Category Archives: VDJ

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

Classic ticket for Marinaresco

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Marinaresco could be diverted to the Vodacom Durban July if – as expected – he wins the Winter Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday. And, if he does, his price will tumble.

Seemingly Mike Bass, Marsh Shirtliff and Bryn Ressell are preparing to kiss goodbye to a favourite’s chance in the Winter Series for a crack at the big one.  There would hardly be a dry eye in the house if the Milnerton maestro, previously successful with Trademark, Dunford and Pocket Power, brings it off with his final throw of the dice.

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

Candice Robinson said: “Marinaresco is nominated for the July and he may well run if he does well on Saturday.”

The gelding was third in the Investec Cape Derby, finishing just in front of July favourite Black Arthur, before returning to take the Winter Guineas with a devastating turn of foot.

He was 28-1 with Betting World yesterday, and 25-1 with World Sports Betting, but he could shorten in the next few days as bookmakers assess the implications and seek to get first run on punters.

But the Bass stable is none the wiser about Silver Mountain’s below par return in the Daisy Fillies Guineas after blood tests showed nothing wrong. She is likely to step up to ten furlongs in the Woolavington on Saturday week. “She drew well in that and she will probably run,” said Mrs Robinson.

The 2014 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner King Of Pain will be ridden by Brandon Lerena for the first time when this year’s Chairman’s Cup winner is one of four Joey Ramsden runners in the Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday. Anton Marcus will choose between The Conglomerate, Disco Al and St Tropez.

By Michael Clower

justin snaith with legislate

Legislate to stand at Drakenstein

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Legislate, winner of the 2014 Vodacom Durban July, has been retired to stud.

Connections discussed his retirement after trainer Justin Snaith reported after last Friday’s Drill Hall Stakes that Legislate’s blood picture was not ideal. And it was agreed that Legislate be sent to Drakenstein to let down for his stud career.

Snaith was keen to have his superstar have another go at Grade 1 glory during South Africa’s Champions Season because he felt that he had got the horse back to his best.

Snaith said: “I was blessed to have ridden this superstar myself and cannot imagine that there are many thoroughbreds that glide the way he does. He floats and covers more ground than any horse I have ever seen in South Africa. He has the temperament of a champion which I am sure he will pass on to his offspring.”

Legislate was the 2014 Horse of The Year, won four Grade 1 races and earned over R5,5million in stakes.

– Freeman Stallions

Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)

New route for Baritone

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Justin Snaith has scratched the Byerley Turk runner up Baritone from the Vodacom Durban July following his disappointing Canon Guineas run last Friday night, but is upbeat about his respective Canon Guineas and Daisy Guineas winners Black Arthur and Bela-Bela.

He said Baritone had pulled up a bit “jarred up” and had also “choked up” due to the pressure of the tight finish in a fast run race.

The current restrictions placed on travel back to Cape Town, due to a recent case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the AHS Surveillance Zone, means Baritone has no option but to stay put in KZN.

Snaith said the Trippi colt would be monitored before a new route was decided upon. He believed there would be a question mark over the Daily News 2000 trip, but would nominate him for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and check how strong the field was before accepting.

Otherwise a race like the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly on Super Saturday could be an option.

Black Arthur has been accorded a 106 merit rating and Bela-Bela 107.

As things stand this would see them in the July with the minimum respective weights for three-year-olds of 53kg for a male and 52kg for a filly, although Black Arthur would officially be 2kg under sufferance and Bela-Bela 0,5kg under sufferance.

Snaith said a lot of thought would have to be put into planning their SA Champions season routes from here but added, “The main thing is they have both pulled up out of their races in fantastic shape.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

Will Abashiri run?

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Public hero Abashiri is “getting better everyday” in the aftermath of his ultra tough SA Derby run, which saw him hard driven to win narrowly, thus becoming the third horse in history to land the SA Triple Crown.

However, trainer Mike Azzie said it was still too early to say whether the Go Deputy gelding would participate in the Vodacom Durban July.

He added, “If he gets topweight I don’t think he will run.”

A condition of the July is three-year-old males being limited at the publications of the weights to carry a maximum of 57kg.

However, if the current highest rated horse among the entries, Legal Eagle, is scratched after the publications of the weights, the weights will then be dragged upward.

