Marinaresco has a swollen right eye after his weight-carrying record in last Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July.

Candice Bass-Robinson said yesterday: “He must have been hit by a clod. We have put cream on it and he is fine otherwise.

“We have still to decide whether we run him in the Champions Cup (July 29) but I will nominate him for the race and then we will see. I don’t think Horizon will run in that but I will nominate Nightingale for a race at the meeting and we will see how she freshens up. She is to stay in training for a further year.”

Marinaresco (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marinaresco has been raised three points (1.5kg) for his head win to a new merit rating of 118 but that still puts him 2.5kg behind his old adversary Legal Eagle. The handicappers raised runner-up Al Sahem a point to 107, putting him on the same mark as Edict Of Nantes (third) and Krambambuli (equal fourth).

Nightingale (equal fourth) is also unchanged on 105 but punters may be interested to note that sixth-placed Horizon ran above his 100 rating. However the handicappers are only allowed to raise the first five.

That said, they are entitled to take a bow. This was one of the closest races in the long history of the July with the first five separated by less than half a length and the first eight by less than a length and a half.

“We were very proud of the result,” said Lennon Maharaj. “We came up with a competitive handicap and the three-year-olds proved to be rated in line with the older horses.”

Bela-Bela has been put up 1.5kg to 112 for her three and three-quarter length triumph in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province. Runner-up She’s A Giver has been raised 4.5kg to 104.

By Michael Clower