The Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic is one of the best weighted runners in the Gr 2 Post Merchants, which will be run over 1200m at Greyville next Friday night.

The former Gr 1 SA Nursery (1160m) and Gr 2 Investec Dingaans (1600m) winner has lost some of his speed and is probably better over extended distances these days, but he did record an excellent time over 1000m in his comeback from a 14 month layoff in January and in his penultimate start he finished a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m. He will be freshened up for this race and his class could carry him close from a fair draw of seven under Piere Strydom.

The weights for the race were set before the Gold Challenge, for which he received a four point raise, so he carries 56kg instead of the 58kg he should be carrying off his 107 merit rating.

His three-year-old stablemate Bichette was favourably drawn when running fourth in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and has landed another good draw here of six. The weight conditions favour fillies, as they receive a 2,5kg allowance, and she will be ridden by champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo.

The Charles Laird-trained Normanz has landed a plum draw of five and his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner under Anton Marcus. He is officially not very well treated at the weights, but won the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino (Tsogo Sun) Sprint last season and this can’t be considered as tough a task.

Aurum Pot’s defeat of Sheik’s Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint. Aurum Pot is drawn well in three and this speedy sort has to be considered from draw three for the in form Alec Laird yard.

In form Mike Azzie will be out to prove a point with Isphan, who was left out of the Tsogo Sun Sprint despite his 104 merit rating having been higher than one or two that were included. He ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaformm Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Willow Magic and Tevez. He is drawn fairly well in eight and championship chasing Gavin Lerena is aboard.

Daring Dave didn’t enjoy the best preparation going into the Tsogo Sun Sprint but ran a fair race. His trainer Justin Snaith won this race last year and he is drawn well over a suitable trip.

Brutal Force is drawn 13 but the early pace and resolute finish of this strong horse could see him in the shake up. Nothing went right for him in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but otherwise he would likely have confirmed that he had improved with gelding.

Tevez is known for his exceptional turn of foot from off the pace, which makes him ideally suited to Greyville. He finished a 1,85 length fourth in this race last year with joint topweight, but this year is sole topweight and faces a better field, although he is drawn two as opposed to nine last year.

Moofeed is an ultra consistent type and this is an ideal trip. He has a tough draw of 14 but is capable of a strong late run.

Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and ran second in this race last year from pole position, but he is now four points higher in the merit ratings and drawn wide in 15.

Sheik’s Brashee remained on a 103 merit rating despite his Tsogo Sun run, but Scottsville is his best track and he has to contend with the widest draw of 16.

Royal Zulu Warrior won over course and distance in March in a Pinnacle Stakes event but has a harder task here in a handicap and he is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Showmetheway benefitted from a change to hold up tactics last season and ran third in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, so having run a two length sixth in this race last season he can’t be discounted despite being ten points higher in the merit ratings and drawn a tough 12.

Diamond King faces a tough task at the weights on official merit ratings but has never fulfilled his considerable potential and could surprise.

Equity Kicker is another who might prove better than his current merit rating suggests and he could also be a dark horse.

Royalsecuritypower is largely kept to 1000m these days but has won over course and distance before. He is drawn in pole but has never faced a field as strong as this before.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Willow Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap to be run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday provides a last gasp opportunity to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July and among the runners will be a previous July winner Heavy Metal as well as his two exciting Sean Tarry-trained stable companions Cagiva and Legal Eagle.

The July weights were set yesterday, meaning that the Jubilee winner and runner up could come into the race well handicapped on official merit rated terms.

Tarry said, “It’s a last chance to qualify Cagiva and Heavy Metal and they could come into the July brilliantly weighted. They are both doing very well. Cagiva has a few issues but I was very satisfied with his comeback races and think he might have been overlooked for the top 25 on the July log as he ran a two length third to Wylie Hall in the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes over 1800m. He has the draw and has Piere Strydom aboard and I think if he runs in the first two or three he could get into the July. Heavy Metal could be the fittest of the three horses and it is now up to him. He has done nothing wrong and ran a good time coming back. He is back in form and S’Manga knows him well. All three have big chances but we have left a little bit in the tank for Legal Eagle (who was an impressive winner of the Gr 1 SA Derby).”