In that case French Navy would be dragged up from 57,5kg to 60kg and Abashiri would go from 56,5kg up to 59kg, which would be the highest weight a three-year-old has ever been asked to carry in the July.

Azzie has a good back up horse in Gr 1-winner Rabada.

He felt this Brave Tin Soldier colt was unlucky in Friday night’s Gr 2 Canon Guineas. He pointed out Rabada had to be used up to find a handy position from a wide draw and the pace up front had then been a blistering one. He added Black Arthur had consequently had the run of the race coming from a good draw. Black Arthur was soon relaxed at the back on the rail and was able to stride out throughout, due to the fast pace. In fact he had to be scrubbed along by Anthony Delpech to keep up.

Azzie said, “He only beat us by half-a-length, but I think it could be a different story in the Daily News, provided we get a good draw.”

Azzie has a high regard for the four-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding Greek Legend, who won a good race over 1600m at Turffontein in his second run after a layoff for a suspensory injury, prevailing over the previously unbeaten Chepardo. He added Greek Legend had been doing “very, very well” at Summerveld. He has drawn well in seven among the long list of Gr 2 Betting World 1900 nominations, although off just a 91 merit rating it remains to be seen whether he will get into the race or not.

Azzie will aim former SA Derby runner up and Supreme Cup winner Deputy Jud at the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby at Scottsville on June 19. He said his last run could have a line drawn through it, because this horse needed cover to be affective.

He reckoned his sprinter Splendid Garden, who finished a fine fifth in the Gr 1 WSB Computafirm Sprint considering he jumped from an unfavourable low draw, would be in the “shake up” in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville on June 4 and added he would appreciate the step up to 1200m.

Azzie also has three nice two-year-old campaigners in colts Rivarine and Aussie Austin and filly Announcing Rain.

Meanwhile, Shatoosh, who finished 7,25 lengths back in the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas on Friday night will be put away until next season as Azzie believes time given for her to mature will be beneficial.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kennedy has tough choice

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Gavin Van Zyl stable jockey Warren Kennedy faces a difficult choice of ride for the forthcoming Gr 1 Daily News 2000, an always vital Vodacom Durban July pointer which is to be run at Greyville on May 28.

Meanwhile, Anton Marcus was impressed by Rabada’s run in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas on Friday night and Geoff Woodruff revealed the respective routes his Vodacom Durban July entries Deo Juvente and Master Sabina would be taking.

Kennedy always knew the Van Zyl-trained Rocketball would stay the 2450m trip of the Gr 1 SA Derby and also knew the field would come back to him due to the furious pace up front. However, he was surprised by how easily the horse had made up the ground under a tight hold. Abashiri then went tearing past and opened up a two length lead at which point Kennedy thought he would be running for second.

However, in the end he nearly caught the Triple Crown hero. With both of their heads down all the way to the line neither jockey knew who had won and Kennedy answered Karl Zechner’s question in the pull up by saying, “I think I might have got it.” Zechner had been under enormous pressure throughout the day and his relief moments later was palpable.

However, Kennedy did question the strength of the Derby field beyond the first three finishers.

The Van Zyl-trained Celtic Captain, on the other hand, faced a strong field on Friday night in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas and finished a decent 2,3 length sixth.

Kennedy said, “He moved through beautifully and struck the front comfortably, but just as he did so he lifted his head and wanted to move outward. I think he might have seen the big TV screen.”

Stablemate Redcarpet Captain bounced back to form and stayed on well for a 2,65 length eighth. Jockey Keagan de Melo believes he will stay the 2000m trip of the Daily News. However, Kennedy felt it would not be wise to opt for Redcarpet Captain for the Daily News as a horse with a stamina question mark.

He concluded by saying he would likely be asked to ride Rocketball again, although he could not separate him from Celtic Captain, whose dam won over 2400m and who should still be improving after recent gelding.

Marcus was impressed Rabada had stayed on for second on Friday night, despite having to be used early to overcome his draw and find a handy position. He pointed out the two horses ahead of him in the running of the fast paced race had finished close to last. However, he felt Black Arthur would be tough to beat in the Daily News.

Woodruff said Deo Juvente’s only preparation race into the July would be the Gr 3 Jubilee at Turffontein on June 12, which significantly takes place after the publication of the July weights. Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina will race in a Pinnacle Stakes event as his July preparation.

