Objections on July day somehow seem to have the power to evoke fascination – or fear if you think you are going to lose – and there were shades of the 2014 Legislate-Wylie Hall controversy in the SABC Gold Vase.

Gold Cup next for Hermoso Mundo

Captain Splendid (61-10), trained by Legislate’s handler Justin Snaith, beat 32-10 favourite Hermoso Mundo from the stable of Wylie Hall’s trainer Weiho Marwing by a short head but only after drifting some six metres off a straight line into the runner-up – and this time it was the stipes who lodged the objection.

The interference looked minimal – but so was the winning margin – and Piere Strydom on Captain Splendid had his whip in his right (ie wrong) hand. He knew that if he put it down he would lose the race. The alternative, which he opted for split-second in the heat of battle, meant the boardroom.

But not only did he lose the race but he was suspended for ten days. Karl Zechner, on the promoted winner, complained: “I was hampered a lot. I had plenty of horse under me and I was just coming there when I was bumped.”

The pair are likely to meet again in the Gold Cup and Marwing fancies his chances of following up, saying: “My horse will be better over the extra distance and he is maturing into a nice sort.”

By Michael Clower

Candice Bass-Robinson achieved the notable feat of winning the country’s biggest race, the Vodacom Durban July, in her first season as a licensed trainer on Saturday with Marinaresco under a fine ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who landed his second July. Bass-Robinson became the first woman to train a July winner.

The little horse proved there is only one way for him to run and that is to be held up off the pace.

The win scored a remarkable fourth July victory for his top drawer sire Silvano. The Maine Chance Farms-based stallion landed a July trifecta two years ago and this year did the exacta. He also had the tie-fourth horse home and the all important sixth place finisher, Horizon, is out of his full sister. This unbelievable achievement saw Silvano securing a second National Sires Championship as he is well clear in the standings.

Marinaresco (Nkosi Hlophe)

Last year, Marinaresco just failed to get there after coming from last and the difference this year was he came from a touch closer and the pace was a touch quicker.

The race was the fourth fastest July since the distance was upped to 2200m in 1970.

The faster the race the truer the result and there can be little coincidence that Bass-Robinson’s father Mike Bass trained the winners of the fastest and third fastest 2200m Julys, they being Trademark in 2001 and Pocket Power, who dead-heated with Dancer’s Daughter in 2008.

Marinaresco carried the same colours as Pocket Power, those of prolific Cape Town owner Marsh Shirtliff. Back in 2008 Candice was assistant trainer to father Mike and another assistant back then was Robert Fayd’Herbe, who is still with the yard and has done a sterling job over the last two seasons looking after their Champions Season string at Summerveld. Robert is brother of jockey Bernard. Mike Bass, who retired at the end of last season, was present on course with his ever enthusiastic wife Carol as well as his son Mark, who plays an administrative role in the yard. Bernard dedicated the win to Mike. The Bass’s have now won a total of four Julys between them as they also did it with Dunford in 2005. Shirtliff’s long term partner in Marinaresco has been fellow big Cape Town owner Bryn Ressell. However, Freddie Green and Mike Bass himself had joined the partnership before last year’s July.

Fayd’Herbe dropped back and found the rail from the number eight draw and Marinaresco was able to stride out freely for most the journey due to the good fractions set up front by last year’s winning jockey Piere Strydom on It’s My Turn. Strydom had little option but to move to the front as he found himself three wide near the front at the first turn. Earlier, Krambambuli had crossed over to take it up from last year’s winner, The Conglomerate.

The Conglomerate had towed the pole position drawn favourite Al Sahem threw into a handy position. The second favourite Edict Of Nantes ran three horse widths away from the rail the whole way, but did at least have cover behind Brazuca.

Strydom won from the front in 1996 in tailwind conditions on London News and he cleverly slowed it up a fraction coming up the hill. Greg Cheyne switched outward on Krambambuli in response. S’Manga Khumalo on Al Sahem understandably switched outward at the same time and begun rousting his mount. However, with the advantage of hindsight, this move was probably unnecessary as The Conglomerate, whom he had sat behind the whole way, had been able to creep closer on the rail.

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Krambambuli matched a hard ridden It’s My Turn under the hands and when he was driven into the lead at the 200m mark an upset looked on the cards. The Sabine Plattner-owned Justin Snaith-trained horse had initially been the longest priced horse in the final field, but a flood of money saw him shortening into 16-1 at the off. Meanwhile, Fayd’Herbe had remained patient on the rail coming up the hill and he said later he had so much horse underneath him when swinging off the false rail he just needed to find a split. He found himself with plenty of space in the centre and then eyed a gap towards the inside, but not before Anthony Delpech had flashed across him on Nightingale eyeing a gap towards the outside. The gap towards the inside opened for Marinaresco when The Conglomerate began fading. Fayd’Herbe committed and the little bay pushed his head outward in that familiar head carriage style of his. He then swooped in devastating fashion to overtake Krambambuli, who had been unable to find extra. Towards the outside Al Sahem’s resolute finish and Edict Of Nantes late surge also carried them past Krambambuli, while Nightingale got up to share fourth with him. Horizon was right there too.

