Geoff Woodruff’s Vodacom Durban July runner Tellina travelled from Randjesfontein to Summerveld yesterday and is quietly fancied by many for Saturday’s big race at Greyville.

“He’s been doing very well, doing great work at home, we’ve got a ticket and we’ll give it a bash.” The five-year-old Silvano gelding’s big race jockey Johnny Geroudis, who won the July on Teal in 1995, has galloped him a couple of times and was “very happy”. Woodruff agreed that at the weights Tellina had a chance, and hoped to get “a bit of luck in the running, unlike last year.” He felt Tellina was in even better shape now than he was for last year’s July, in which he finished a 1,85 length fourth. That is an interesting comments as he raced off a merit rating of 110 and carried a weight of 58kg last year, as opposed to 108 and 54kg this year. He added, “He’s definitely improved with the gelding, he’s much freer.”

He was gelded before finishing fifth in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and fourth in the J&B Met. He is 4,5kg better off for a 3,1 length beating by Futura in the Met and this is why many rate him the best value horse in the race at odds of 25/1.

Woodruff regarded July favourite Legal Eagle’s win in the Gr 3 Jubilee over 1800m, in which he gave his own Killua Castle 1kg and a 5,1 length beating, as “a stunning run”. “They went a decent clip, carrying topweight like that as a three-year-old I thought it was super impressive. He actually surprised me by how well he won and there weren’t mugs behind him.” Woodruff regarded Legal Eagle as the one to beat, but added, “I don’t know how Anton (Marcus) is going to do 54kg.”

Woodruff runs the strapping Dylan Thomas filly Wild Ash in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase and said, “Her last run was just a come on run and she took it well. She’s nicely drawn and has a manageable weight, she’s quite useful and she will stay all day. I don’t consider her a filly, she’s a very masculine girl and she has a touch of class about her.” Woodruff “most definitely” gives her a winning chance. She has had the advantage of altitude training and was on the same float as Tellina yesterday. The Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup will be a consideration depending on how she goes here.

Killua Castle was also on yesterday’s float and will run in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200. Woodruff said, “He’s doing very well, he galloped with Tellina for the July gallop and they both galloped well. It’s a big weight but Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s a heavyweight jockey so he’s not carrying much dead weight. I certainly think he’s in with a shout. He hasn’t yet proved himself suited to Greyville, but in fairness he hasn’t been given much opportunity to.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: PA Leg 1 starts in race 3  – estimated pool R3.6 million.

Charles Laird will represent a famous dynasty in this year’s Vodacom Durban July. His charge Ice Machine put in a fine gallop under big race jockey Donovan Dillon on the top sand track at Summerveld yesterday in his final bit of work for Saturday’s prestigious event.

Laird said, “He’s come through his prep very well. Always the downside is that he missed his last race (the Gold Challenge). We’ve tried to make it up, I hope we have.”

Consequently, the classy six-year-old Silvano gelding put in the fastest piece of work at the July gallops and impressed all and sundry.

Ice Machine has a reputation as an unsound type but Laird confirmed that he was “very, very sound” at present and added, “He’s always been sound with me, people say he’s unsound but he was scratched that last time only because he stood on a stone at the course.”

Laird admitted there would always be a stamina doubt and said, “You’ve just got to ride him very quietly, he has a tremendous turn of foot and I said to Donovan try and ride him to place and see how we go.” Furthermore, training measures have been taken to counteract his apparent lack of stamina.

Laird said about his chief Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe (1400m) contender Main Submission, “He showed tremendous speed on debut, but I’ve always believed he is a miler plus. He’s very well, his prep’s gone good. It might be a little soon for him (this is only his second start), but I’m hoping not.” The Oracy colt has seen the Greyville turn, but only on the polytrack. He continued, “Red Hot Poker is an honest type, he’s drawn very wide and it’s not easy for him.”

