Category Archives: VDJ

gallica rose nh

Rose blooms in East Coast

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The Joey Ramsden-trained Silvano filly Gallica Rose has always been well regarded and earned bold black type at Greyville yesterday under a fine ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe when winning the Listed East Coast Cup over 2 000m.

She jumped from a wide draw but travelled comfortably throughout three wide of the rail in the back half of the field and produced a strong finish to catch and overtake Bilateral, who was the only three-year-old in the field and was the winner of last season’s Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1 400m at this course. Later the ruling Vodocam Durban July favourite Futura made his debut for the Justin Snaith yard in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1 600m and won by 0,25 lengths under Sean Cormack without being hard ridden. He was turned out in fine condition and this was an eyecatching preparation for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over the same course and distance on June 6.

Before the meeting the reigning July champion Legislate, also from the Snaith yard, had an easy gallop under Cormack and Snaith said he had done everything asked of him perfectly.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gallica Rose (Nkosi Hlophe)

wylie hall cs site

Wylie Hall supplemented for the July

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Wylie Hall, winner of the Vodacom Durban July last year but relegated to second behind Legislate on an objection, will bid to win Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the Vodacom Durban July, again this year with his name being put forward officially by trainer Weiho Marwing at the first supplementary entry stage today.

Winner in his last two starts of the Colorado King Stakes and the Premier’s Champion Challenge at Turffontein, the five-year-old Australian-bred entire was not nominated initially but was placed second on the first published July Log behind L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met winner Futura.

Marwing has also supplemented his three-year-old Australian-bred colt Mac De Lago that ran second to The Conglomerate in the KRA Guineas at Greyville recently.

Also supplemented into the race is the three-year-old gelding MLjet from the Gavin van Zyl stable that finished third in the Selangor Cup and second in the Politician Stakes in the Cape and the four-year-old gelding It Is Written from the Dean Kannemeyer yard that was an easy winner of a MR94 handicap over 1 400m at Scottsville in his first race in KwaZulu-Natal.

It Is Written is carded to contest the R350 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday.

There have also been 11 withdrawals from the race. They are Gogetthesheriff, Sabadell, Arion, Henry Higgins, Heartland, Greek Legend, Stormy Eclipse, Shea Devon, Rake’s Chestnut, Scotsnog and All The Bids.

The second declarations will be on Monday, June 1 with final supplementary entries closing on Monday, June 8 and the weights being published the following day.

By Richard McMillan

Picture: Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)

legislate and wylie hall

Entries: Vodacom Durban July 2015

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HORSE              A/S       M/R   TRAINER

FUTURA             (4C) 120   Justin Snaith

LEGISLATE          (4C) 117   Justin Snaith

*WYLIE HALL (AUS)   (5H) 116   Weiho Marwing

LOUIS THE KING     (4C) 114   Geoff Woodruff

MAJMU (AUS)        (3F) 114   Mike de Kock

ICE MACHINE        (6G) 113   Charles Laird

KING OF PAIN       (5G) 113 Joey Ramsden

HOT TICKET         (5G) 112 Dean Kannemeyer

LEGAL EAGLE        (3G) 112   Sean Tarry

NO WORRIES         (5G) 111 Gavin van Zyl

FRENCH NAVY        (3G) 110   Sean Tarry

GOLD ONYX (NZ)     (7G) 110   Sean Tarry

HELDERBERG BLUE    (4G) 110   Mike Bass

INARA              (3F) 110   Mike Bass

HALVE THE DEFICIT  (6G) 109   Sean Tarry

HEAVY METAL        (6G) 109   Sean Tarry

JET EXPLORER       (6G) 109   Justin Snaith

PINE PRINCESS      (3F) 109   Mike de Kock

SIREN’S CALL       (3F) 109   Sean Tarry

TELLINA            (5G) 109   Geoff Woodruff

AFRIKABURN         (3G) 108 Dean Kannemeyer

SAME JURISDICTION  (3F) 108   Duncan Howells

THE CONGLOMERATE (3C) 108   Joey Ramsden

  GOGETTHESHERIFF    (4G) 107   Jacques Strydom    (Scratched)

