Cape Trainer Stan Elley will have a final tilt at the Vodacom Durban July before retiring at the end of the season and is likely to be double-handed as Saturday’s Gr 3 Cup Trial winner Punta Arenas and his Gr 2 Betting World winner Dynastic Power are both still on course for the big race.

Punta Arenas pulled up well after his flying finish in the Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday under Ian Sturgeon, but Dynastic Power’s well below par effort in the same race was explained by him pulling up lame on one hindleg.

Elley said, “Puntas was hundred percent sound next morning but Dynastic Power had an issue with his stifle and I have no doubt it affected his performance. But I expect it to respond well to treatment and he will be back in full work in a day or two.”

Elley has a good record in the July. Small yards to have gained a place in the big race can be counted on one hand this century, yet Elley has done it twice. His Badger Land colt Red Badge ran third in both 2003 and 2004.

Passionate racing men Mike Fullard and James Drew were shareholders in Red Badge and own Punta Arenas in partnership with Butch Watson-Smith. Punta Arenas has already had two attempts at the July, finishing a 5,75 length 12^th in 2013 and a 3,85 length 8^th last year. This year there will be no biting of fingernails for the connections before the final field announcement and draw ceremony on June 23 as the six-year-old Silvano gelding’s win on Saturday secured him a place. However, they will be hoping their beloved galloper finally lands a good big race draw. He was drawn 17 and 13 in his first two July runs, while his respective third and fifth-placed finishes in the J&B Met were achieved from draws of 13 and 11.

Watson-Smith is also a shareholder in Dynastic Power together with John Kinsley, Braam van Huyssteen and Okkie Schoeman. The strapping four-year-old Dynasty gelding moved up powerfully around the final turn in the Betting World 1900 on May 15 before staying on strongly to win by a neck from Power King with Punta Arenas a further 1,25 lengths back in third. He was poised to strike from second place in the Cup Trial on Saturday but found nothing and finished 12,8 lengths back. However, Betting World 1900 winners are usually automatic July qualifiers. Dynastic Power’s other career Graded Stakes victory was in the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m at Kenilworth, so he will have no problem staying the July 2200 trip.

Greg Cheyne, who won the July in 2009 on Big City Life, looks likely to remain aboard Dynastic Power and Ian Sturgeon, who finished second on Sushisan in the 2006 July, will continue his productive partnership with Punta Arenas.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dynastic Power (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Highveld’s sand season has begun and there is an interesting nine race card today.

The meeting begins with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m. Magic ran an improved race last time over course and distance and has landed a favourable draw of ten as far as trends go. Justash is one-one in meetings with Magic over course and distance and has the eyecatching booking of Gavin Lerena  aboard, but he does have 2,5 lengths to make up from their last meeting. Fidelio has pace and is open to improvement but he is drawn one which is usually the unfavourable side. Corné Spies has a first-timer by Fort Wod, whose progeny love the sand, and one of his half-sisters Societi won on debut as a young two-year-old so there he could have some precocious speed. Another interesting first-timer is the St. John Gray-trained Jam Donut, who is by Jam Alley out of a mare, Sandy Beach, who loved the Vaal sand and was effective from1200-1450m.

The second is a Maiden Plate over 1000m and here Blue Tractor is an interesting runner. He hails from Cape Town where he wasn’t disgraced in some typically strong Kenilworth maiden races and he is by Rebel King meaning he should love the sand. Gaisce Gold showed a lot of pace last time over course and distance after a long rest and was blowing heavily after fading out, but the run would have brought him on plenty and he has a plum draw. His stablemate Victory Silks was only run out of it late over 1200m last time out and could also earn. Winter Soldier shows pace on the turf and on this surface could keep going, although he has an unfavourable low draw. Victories Folly and Commentator are two others who could surprise in this weak race.

The third is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1450m. Madam Alexis has shown some pace before on turf and on pedigree should enjoy the sand so could win this from a good draw under champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo. Attract The Crowd goes well for Ian Sturgeon and from a wide draw should be running on again. Eastside could overcome her wide draw with her early pace and under Lerena has a chance in a weak field. Her stablemate Hazel Nut showed pace at Durbanville, but usually made breathing noises, so might need it after an eight month layoff, although her ability could carry her to a place from a good draw. Buddy’s Falcon’s best run was over course and distance so she could also feature.

The fourth sees some good horses turning out in a Conditions Plate over 1600m. Form Up was not striding out last time but will be a big runner from a good draw if bouncing back. The Royal Rumba is an improving sort who has taken well to sand and is carrying a low weight from a good draw over a suitable trip, so should also be right there. All The Bids can hardly be separated from The Royal Rumba according to the form of their last meeting and should make a bold bid from pole position on a surface he loves. Captain Haddock has won twice over this distance so is interesting stepped up to it on the sand, which he has taken well to. Lavender Landscape won over course and distance last time despite being slow away and stumbling at the start. Uncle Tommy would win this if at his best but a concern is that in his last two starts he has finished lame and not striding out respectively. Iwo Jima is interesting in his third run after gelding and his first try on the sand.

The fifth is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Nero could be the one to side with despite a wide draw, as he has run some fine races over course and distance. Fort Navidad should relish the step up in trip and should be involved. Lord Windsor won well in his first start on the sand over course and distance when under sufferance so could feature here again for an in form stable. Let’s Go West should take to the sand well on pedigree and should be considered. Dakiwe was very slow away last time and on best form could be a player from a good draw.

