MJ Byleveld went within a neck of winning last year’s Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and is ironically aboard the horse which beat him, Dynastic Power, in Friday night’s renewal at Greyville.
Byleveld’s mount from last year, Power King, famously went on to win the country’s premier race, the Vodacom Durban July, albeit with Stuart Randolph aboard, while Dynastic Power found himself in the Milnerton yard of Vaughan Marshall at the beginning of this season after the retirement of his former trainer Stan Elley.
Byleveld said Dynastic Power had come on from his SA Champions Season pipe opener at Scottsville and added, “He is doing very well, we’re very happy with him.”
The defending champion was drawn a tricky 12 last year and now has to overcome the widest draw of all in the 16 horse field.
However, Byleveld said the five-year-old Dynasty gelding, who appears to thrive at Summerveld, had enough pace to find a handy position from there.
Dynastic Power (Nkosi Hlophe)
Last time out, in the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, Byleveld sent Dynastic Power to the front due to the lack of pace and after relaxing well he stayed on bravely for a 0,2 length third.
A similarly slowly paced race would possibly suit him as it would prevent him from having to use up too much energy early from the wide draw.
In last year’s race he was caught two-wide in about sixth place, but did have some cover and found a strong finish.
Last year his 98 merit rating saw him near the top of the 99 to 95 band of merit ratings and having to carry only 54kg.
This year in a slightly weaker race overall he is off a 101 merit rating, which puts him near the bottom of the 104 to 100 band, and he has to carry 58kg. He is officially 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses in the race, who are all of Gold Onyx (107, 60kg), Halve The Deficit (103, 58kg), Master’s Eye (103, 58kg), Solid Speed (103, 58kg) and St Tropez (99, 56kg).
Contrary to most seasons, the 1900 turned out to be last year’s best July pointer as third-placed Punta Arenas went on to finish runner up to Power King in the big one.
By David Thiselton