KILLUA CASTLE (AUS (5G) 107 Geoff Woodruff

WHITELINE FEVER    (6G) 107   Sean Tarry

ATHINA             (4F) 106   Joe Soma

DEPUTY JUD         (3C) 106   Mike Azzie

ERTIJAAL (AUS)     (3C) 106   Mike de Kock

POWER KING         (4G) 106 Dean Kannemeyer

PUNTA ARENAS       (6G) 106   Stan Elley

KOCHKA             (4G) 105   Alyson Wright

TAMAANEE (AUS)     (3F) 105   Sean Tarry

BOLD INSPIRATION   (4G) 104 Charles Laird

*MAC DE LAGO (AUS)  (3C) 104   Weiho Marwing

UNPARALLELED       (3G) 104   Johan Janse van Vuren

CAGIVA             (5G) 103   Sean Tarry

  SABADELL           (5G) 103   Kumaran Naidoo     (Scratched)

TROPHY WIFE        (3F) 103   Sean Tarry

LIGHT THE LIGHTS   (3C) 102   Glen Kotzen

*MLJET              (3G) 102   Gavin van Zyl

  ARION              (4C) 101   Justin Snaith      (Scratched)

  HENRY HIGGINS      (6G) 101 Paul Peter         (Scratched)

JAYYED             (3C) 101   Mike de Kock

JUDICIAL           (4G) 101 Tyrone Zackey

THE HANGMAN        (5G) 101   Sean Tarry

CANDY MOON         (5G) 100   Paul Gadsby

DYNAMIC            (5G) 100   Justin Snaith

KINGSTON MINES (GB)(4G) 100   Mike de Kock

DOUBLE CLUTCH      (4G)  99   Paul Lafferty

DE KOCK            (4G)  98   Brett Crawford

DYNASTIC POWER     (4G)  98   Stan Elley

MEISSA             (6G)  98   Gary Alexander

SOLAR STAR         (4G)  98   Dean Kannemeyer

BALANCE SHEET      (3G)  97 Dean Kannemeyer

  HEARTLAND          (3C)  97   Justin Snaith      (Scratched)

*IT IS WRITTEN      (4G)  96   Dean Kannemeyer

MOUNTAIN MASTER    (4G)  96 Mike Bass

  GREEK LEGEND       (3C)  94 Mike Azzie         (Scratched)

ULTIMATE DOLLAR    (3G)  94   Justin Snaith

RUN RHINO RUN      (3G)  92   Paul Lafferty

RUSHMORE RIVER     (4G)  91 Joe Soma

  STORMY ECLIPSE     (3G)  90   Charles Laird      (Scratched)

TRIP TO RIO        (3C)  90   Mike de Kock

AKII BUA (AUS)     (4G)  89   Mike de Kock

  SHEA DEVON (AUS)   (3G)  89   Geoff Woodruff     (Scratched)

DANTE’S LEGACY     (3G)  88   Gavin van Zyl

  RAKE’S CHESTNUT    (4G)  88 Geoff Woodruff     (Scratched)

  SCOTSNOG           (3C)  87   Mike de Kock       (Scratched)

  ALL THE BIDS       (3G)  62   Corne Spies        (Scratched)

AMSTERDAM          (3G) 108   Mike Azzie

(60)

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO DIARISE
Monday, 1 June 2015 – Second Declaration
Monday, 8 June 2015 – Final Supplementary Entries
Tuesday, 9 June 2015 – Weights Published
Monday, 22 June 2015 – Final Declaration
Tuesday, 23 June 2015 – Announcement of Final Field and Barrier Draw
Thursday, 25 June 2015 – Vodacom Durban July Gallops at Greyville Racecourse

 

Blinkers to get MLJet flying again

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One of the season’s most disappointing three-year-olds MLJet has joined the Summerveld yard of Gavin van Zyl, and will continue to run in the colours of owner Michael Leaf.

MLJet is not a Vodacom Durban July entry, but Van Zyl hinted that the big race could still be a consideration when saying that he would “see how it goes with him”.

Van Zyl also spoke about his July log top 20 incumbent No Worries and added that in his belief the country’s premier race would benefit from the added pressure for places now that the field had been reduced from the 20 strong of a couple of years ago.

MLJet was due to run at Greyville on Friday night in an Allowance Plate, but unfortunately the race has been scrapped due to only five horses accepting.

The Varsfontein Stud-bred Jet Master gelding put up a good gallop on the Summerveld grass with first-time blinkers yesterday (Monday) and will run in the headgear in his next race, which is likely to be the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on May 30.

He looked set for big things after two impressive wins in Juvenile Plates at Clairwood last year were followed by an unlucky 0,25 length third to Equus Champion colt Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.

He has not lived up to expectations, although some of his runs, such as his 0,5 second to The Conglomerate in the Gr 3 Julius Baer Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth when giving the latter 3kg, now look good on paper.

He joined Van Zyl’s yard after a disappointing run in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on March 28, although the very soft ground did probably go against him in that race.