The sixth is a MR 80 Handicap over 1200m. River Trip has some good form over course and distance and should settle better than he has been lately in the good hands of Gavin Lerena. Roman Carnival has taken to the sand like a duck to water and if taking his place has a chance again here. On The Nod is interesting on his sand debut, as he should take to it on pedigree, although the question is whether he will have enough pace to be handy from his pole position draw.

Qawaasem is a classy, improving sort and can overcome a two point raise to win the seventh, a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Lady Casey has a batter draw this time and is 1kg better off for a 0,75 length beating by Qawaasem so could reverse the form. Captain’s Diva could also earn.

The last is a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Portrait has a good sand pedigree and was unlucky on the turf over this trip last time so should go close from a nice draw. The pacey Jet Trip should be involved as she has a good sand pedigree and is drawn in pole. Joyful Spirit has been showing pace without finding extra in the closing stages on turf and this should see her taking well to the sand.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Championship chasing Gavin Lerena rides a few with good winning chances at the Vaal today.

Saturday’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner and reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate will not defend his Vodacom Durban July crown, but might well still take part in one or two Champions Season Gr1s. The brilliant Justin Snaith-trained four-year-old Dynasty colt will be nominated for both the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and the Gr 1 Champions Cup, which are both to be run at Greyville, on July 17 and July 25 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Snaith’s ruling July favourite Futura is “very much” on track for the big race and so is Saturday’s Gr 3 Cup Trial third-placed Dynamic.

The yard have pulled Legislate out of the July in his “best interests.” They had ruled him a doubtful starter at the beginning of May, as he expended a lot of energy after his scratching at the start of the Drill Hall Stakes on May 2, and the feeling at the time was that a tilt at both the Gold Challenge and the July would be too much to ask of him, especially as he would be asked to carry a big weight in the July. The yard have stuck to their guns despite Legislate having won Saturday’s Gold Challenge, which was always his chief Champions Season target.

Futura, winner of both the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met, flew from last place in the Gold Challenge over 1600m on Saturday to finish 1,15 lengths back in fourth, while Dynamic likely boked his place in the July by staying on strongly for a 1,75 length third in Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Jonathon Snaith said, “Futura has pulled up like a lion and Dynamic also pulled up well. I think Dynamic is a massive runner in the July with around 53kg on his back with Richard Fourie riding. He has run very well in three feature races in KZN, all from wide draws. After his Met run he was found to be sick with the same virus that affected Legislate. Bar that run his form has been unbelievable. He is a huge runner.”

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Justin Snaith and Legislate (Snaith Racing)

Captain Chaos gave Ronnie Sheehan one of his biggest wins for a long time when striding away from the opposition in the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Kenilworth yesterday and, what is more, the veteran trainer reckons there is more to come.

Grant van Niekerk sent the 9-1 shot to the front a furlong out and his mount strode away to beat the strong-finishing 33-1 chance The Stone Thrower by three and a half lengths with the winning jockey punching the air in delight. Van Niekerk said: “This is a good horse, he quickens well and he was taking on what are probably the best two-year-olds in the Cape at the moment.”

Sheehan added: “I have never had a Captain Al before and I am over the moon. He is a top horse and when he goes over 1 600m he will be even better.”

The disappointment of the race was Tar Heel who started at 13-20 and managed only fourth with Anton Marcus reporting: “”Obviously he wasn’t the same horse as last time.”

Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith followed up Legislate’s great win by taking the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery with Petala, leaving Chris Snaith to reflect on what might have been had that devastating virus not struck at the height of the summer season. He said: “It was a terrible virus and it affected all the horses although the two-year-olds recovered faster than the others.

“Training is a juggling act. You try to keep as many balls in the air at the same time as you possibly can but when you drop the whole lot it’s very hard to start again.”

Riaan van Reenen was talking about balls of a different kind when Red Rex slammed his head against the wall of his racecourse stable a month ago – “I said that they had to come off. He knocked his face against the wall so aggressively that he knocked teeth out. It was horrible to see.”

Seemingly the operation worked a treat because Morne Winnaar was able to deliver him with a strong run to lead just inside the last 100m of the Soccer 6 Maiden and spring a 20-1 surprise. Van Reenen added: “He’s got a skew leg and one cloudy eye that means he can’t see properly but he will win more races.”

Stan Elley is still puzzling over the disappointing run of Betting World 1900 winner Dynastic Power in Saturday’s Cup Trial won by stable companion Punta Arenas. Dynastic Power was backed from 7-1 to 11-2 but finished with only one behind him.

Elley said: “He was 100% sound this morning (Sunday). He did have a foot abscess between the 1900 and this run and, while that should not have accounted for it, he was on antibiotics for four or five days and that may have left an effect.”

Robert Khathi travelled to Nairobi to renew his successful association with the David Southey–bred Happy Times. The Casey Tibbs filly started long odds-on for the Kenya St Leger and won easily. Khathi had already ridden her to victory in the Kenya Derby, Oaks and Fillies Guineas. He is convinced she would have won all five classics had she not been reluctant to load in the Guineas and been withdrawn by the starter.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Ronnie Sheehan and Captain Chaos (with Grant van Niekerk up) – Equine Edge