Same Jurisdiction, unlucky during the Highveld season, found her best form with a superb victory in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, giving Anton Marcus a well deserved Gr 1 double on the day.

It was a plan come together for Duncan Howells who had plotted this race from the day the daughter of Mambo In Seattle arrived back in the yard from Johannesburg.

“After her gallop on Tuesday I knew we would win. Donovan Dillon galloped her. I phoned Anton afterwards but he said don’t worry, Donovan has already phoned.”

From draw 14, Marcus rode a masterful race to have Same Jurisdiction on the paint in a matter of strides. She was towards the back of the field turning for home but Marcus slipped her through up the inside rail and she quickened away to win a superb race from recent Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Siren’s Call.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

In a desperately close finish to the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe, favourite Seventh Plain got up in the shadow of the post to deny outsider Brazuca and pacemaker Arabian Beat and give Dennis Drier his second Gr 1 victory of the afternoon.

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Earlier in Champions Season, Drier had saddled Seventh Plain to a comfortable victory in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville and on the strength of that run was sent out at relatively cramped odds in what looked to be a very competitive field.

And it was a close run thing. “There were some very ordinary thoughts going through my mind,” said winning jockey Anton Marcus. “I saw the other horses loom up and I thought I might run in the first three. But he dug down deep. This is a testament to this horse’s courage. He had the opportunity but he didn’t spit the dummy when he could have.”

Seventh Plain is a son of former Medallion winner Seventh Rock and like Seventh Rock, raced in the same silks. “This is an example of what racing is all about. This is the ultimate dream,” commented winning owner Marcus Jooste who is a major shareholder of Klawervlei Stud and who also bred Seventh Plain out of a National Emblem mare who Jooste owned in partnership.

Chestnuts ‘n Pearls (Nkosi Hlophe)

Chestnuts ‘N Pearls gave Drier his first Gr1 winner on the day and the legendary Horse Chestnut his first Gr 1 victory in South Africa when she ran out a fluent winner of the Gr1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper.

The temperamental Princess Royal, who had been backed in to favourite, led at the top of the straight and looked on course to land the odds but she emptied out over the final furlong as Chestnuts ‘N Pearls reeled her in. The blinkered Almashooqa chased gallantly but never looked like getting to the winner while Sapsan got going late under Piere Strydom to edge out Lauderdale who had been rushed from her outside gate and did well to hold onto fourth.

“She’s got electric speed out of the gate which makes your job quite easy,” said Cormack. “I fortunately found cover and she switched off completely. She is going to go further and she galloped all the way to the line.”

Chestnuts ’N Pearls is owned by Mark Currie, Mayesh Chetty and Jaap van de Vendel.

By Andrew Harrison

A capacity crowd of 55 000 held their collective breaths once again as the objection hooter sounded across Greyville Racecourse for the second consecutive year. It’s a race that every year throws up its fair share of drama and yesterday’s Vodacom Durban July was not different. The dreaded hooter sounded shortly after the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Power King (22-1) had roared to victory ahead of Punta Arenas (28-1), Tellina (25-1) with the closest of the fancied runners Futura (9-2) in fourth place. The quartet, with a pool of over R14 million, paid R82 000.

Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

With a wall of horses across the track as the field headed over the subway it was still anyone’s race with most of the field still in contention. However, Randolph threaded Power King through a gap up the centre and set sail for home. But once through the gap Power King shifted outwards hampering a number of horses including favourite Legal Eagle. Randolph managed to straighten his mount as fellow outsider Punta Arenas loomed up on the stand side. The two came together at about the 100 m mark and initial views were that Power King had interfered with Punta Arenas.

Jockey Ian Sturgeon was quickly into the steward’s room to view the patrol film and decided to lodge an objection on the grounds of interference in the later stages. However, a view of the head-on showed Power King holding a straight course and it was indeed Punta Arenas who shifted out bumping the winner.

Once hearing all the evidence and viewing the head-on video footage the stipendiary stewards quickly over ruled the objection.

“Anton opened a gap and I got a clear split up the middle. I managed to straighten the horse up for the line, when Ian’s (Sturgeon) horse ran into me and turned my back end sideways. My horse was much more inconvenienced than his.”

Coming out of the steward’s room the two jockeys shook hands.

This was Kannemeyer’s third July victory after Dynasty and Eyeofthetiger and Stuart Randolph’s first. Power King is owned by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.

Kannemeyer said he had been concerned but the right decision had been made. “When you win this race it’s always the perfect ride,” he quipped. “We are very happy and the gods were very kind.”

“This was Lady Laidlaw’s first ever visit to Durban and Greyville and it was a great way to introduce her.”

Post-race and a now composed Lady Laidlaw said, “I calmed myself down first and looked at the film and my friend said the other rider had made the mistake. But my boy outdid them all.”

“My heart did sink when I heard the hooter,” said Randolph. “But after I looked at the head-on I knew I was safe. The other horse bumped me twice.”

An emotional Stan Elley, who retires from training after 40 years at the end of the month, was bitterly disappointed but said it had been a fair decision. “I have no complaints. If you had offered me second place at 6 o’clock this morning I would have taken it with both hands.”