David Thiselton

Picture: Warren Kennedy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Stuart Randolph (Nkosi Hlophe)

Randolph ponders July ride

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The current incumbent Vodacom Durban July “trophy-holding” jockey Start Randolph is still not sure who his ride for this year’s big race will be, but he knows he will need to find a good one to beat Friday night’s Gr 2 Canon Guineas winner Black Arthur.

Stuart Randolph (Nkosi Hlophe)

Stuart Randolph (Nkosi Hlophe)

Randolph also spoke of what it meant to win the July and how the race had changed from a tactical point of view due to the new much narrower track.

Randolph was happy his mount in Friday night’s Guineas, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Mambo Mime, settled after being dropped out from a wide draw and even more happy to find himself on the rail behind the favourite Black Arthur, even if it meant he was in last place.

However, Black Arthur soon appeared to be battling, as he was being pushed along continuously by jockey Anthony Delpech.

“I thought he was going nowhere so I pulled my horse out and went alongside him.”

Mambo Mime went to the outside in the straight and ran on strongly to finish a 1,5 length third.

However, out of the corner of his eye Randolph could see Black Arthur powering home towards the inside.

He said, “He looked like a Ferrari, horses just don’t do that.”

The bookmakers agreed and have made Black Arthur the new big race favourite.

Kannemeyer arrived in KZN last year without believing he had a serious July horse and ended up winning it with Power King.

He is in similar territory this year and his four current entries are Mambo Mime, Cape Speed, Solid Speed, Balance Sheet and It Is Written.

Kannemeyer will likely never again have as good a horse as his first July winner Dynasty.

Mambo Mime (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mambo Mime (Nkosi Hlophe)

His second July winner Eyeofthetiger arrived in KZN proven in both class and stamina capacity, having finished a narrow third in the Cape Derby.

Cape Speed looks to have the stamina capacity, but still has to prove his class.

Mambo Mime, who was coming of a win in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk on Friday night, is now proven in class, but not stamina capacity.

Balance Sheet could be a dark horse as one who has won over 1600m and finished second in last year’s Gold Cup over 3200m. He is a four-year-old gelding by Silvano, like Power King was last year. Another common point is his arrival in the province with a merit rating of 100. However, Power King cantered to victory in his pipe opener over 1400m at Scottsville last year, before booking his place with a runner up spot in the Betting World 1900, while Balance Sheet has already had two runs and has been unplaced in both.

Five-year-old Solid Speed, who is by the great Dynasty, has an even more similar profile to Power King. He arrived in the province rated 100, won his pipe opener at Scottsville, albeit over 1600m, and he also has proven class over 2400m.

It Is Written is also a five-year-old gelding by Dynasty and has won eight races from 1400-1800m. He has started his Champions Season in fine style, which has seen his merit rating rise from 99 to 102.

Randolph is looking towards Kannemeyer for his July horse again and will have some difficult choices to make in the next few weeks.

The first question most South African jockeys are asked when introduced to a stranger is, “Have you won the July?”

Randolph is now among the privileged few who can answer “yes”.

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said sometimes this fact seemed surreal and he often asked himself, “Did I really do it?”

Last year the field almost resembled a rolling maul in the straight, for despite the track being narrower the jockeys all made a bee line for the outside.

Randolph said jockeys knew what to expect on July day in terms of crowd noise, but horses obviously did not.

In his opinion tiring horses in the July tend to roll away from the grandstand noise.

The best traffic avoiding run for those coming from off the pace can therefore usually be found on the outside of horses.

In the past switching outward off the false rail would have put one near the middle of the track.

However, on the narrower track, and with last year’s false at four or five metres, this instinctive tactic led to congestion on the outside.

Hopefully, the decision already made to limit the false rail to a maximum of one metre this year will hopefully solve the problem.

However, one certainty is jockeys these days need to do extra homework studying the final carded July field.

By David Thiselton

Three supplemented for July

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Rocketball, who came within a nostril of spoiling the Triple Crown party for Abashiri last month, was yesterday among three supplementary entries for this year’s Vodacom Durban July.

Gavin van Zyl’s runner was joined by Brooklyn Brawler from the Justin Snaith yard and Dean Kannemeyer added It Is Written to his entry.