Tarry said Gold Onyx had overraced on Saturday in the Cup Trial and then moved too early, so it was not at all his run. However, the run should have brought him on for the July.

He was very pleased with Halve The Deficit’s 2,15 length sixth in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. This horse will be interesting in the July receiving 5,5kg from Futura, who was only a length ahead of him on Saturday.

Tarry’s filly Tamaanee ran disappointingly the previous week in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 but was found to have lifted a shoe and the shoe was bent into her foot. That run can be ignored and on previous form she must be a runner in the July.

Meanwhile, the yard’s dual Gr 1 classic winner French Navy is doing well after his Daily News 2000 victory and clearly loves Greyville, so is another who could give Tarry a third July victory.

The yard’s star filly Siren’s Call ran way below par in the Daily News and will now deservedly be given a holiday. She went within a stride of landing the Triple Tiara and will be targeted at next season’s Cape Summer Of Champions Season.

Tarry’s top class sprint-miler Willow Magic ran a cracking second in Saturday’s Gold Challenge and is consequently well weighted for the Post Merchants, which is to be run on 19 June, as the weights were set before he was given a four point merit rated raise. Bichette, also a sprint-miler type, is also well weighted in the Post Merchants, because fillies receive a 2,5kg weight allowance. However, the Post Merchants field was announced 11 days in advance and Tarry is still monitoring Willow Magic to see whether he is ready to race again, while the draws for the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes could have a bearing on whether Bichette takes her place.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Legal Eagle

The Alyson Wright yard revealed that their champion gelding Kochka had pulled up sound after his fifth place finish in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m on Saturday, but his Vodacom Durban July dream was over for at least another year.

Kochka looked potentially well weighted on Saturday off a merit rating of 103 and produced his usual good turn of foot at the top of the straight. He joined the leader at the 150m mark but his stride was already beginning to shorten and his lack of an ideal preparation showed as he faded to be beaten three lengths.

The big four-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding, who won the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old, had been laid low by a virus at a crucial stage of the season and only returned to serious work at the beginning of May. The yard confirmed that it had just been too much of a rushed preparation and will now target him at the Listed Thukela Handicap over 1600m on July day. The handicapper has lowered him to a 101 merit rating after Saturday’s run, so he will be hard to beat in the Thukela.

By: David Thiselton 

Picture: Kochka (Nkosi Hlophe)

Scottsville’s low key eight race meeting today could reward punters who do their homework as it is not an easy card to analyse.

In the first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, the Lucky Houdalakis yard make a rare raid with Nephrite, who caught the eye when running a 2,5 length second on debut over 1200m at The Vaal to a highly touted horse. He is by Right Approach out of an Equalize mare, so should relish the step up in trip and he is drawn well in three. The connections will be hoping to not fall victim to another touted first-timer as the Mike de Kock yard run an interesting debutant  in Barbarian, who is by Silvano out of the Gr 2 November Handicap winner Alderry. The Sean Tarry-trained Grey’s A Rockin found one too good last time out over 1600m at Greyville and should be right there from a good draw of six. The Doug Campbell-trained Jack The Knife ran well in a strong race when first stepped up to this course and distance last time out and is drawn well. Shali by Bankable is an interesting first-timer.

The second race, a strong Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1400m, could be won by the De Kock-trained Gain Ground, who caught the eye on debut when green over this trip at Greyville. This Fort Wood filly has drawn well in three. Miracle Rising was an unlucky second in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m, when running on strongly after a slow start, and looks likely to appreciate the step up in trip. Swan Dance is also a runner as the form of her front-running 0,75 length second over course and distance last time out was franked over the weekend when the winner Flying Ice came out and beat a good field in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m at Greyville. However, this time she has a wide draw of ten to overcome. Killer Woman ran a good 2,5 length fourth on debut in the Flying Ice Scottsville race and is well drawn. Roy’s Dollar and Simla can’t be ignored either.

The third race, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, looks to be a punter’s nightmare. Roy’s Lily has done well in some fair races and could be the one to side with, although she does have a tough draw to contend with. Mullin’s Model has champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo aboard and if repeating her last run over course and distance could go close from a reasonable draw. Mocha Blitz ran on well for fourth on debut from a wide draw in the Mullin’s Model race and should improve, although she has another wide draw to contend with. Roy’s Angel ran well over course and distance last time from a good draw and could be a contender here despite a high draw. Amber’s Drift showed some pace on debut in that same race from the highest draw of all and is now drawn on the right side, so could feature despite needing further on pedigree. Better Than Ever by Dynasty found some support on debut but little went right for her and she finished last. She should improve and could be the surprise.

