the way she did last Tuesday. She won’t run again this season and next term we will go to Cape Town for the Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca.”

Marcus has amazing talent at both ends of a race but even he excelled himself when getting up in the last stride on 12-10 favourite Seventh Plain in the Durban Golden Horseshoe. The superlatives flowed like champagne at a wedding but owner Markus Jooste remarked tongue-in-cheek: “With what Anton costs one expects that sort of ride!”

The former champion added: “This win was a testament to the horse’s courage. He had every opportunity to spit the dummy but instead he dug down deep.”

Trainer Dennis Drier, who initiated a notable Grade 1 double with 16-1 shot Chestnuts N Pearls in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, said: “You dream about Grade 1 winners but to have two in one day is unbelievable and I am blessed to have jockeys like Anton and Sean Cormack.”

Seventh Plain is to be put away for Cape Town and the Cape Guineas but the Thekwini on July 25 is a possibility for the filly. But it’s worth noting that Brazuca, beaten a short head in the Horseshoe, would almost certainly have won had he not been baulked 300m out and been switched to get a clear run.

Also with an eye to next time when the first three in the SABC Gold Vase meet again in the Gold Cup: Solid Speed, who started favourite and was beaten less than a length into third behind the Gavin van Zyl-trained Heart Of A Lion (Muzi Yeni), lost a front shoe.

Dynamic proved the July selection committee’s point when weakening close home in the TabGold 2200 won in all-the-way fashion by S’Manga Khumalo on stable companion Ultimate Dollar but Justin Snaith is still very much concerned about the pens. He said: “This trip was a little bit too far for Dynamic but we have always rated Ultimate Dollar highly. We were going to use the same tactics on him in the Daily News but he got injured at the start.

“These stalls come from Australia and there is too much of a gap between the back gates. We have complained but I feel that the guys are not taking us seriously.”

The stipes certainly took Warren Kennedy seriously when he used a few choice words to the starter – his mount Sun On Africa was injured in the pens and had to be withdrawn from this race. He was fined R1 000 for “abusive language.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

july fin

The objection discussed

Posted on by

How I won the July and survived the objection – Stuart Randolph

“I broke the gates well and so I was able to keep in contention, and I had the favourite in front of me. Everything worked out beautifully and I hit the front going through the 300m.

“The horse on my outside (Punta Arenas) then ran on to mine. The first bump wasn’t much but the second time he gave me a nudge in the hindquarters and my horse became a bit unbalanced. I had to gather him up and he fought to the line. I was never in any doubt about the outcome of the objection.”

And how Ian Sturgeon saw it

“I got to the 200m, went for my run on the outside rail but it got tight. I went towards Power King but, if you look at the slow motion, you will see that I didn’t touch him. However my horse lost his momentum and it took him about 100m to regain it.

“Then, at around the 100m, Power King bumped me and got unbalanced. I thought it was a gallant effort on my horse’s part. He gave his all.”

Sturgeon objected to the winner “on the grounds of interference in the latter stages.” The stipes deliberated for 15 minutes before over-ruling the objection and confirming the original result.

The film shown to the media demonstrated how Punta Arenas moved in on Power King, bumping the latter’s quarters. Power King’s off-hind foot slipped with the impact and he swerved in sharply on Punta Arenas.

What other jockeys said:

Sean Cormack (fourth on 9-2 top weight Futura): “I would like to have had him closer early on but he was slow to get going. But it was a phenomenal run under 60k.”

Anton Marcus (fifth on 7-2 favourite Legal Eagle): “I was slightly impeded in the straight and I felt I didn’t have enough horse under me to avoid it. But it was a good run and I have no complaints.”

Anthony Delpech (ninth on 11-2 chance Majmu): “She didn’t run any kind of race.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (16th on 11-2 chance Wylie Hall): “I had a beautiful run until going through the 700m when he faltered. From then on he was a different horse and I expect something will show up.”

Chad Schofield (eighth on 33-1 shot The Conglomerate): “I was unlucky. I got interfered with quite badly just after we straightened.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Nkosi Hlophe

vdj

Quartet the big winner

Posted on by

The Quartet was the star on a day turnovers went through the roof.

Overall turnovers at Greyville’s Vodacom Durban July meeting on Saturday were up 10.62% but as far as the Durban July itself was concerned, the increase from last year was an outstanding 27.68%.

While the Pick 6 was marginally down and did not exceed the expected R12 million it appears the reason for that was the overwhelming support for the Quartet, which was the big winner on Durban July day. There was a R1-million added to kick start the pool but even taking that amount off, the pool was up almost 35% from last year’s figure of R10,655,842 to some 16.2 million.

The Quartet of Power King, Punta Arenas, Tellina and Futura paid R82,066 to 197.40 winners.

Also receiving a major boost was the Place pool, which increased by almost 34%. However, that was more expected as Vee Moodley, Executive Director: Sports betting for TAB points out. “This year we were back to 18 horses in the July whereas last year we had only 16. We also paid out six places this time against the five places last time.

“The Quartet was way higher than we predicted and in fact, is the highest Exotic pool ever offered by TAB,” said Moodley.

“This year was quite an eye opener and I have some exciting new ideas for next year’s race.”

The Win pool also showed a decent increase of 22.8% but again that can be put down to the increased number of runners.

 

Power King (Nkosi - Hlophe)

Power to the King

Posted on by

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

Weiho Marwing

Wylie Hall on track

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.