Laird did not regard his Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper contender Ninefold’s unplaced run in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over the 1400m course and distance as disappointing at all and said, “She’s a very green filly and she got absolutely lost around the turn. We’ve put a pair of pacifiers on her, we took her to the Greyville course proper last Wednesday and she galloped very, very well. If she doesn’t get lost early on she’s a big runner.”

“Resolution (race 2) is doing very well, she’s going to stud, we’ve prepped her, she likes the course and distance, I think she will run very well.”

“Bold Inspiration (race 8), we would love a bit of rain, he’s very, very well. In his last start Stuart (Randolph) said while he was on the bit he was very, very happy, but he does feel the going, so I’ve put special shoes on him. If it’s not too hard I think he will run well.”

“Admiral’s Eye (race 9) has a very tough task and it’s her last start before going to stud.”

“Chosen Dash (12^th) is very well, I don’t know if his grass performance is as good as his poly (easy winner on poly on Sunday), but at Scottsville he definitely showed that the 1000m was far too short, he’s taken the race very well, drawn a little bit wide but you can expect him to be competitive.”

Charles’ grandfather Alec got the Durban July ball rolling by riding the winner in 1911, his legendary Great Uncle Syd Garret followed up by riding two July winners and training three, his equally famous Uncle Syd holds the record of seven July winners as a trainer, his cousin Alec trained London News to victory in 1996 and Charles himself trained Hunting Tower to win the race in 2007.

Charles’ father Russell was a top trainer in his own right and once labelled the Laird’s ‘The Sob Mob’, “When we win we cry, when we lose we smile.”

A victory for the six-year-old Silvano gelding Ice Machine will likely be particularly emotional this year.

He is owned by one of Durban’s most passionate racing couples, Roy and Gladys Meaker. The Meaker’s became involved in racing in the 1970s through trainer Sonny Whiteford’s daughter-in-law. It wasn’t long before they tasted the adrenalin rush of big race success and in the 1976/1977 season they won the Holiday Inns with Gigantic and the J&B Met with Bahadur. Their first experience of “July Fever” was with those two horses, who ran in the big race as three-year-olds in 1976, finishing fifth and seventh respectively at odds of 7/1 and 6/1.   Gigantic ran in four July’s in total, without ever placing. The Meaker’s other July runner has been Secret Rites, who finished 10^th as a 6/1shot in 1993.

Ice Machine is currently a 40/1 shot with Betting World, but if he stays he has the class to give the Meaker’s a first July place, or even a dream win. The day will coincide with their granddaughter Mia’s birthday and Roy’s birthday is on Sunday. Ice Machine’s biggest fan is likely the Meaker’s son Shawn, who is awaiting Saturday with more than just keen anticipation.

By David Thiselton

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

Champion trainer elect Sean Tarry has a Vodacom Durban July favourite for the first time this year in the exciting three-year-old colt Legal Eagle. However, the pressure is eased by the fact that he has not only won the July twice but has no fewer than five runners in the big race this year.

He said, “Legal Eagle’s prep has gone very well. I would have been happy if he had run a place in the Jubilee. Without being very hard on him he surprised me, not that he won but by the way that he won. I haven’t had to be overly hard on him. He had a lovely gallop last week Wednesday, he’s come through it well and won’t do much before he leaves on Thursday. Let’s just hope that he travels well.”

“French Navy’s preparation has gone smoothly, he’s handled the travel no problem, and everything at this stage is good. He’s a tough horse, he’s a big, burly horse, he copes with everything, takes it in his stride, he has a great temperament.” Tarry was not concerned about his weight and said, “54,5kg for a horse that’s won two classics is fair.”

“Halve The Deficit’s form is quite solid. If the two opposition horses to beat are Wylie Hall and Majmu (and obviously also respect for Futura) then, based on his meeting with them in the President’s Champions Challenge, at the weight turnabouts he should finish on top of them. He’s probably had a better prep for the July this year than he did last year and I think he’s in a better place. I think my two three-year-old males are better horses, but that’s not to say that he is without a chance. Piere (Strydom) will know what to do from that draw and he knows the horse well, he’s versatile, he can come from off them or he can go handy.”

