Reigning National Champion Trainer Justin Snaith (Pictured) will be attempting to land a third Vodacom Durban July on Saturday, although his L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met winning Dynasty colt Futura has drifted out in recent days to 6/1 joint third-favourite with Betting World.

Futura & Sean Cormack (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith said, “Futura is all good, it’s like pressing buttons, it’s easy. Going into the race everything is going to plan, we’ve got a few days still to go, so everyday becomes more important the closer we get to the race, but extremely happy with him. I’m not worried about anybody else in the race. I think he’s going to run a big race.”

Asked on Futura’s merit rating of 120, Snaith said, “I think there’s no such thing in South Africa as a 120, but if you ever had to give a horse a 120 you’ve got to give it to Futura. I do think they were hard on Legal Eagle; 120 for winning a Gr 3 in Jo’burg in the off season, although I’m not saying he won’t come on in time. But Futura is spot on. He’s got a lot asked of him with 60kg, it has never been done, but that’s what I like to hear.”

Lineker (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith runs Lineker and Star Chestnut in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, and said, “My intention was not to bring two-year-olds to run in Gr 1s but these two have found themselves in the field. I haven’t pushed them, their races are bringing them on in a very nice way and I think they have nice futures. The jockeys are talking highly of Lineker, which is always a good sign. I’m not sure whether Star Chestnut is up to this level at this stage of his career. But, with their good draws, expect them in the money.”

Acrostar runs in one of the strongest Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Provinces in years. “Snaith said, “There’s depth in this race, it’s very strong, but with her pedigree we would be very happy with a Gr 1 top 3 here. Her previous three races were prep runs and she’s ready now.”

Star Chestnut (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith was “a bit disappointed” Dynamic was not in the July and said, “I think being a Gr 2 winner and some of those horses haven’t even won a feature race he should have got in. I think if he does run in the July he will be in the first three. He’s doing well at home and we expect a good run. It’s obviously a lot weaker than the July, so he will have a good chance, but I think there are some very smart three-year-olds in this race, like St. Tropez and Ultimate Dollar, and they certainly will be hard horses to beat. Ultimate Dollar is doing very well and at the weights there is not going to be a lot in it. Ultimate Dollar was very lame after he kicked the faulty gates (before being scratched from the Daily News 2000), but he’s come on since then, there’s been enough time. His gallop was very good going into this race, although obviously the starting gates are a concern. Krambambuli might be outgunned at this stage of his career, he is still very young and immature. He definitely didn’t stay in his last race over 2400m.”

He continued, “Arniston (R8) won a very good race last time, I thought he might be a little outgunned over 1400m at Scottsville, but he was quite impressive. He will love Greyville, this track is perfectly tailored for him, and I give him a place chance. But it’s a very competitive race, there are some smart individuals, so just hoping for a good race.

Muscatt (Nkosi Hlophe)

Muscatt (race 10) was given a bit too much of a penalty last time so I’m just taking some weight off him with a 4kg claimer. 1000m is a basic race to ride. Divan (Neethling) has been riding the horse everyday and has a lot of confidence in the horse and himself, so I hope for a good run here.

“Heartland is doing very well, I don’t train on poly, so this is their first time on the poly. Pedigree-wise Kingvoldt should suit the poly and action-wise Heartland should suit it. Obviously there are some very fast individuals but these are two quality horses and we’re just hoping for good races. We’re hoping Heartland is a miler, but on the poly they at least go fast. I just hope he comes out of the race well and we will then save him for the summer.”

By David Thiselton

Please note that Heartland and Krambambuli have subsequently been scratched

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

Frank Robinson has four runners on Vodacom Durban July day and sounded most bullish about Eddie Sweat and Emperor Niarchos.

Emperor Niarchos (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said, “Eddie Sweat (race 7) is slightly touched in the wind, he’s been like that for a while and beat Al Ciberano like that, but I think he is better over 1000m as well. I’ve targeted this race and kept him fresh for it, he is definitely a runner. He is drawn a bit wide but he always tucks in, he has to be covered up. I’m not worried about draws on the polytrack especially for horses that come from behind. He’s well and will run well.”

“Emperor Niarchos (race 1) is always a horse that showed so much, he probably needs to be gelded. But he comes out fresh and often wins a good race. If he just runs to his best he will be a big runner in this type of race, he ran in a MR 100 last time in Jo’burg and ran a good race, this is much lower and I think he’s a good place bet.”

“Sounds Positive (race 2) will also run a good race, she also runs well fresh, she is a filly I’ve battled with soundness but she is very sound at the moment. She may just need it but it’s not the strongest field and I think she is also a good place bet.”

