Justin Snaith watched all five of his Vodacom Durban July horses galloping from the trackside on Wednesday morning and was visibly impressed by the quality of the turf surface, which has a luscious covering of green grass.

He walked over to Hollywoodbets Greyville’s assistant track manager Kevin Searle who was standing nearby and offered his congratulations adding that this was the best he had ever seen the track for the July gallops.

Track manager Kurt Grunewald explained that during lockdown he and Kevin and their team had continued to maintain the track and were particularly meticulous about going into winter on the back of a strong conditioning and fertilizing program.

He explained that in summer regrowth is rapid so the track can recover quickly from a pounding.

However, he added due to one of the first proper winters KZN had experienced in a while regrowth at present was virtually down to zero.

Going in with a strong foundation has thus proved vital and the results were there to be seen yesterday. 

The recent gaps in the racing program have also helped.

Durban is also known for its relatively warm winter climate so the grass stays green unlike other parts of the province where it has quickly turned brown. 

There are only three more turf races before July day, the KZN Breeders Million Mile, the postponed Track & Ball Oaks and a Maiden event, all to be run this Sunday, so fans can look forward to good and fair racing on the big day.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry’s two Vodacom Durban July winners, Pomodoro and Heavy Metal, jumped off at odds of 28/1 and 16/1 respectively and this perhaps augurs well for this year’s race where he runs 20/1 shot Shango and 35/1 chance Tierra Del Fuego (Track & Ball odds).

Tarry’s pair could be viewed as two of the most unexposed horses in the field. 

Shango was still immature when winning the prestigious Grade 2 TAB/Betting World Dingaans going away in impressive style. The Captain Of All colt later had to miss the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas after a minor setback so did not have an ideal preparation for the Grade 1 SA Classic and at the time of the latter race the yard had a significant number of horses suffering from high temperatures. He duly ran below par but then proved he would stay the July trip by going close in the Grade 1 SA Derby. His next run was in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and Tarry said beforehand, “Shango is doing very well but I think this run will bring him on for the July. He does well in Durban and once there I expect to see him make good improvement.” He was duly left a touch flat-footed at the top of the straight before running on strongest of all for a 3,05 length fourth. His recent preparation was thus similar to Pomodoro’s 2012 July preparation. Pomodoro followed a dead-heat victory in the SA Derby with a staying on 4,75 length fifth in the Daily News before winning the July. On the downside for Shango the Daily News this year was run in a crawling 125.8 seconds compared to the 120.02 time of Pomodoro’s year in 2012. A further negative to the form is that Western Fort finished just 0,6 behind Shango in the SA Derby but was then beaten 17,75 lengths by Hawwaam in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge. However, the latter race was almost certainly not Western Fort’s run as he was asked to lead, whereas he had come from off the pace in the SA Derby.

On the other hand four-year-old Tierra Del Fuego’s run in the Champions Challenge makes him possibly one of the best value horses in the July.

Tarry said conservative tactics had been deliberately deployed in the Champions Challenge as it was the first time Tierra Del Fuego had been trying a middle distance trip. The long striding Skitt Skizzle colt ran on well from near the back of the field for a five length third. The Turffontein 2000m trip is tough and on that performance, especially considering he was running on all the way to the line, he should stay the Hollywoodbets Greyville 2200m. He finished just 1,50 lengths behind Soqrat in the Champions Challenge but is now 4kg better off with him in the July. Soqrat is quoted by Track & Ball as a 13/1 chance and Tierra Del Fuego is 22 points longer. 

Tierra Del Fuego jumps from draw eleven which is the draw, together with draw 8, which has produced the most July winners in the last 70 years.

Shango also has a good draw of seven.

Shango is known as a lazy work horse but stretched out nicely at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the July Gallops on Wednesday. Tarry said, as he had predicted, Shango was thriving in Durban.  

Tarry was also pleased with Tierra Del Fuego’s July gallop at Randjesfontein earlier in the week.