Brooklyn Brawler has come to hand of late, winning three of his last four starts including a Progress Plate over 1600m at Scottsville last month in his South African Champion’s Season warm-up. He is a likely contender for the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

It Is Written won the Gr3 Christmas Handicap and more recently finished runner-up to Way Of Light in The Sledghammer at Scottsville.

He was less than four lengths behind Dynastic Power in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 last year and he is likely to be in the line-up again later this month.

First supplementary entries close this morning. First acceptances were yesterday and the entry was reduced to 52 from the original 65.

Sc# Horse               Mass   MR        Draw  B  A  T  Trainer

0  LEGAL EAGLE          0.0  120 (120)    0      A  T  Sean Tarry

0  ABASHIRI             0.0  117 (113)    0      A     Mike Azzie

0  FRENCH NAVY          0.0  115 (115)    0      A     Sean Tarry

0  BRAZUCA              0.0  111 (107)    0      A  T  Johan J van Vuuren

0  INARA                0.0  111 (111)    0      A     Mike Bass

0  PATERFAMILIAS        0.0  110 (110)    0   B  A     Mike Bass

0  SILVER MOUNTAIN      0.0  110 (106)    0      A     Mike Bass

0  RABADA               0.0  109 (105)    0      A     Mike Azzie

0  MASTER SABINA        0.0  108 (108)    0      A  T  Geoff Woodruff

0  SAMURAI BLADE        0.0  108 (104)    0      A  T  Sean Tarry

0  STONEHENGE           0.0  108 (108)    0      A  T  Sean Tarry

0  GOLD ONYX            0.0  107 (107)    0      A  T  Sean Tarry

0  MAC DE LAGO          0.0  107 (107)    0      A  T  Weiho Marwing

0  NEW PREDATOR         0.0  107 (103)    0      A     Johan van Vuuren

0  OLMA                 0.0  107 (107)    0      A  T  Frank Robinson

0  PROSPECT STRIKE      0.0  107 (103)    0      A  T  Sean Tarry

0  PUNTA ARENAS         0.0  107 (107)    0   C  A     Dennis Drier

0  BELA-BELA            0.0  106 (102)    0      A     Justin Snaith

0  DEO JUVENTE          0.0  106 (106)    0      A     Geoff Woodruff

0  MASTER’S EYE         0.0  103 (103)    0      A     Justin Snaith

0  SOLID SPEED          0.0  103 (103)    0   B  A     Dean Kannemeyer

0  HALVE THE DEFICIT    0.0  102 (102)    0      A     Sean Tarry

0  NEGROAMARO           0.0  102 ( 98)    0      A     Johan J van Vuuren

0  ROMANY PRINCE        0.0  102 ( 98)    0      A     Ormond Ferraris

0  DISCO AL             0.0  101 (101)    0      A     Joey Ramsden

0  DYNASTIC POWER       0.0  101 (101)    0      A     Vaughan Marshall

0  IT’S MY TURN         0.0  101 ( 97)    0      A     Justin Snaith

0  TEN GUN SALUTE       0.0  101 ( 97)    0      A  T  Duncan Howells

0  THE CONGLOMERATE     0.0  101 (101)    0      A     Joey Ramsden

0  TROPHY WIFE          0.0  101 (101)    0      A     Sean Tarry

0  ST TROPEZ            0.0   99 ( 99)    0      A     Joey Ramsden

0  BALANCE SHEET        0.0   98 ( 98)    0      A     Dean Kannemeyer

0  DYNAMIC              0.0   98 ( 98)    0      A     Justin Snaith

0  MASTER SWITCH        0.0   98 ( 98)    0      A  T  Geoff Woodruff

0  SYLVESTER THE CAT    0.0   98 ( 94)    0      A     Duncan Howells

0  DIESEL JET           0.0   97 ( 97)    0      A     Erico Verdonese

0  MAMBO MIME           0.0   97 ( 93)    0      A     Dean Kannemeyer

0  MARINARESCO          0.0   97 ( 93)    0   B  A     Mike Bass

0  BLACK ARTHUR         0.0   96 ( 92)    0      A     Justin Snaith

0  CAPE SPEED           0.0   96 ( 92)    0      A     Dean Kannemeyer

0  CELTIC CAPTAIN       0.0   96 ( 92)    0   B  A     Gavin van Zyl

0  TRADING PROFIT       0.0   96 ( 92)    0      A     Mike Azzie

0  DEPUTY JUD           0.0   95 ( 95)    0      A     Mike Azzie

0  SARATOGA DANCER      0.0   95 ( 95)    0      A     Duncan Howells

0  DEPUTY RYDER         0.0   94 ( 94)    0   X  A     Neil Bruss

0  JUBILEE LINE         0.0   92 ( 88)    0      A     Mike de Kock

0  BANKABLE TEDDY       0.0   89 ( 85)    0   B  A     Brian Wiid

0  OLE GUNNAR           0.0   88 ( 84)    0      A  T  Paul Lafferty

0  NIGHTINGALE          0.0   87 ( 83)    0      A     Mike Bass

0  RAINY DAY BLUES      0.0   87 ( 87)    0      A  T  Joe Soma

