Those looking for ante-post Vodacom Durban July value should think about getting on the Justin Snaith-trained Prince Of Wales and Elusive Silva before the running of Sunday’s Listed Sledgehammer Handicap over 1800m at Greyville on Sunday.
Elusive Silva (Liesl King)
Prince Of Wales, a four-year-old gelding by the top stallion Dynasty, will relish the 2200m of the July on pedigree. He appeared to take a while to reach top gear in his hard knocking Summer campaign in three 1800m races at Kenilworth. However, Snaith pointed out that horses are given a lot more speed work when being trained at Summerveld for the SA Champions Season. Going back in time to 2013, the Snaith-trained Jet Explorer arrived in Durban with a similar profile to Prince Of Wales and a similar racing style, yet he suddenly showed a blistering turn of foot when easily winning the Gr 2 Betting World 1900. Prince Of Wales is currently a best price 80/1 for the July and Snaith said, “His biggest asset is his soundness, he has never had an issue and is as hard as nails.”
Snaith appeared even more bullish about the four-year-old Silvano gelding Elusive Silva, who was an ultra-impressive winner of last season’s Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m. He turned it on effortlessly that day. Unfortunately, the tall, athletic horse “tweeked a leg”, while the jockey was celebrating on the line. This will be his first run since, but there has never been a reoccurrence of the injury and “all is good” for his comeback run. The booking of Anthony Delpech says it all and he has pole position draw. He is a best price 28/1 for the July.
Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)
Earlier, Zodiac Ruler has his first run as a gelding in an Allowance Plate for three-year-olds over 1400m. Snaith said, “He is doing very well, I couldn’t be happier, he is back to the form of last season (in which he won the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over this course and distance).”
Snaith runs Captain Al filly Esteemal in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and said, “She is a very nice filly, although she probably needs further and is up against some promising horses like the Vaughan Marshall-trained, Believethisbeauty. I will be disappointed if she doesn’t finish in the first three.”
He runs Ovidio and Krambambuli in the Highland Night Cup and admitted off their “Gr 1-like merit ratings” they are going to have it tough in the SA Champions Season staying races.
He has three runners in the Listed Scarlet Lady over 1800m and said, “They are all doing well, Nimo has a good draw, I have earmarked Francia as my Gold Cup filly and Qing is my each-way roughie for the day, she’s loving Durban and is flying.”
By David Thiselton
