Well known KZN-racing couple Rodney and Jane Trotter had a dream come true when the horse they spelled and own, the Duncan Howells-trained Saratoga Dancer, was included in the Vodacom Durban July final field. It was also a momentous occasion for two other part-owners, passionate KZN-based racing fans Rick and Thora Nidd.

The four-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding will provide a third July runner for prominent owner Gary Westwater, while Chris Winter as well as Howells himself also own a share each.

Jane Trotter bought the Gary Player Stud-bred Saratoga Dancer at the National Yearling Sales for R95,000 with the aim of selling him on at the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale. Jane is one of the country’s most respected pre-trainers and backed and prepared him for the latter sale from the Trotter’s Ambleway Thoroughbred Stables farm near Pietermaritzburg.

However, there was not much interest and Howells ended up buying him on behalf of the Trotters for R140,000. The probable reason for the lack of interest was his one knee being offset. However, Jane revealed the horse had not had a single day of unsoundness in his entire life to date. The only reason there have been a couple of gaps in his racing career was due to Howells always believing he would make a better four-year-old.

This year’s July falls exactly 40 years after part-owner Rick Nidd’s equine favourite Jamaican Music won the big race.

Rick recalled standing to win a lot of money on this popular Ralph Rixon-trained grey in 1974 and was so confident he had asked a motor car company to have the car he intended buying with the winnings polished and ready for him to collect the following Monday. In those days Rick and his family used to huddle around the radio to listen to the July and he could not believe what he was hearing when commentator Ernie Duffield broke the news shortly after the start that Jamaican Music had dislodged his jockey.

However, Rick continued to support the courageous grey and had R100 on him in the 1976 July.

The same year of Jamaican Music’s July win, Chris Winter was playing rugby for Natal U20. Chris had followed horseracing since his junior school days and he and his friends often found ways to get their Place Accumulators on. He began buying horses as soon as he could afford them. He had a break from owning for some time, but since coming back ten years ago Howells has always been his trainer.

Rodney Trotter has served for many years on the board of the National Horseracing Authority. Neither Rodney nor Jane were able to assess how good Saratoga Dancer would be on the race track during his spelling period.  However, Rodney recalled commentator Sheldon Peters calling Saratoga Dancer “the talk of the town” when he appeared for his second start over 2016 at Scottsville in September 2014.

He duly won by a comfortable two lengths and a subsequent third in a handicap on the poly was enough to qualify him for the R3,85 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup, which was at that stage the richest race even run in South Africa. He finished a decent 1,5 length sixth, but had a tough race and returned to Ambleway for a rest.

In his second come back run, in a 1600m event on the Greyville turf, he announced himself as a horse who could go to the top as his long stride carried him to an eyecatching victory. He duly won three of his next five starts and was strongly fancied for the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein. However, much to the disappointment of connections, he was made first reserve and didn’t get a run.

After another win and a decent third from a wide draw in the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m on the Greyville turf, he returned to Ambleway for another rest. In his latest comeback he finished a decent 3,75 length fourth against top class sorts in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. His beautiful stride caught the eye when he cantered down to post for his next start in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, where he had another wide draw to overcome.

However, at a crucial stage, just as he was winding up into that big stride, he was bumped by a shifting The Conglomerate and was interfered with by the latter for much of the remainder of the straight. An objection saw him promoted from fourth to third, but Howells was downcast, believing his chances of making the July field now to be forlorn.

However, thanks to a few scratching he snuck into the field, although not without some controversy.

Jane Trotter’s intuition at those sales a few years ago had paid dividends beyond her wildest dreams. She has spelled a number of July runners, including narrow runner up Young Rake, but this will be the first July runner she and Rodney have owned.

Saratoga Dancer has won over 2000m before, but Howells does admit the 2200m trip of the July might “stretch him.” He is the lowest rated horse in the race on 95 and has once again had bad luck with the draw, so is not surprisingly the biggest outsider with Betting World at 66/1.

Howells, who also has Ten Gun Salute in the race, has only had one previous July runner. He was happy with Saratoga Dancer’s July gallop and his overall preparation. The best of this horse has likely not been seen and he could surprise a few people. Chris Winter concluded, “Just remember Leicester City won the league!”