“Great Rumpus (4^th) has been disappointing, but last time he was a little bit handy. He only runs on if we leave him alone in races and in the Highland Night Cup he ran on very well.  I’m just hoping over the extra trip he will have quite a long time to get into the race. He’s well and fit but he has just an outside chance. I’m not very confident with him.”

By David Thiselton

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

The racing industry has rallied around Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty, one of the characters of the game who has fallen ill, and his positive approach when appearing on his Winning Ways show on Monday night drew much admiration.

He will also be viewing Vodacom Durban July day positively, despite both of his runners on the day not being in very good places.

Jay Power (Nkosi Hlophe)

The yard’s Gr 3 tabGold 2200 entry Double Clutch pulled a hip joint in the Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby when jumping from the gate awkwardly and he was likely to be scratched.

Jay Power is a talented stayer being tried over 3000m in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase, but the yard believe that this breathing issues could well be his undoing.

Run Rhino Run contests the Listed Canon Business Centre Handicap over 1600m, but having ended up in front against instructions in his last two this horse now believes “oiling it” from the off is the idea. He consequently over raced badly in Sundays KZN Breeders Million Mile. He might still run on Saturday, but is going to have to learn to settle.

A golf day is being staged today to raise funds for Lafferty’s medical treatment and his close friend Phil Georgiou said, “We would love it if people could pledge to the cause anytime.”

It is a pity that Double Clutch will not be running and winning on July day as Paul Lafferty has likely already drawn inspiration from this “miracle horse’s” fight back from serious illness into a July entry.

By David Thiselton.

Picture: Paul Lafferty

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

Mark Dixon has two lively chances on Vodacom Durban July day and the long wait between races one and twelve could be worthwhile.

He runs three-year-old Judpot gelding Gumbi in the first over 1400m on the polytrack from a fine draw of three under Keagan de Melo and said, “He has a very strong formline and he’s exceptionally well, this horse is still improving. Every race is competitive on July day but he has as good a chance as any. The poly 1400m is perfect for him.”

In the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m on the turf he runs Miesque’s Approval colt Master Sam from a draw of nine under Richard Fourie and he also has quite a strong formline. He said, “He does need gelding and I can’t help but think he is a bit better than his last run. The two horses that beat him there came out and finished second and fourth in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. He is a nice horse, but it’s a competitive field, he has a good place chance I think.” Dixon believes Master Sam can put that last run behind him as they have freshened him up and he has been working very well.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Mark Dixon

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

South African-born Australian jockey Chad Schofield can fill in a blank missing on his father’s CV when he partner’s The Conglomerate in Saturday’s R3,5 million Gr 1 Vodacom Durban July for Joey Ramsden. The KRA Guineas winner was yesterday quoted at 25-1 for the big race.

Ramsden said it was becoming increasingly difficult to find lightweight jockeys and the connections had decided to begin looking around when no phone calls for the ride were forthcoming. He added they had considered a number of options on who to bring in, so the decision had not been made lightly.

“Chad comes highly recommended. They were impressed with him in the UK and he’s got a contract to ride in Hong Kong so he’s obviously got something. He seems to be a bit of a maverick and I like that in a jockey.”

Father Glyn Schofield was one of the country’s leading jockeys before immigrating to Australia where he followed brother-in-law Jeff Lloyd in 2007 and quickly established himself as a leading rider in Sydney. He had seven rides in the July but never managed a place.

Young Schofield’s first winner was in September 2010 at Newcastle and he claimed the Sydney Apprentices’ Premiership under the guidance of top former South African trainer, David Payne.

Schofield became the first rider in history to land both Sydney and Melbourne Apprentices’ Premierships and will joined the likes of Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman as a winner of the Melbourne Apprentices’ Premiership in just his second year.

The 21-year-old Schofield really burst onto the scene when partnering Shamus Award to win one of Australia’s most prestigious races, the Gr1 Sportingbet Cox Plate in 2013.

He has since won three other Gr1’s in Australia where he has ridden 271 winners but is no stranger to controversy. In his relentless drive to win he has copped some lengthy suspensions for careless and improper riding, two suspensions totalling 59 meetings last year, and also through injury.

Recently he has been riding for leading English trainer Ed Dunlop in England during the Australian winter and partnered the David Hayes-trained Criterion to fifth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. He is due to start a contract in Hong Kong in September.

Of the July, Schofield tweeted: “Can’t wait to ride in the country I grew up in.”

By David Thiselton

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