Geoff Woodruff expressed similar sentiments about third-placed Tellina. “If you had offered me third yesterday I would have taken it. It also showed that he deserved his place in the field. This was his ninth placing in group races.”

By Andrew Harrison

The Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes has attracted an ultra-strong field headed up by Same Jurisdiction who is full of class and is course and distance suited.

She has enjoyed a good preparation and the draw is the only concern. Alexis won the KRA Fillies Guineas in fine style and has been putting in fantastic work at home. Carry On Alice has landed a good draw and has gone close in a Gr 1 over course and distance before.

Hammie’s Hooker has drawn in pole and put up a likely career best run in this race last year, so has an outstanding chance. Smart Call is the dark horse because a change to hold up tactics paid dividends in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and she is affective over this trip too. Inara wasn’t herself in the Woolavington and probably didn’t stay, but has as good a winning chance as any of the above. Jet Belle is versatile and would not be a shock winner. Red Flame is classy and is unfortunate that her career coincides with such top female milers. Jet Aglow could earn on best form. They are selected in the order mentioned for this and all other races. The classy Seventh Plain has landed a plum draw in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and wasn’t stopping when winning the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m. Arabian Beat relaxes well and is full of class, so will be right there if overcoming the draw.

Lineker is a classy individual suited to this trip and well drawn. Muwaary impressed over 1300m last time and being a relaxed type should help him overcome a wide draw to some extent. Redcarpet Captain has unfortunately drawn wide as he has enjoyed a better preparation than he did for the Gold Medallion and should enjoy this trip.

Main Submission should be running on well and is the dark horse. Mogok Master’s last run can be ignored as he was badly hampered. He would prefer further but has a place chance if overcoming the draw. Beat The Retreat, Hip Hop Dancer and Never Settle make most appeal of the rest. The Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper does not have a vintage field and Princess Royal looks to be a good bet as one that has impressed in sprints and will relish the step up in trip. She is well drawn too. She has played up at the course before but behaved impeccably at the big Scottsville Sprint day.

Captain’s Song is unfortunately drawn wide but has class and with luck in running could be right there. Frosted Honey will relish the step up n trip and has some fair form. She has not had an ideal preparation but has been putting in exceptional work at home. Mella Maria should be running on strongly. Almashooqa ran around in the finish last time and could improve with blinkers but her formlines are suspect.

Ninefold improved in her work with pacifiers and could earn. Miracle Rising and Melliflora are improving types who could earn and Lauderdale could place too.

The tabGold 2200 could be won by the classy St. Tropez, who will enjoy the course and distance, and Ultimate Dollar, who has been working well, could follow him home. Dynamic, Mountain Master and Light The Lights could be next best. The SABC Gold Vase could be won by the big and classy staying type Wild Ash from Crime Victim, Heart Of A Lion, Solid Speed, Kolkata, J’s Outsider and Smart Mart. The Listed Canon Business Centre Handicap could be won by MLJet from Kochka, Bold Inspiration, Rampant Ice and Prince Of Orange.

The KZN Yearling Sale Million could be won by Hot August, who needed his last run and was bought and prepared especially for this race. Chosen Dash should be running on strongly. Natal was impressive on debut over 1000m, should appreciate the step up in trip and is well drawn.

Speedy Suzy has pace and from a good draw is a big runner if seeing out the trip. Royal Pleasure could overcome her draw with her gatespeed and is another who is a big runner if seeing out the trip. Var’s Dream will be running on strongly if seeing out the trip.

Master Sam, Trini’s Colateral, Shivering Sea, Cutting Edge, Just As I Said, Just Africa and Mayfair can’t be ignored in an open race.

Gumbi has some class and could win the first race from Firewood.

Resolution is primed for the second race and could beat Cathy Specific, Lertasha, Dashing Scarlet and Se Agabor. Rock Me Var could win the 10th from Bad Boy Buddy Boy, Mod Barley, Barborsa and Muscatt. Generalissimo could win the 11th from Equity Kicker, Triptique, Isphan and Belong To Me.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.

Dominic Zaki brings his Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat down from his Vaal base to run in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day and also has a big shout in the tenth race with Bad Boy Buddy Boy.

Zaki said about the Black Minnaloushe gelding Arabian Beat, “He’s doing very well, his prep went nicely. It’s just the draw (11) that’s a little bit of a worry, but besides that he’s a very classy individual.” Zaki had no concerns about him staying the trip and pointed out he was the type that switched off in the running. He confirmed that his last run in a Juvenile Plate over 1160m, in which he pulled 3,6 lengths clear despite giving the field weight, was merely a preparation for this race.

Zaki’s speedy three-year-old Captain Al gelding Bad Boy Buddy Boy comes off a front-running hattrick of 1000m wins and sneaks into the handicap with bottom weight in the Compendium Insurance Brokers MR 104 Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack. He said, “He’s drawn well with a low weight, he’s in hot form at the moment and he’s a big runner. I don’t think he will have a problem with the poly.”

He admitted his Jet Master filly Be Mine Tonight was an optimistic entry in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and felt that the draw was the only thing in her favour.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R 3.6 million.