Gavin Lerena has ridden both horses often, including being aboard Tierra Del Fuego in the Champions Challenge and Shango in the SA Derby. 

However, his official riding weight is 57kg so he will be aboard Tierra Del Fuego, who carries 55kg off a 124 merit rating.

Lyle Hewitson, whose riding weight is 52kg, will be aboard Shango, who carries 53kg but off a 116 merit rating is officially 4kg under sufferance. Hewitson rode Shango in the latter’s first four career starts.

Tarry concluded by pointing out that Lerena felt Tierra Del Fuego had been worth slimming 2kg to ride. This horse does appear to be way to big a price in the July market and will be especially worth considering for a top six finish. Shango is a more realistic price and it should not be forgotten that he jumped at odds of 36/1 when winning the Dingaans.

By David Thiselton

The Vodacom Durban July gallops are not often a good pointer to the big race itself but if they were, then three horses could be included as roving bankers for the quartet this year, the Eric Sands-trained favourite Rainbow Bridge and the Justin Snaith-trained pair Bunker Hunt and Belgarion.

All three glided effortlessly down the Hollywoodbets Greyville straight yesterday morning displaying impressive actions and appear to be in mint condition.

Do It Again, who will be attempting to make history by winning the race for the third time in succession, was asked to do more than any of his Snaith-trained stable companions and also impressed with his big action. He recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the day so he would possibly be able to be included to make it a four horse boxed quartet, but there is still a lingering doubt about him being quite the same horse he was due to his overall form this season.

Of course it is never that easy for punters and in a race which is notoriously rough the applecart can easily be upset. 

Furthermore, one of the big guns, the Adam Marcus-trained Vardy, was not present and will do his gallop at Summerveld tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. together with his stablemate, last year’s third-placed Twist Of Fate.

Camphoratus was the first to gallop this morning. She has always had a lovely action when at her best and displayed it this morning. She finished sixth in the July last year and trainer Robbie Hill believes she will be even better this year.

Miyabi Gold has not given a moment’s trouble in her career despite not having a smooth action in front. Trainer Justin Snaith commented that the Silvano’s are strong-boned, so that might explain it. Her action can never be described as impressive but she looked full of well-being and being a Silvano she is likely better than she was last year when finishing fifth.

Sean Tarry’s horses can never be discounted and Shango, whom he said has always been a lazy work horse, strode out well. His stablemate Tierra Del Fuego completed his gallop earlier in the week at Randjesfontein and Tarry was pleased with that workout too.

Padre Pio was ridden by Ant Mgudlwa who was later officially booked for the ride by trainer Dennis Bosch. He did nothing wrong but has a tough task, being 4,5kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings.

Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat is also officially 4,5kg under sufferance and was beaten by Padre Pio in the recent Grade 1 Daily News 2000. However, trainer Eric Sands said he had not been comfortable in either of his starts at Hollywoodbets Greyville and had thus been fitted with a different type of noseband this morning. Sands said for the first time he had handled the track well and he certainly strode out well.

Silvano’s Pride is the likely pacemaker this year and trainer Justin Snaith said she only knew one way of running and that was to take a strong hold so the pace should be a good one this year. The strong bone of Silvano was evident in her as she strode solidly down the Hollywoodbets Greyville straight under Sereno Moodley, who will become the second member of the passionate Indian racing community to ride in the July after Ronald Singh. 

There will be a double for the community as Deanthan Moodley will become the first Indian to be head stipendiary steward on Vodacom Durban July day and he was also watching over the proceedings this morning.  

The Tony Rivalland-trained Tristful, who is first reserve, was the last to gallop and strode out well.

By David Thiselton

There were no surprises in the Vodacom Durban July final field announcement today but there would have been a few gasps around the country during the draw ceremony.

The July logs were adhered too and as expected the vacant three places in the top 18 following the scratchings of Hawwaam, Snapscan and Eyes Wide Open were filled by Cup Trial winner Capoeira, Jubilee Handicap winner Divine Odyssey and Track & Ball Derby runner up It’s My Turn. The two reserves are Tristful and Hero’s Honours.

