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.

Derek Brugman has given his side of the Rabada saga after trainer Mike Azzie was forthright in saying he did not want to run the Vodacom Durban July contestant in this Sunday’s KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Azzie believes the three-year-old has a big chance in the July due to a preparation which has gone perfectly, on top of the horse’s obvious ability as a twice Gr 1 winner. He is also convinced Rabada will stay the trip.

He pointed out little had gone right for Rabada in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and yet he had still won the race.

Azzie’s bullishness will be dampened by running Rabada in the Million Mile, as he believes this will upset the horse’s July preparation and affect his chances of winning the big race.

However, Brugman, racing manager to champion owner Markus Jooste, said Rabada’s chief mission, from at least two months ago, had been the Million Mile. The July was always just going to be a bonus.

Brugman often applies the adage “keep yourself in the best company and your horses in the worst” and said this was a case in point.

He said Azzie, due to the excellent preparation Rabada had been enjoying, recently requested a diversion from the original plan and asked whether the Million Mile could be skipped. However, Brugman had simply made a decision to stick to the original plan.

He is not regarding the Million Mile as a foregone conclusion and recognises the tough task on paper Rabada has with the like of Malak El Moolook and Intergalactic, due to the structure of the weights.

However, as it is a limited race with a first prize of R625,000, he and the owners believe it an opportunity too good to miss, especially when considering Rabada still has his entire four-year-old career ahead of him.

Brugman said Rabada would be monitored after the Million Mile and a decision would then be made whether to run him in the July or not.

However, he added no rash decisions would be made and they would not run the horse in the July just for the sake of it.

Punters who backed Rabada after the final field announcement will get their money back if he is scratched.

Meanwhile, first reserve runner Trophy Wife did her compulsory July gallop at Randjesfontein earlier this week, but it was unfortunately not recorded and this was apparently due to a hitch with the camera.

David Thiselton

The Vodacom Durban July gallops were enjoyed by an enthusiastic crowd yesterday and all of the horses worked well.

The first pair out were French Navy and Samurai Blade and trainer Sean Tarry was pleased with both. Lyle Hewitson works Samurai Blade often and described his last two pieces of work as fantastic, adding yesterday’s work had been the best he had felt the horse.

The second favourite Black Arthur was next out and worked exceptionally well. He was clearly enjoying himself. Trainer Justin Snaith confirmed the horse had been a bit above himself, having not raced since winning the Canon Guineas in early May, so this should bring him spot on for the race.

Later, his stablemate and July favourite Bela-Bela strode out well and her lovely action included her usual rhythmic nodding of the head, an indication she was enjoying herself.

The other Snaith pair It’s My Turn and Dynamic were not asked to do a lot but pleased their respective big race riders Richard Fourie and Lyle Hewitson.

The Mike Bass-trained Marinaresco put up a tremendous gallop and showed just how well he can quicken.

Ten Gun Salute was another who quickened well and the gallop pleased trainer Duncan Howells.

The latter’s stablemate Saratoga Dancer also strode out well.

Solid Speed worked on the poly together with his Dean Kannemeyer-trained stablemate Mambo Mime and both did well, crossing the line as one.

Joey Ramsden’s aim was to show the public the well-being of his pair and them moving well and he felt both The Conglomerate on the poly and St. Tropez on the turf achieved that.

The Gavin can Zyl-trained Rocketball was a bit keen when the stable companion kept it at a crawl early on, but he stretched well in the straight and is looking in fine shape.

Abashiri showed his giant stride and was looking well. His Mike Azzie-trained stable companion Rabada cantered slowly at Summerveld, having been excused from the Greyville gallops as he runs on Sunday in the KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Mac De Lago worked on the poly and wasn’t asked to a lot but strode out well.

Reserve runner Deputy Jud was not asked to do a lot.

Master Sabina put in a good televised gallop on the Highveld with a companion.

In the ensuing panel discussion at Greyville yesterday Kevin Shea made Solid Speed and French Navy his best value bets, Garth Puller opted for Black Arthur and St. Tropez and Track and Ball bookmaker Pierrick Maujean selected Solid Speed and Mambo Mime.

However, the July beans indicate the race rests between Abashiri, Rabada and Mac De Lago.

David Thiselton

Andrew Fortune and the weighing room scale have fought a three decade long battle with the former champion jockey most often on the wrong end of exchanges and also officials.

The following epic saga of jockey versus scale will play out over the next two weeks after Sean Tarry declared Fortune on Samurai Blade for the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Fortune is most comfortable at the top end of the weights but he has shown in the past that given incentive he has the willpower to lay off the pasta and 55,5kg is within his capabilities – just!

Fortune’s booking could also be a master stroke by Tarry given that many pundits have expressed fears that there is no obvious pacemaker in the race. There is no finer judge of pace than Fortune and while he will make the most of his chances – there are no ‘gimme’s’ in Fortune’s resume –  he is likely to ride at a pace to suit his mount and quite possibly top weight and stable companion to Samurai Blade, French Navy.

Tarry’s stable jockey and champion elect S’manga Khumalo was widely expected to be aboard Trophy Wife after Weichong Marwing kept the ride on French Navy but there may still be more intrigue to unfold before Saturday week.

Tarry was no doubt expecting Trophy Wife to make the final cut and was outspoken in his criticism of the selection panel. “Not only was she beaten only two lengths by Met winner Smart Call at Turffontein in November, she was third behind the same horse in last season’s Woolavington and, more recently, won the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes – tell me how they can leave her out?”

Trophy Wife is first reserve so much could hang on how the Rabada saga plays out.

Mike Azzie made no bones at the function to announce the July field that he was unhappy in being forced to run the Gr1 Daily News winner in both the KwaZulu-Natal Million Mile this coming Sunday and the July. He may still get his way should Rabada contest Sunday’s race.

That would leave MJ Byleveld with a hard-luck story as he has been booked for Rabada in the July but it would open the way for Khumalo to partner Trophy Wife.

Adding fuel to the intrigue is that Anton Marcus, successful on Rabada in the Daily News, passed him over opting for the mount on the relatively unexposed St Tropez. Winner of the East Coast Derby in PE, he was a smart second to Solid Speed – beaten a neck – and ahead of Dynamic and The Conglomerate in the G2 Betting World 1900. The Betting World 1900 had somewhat lost its reputation as a July pointer until last year when Power King and Punta Arenas, second and third respectively, finished first and second in the July.

Piere Strydom was offered the ride on Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Mac De Lago by Weiho Marwing but because of prior commitments finds himself aboard The Conglomerate, winless this season but slowly finding his best form.

By all accounts current champion jockey Gavin Lerena’s stint in Hong Kong is all but over and he heads back to partner Geoff Woodruff’s runner Master Sabina.

Duncan Howells was pleasantly surprised that Saratoga Dancer made the field and was quick to book rising star Craig Zackey, a rider he mentored in his apprenticeship before his move to Gauteng.

Justin Snaith, with four runners in the race and three top flight jockeys in Anthony Delpech, Dougie Whyte and Richard Fourie, has placed huge faith in apprentice sensation Lyle Hewitson. Barely a year into his apprenticeship, Snaith has booked him for Dynamic and with his mount being drawn in pole, his mettle will be properly tested.

By Andrew Harrison