David Thiselton
JUSTIN SNAITH is going all out to equal the 108 year-old record of Fred Murray, the only trainer to have won four Durban July’s in succession, and has entered eleven runners in this year’s renewal which will be sponsored by Vodacom for the 20th time.
Murray won the race every year from 1910 to 1913 with four different horses including Nobleman, who was ridden by Hall Of Fame trainer Syd Laird’s father Alec Laird.
The famous race has attracted an entry of 54 this year and the strength in depth will ensure that its 122nd renewal is one of the strongest in its fabled history.
Six of Snaith’s entries are owned or part-owned by top Durban Businessman Nick Jonsson, including twice winner Do It Again, who will have a second crack at becoming the first horse to win the race three-times, L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, The Gatekeeper, Crown Towers, Sachdev and Silver Host.
The Gatekeeper is a full brother to Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate and has for a long time been one of Snaith’s chief July hopes this season. However, he is a slow maturing type, so the best is yet to be seen of him and he still has a bit to do to qualify.
Snaith regards Silver Host as one of the dark horses, although he would appreciate further than 2200m and was not as impressive as The Gatekeeper in today’s race course gallop.
Snaith’s five other entries are last year’s winner Belgarion, the star filly Captain’s Ransom, Hoedspruit, Doublemint and African Night Sky.
Captain’s Ransom is by speed influence Captain Al and her two Grade 1 wins have been over a mile. However, she is a half-sister to a Sir Percy gelding who has won over two miles on the all-weather in the UK.
Snaith will be going for a sixth VDJ win in total and he will thus be attempting to join the legendary Terrance Millard as the second-most prolific winner of the race behind seven-time winner Syd Laird.
Twice Vodacom Durban July winner and reigning national champion trainer Sean Tarry has eight entries but does not have a very strong hand. Cirillo is the highest rated among them but has a stamina doubt, so the most exciting of his entries are probably the progressive filly Seehaam, who will relish the step up in trip, and the classy three-year-old Flying Carpet, who was a fast finishing fourth in the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic.
The highest rated horse in the race is the Eric Sands-trained dual Met winner Rainbow Bridge on 134. Runner up two years ago, he carried topweight last year and ran the first 2000m in a quicker time than the Hollywoodbets Greyville course record for 2000m so he will have a fine chance if ridden more conservatively. His stablemate Golden Ducat ran a cracking fourth last year and is a lot better than his Met sixth place, a disappointing run which might have been the result of having had too hard a race when winning the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy. Both horses are owned by Mike Rattray, a nonagenarian who has had a lifelong ambition to win this race.
Four-time VDJ-winner Mike de Kock has two entries including the WSB SA Triple Crown hero Malmoos.
The Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara heroine, the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena is also among the entries.
Three-times VDJ-winner Dean Kannemeyer has three entries including the Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock and the Grade 3 Politician Stakes runner up Legitimate. Russian Rock is a son of 2012 VDJ winner Pomodoro and Legitimate is a son of Kannemeyer’s first July winner Dynasty. The latter got home from draw 20 out of 20 in 2003 ahead of the Mike Rattray-owned Yard-Arm and it is regarded as one of the race’s greatest performances. Dynasty has already produced two July winner, Legislate (2014) and Belgarion (2020).
Veteran Cape trainer Vaughan Marshall has two entries including Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Linebacker and the hard-knocking Grade 1 performer Rascallion.
Another top Cape three-year-old entered is the Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix-trained Kommetdieding, the unbeaten Grade 3 Politician Stakes winner. He is third favourite in the Hollywoodbets betting.
Last year’s runner up, the Joe Soma-trained Got The Greenlight, is also entered. He might come in well weighted and is the current second favourite behind Malmoos.
Leading Johannesburg trainer Paul Peter has tree entries including the darling of the SA turf and current Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.
Johan Janse van Vuuren has three entries including Second Base, who was placed in every leg of the WSB SA Triple Crown, and the progressive three-year-old Puerto Manzano.
Candice Bass-Robinson, the only lady to have ever won the VDJ (with Marinaresco in 2017) has entered Met third-placed Sovereign Spirit.
The Cape’s Adam Marcus has entered Princess Calla, third in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and fifth in the Met.
KZN have eight entries but all of them will need something of a miracle to qualify considering this year’s strength.
The Zietsman Oosthuizen-trained Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers winner Atyaab is the sole entry from the Eastern Cape.