Van Zyl’s five-year-old Kahal gelding No Worries is in position 16 on the July log. No Worries can still be considered a borderline case, despite the size of the field being increased from 16 last year to 18.

He was not concerned about “unqualifying” him by running him in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and said, “There are three ways of getting into the July, through the front door (the top qualifiers like Futura, Legislate and Majmu), the side door (the mid-log incumbents who are relatively safe) and through the back door (the last minute feature race winners and placed horses who stake a late claim) and if you don’t make it you don’t deserve to be there.”

Van Zyl believed the current qualifying system would lead to the July developing into a truly great race packed with deserving participants. He added that the days of “moderates” qualifying could be over.

No Worries finished third in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m in his last start and Van Zyl said the strapping chestnut would be “ready” for both the Gold Challenge and the July.

He will continue to race in blinkers and Keagan de Melo will keep the ride for both races.

No Worries has become known as a handy to front-running type, oddly, because his two best runs, a short-head second to the top class Vercingetorix in the Daily News 2000 and a fourth place finish in the July, both came when producing flying finishes from way back in the running. He subsequently developed a bit of a headstrong habit down in his Cape Town campaign last season. However, he has settled nicely in the running since De Melo took over the reins and Van Zyl hoped that in his next two races the draw and factors like the pace would allow the versatile horse to employ the hold up tactics which brought his best results.

Van Zyl was pleased with his Horse Chestnut filly Banbury’s runner up finish over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday, which heralded a return to form, and said her next start would likely be in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000.

By David Thiselton

wylie hall

Few surprises with July log

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The first Vodacom Durban July log was out yesterday and some will claim that it contained one or two surprises while others will be happy. But as usual it is sure to draw a lot of discussion.

The recent Gr 1 winners are packed at the top of the log and include the three most fancied runners Majmu, Futura and Wylie Hall.

Legal Eagle will attempt to become the third SA Derby winner this century to win the July and is the highest placed three-year-old male on the log in fifth, one behind the highest placed three-year-old filly Majmu. There are six three-year-old fillies in the top 20 on the log, which must be a record, although it is not surprising as this could be the best three-year-old fillies crop ever seen in the country.

Three-year-old The Conglomerate was an impressive winner of the KRA Guineas last Saturday and not only was his merit rating raised to 108, but he has joined last year’s July winner Legislate on a price of 8/1 in the betting. He is one of five three-year-old males in the top 20 and finds himself in position 13, one behind the oldest horse in the top 20, the seven-year-old gelding Gold Onyx, who is known as a Greyville specialist. Gold Onyx has a history of being omitted from the July at the eleventh hour, but might now finally get his first chance to run in the big race since finishing a 2,65 length seventh in 2012.

The Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge was the only race in South Africa to make it onto the IFHA’s recent top 100 races in the world list, but the winner of this race last year, the 113 merit rated-King Of Pain, finds himself outside of the top 20 too. He finished a 1,75 length second to the log number one Futura in last season’s Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m despite carrying joint topweight, so the grounds for his omission from the top 20 can only have to do with his relative inactivity since then, having had only two more runs, including a lacklustre performance in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over1400m on Saturday.

Another possible surprise is the omission of the Joey Soma-trained Athina from the top 20 as she flew up for a head second in the prestigious Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m. The reason might be that her only performance against the boys in a Gr 1 saw her well beaten in the SANSUI Summer Cup.

The twice-placed Triple Tiara bridesmaid Trophy Wife, who also finished runner up to Majmu in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes, is not in the top 25, which could be counted as another surprise considering she comes from a vintage crop, whereas Deputy Jud, coming from a relatively disappointing crop of male three-year-olds, finds himself in position 15 on the log after Triple Crown third and second-place finishes. The reason could be that Deputy Jud has proved his stamina reserves by finishing runner up in the SA Derby.

– By David Thiselton

Picture: Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)

futura gallop grey april

VDJ Log as at May 5

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Following his consecutive Grade 1 wins in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met at Kenilworth in January 2015, Futura tops the 2015 Vodacom Durban July Log as issued by Gold Circle today.

It is important to note that the maximum field size has been increased this year from 16 to 18 runners, thus allowing 18 runners to face the starter for the 2015 Vodacom Durban July and today’s initial log reflects the composition of the field as if the race were to be run at this point in time. The panel has also selected two reserve runners in order of preference and the next five favoured horses in alphabetical order.