0  ELUSIVE SILVA        0.0   86 ( 82)    0      A     Justin Snaith

0  MILLA’S WORLD        0.0   85 ( 81)    0      A     Sean Tarry

(52)

***Supplementary Entries Received as at 14:15 – 9 May 2016***

0   0   ***ROCKETBALL          0.0  105 (101)    A  T  Gavin van Zyl

0   0   ***BROOKLYN BRAWLER    0.0   92 ( 88)    A     Justin Snaith

0   0   ***IT IS WRITTEN       0.0  102 (102)    A     Dean Kannemeyer

Important Vodacom Durban July dates to diarise:

  • First Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 10 May 2016
  • Second Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 30 May 2016
  • Final Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Monday, 6 June 2016
  • Weights Published: Tuesday, 7 June 2016
  • Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 20 June 2016
  • Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Public Gallops:  7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 23 June 2016

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Black Arthur or Bela-Bela

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Anthony Delpech was asked shortly after landing the Canon and Daisy Guineas double at Greyville on Friday night which of the two Justin Snaith-trained winners he would prefer to partner for the Vodacom Durban July.

Black Arthur was the answer, the main reason being the horse’s stamina reserves. He waxed lyrical about the classy colt and could not quite believe how far out of his ground he had come from. Later, Snaith said the answer to the aforementioned question lay in the betting. Black Arthur’s July odds were slashed from 50/1 to 12/1 last week and following his Guineas win he is now 33/10 favourite with Betting World.

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Delpech had earlier called Bela-Bela a “special” filly, but was not sure she would get the 2200m July trip, although he felt against her own gender she would “get away” with the 2000m of the Gr 1 Woolavington.

Both horses have come out of their respective races superbly, according to Snaith.

He confirmed Bela-Bela would be going for the Woolavington, which has always been her aim.

However, Black Arthur is a typically immature son of Silvano and Snaith said, “He is high quality and we want to still have a horse for next season, so must be careful which route we take with him.”

It was the first time both Delpech and Snaith had achieved the Guineas double at the same meeting. However, Delpech had been confident of doing it. He had told his family in the morning how badly he had wanted to add this accolade to his CV and felt this could be the year.

Snaith went close to the Guineas double two years ago. In The Fast Lane was beaten in the fillies race at odds of 15/10, before Legislate won the Guineas at odds of 11/2.

This year it was Legislate who let the side down, running no sort of race in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, despite starting at odds of 11/10.

Snaith said the former Equus Horse a Of The Year had been far too “quiet” in the parade ring for his liking and the yard were still monitoring him yesterday, but nothing obvious had yet been detected.

By David Thiselton

Black Arthur new July favourite

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Black Arthur and stable companion Bela-Bela had bookmakers scrambling to change their odds display for the Vodacom Durban July after Justin Snaith’s charges turned in superb performances in the Gr2 Canon Guineas and G2 Daisy Fillies Guineas, and Friday evening at Greyville could prove a defining meeting in Africa’s Champion Season. All three features provided plenty of fodder for the formbook and any intrepid punters sitting with 12-1 about Black Arthur and 45-1 about Bela-Bela, may not be in the league of those who got the 5000-1 about Leicester City, but are entitled to be smug.

After stunning displays in the two Classics, Black Arthur displaced Legal Eagle (4-1) as anti-post favourite for the July – 3-1 on some boards but 7-2 still available – while Bela-Bela is now 14-1. Of Black Arthur Delpech said, “He’s the type of horse I would like to ride in the July,” the four-time July winning jockey confirming what all had just witnessed.