In the fourth race Blessed Release overcame a wide draw on debut to run a decent third and should go close over the same course and distance from a slightly less tougher draw of 12. Man Of Honour and Corker Stalker should both be runners here from good draws over suitable trips. Green Door, Ocean Pirate and Aguero could also earn.

Lady Cougar ran a good race over 1400 last time and the form has been franked, so from a good draw she could be a runner in the fifth race over 1200m with a light weight over 1200m. Kept Secret should be thereabouts from a good draw and Victory Takeover is interesting stepped down in trip from a good draw having won her maiden at this course over 1000m. Fade To Grey has only been raised two points for her last win so could follow up from a good draw over the same course and distance and Don’t Mention could also be involved.

Noble Star won well when stepped up in trip to 2400m last time out at The Vaal and could follow up over the same race off a four point higher mark in the sixth race. Jay Power choked up last time, but at best should be a runner. Maachaan could improve over this trip.

Dynastic looks to be going places and is the one to beat over a suitable 1400m in the seventh from pole position.

Whistling Duck could improve on turf in the last over 1600m under Anthony Delpech and could beat home Duchess Kate and Cape Grey.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Lucky Houdalakis

The Vodacom Durban July weights will be published today and the Gr 3 Cup Trial winner Punta Arenas has been the most unfavourably affected of the big race’s contestants after the handicapping changes made in the wake of Saturday’s big Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge meeting. The connections of Helderberg Blue have the most to smile about, although he is still a borderline cases just to make the final field.

Punta Arenas was raised three points for the win and is now merit rated 109, meaning he will be set to carry 54,5kg in the July. Helderberg Blue finished a 2,5 length fourth in the Cup Trial and has been lowered to 107, meaning he will carry 53,5kg and will be 4,5kg better off with the July favourite and topweight Futura for a 2,35 length defeat in the J&B Met. Dynamic was used as the line horse in the Cup Trial but carried 0,5kg overweight so has been raised one point to a merit rating of 101. However, this will not affect his July weight as the minimum weight for four-year-olds and older is 53kg.

Therefore Dynamic will be 2,5kg under sufferance in the big race. Helderberg Blue and Dynamic were both among the five horses just outside the top 20 of the last July log. Legislate’s scratching will provide an opening and they will also likely leapfrog Athina, who was in 20^th place on the last log before trailing in last in Saturday’s Cup Trial. However, this means that as things stand two top 20 July log incumbents will have to be dropped by the final field panellists to make places for Dynamic and Helderberg Blue in the final field of 18.

Futura, Halve The Deficit and No Worries, who finished fourth, sixth and ninth respectively in the Gold Challenge, remain on their merit ratings of 120, 109 and 111 respectively, meaning they will be set to carry weights of 60kg, 54,5kg and 55,5 kg respectively in the July. The Cup Trial’s King Of Pain was unsighted in the last July log and his 4,9 length eighth in Saturday’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge is unlikely to earn him a place in the final field. The handicapper has duly dropped him four points to 110.

The Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic was raised from 103 to 107 and third-placed Bezanova, who was a neck further back, was raised two points to 107. However, neither of them are July entries. The 1,4 length fifth-placed Night Trip was raised five points from 101 to 106, while last placed Ashton Park was lowered from 108 to 106, but neither of them are July entries either.

The other merit rating changes made in the Cup Trial were to the runner up Wild One, fifth-placed Kochka, seventh-placed Bold Inspiration and tenth-placed Whiteline Fever. Wild One, who was runner up in last year’s Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup and is on course for that race again, was raised one point to a merit rating of 100. Kochka was lowered two points to 101 and might be hard to beat in the Listed Thukela Handicap over 1600m on July day, which is his new target after being scratched from the big one yesterday. Bold Inspiration and Whiteline Fever were each lowered two points to merit ratings of 99 and 103 respectively.

By David Thiselton

Helderberg Blue (Liesl King)