By David Thiselton

Leading in Saratoga Dancer (left to right) are: James Rich (assistant trainer to Duncan Howells) / James Winter / Warren Lenferna / Chris Winter / Rick Nidd / Thora Nidd / Jane Trotter / Rodney Trotter

Variety Club and Act Of War both used the Langerman as a stepping stone to Cape Guineas success and most Kenilworth racegoers left the course on Saturday convinced they had seen not one future star but two.

“I should have won – and if I’d had a lead I would have done,” said Grant van Niekerk who led for all except the frustrating final stride on Our Mate Art. “He didn’t settle for the first furlong but, make no mistake, this is a horse for the future.”

Candice Robinson added: “Nobody wanted to go on and our horse couldn’t get any cover. We will bring him back in the spring and aim him at the Guineas.”

But it should not be forgotten that Table Bay, who responded so courageously to Donovan Dillon’s urgings, was conceding two kilos. Derek Brugman, who is already talking of the Cape Derby or Met following the Guineas, said: “I think both first and second will go straight to the top.”

It was the fourth Langerman in six seasons, and the ninth in the last 16, for Joey Ramsden who recalled how he had so nearly said goodbye to Table Bay in Melbourne last year. He had set his heart on buying the horse but overslept and did not wake up until after the sale had started. He rang Brugman to be told the yearling was due into the ring in 20 minutes.

A desperate Ramsden rushed for a taxi fearing he would get a slow driver but hit on an Afghan “who drove like Mikka Hakinen” and got there in the nick of time to buy the colt for a bargain A$120 000.

Ramsden added: “Newlands (third) is a Derby horse but he is qualified for the CTS $500 000 mile. Attenborough (who weakened close home into fourth) will either go back to six furlongs or we ride him with cover. He over-raced so the jury is out on whether he stays.”

Ramsden and Dillon also have a leading candidate for the Cape Fillies Guineas with the Drakenstein homebred Captain Gambler who got up on the line in the Irridescence.

Justin Snaith reckons that Elusive Silva, backed from 14-1 to 6-1 before giving the trainer his first Winter Derby under a well-judged ride from Robert Khathi, has what it take to make his mark in the Cape summer season.

He reasoned: “Silvanos always improve and I think that this one will furnish into the right type of horse. He has a nice way about him as well as a lovely temperament.”

Whisky Baron went the same expensive way as seven of the previous eight Winter Derby favourites and the 13-10 shot could get no closer than fourth. Bernard Fayd’Herbe reported: “He didn’t stay and I had to use him to get across which made it worse.”

The different bridle worked wonders with the previously hard-pulling 20-1 shot Eighth Wonder but Greg Ennion, who also sent out third-placed Roman Discent at 66-1, was left rueing what might have been, saying: “Eighth Wonder needed a pace and so he had to do it the hard way out in front.”

Jack Mitchell, fighting leukaemia with a degree of success in a specialist clinic in Houston, Texas, had a welcome tonic when Francia initiated a Snaith feature double in the Winter Oaks to give the talented Lyle Hewitson his first Cape Town winner.

Brett Crawford intends resting Chevauchee until the spring when she could be stepped up further in trip after Corne Orffer rode the 7-2 favourite to a comfortable win in the Ladies Mile. Indeed the only moment of anxiety came when racing manager Craig Carey, relaying the commentary to boss Wayne Kieswetter in Britain, lost the connection!

Mike Bass was on course to record his sixth successive century with St Elmo’s Fire who put Van Niekerk on 99 while Mike Robinson revealed that Blarney Bay needs a penetrometer reading of a least 30 for the trainer to get really confident. It was only 25 on Saturday but the old war horse revelled in the winter course seven furlongs.

By Michael Clower

Gareth Van Zyl pulled off a fine training feat at Greyville yesterday when No Worries recaptured the KZN Breeders Million Mile race he had won as a four-year-old two years ago at Clairwood.

The Summerhill-bred Kahal gelding was coming off three runs between 1950m and 2400m which had yielded a win and two thirds.

Van Zyl somehow managed to freshen the six-year-old up and he ran on strongly from midfield under regular rider Warren Kennedy, despite the race having been run at a crawl,

He overtook favourite Rabada close home before drawing clear to win by 1,5 lengths.

Twice Gr 1-winning three-year-old Rabada, who is in the field for next weekend’s Vodacom Durban July, carried 59,5kg, but on official merit ratings No Worries, who carried 58kg, was only 0,5kg better off with him. Furthermore, No Worries was officially 2kg under sufferance with third-placed Malak El Moolook, whom he beat by 2,25 lengths.