NO NAME TRAINER MR SEX
1 FUTURA Justin Snaith 120 (4C)
2 WYLIE HALL (AUS) Weiho Marwing 116 (5H)
3 LEGISLATE Justin Snaith 117 (4C)
4 MAJMU (AUS) Mike de Kock 114 (3F)
5 LEGAL EAGLE Sean Tarry 112 (3G)
6 FRENCH NAVY Sean Tarry 110 (3G)
7 SIREN’S CALL Sean Tarry 109 (3F)
8 INARA Mike Bass 110 (3F)
9 PINE PRINCESS Mike de Kock 109 (3F)
10 ERTIJAAL (AUS) Mike de Kock 106 (3C)
11 LOUIS THE KING Geoff Woodruff 114 (4C)
12 GOLD ONYX (NZ) Sean Tarry 110 (7G)
13 THE CONGLOMERATE (AUS) Joey Ramsden 108 (3C)
14 TAMAANEE (AUS) Sean Tarry 105 (3F)
15 DEPUTY JUD Mike Azzie 106 (3C)
16 NO WORRIES Gavin van Zyl 111 (5G)
17 HELDERBERG BLUE Mike Bass 110 (4G)
18 TELLINA Geoff Woodruff 109 (5G)
19 SAME JURISDICTION Duncan Howells 108 (3F)
20 ICE MACHINE Charles Laird 113 (6G)
Next 5 in Alphabetical Order
ATHINA Joe Soma 106 (4F)
HOT TICKET Dean Kannemeyer 112 (5G)
KING OF PAIN Joey Ramsden 113 (5G)
POWER KING Dean Kannemeyer 106 (4G)
UNPARALLELED Johan Janse van Vuuren 104 (3G)

The next Log will be issued on Tuesday, 2 June 2015

Legislate 2014

All about the race

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DATE: Saturday, 4 July 2015, Day and Night

AGE/ CONDITION: Open MR / Conditions Race over 2200m

ENTRIES: Entries, which must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of R2280 for each horse entered, close at 11:00am on Wednesday, 15 April

FIRST DECLARATION: Close 11:00am Monday, 11 May 2015 – Fee R 3420 non-refundable

FIRST SUPP ENTRIES: Close 11:00am Tuesday, 12 May 2015 – Fee R 12540 non-refundable

SECOND DECLARATION: Close 11:00am Monday, 1 June 2015 – Fee R 5700 non-refundable

FINAL SUPP ENTRIES: Close 11:00am Monday, 8 June 2015 – Fee R 25 080 non-refundable

WEIGHTS PUBLISHED: Tuesday, 9 June 2015

FINAL DECLARATION: Declarations close 11:00am Monday, 22 June 2015 – Fee R 28 500 (Refunded if not selected to run).

FINAL FIELD AND DRAW: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 23 June 2015.

FINAL FIELD: 20 horses will be carded for this event (16 Horses + 4 Reserves). The Reserves to be scratched by 8:15am Friday, 3 July 2015. Elimination will be at the sole and unfettered discretion of the Company.

PUBLIC GALLOPS: It shall be a condition of acceptance that all runners participate in public gallops scheduled for Thursday, 25 June 2015, failing which, the horse will, in the absence of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances which the Company shall in its sole discretion declare as such, be declared ineligible to run in the Vodacom Durban July. Further, the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to allow a horse stabled out of province on the day of the gallops to work out in the province where stabled prior to 25 June 2015 provided that the workout is filmed and screened on 25 June 2015.

2014 Vodacom Durban July

Horse: Legislate

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Trainer: Justin Snaith

Owner: Mr W J C Mitchell, Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) & Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr D E Evans)

Breeder: Cheveley Stud

ABOUT THE RACE

It sneaks up on you and spreads like wildfire to soon engulf the entire country. You don’t know you’ve got it till you start searching for more and more information and the desire for greater knowledge becomes a passion.

It is the annual outbreak of “July Fever” which makes its regular appearance in mid-April and grows in intensity as the days pass, becoming a national epidemic and rejecting all known cures but one.

That cure will become available on the afternoon of the first Saturday of July at Greyville Racecourse in Durban when South Africa’s best thoroughbreds storm down the home straight to the finish of the R3,5 million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July.

The cure is instantaneous, whether you are among the over 50 000 people who cram the confines of Greyville Racecourse or the millions of others who will watch the annual spectacle on television.

For maximum effect, however, there is nothing better than to be at the heart of the excitement, among the crowds who line the track, who relax in the many restaurant facilities or enjoy the day as guests in the corporate suites and the numerous venues in Greyville’s legendary Marquee Village.