The draw procedure started on draw 13 then went incrementally up to 18 and then went down to one and incrementally up to 12.

When Justin Snaith’s runners appeared four times in the first six draws some were wondering whether the cards had been shuffled.

His fancied runners Belgarion, Do It Again and Bunker Hunt landed draws 17, 18 and 14 respectively. His expected pacemaker Silvano’s Pride landed draw 15 and his other female runner Miyabi Gold landed draw 4, meaning all five of Snaith’s runners were drawn in the first ten draws.

Eric Sands’ pair, Golden Ducat and last year’s runner up Rainbow Bridge, also came out together in draw one and two respectively.

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Vardy drew nine. His stablemate Twist Of Fate, third last year, also drew well in barrier position six. 

The leading three-year-old Got The Greenlight was first out the box and drew thirteen. 

National champion trainer Sean Tarry’s pair Shango and Tierra Del Fuego drew positions seven and eleven respectively. 

Potential pacemaker Padre Pio drew well in three, meaning Silvano’s Pride out in 15 might have her work cut out to get to the front. 

Capoeira is also a potential pacemaker and drew in eight so there is a nice spread of draws among the potential frontrunners.

Mike De Kock, who like Snaith has won four July’s, has only one runner this year, Soqrat, and he drew nicely in five. 

Although, connections would probably prefer to be drawn close to the middle, history indicates that the draw is not of much significance in the July. 

By David Thiselton

The Gavin van Zyl-trained Track & Ball Derby winner Marchingontogether’s next race will be in the Grade 3 Gold Cup on August 29, so he will thus be avoiding the Vodacom Durban July consolation race, the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200.

The Pathfork gelding will be attempting to emulate the respective 2017 and 2018 feats of Hermoso Mundo and It’s My Turn by completing a hattrick of Grade 3 staying race victories in the Gold Cup.

Van Zyl said, “I would like to have him going in to the Gold Cup with fresh legs.”

He has no doubt the big horse will see out the 3200m trip.

Van Zyl has won the Grade 3 Gold Vase twice but has never won the Gold Cup.

His Grade 1 SA Derby winner Seal won the Gold Vase in 2012 and Heart Of A Lion won it for him in 2015.

Seal went on to run a gallant fourth in the Gold Cup, which was still a Grade 1 back then, carrying topweight.

Van Zyl admitted Seal still edged it in comparison to Marchingontogether before adding, “But Marchingontogether is a very, very good horse.” 

He said he had avoided the July this year with Marchingontogether as he felt he still had to prove himself at a lower level but he added that if winning the Gold Cup he would consider the July next year.

Marchingontogether was not given a merit rated raise for his Track & Ball Derby win, so the connections will be hoping It’s My Turn lines up in the Gold Cup. It’s My Turn remains on a 118 merit rating and Marchingontogether on 110, despite the former having received 1kg from the latter in Saturday and running a 1,1 length second. 

Meanwhile, the Van Zyl-trained Gabor, who was Equus Champion two-year-old filly last season, is being prepared for the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on Vodacom Durban July day.

The father and son team of Gavin and Gareth have won four Graded races this season and three other features between them.

Gareth scored his first Grade 1 victory two weekends ago when landing the Allan Robertson Championship with Vernichey. The latter also won the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes.

Gavin has won the Grade 3 races the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and the Track & Ball Derby with four-year-old Marchingontogether. 

Gavin has also won one Listed race and a Non-Black Type event and Gareth has won one Listed race.

It is ironic that Gareth’s star filly Vernichey is by Vercingetorix as the latter denied Gavin’s No Worries victory by a nostril in the 2013 running of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000, a race he had won with The Apache in 2011.

Nevertheless, the Voadacom Durban July is the race Gavin would most like to win in KZN followed by the Gold Cup, so he might achieve one of his major goals next month with Marchingontogether.  

-David Thiselton