Black Arthur, home-bred by Alec and Gillian Foster, was beaten favourite in the Investec Derby at the end of the Cape summer but arrived in KZN with a mighty reputation. Delpech has the pick of the Snaith rides for the Western Cape Champion trainer during his KZN campaign and it took a single gallop for Delpech to decide between Baritone, Derby winner It’s My Turn and Black Arthur.

Seemingly out-paced from the gate as Sylvester The Cat set a suicidal gallop in overcoming his wide draw, Delpech slotted him in on the rail behind a charging pack. “I thought it might be a touch short for him but they went very, very fast which was in his favour,” Delpech confirmed.

Black Arthur led in by Justin Snaith with Anthony Delpech up - Nkosi Hlophe

Black Arthur led in by Justin Snaith with Anthony Delpech up – Nkosi Hlophe

Aimed for home, Delpech threaded his mount through the traffic and once in space the son of Silvano sailed through to win as he liked in spite of the winning margin being less than a length.

Race favourite Rabada settled in behind Sylvester The Cat and looked destine to keep his clean sheet at Greyville in tact before Black Arthur mowed him down with the line in sight while third and fourth placed Mambo Mime and Ten Gun Salute also had their July odds trimmed after promising performances.

All four look destined to meet in the Daily News 2000 that at this stage is brewing into one of the races of the season.

If Delpech needed a dress rehearsal for Black Arthur he got it in on the grey Bela-Bela who turned in a similar display of galloping in the Daisy Fillies Guineas to give trainer and jockey a Classic double. Nearer last than first turning for home, Delpech also had to pick his way through traffic before accelerating away to win in commanding fashion. It was a display out of the top draw.

“I rode two very good horses tonight,” was Delpech’s parting shot.

Race favourite Silver Mountain never got going and it was left to stable companion Nightingale to carry the stable flag although Bela-Bela went past her like she was looking for parking.

Johan Janse van Vuuren commented before the race that Negroamaro was off her best form but it was not by far. “I think she’s still a bit soft. We skipped the Oaks to go for the Woolavington.” The grey was in contention half a furlong out but was run down by Bela-Bela and Nightingale.

But if Negroamara was underdone, Van Vuuren’s New Predator was “gaar” as they say in Afrikaans. The three-year-old blew away his rivals in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes in a display that will have sent a chilled down Sean Tarry’s spine if indeed Legal Eagle has the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge on his agenda.

New Predator

New Predator

Although beaten four lengths by Legal Eagle in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, New Predator was given a puzzling ride that afternoon as he was sent for home nearly 800m out, but he did show an exceptional turn of foot albeit off a slow pace.

The Greyville ‘mile’ with its short straight is right up New Predator’s alley and the switch in course could extend Tarry’s champion a tad more.

Disappointment was race favourite Legislate but Snaith was quick with an explanation. “Legislate didn’t saddle well. He walked around the ring with his head down and I know we were in trouble. But what can you do.”

Snaith will no doubt have the puzzled solved by this morning and have Legislate back on track to defend his Gold Challenge crown.

Triptique ran a cracker in second in his first venture beyond 1200m and could now be a candidate for the Gold Challenge while Ice Machine ran his usual game race, coming from last to third.

By Andrew Harrison

Betting on the R4,25 million Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday, July 2:

7-2 Black Arthur, 4-1 Legal Eagle, 11-2 Abashiri, 14-1 French Navy, Bela-Bela, The Conglomerate, 16-1 Brazuca, New Predator, 20-1 Rabada, Nightingale, 22-1 Mac De Lago, 25-1 Samurai Blade, Marinaresco, 33-1 Silver Mountain, Master Sabina, Deo Juvente, It’s My Turn, 40-1 Negroamaro, 50-1 Baritone, 55-1 Trophy Wife, 66-1 Inara, Dynastic Power, Ten Gun Salute, Mambo Mime, Saratoga Dancer, 7-1 Paterfamilias, 80-1 Olma, Prospect Strike, Punta Arenas, Romany Prince, Cape Speed, Master Switch, 100-1 and upwards others.

Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)

Baritone to step up

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Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

The SA Champions Season kicks off with three Gr 2s at Greyville tonight and Justin Snaith should go close to landing a feature race treble.