ROLL OF HONOUR

2014

One of the most high drama and a dramatic outcome of the Vodacom Durban July in recent history, with the final result in the hands stipendiary stewards. Outsider Wylie Hall and the second favourite Legislate fought a desperate duel over the final 600m with the pair coming together on at least four occasions. As a result of an objection lodged by the jockey of Legislate, the board upheld the objection and rewarded Africa’s Greatest race to Legislate, thus demoting Wylie Hall to second.

* At the end of the 2013/14 season Legislate was awarded the covenant Equus Horse of the year and will be back this coming Champions Season to defend his title in hopefully a less controversial manner.

Lockeed Jetstar 2014

All about the race

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DATE:

AGE/CONDITION:

ENTRIES:

SUPP ENTRIES:

WEIGHTS:

COLTS AND GELDINGS:

FILLIES:

DECLARATIONS:

 

2014 Thukela Handicap

Horse: LOCKHEED JETSTAR

Jockey: Anton Marcus

Trainer: G V Woodruff

Owners: Mr and Mrs R Muir

Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

 

ABOUT: The Thukela Handicap

 

ROLL OF HONOUR:

2014

No Horse Jockey Trainer Al/Bl Kg Dr Fin Dist Time OP SP
5 LOCKHEED JETSTAR Anton Marcus G V Woodruff A 56.5 3 1 0.00 94.24 5/2 28/10F
2 ONE COOL DUDE Kevin Shea D C Howells A 60.0 2 2 0.25 94.28 5/1 9/2
4 OTTIMO (AUS) Richard Fourie S J Snaith A B 57.0 1 3 2.25 94.65 7/1 7/1
7 CHESTNUT’S ROCKET M J Byleveld V H Marshall A 55.5 6 4 2.30 94.65 5/1 9/2
Same Jurisdiction 2014

All about the race

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DATE: Saturday, 4 July 2015, Day and Night

AGE/ CONDITION: 2 Year Old – Level Weights over 1300m

ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 19 June 2015 – Fee: R 2280

WEIGHTS: Friday, 19 June 2015
Weights to be carried: 60kg
Sex Allowance of 2,5kg for Fillies
Restricted to all qualifying graduates from the 2014 KZN Yearling Sale as determined by the KZN Breeders Club and related conditions of Sale. If this race is oversubscribed, Gold Circle reserves the right to determine the Final Field.

DECLARATION: 10:00am Monday, 22 June 2015 – Fee R 9120

2014 KZN Yearling Sale Million

Horse: SAME JURISDICTION

Jockey: Kevin Shea

Trainer: Duncan Howells

Owners: Drakenstein Stud (Nom : Mrs G A Rupert), Messrs D C Howells, L C Vermaak, Dr R H Katzwinkel & Mrs M A M Powell

Breeder: Klawervlei Stud

 

ABOUT: The KZN Yearling Sale Million

 

ROLL OF HONOUR:

2014

No Horse Jockey Trainer Al/Bl Kg Dr Fin Dist Time OP SP
13 SAME JURISDICTION Kevin Shea D C Howells A 55.5 7 1 0.00 79.02 5/1 6/1
2 BECKEDORF Sean Cormack D R Drier A 58.0 14 2 2.25 79.44 5/1 7/1
6 SHINE LIKE A STAR Sean Veale G D Smith A 58.0 6 3 3.50 79.67 20/1 33/1
5 MAN FROM MILAN M J Byleveld V H Marshall A B 58.0 1 4 3.75 79.72 5/1 7/2F
Beach Beauty

All about the race

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DATE: Saturday, 4 July 2015, Day and Night

AGE/ CONDITION: Fillies & Mares at WFA over 1600m

ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 12 June 2015 – Fee: R 1710

SUPP ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 19 June 2015 – Fee R 6840

WEIGHTS: Friday, 12 June 2015

DECLARATIONS: 11:00am Monday, 22 June 2015 – Fee R 6840

2014 Jonson Workwear Garden Province.

Horse: Beach Beauty

Jockey: Sean Cormack

Trainer: Dennis Drier

Owner: Shanks Syndicate (Nom: Mr W G Kidd)

Breeder: Estate Late Mr T Armitage

ABOUT THE RACE

Need Content

ROLL OF HONOUR

2014

The Dennis Drier-trained Beach Beauty rounded off her brilliant career with the defence of her Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province. Always travelling well, regular pilot Sean Cormack gave her a seamless run up the inside fence to secure a convincing victory. Not only was it a display of equine brilliance, but an emotional moment as the racing community waved goodbye to their ‘Darling of the turf’.

* Beach Beauty is now in foal to the world renowned sire Duke Of Marmalade, and the Drakenstein Stud team is waiting with bated breath for her to foal down.