“Gold Onyx’s last run was disappointing, obviously he over raced and was too handy carrying 60kg. He emptied out quicker than I would have hoped, but he rode him completely differently to how he is normally ridden. Obviously from the draw (18) he will just be dropped to the back and hope that he runs on. He quickens up well and comes from off them in most of these big races where they never go hard. They crawled in Cape Town and he still finished off well.”

Tamaanee was found to have a lifted shoe after her disappointing run in the Woolavington and it was bent into her foot so there were genuine excuses. Tarry also felt that being strange to the course had affected her.

He said, “Her last run has taken the shine off her completely. I thought her previous win In the Gerald Rosenberg was exceptional, she won in a very good time on the same day as Wylie Hall and Majmu over the same distance. The form is very good, there have been four winners from that race, and I wouldn’t discount her. She would have learnt a lot from her two visits to Greyville. She has a nice light weight and if she can race up handy I think there are a few positives that people seem to be overlooking.”

Tarry added that how the race unravelled was out of his hands. However, his prediction was that the pace would not be a slow one.

Carry On Alice will also be travelling down from Johannesburg for the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and Tarry said, “I’m not that confident of her over a mile, but if she got the mile as a two-year-old here, then if she’s going to get a mile anywhere it’s going to be at Greyville.

She had a wide draw in last year’s Thekwini and now she’s well drawn. Also her other two attempts at a mile weren’t bad. In the Majorca she ran a week after the Cape Flying, so that wasn’t ideal, and in Jo’burg it was her second run after a rest in the soft so that wasn’t ideal either. I can’t be as bullish over a mile, but I think she has plenty in her favour and is a massive runner.”

He continued, “Master Archer (race 1) has a bad draw, but good form. His last run can be ignored as he found trouble and was drawn 16. I think it’s an open race but he has a chance.”

“Kolkata (race 4) will bounce back. The change of season affects him, he’s had a few respiratory issues but I think we’re on top of them. He’s dropped nicely in the ratings, I think he will be there.”

“Escape Route (race 6), first time out he ran a place behind Redcarpet Captain coming from last. I think he is a horse who gets lost in his races and this Greyville 1400m may be a bit sharp for him, but we’re hoping that it’s a pointer for us for the Gr 1 mile on Gold Cup day. So, although we’re hoping he goes close here, we’re thinking more of it as a prep.”

“The Hangman (race 8) is in a good space, moving well, loves the course and distance. He’s in Jo’burg, he seems to enjoy the travelling, he could have an each way chance.”

“Rikitikitana (race 12), it’s a R1 million race and we managed to get him in at the last minute. It’s a tough race, he will be running on and we will be hoping for the best.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: BiPot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 2 – estimated pool R700,000.

Stan Elley has two chances of achieving an elusive win in the Vodacom Durban July before retiring at the end of this season and he is happy with both of his charges, Punta Arenas and Dynastic Power.

Interestingly, both of these horses are former winners of the Winter Derby over 2400m at Kenilworth. They have performed well over shorter too so the July trip of 2200m should be just about their optimum.

Punta Arenas has had a fine Champions Season. He finished third in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 before winning the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, both at Greyville under his July jockey Ian Sturgeon. Elley said about the evergreen six-year-old Silvano gelding, “He got his normal draw (19), I don’t expect anything else! But he thrives out here in KZN, he just loves it. Greyville is his best track, it’s not an ideal draw, but we’ve been there before and he knows how to do it from there. I think wherever you’re drawn in the July you need a bit of luck in running, we’re just going to have to get a little bit more lucky! When he’s well he really enjoys his work and he is enjoying it at the moment, he’s loving life, he’s just thriving.”