This confirmed No Worries’ recent good form was not only due to his stamina capacity and he is clearly enjoying a new lease of life.

July watchers might view the race as a further blow to the chances of the three-year-olds, who already have a tough task at the weights.

Van Zyl said the enormous amount of work put in by jockey Kennedy and his assistant trainer Jessica Von Niebel had turned No Worries around.

Kennedy described the chestnut as “the darling of the stable” and owner Brian Burnard called him “a soldier.”

Every one of the other eight races carried a R200,000 stake. Nine-times South African champion breeders Summerhill Stud enjoyed a day to remember.

Sean Tarry scored a treble with the JJ Snyman-owned-and-bred Strategic News filly Strategic Move (S’Manga Khumalo), the Summerhill-bred Admire Main gelding Hyaku (JP van der Merwe); and the Summerhill-bred Kahal filly Witchcraft (Khumalo).

Doug Campbell scored a double. The Mogok gelding Kingston Boy (Anthony Delpech), which he bred and part-owns, repeated his win of last year and his Summerhill-bred Visionaire filly Lala (Anton Marcus) was a deserved winner.

Other winners were St. John Gary with his home-bred Announce filly Last Chirp (Marcus), Tony Rivalland with Summerhill-bred gelding Count Von Count (Lyle Hewitson) and Alyson Wright with Yellow Star Stud-bred Daylami gelding Penhaligon (Delpech).

By David Thiselton

S’Manga Khumalo’s first visit to Durbanville for nine years looks in doubt after Snaith Racing took him off all six booked rides at the country course’s meeting on Wednesday.

This follows the former champion’s controversial defeat on the stable’s Captain Courteous in the Soccer 6 Maiden at Fairview on Friday. The 7-1 shot cruised to the front over a furlong out and went more than a length clear as Khumalo sat almost motionless, seemingly convinced he had the race in the bag.

But Luyolo Mxothwa on 2-1 favourite Seattle Light refused to concede defeat, kept driving away and got up on the line to score by a head leaving a stunned Khumalo in more trouble than the British Prime Minister.

Tellytrack commentator Alistair Cohen exclaimed: “Has Khumalo pulled off a howler? Oh my word, I think there is going to be drama.”

Khumalo faces a lengthy suspension unless he can come up with some extremely extenuating circumstances but it will come too late to affect his second championship which seems his for the taking. He went into yesterday’s Greyville meeting 25 clear of Anthony Delpech.

NHA Racing Control boss Arnold Hyde said: “An inquiry has been initiated but I don’t know what his (Khumalo’s) movements are so I can’t say whether it will be in Port Elizabeth or elsewhere.”

Khumalo now has only one ride at Durbanville – Like Janis for Ronnie Sheehan in the 1 000m handicap – and whether he considers the journey worth making for one mount must be doubtful. He has not ridden there since the 2006/07 season when he had one winner, two seconds and a third from ten rides.

By Michael Clower

A lottery best describes next Saturday’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July. The weights are muddling, add tough draws for some fancied runners and an even spread of money, this is a race for the fabled ‘Dream Lady’ of years past. Put simply, there are few if any no-hopers in the line-up.

The ante-post market generally points to horses with obvious chances but with 13 of the 18 runners quoted at odds of 20-1 and less it is an indication that even the bookmakers, with their pipeline to information, are clueless. At 66-1, Saratoga Dancer is the longest priced runner in the field so bookmakers are not even risking a brave punt.

Many will be banking on Anthony Delpech having chosen the “right one”. The four-time July winning jockey has had the pick of Justin Snaith’s strong quartet as well as Dean Kannemeyer’s pair of Solid Speed and Mambo Mime and has plumed for Snaith’s filly Bela-Bela.

Being the only grey in the field and favourite to boot, she will attract much of the ‘mug money’ so her tote odds may be misleading. That aside, she has done little wrong but she does face a difficult task from gate 3. She has the substantial presence of French Navy on her outside and Triple Crown winner Abashiri on her inside while apprentice Lyle Hewitson on Dynastic will not be taking any prisoners from his inside gate. Bela-Bela may well end up the meat in a sandwich when the gate is pulled, a position that could be exacerbated if the early pace dissolves and the race degenerates into a sprint for home.

Trying to marry Merit Ratings with a conditions ‘handicap’ will always throw up anomalies given the handicap ratings of any given season and they came to the fore this year. Sean Tarry, using Legal Eagle as king maker, manipulated the weights to help the chances of French Navy and in doing so there are only five runners starting off their correct handicap weight. A consequence is that all the sophomore colts, barring Triple Crown winner Abashiri, are lumped on 55,5kg.

