Seventeen horses, including the two reserve runners for next Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July, were given little more than exercise gallops at Greyville this morning. The July gallops are a condition of entry and a large crowd turned out in some very balmy winter weather to watch their big race fancies in action. However, at this stage of their preparation most are fully wound up and not much can be read into the gallops although there were a few standouts.

Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)

Top weight Futura looked a picture in the paddock and although asked to do very little by big race rider Sean Cormack, he strode out beautifully and he looks fine tuned for next Saturday.

The Conglomerate was an enthusiastic worker on the poly and pulled Anton Marcus through nicely. The Aussie-bred colt has it all to do from 20 draw and apprentice Chad Schofield will be given a baptism of fire in what is often a rough race. However, Schofield will have two rides in preceding races to give him a feel for the track.

Mike de Kock’s two fillies, Majmu and Pine Princess, moved smoothly on the poly track and look in prime condition.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Bass sent out Helderbeg Blue in cheek pieces for the first time as the gelding can be something of a handful. “I sent him out for a walk in them yesterday and he seemed Ok so we will see how he goes in them today.” The gelding worked up nicely alongside companion Night Trip in what was a pleasing bit of work.

Ice Machine was one of the few runners to be given a good workout. Donovan Dillion, who has his first ride in the race, sent Charles Laird’s runner from the 1400 m mark and worked the last 400m in a solid 21.51 seconds.

Wylie Hall moved smoothly under his big race rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe without being asked to extend and Weiho Marwing was all smiles after the gallop.

The fastest 400m to finish time was set by Marwing’s reserve runner Mac De Lago who clocked 21.34 secs under Fayd’Herbe. He also set the quickest 800m to finish time with stable companion Fulcrum in tow.

By Andrew Harrison

Pictures

1. Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)
2. Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)
3. The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Justin Snaith yesterday dismissed suggestions that second favourite Futura will have problems staying the trip under 60kg in a true-run Vodacom Durban July.

He said: “I have no doubts whatsoever about the horse’s stamina. Indeed if he wasn’t so good that he is in the July he would be running in the Gold Cup.”

The doubts were raised by Sporting Post editor Karel Miedema in last week’s paper when he said: “If I had to take a guess from the pedigree, and also considering Futura’s efforts to date, I’d say he could have a problem with stamina in a true-run 2 200m July carrying top weight.”

Miedema, one of the most knowledgeable people in South African racing, also made the point that Futura’s 120 merit rating has been gained in a succession of slow run races, adding: “Horses just do not improve as much as Futura’s jump from 106 to 120 suggests.

“Last year’s July was the second slowest in the last 20 years, this year’s Queen’s Plate the slowest and this year’s Met the third slowest.”

Snaith also has doubts about the ratings but not just concerning Futura, saying: “The ratings of horses in this country are so elevated it’s frightening. The handicappers seem to think we produce champion after champion every year.

“But I don’t think Futura is the only badly handicapped horse in the race. Majmu, off 55k and giving a Derby winner a kilo, is a big ask – indeed just as much of a big ask as Futura with 60kg.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Futura (Nkosi Hlophe) 

See all the stars in action at the annual Vodacom Durban July gallops at Greyville from 07:00 on Thursday morning, June 25.

A condition or entry for South Africa’s premier horserace is participation in the July Gallops where the big race contenders will gallop on their own or with a companion for the public to view their action and state of well-being. The gallops will be timed and a commentary given of each performance with the performance times broadcast on course.

After the gallops a discussion panel will be held at the course featuring prominent racing personalities and to counter the early morning chill buns and hot coffee will be served free of charge for those attending.

For those unable to attend the gallops it will be televised live on Tellytrack DSTV 239 from 7am.

For those wishing to watch the gallops in more comfort, a special breakfast at R65 per head will be available in the Durban View Room on the morning.

Contact Gail on 031 3141780 for more information.

Picture: Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dennis Drier has a Vodacom Durban July day string of ten horses and two reserves and the master trainer is likely to turn them out in tip top condition.

His Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes contender Jet Aglow put is some decent work on the beach sand on Tuesday under stable jockey Sean Cormack and if repeating her best runs could be in the shake up, despite the race being packed with class. The yard were caught off guard by the blinkers sharpening her up so much in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermartzburg Sprint that she led them over a too sharp 1200m, before finishing a respectable fifth.

However, she then duly over raced in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m last time out and the blinkers have now been removed. She was an unlucky two length third in the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffe Empress Club Stakes over 1600m last season, when forced to go for home too early, and if repeating that sort of form could be a contender, although she does not have an easy draw of ten.

The jury are out on whether Drier’s  ultra impressive Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner Seventh Plain will stay the 1400m trip in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe, but they believe he will due to his very relaxed manner of running. He certainly wasn’t stopping at the line in the Medallion and from a plum draw of four he will be the horse to beat.

The yard are expecting their Horse Chestnut filly Chestnuts and Pearls to appreciate the step up in trip from 1200m to 1400m in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper. She was disadvantaged by a high draw in the Gr 1 Allan Roberston over 1200m at Scottsville last time, but will still have to show plenty of improvement to feature here, although there is always that possibility for two-year-olds. She is drawn well in seven.

The yard run Firewood in the first race on the poly over a suitable 1400m. They describe him as a “nice little horse who has to be competitive here.”  The form of his last race when a one length third to the promising Master James over 1600m on turf has worked out well and he could appreciate a return to the course and distance of his last win from a plum draw.

Their newly acquired stayer J’s Outsider had to come around horses from last in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m last time and didn’t go through with, but the yard said he had needed that run and had definitely improved since then. He won the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein before that so will appreciate the 3000m trip of the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase on July day and is well drawn in three. However, he is 4,5kg worse off for a 2,5 length beating of Heart Of A Lion from the Gold Bowl, so will have a tougher task and the latter also proved his liking for Greyville last time when running on well for third in the Lonsdale.

Drier runs Barbosa and Balkan in the tenth race, a MR 104 handicap over 1000m on the polytrack and the yard are bullish about the chances of Barbosa, despite him having to carry topweight. Assistant trainer Stuart Ferrie said, “He ran a cracker last time (sixth in the Tsogo Sun Sprint) and has a big shout. He likes to race handy and should enjoy the poly.”

Balkan doesn’t have it easy up against the boys in her second run after a layoff. However, she was raised only two points for her win over 1000m on J&B Met day and the form of that race has worked out well.

Drier runs Generalissimo, Triptique and Beckedorf in the Non-Black Type Ethekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly. Generalissimo put in some eyecatching work on the beach sand on Tuesday and should be spot on for this race.

He had to stand for an age in the stalls before the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, which blunted his normally excellent gate speed, and before that he won in facile fashion over this course and distance. He is now six points higher in the merit ratings, but is the yard elect and Cormack rides from a fair draw.

Triptique is an imposing and impressive individual and was a touch unlucky last time out over 1000m on the poly, which was his first outing since winning three Kenilworth 1200m events in succession.

Ian Sturgeon rides from a tricky draw, but despite being six points higher since his last win he is not fully exposed and has a definite chance. Beckedorf is ten points lower in the merit ratings after two below par runs in Cape Town, so is quite an interesting contender. This is his first outing since, but the yard describe him as a “nice horse who is fit and well.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)