In the Canon Guineas Baritone has to overcome a tricky draw. However, he looks to be an ever improving sort and should have come on from his Byerley Turk run, where he ran on strongly and only just failed. He came from a wide draw that night and was carrying 4kg more than the winner Mambo Mime. He should appreciate the 200m step up in trip.

His stable companion Black Arthur is highly regarded and the form of his Gr 3 Cartier Politician Stakes win has worked out well. Before that he beat Mambo Mime by 0,5 lengths over 1600m and the latter is now 5kg better off with him. This puts Baritone’s Byerley Turk effort into a good light on strict formlines. Mambo Mime is learning all the time and improving so could earn a cheque.

Rabada won a Gr 1 over course and distance as a two-year-old and has come on in leaps and bounds from his recent

victorious comeback from injury. His SA Triple Crown-winning yard is on a high and he is a big runner, despite a wide draw.

Prospect Strike finished just 0,75 lengths behind Rabada in the aforementioned Gr 1 and is coming off a 1,2 length defeat by the latter over 1400m. He should now be cherry ripe and will relish the step up to this trip. The downside is the very wide draw.

Muwaary was disappointing in the Gr 1 SA Classic, but the maestro trainer Mike de Kock is likely to have got to the bottom of it and this classy sort could bounce back.

Redcarpet Captain has had excuses for his last couple of starts, including over racing, and from a good draw with the blinkers off he could use his telling turn of foot from off the pace to run a good race.

It’s My Turn won the Investec Cape Derby in good style and should be staying on after being dropped out from a wide draw.

Exit Here’s last run can be ignored, as he hated the sloppy conditions on the poly after a torrential downpour, and he will relish the step up to 1600m from the 1400m of the Million Dollar where he ran a fine fifth considering the slow pace didn’t suit him.

Sylvester The Cat and Ten Gun Salute both have plenty of class and it would be no surprise to see them involved in the finish, although the former has a tough draw.

It's My Turn (Liesl King)

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

Victorious Jay is better than his last start and could bounce back.

Malak Al Moolook could earn if repeating his Gauteng Guineas third place.

Royal Armour has to prove he is as good on turf as he is on the poly.

The selection is Baritone to beat Rabada and Black Arthur, with Mambo Mime and Redcarpet Captain next best.

The Daisy Guineas sees a much anticipated clash between Silver Mountain and Bela-Bela, who are both packed with class. Silver Mountain should be perfectly suited to Greyville with her zippiness and fine turn of foot.  Bela-Bela is much better than her Cape Fillies Guineas run, when well beaten by Silver Mountain. Her subsequent Paddock Stakes third proved how good she is and the best has probably not been seen of her yet, so a victory over Silver Mountain would not be a great surprise. Trainer Neil Bruss is bullish about the chances of Flying Ice, who will relish the step up in trip and who has been unlucky in her last two starts when finishing second in both. The Bella Sonata yard believe she is better than her form suggests and she has enjoyed a fine preparation. Shatoosh has a long stride and a fine turn of foot. She could be the dark horse. Intergalactic has a chance on her Empress Club Stakes run when a 1,4 length third to Inara. Fromafar raced wide when winning a feature here over 1400m last time, so can’t be written off.  Nightingale and Negroamara both have class but would both prefer a touch further. Alexa has a good draw for a change and is an interesting runner as one who made up a lot of ground from hopeless positions in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Fillies Classic. Our Destiny over raced with blinkers on and they are now off so she could earn if repeating her Cape Fillies Guineas runner up finish. Taffety Tart and Lala have the ability to earn but have tough draws. Killer Woman looks to have some class but will have to put her last poor run behind her.

The selection is Silver Mountain to beat Bela-Bela and Flying Ice with Shatoosh and Bella Sonata next best.

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

The IOS Drill Hall Stakes could be won by Ice Machine if things pan out right for him.

There does not look to be much hope of the good pace he will prefer and Legislate could in that case dictate from the front.

However,  Ice Machine is still tipped to fly up and touch off Legislate, with Night Trip, who seems to love Greyville, staying on for third. The dark horses are Saratoga Dancer, who has plenty of class and the best has not yet been of him, and Triptique, who has been doing very well but there is a question mark over the trip. New Predator also has to be given a lot of respect on his best form.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)