Given the handicap ratings, excluding Abashiri, there should be 2,5kg between the top rated three-year-old males and those at the bottom, but one can pick holes in some conspiracy theories, many blown out of the water by Legal Eagle’s defection.

Justin Snaith ducked the Daily News 2000 with Black Arthur given that a win would boost his weight for the July but the Legal Eagle saga popped that balloon. Worryingly Black Arthur was boiling at the July gallops after a break of nearly two months and the move to skip the Daily News 2000 may have back-fired given that the balance of the field are racing fit. A wide draw will also have knocked some gloss off his chances but with multiple Hong Kong champion jockey Dougie Whyte flown in for the occasion he will have a vastly internationally experience pilot aboard.

Abashiri stalked the paddock like a well-oiled machine at the July gallops and was faultless in his work. However, Mike Azzie’s runner has had a long Highveld season culminating in a lung-bursting finish to the SA Derby.  Abashiri’s lofty handicap rating sees him shouldering a record 59kg for a three-year-old and after his Derby heroics he could find next Saturday a race too far.

So where does that leave us? Tarry has studied the charts, avoided the shoals and plotted a faultless course for top weight French Navy. He was doing his best work late in the recent Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge without being unduly punished. The race was over a distance short of his best and which every way you look at it; French Navy will be firing come the final two furlongs.

Mac De Lago was promoted to first in the Gold Challenge, but possibly confirming Weiho Marwing’s opinion that he may have been stretching his charge too far early in his career. That puts a question mark over the gelding’s ability to see out a genuine 2200m but Marwing has his charge superbly fit. “He has to be if he is to see it out,” he commented during the week.

So just how good are the three-year-olds? Bela-Bela has proved that she is top of her class in the filly’s division but she faces males for the first time and the only real pointer to her chances is Delpech’s decision to partner her ahead of some smart males.

Delpech was aboard Black Arthur in his July gallop so he will have a fairly sound idea as to where he stands and a swing in the betting either way could be telling.

Samurai Blade and Rocketball finished on top of Abashiri in the SA Derby and are now in receipt of 3,5kg. All indications are that Abashiri is a far superior galloper and should be giving 5,5kg if the ratings are correct, but I have my doubts.

Daily News 2000 winner Rabada – if he takes his place – and Samurai Blade are rated the equal of Black Arthur and that begs a question of Black Arthur’s rating given Snaith’s reluctance to run the colt in the Daily News.

Three that did run in the Daily News were Investec Derby winner It’s My Turn, Mambo Mime and Ten Gun Salute.

It’s My Turn strikes me as the best of the Snaith runners as he will not be stopping while both Mambo Mime and Ten Gun Salute were putting in their best with the Daily News all but over. Ten Gun Salute in particular will relish the extra furlong and with a plum draw at 9 could prove the pick of this trio.

Local pundits got their first view of Tekkie Town Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner Marinaresco at the July gallops. He is not the biggest specimen but has everything in the right place. He also gave the impression in his gallop that he does not like to be beaten having given his working companion plenty of start at the top of the straight before putting his ears back and fighting for the lead.

Mike Bass’s runner was impressive when winning a slow-run Winter Classic, showing an excellent turn of foot, and if predictions of a slow pace prove correct his 18 draw could turn into a blessing as Grant van Niekerk should be able to avoid the usual early scrimmaging.

Victory would also be fitting for Bass as this will be his final July before handing over the reins of his yard to his daughter Carol.

One can go on forever as every time one peruses the form, more questions arise. But in the final analysis French Navy has had a traditional prep. Ten Gun Salute, It’s My Turn and Marinaresco have impressed but I could be way off the mark – a lottery it remains!

Andrew Harrison

Latest ante-post betting on the R4.5million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday, July 2:

9-2 Bela-Bela, 11-2 Black Arthur, 6-1 French Navy, 15-2 Marinaresco, 9-1 Solid Speed, 10-1 Abashiri, 12-1 It’s My Turn, St Tropez, 16-1 Master Sabina, Mambo Mime, 20-1 Mac De Lago, Rabada, Ten Gun Salute, 25-1 Rocketball, The Conglomerate, 33-1 Dynamic, 40-1 Samurai Blade, 66-1 Saratoga Dancer.