The four-year-old Dynasty gelding Dynastic Power won the Betting World 1900 under his July jockey Greg Cheyne and had genuine excuses for his poor run in the Cup Trial. Elley said, “He came out of that last race with a very sore stifle, which I reported to the stipes. I don’t know how it happened, but those injuries often happen when they jump out of the starting stalls. When we tried to flex that back leg he almost hit the roof, so it was significant.

“He was out of work for four or five days, but as such he had a harder gallop than most of them at the July gallops. I thought he worked very well, he went a good pace and he still finished it off. I think among the long shots he has as good a chance as any. He’s doing well, he’s spot on.

“There’s very little to choose between him and Power King, he’s beaten us at level weights, we’ve beaten him at level weights. Wherever the one is the other should be, and he’s 14/1 and we’re 75/1!”

Dynastic Power, as things stand, will jump from the same barrier position of 12 he had in the Betting World 1900.

Elley also runs the five-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding Big Cat from draw nine under Grant van Niekerk in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200. He said, “It’s a race we targeted last year and we got him in with bottom weight, but then he went wrong on the morning of the race. So we came with the same target this year and he’s in with bottom weight, although he’s 1kg under sufferance.

“I think it’s the trip he’s been looking for and I think he will run a big race. He’s a fit horse, he’s thriving. He’s spot on for the race, he did his final pace work this morning (Tuesday) and worked very nicely.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: BiPot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 2 – estimated pool R700,000.

Four-times Vodacom Durban July-winning trainer Mike de Kock runs the two-time Gr 1-winning three-year-old filly Majmu and the Gr 1 SA Oaks winner Pine Princess in the big one on Saturday and has a few other chances on the day.

Majmu missed her preparation run in Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 but she enjoys running fresh and was clearly well in herself and moving well at the July gallops last Thursday.

Jockey Anthony Delpech dismissed the suggestion that the number one draw was unfavourable in the July and said, “If you were drawn in pole position in a grand prix you would take it, it is the shortest way around. All I have to do is hold my position and I’m not sure why everybody says you have to rush a horse to do so from the number one draw, you don’t have to.” Delpech added that no race can be planned beforehand and it would be foolish to do so.

Accordingly, the legendary Michael “Muis” Roberts once said, “The first 50m of a race are in fact the most important”, as that is when a few split second decisions, including an early prediction of the pace, can potentially seal your fate. However, Majmu supporters will be confident. Delpech, who will be going for a record-breaking fifth July win, can find a good position from that draw. Majmu was staying on late in the President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein after appearing to hit a bit of a flat spot in the straight, so should stay the Greyville 2200.

Pine Princess will obviously have no problem with the trip and has been one of the most backed runners since the final field announcement.

De Kock said both of his charges has been doing “very well.”

He spoke about the rest of his runners, “Dashing Scarlet (race 2) is not an easy filly to train, she is capable of better than what she’s shown and is a filly that shouldn’t be left out. Ataab (race 3), I’m hoping she will enjoy the step up in trip, she’s capable but she’s quite high in the ratings and if she runs a place it will be a good run.”

He agreed that Smart Mart (race 4) was a big runner and said he was well. He will raid from Jo’burg, which in theory could be an advantage for a staying race due to the altitude training he has enjoyed.

De Kock fits blinkers to Almashooqa (race 5) as she had run around in the finish last time and he believes it cost her the race. He called her a “nice filly” and gave her a “big chance, “especially from the draw.” In the same race he has Captain’s Song, whom he described as a “very smart filly, but drawn very badly”, and Sharp Princess, “a nice filly, but probably wants a bit further.”

Muwaary’s (race 6) last run spoke volumes and De Kock also described him as a “smart horse, but badly drawn.”

He continued, “Trip To Rio (race 8) is drawn in the bush, first run after gelding, do well to run a place. Tiger Territory (race 10) has been freshened up a little bit and works well on the poly. Love To Sail (race 11), it’s probably a bit short for her, but she’s quite a nice filly.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: BiPot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 2 – estimated pool R700,000.