But, Marinaresco had done it by a head. Runner up Al Sahem had a gap close on him at the 300m mark which meant Khumalo had to wait for a moment before he could give his all. However, the only possible hard luck story was Edict Of Nantes. He initially had a dream run on the outside, but Marcus did not give his all, no doubt needing to reserve a little due to the taxing wide path the horse had travelled in the running. However, just when it was time to produce the final burst Nightingale hung across away from the whip and Edict Of Nantes was cramped for room. He did still manage to produce a magnificent late surge to be beaten only 0,35 lengths into third, but the race was already lost.

Bass-Robinson also trains Nightingale and Horizon, beaten 0,4 and 0,65 lengths into tie-fourth and sixth. In a July sideshow, Horizon’s beating of seventh-placed Black Arthur by half-a-length would have proved a point. Marinaresco was bred by Mary and Jessica Slack’s Mauritzfontein Stud. It was a great day’s racing, one which left punters and partygoers wishing it could be repeated next weekend. However, they will all have to wait for another year for the country’s biggest horseracing event.

By David Thiselton

Candice Bass-Robinson is the first to admit that she took her eye off the ball when she staked her place in racing history as the first woman to train the winner of the Vodacom Durban July.

“I was watching Nightingale (equal fourth) and Horizon (sixth) as Marinaresco looked to be out of it,” she admitted on the winners’ podium at Greyville on Saturday, “and I didn’t even know I had won the race.”

She might be Mike Bass’s daughter but she has still had a phenomenal first season – more than 80 winners including the Majorca and a CTS $500 000 – and now the greatest prize of all.

Marinaresco & Mrs Robinson (Nkosi Hlophe)

“She has been producing the goods time and time again. It just shows when it’s in your blood,” declared a full-of-admiration Bernard Fayd-Herbe while Mrs Robinson was quick to pay tribute to his younger brother – “Robert has been looking after the horses in Durban and he had all these three spot on.”

A repeat of the Champions Cup that Marinaresco won last year would seem the obvious target but apparently it is unlikely. “I don’t know that he needs to run in that again,” said his trainer. “We will see how he comes out of this.”

One of the principal reasons for her reservation is that Marsh Shirtliff and his fellow owners still have rich overseas prizes on their agenda. The gallant little Mauritzfontein-bred Silvano would now be in the States had Derek Brugman’s initiative met with more support earlier in the year and, if more recent arrangements had gone to plan, he would be arriving at the Kenilworth quarantine station by the time you read this.

Shirtliff explained: “They couldn’t get the vector process set up in time and now it’s too late. I would still like to send him overseas but it will be next year now.”

Marinaresco, a 17-1 chance, was only the second horse to win with top weight since El Picha in 2000. The other was Pocket Power in 2008, sporting the Shirtliff colours and also ridden by Tiger Wright’s grandson.

The early pace looked horribly slow but they then turned up the wick to such an extent that the time of 2 min 12.51 sec was the fastest since that famous Pocket Power- Dancer’s Daughter dead-heat. But the race was a rough as heavyweight title fight.

Saratoga Dancer, Ten Gun Salute, Safe Harbour all suffered interference – the latter pair three times – while Safe Harbour’s rider Nooresh Juglall and Aldo Domeyer (Krambambuli) were both given suspensions for not keeping straight. S’Manga Khumalo, who went so close on 4-1 favourite Al Sahem, was fined for using his whip with excessive frequency in the last, desperate 150m.

He was only beaten a head and Edict Of Nantes pretty much confirmed the Daily News form by taking third, a quarter of a length back. But a bitterly disappointed Brett Crawford reported: “They didn’t go that hard and he was a bit flat-footed, only getting into the race in the last 75m. I had expected a bit more than that. There is now the possibility of the Champions Cup. I will discuss it with Derek.”

By Michael Clower

Jockey great Basil Marcus would likely be the favourite for the accolade “Best jockey to have never won The July” and the horse he finished second on thirty years ago, the Paddy Lunn-trained Model Man, would be a strong contender for the title “The greatest July run to have not earned the winner’s sash.”

Marcus said, “To think the top three-year-old of that 1987 year, Bush Telegraph, who was unbeaten in eight previous starts, including the South African 2000 (Daily News 2000), only had to carry 49kg, compared to Model Man’s 57kg, shows just how great a run it was. Then in the race he was hampered at the start and ended up a long way off the pace. I had to build him up gently to make up the ground.”

In the straight, the great horse was soon eating up the ground with that enormous stride of his. However, Bush Telegraph had stolen too much ground when displaying a blistering turn of foot at the top of the straight and Model Man failed by 1,25 lengths to catch him.

“Two strides past the line he was in front,” recalled Marcus, and even after all of these years his voice tails off in disappointment.

Marcus revealed his fancies for this year’s race, first Edict Of Nantes, second Al Sahem and third Black Arthur.

He said, “Those two three-year-olds are progressive and Black Arthur has come back to his best.”

By David Thiselton

Vodacom Durban July day tomorrow has a guaranteed Pick 6 pool of R10 million and it is expected to reach over R11 million, so this is a bet many punters will not want to miss.

The first leg is the SABC Gold Vase over 3000m and is a potential stumbling block. However, the three most fancied are Hermoso Mundo, who won the Gold Bowl over 3200m full of running, Banner Hill, a long-striding sort who is also proven over this trip, and the gallant Serissa, who is as good as he’s ever been at age seven and has a perfect draw for his front-running style. Others to consider are Sun On Africa, who has always struck as a good stayer in the making and looks to have come into his own, Helderberg Blue, who is off the same merit rating as when second in the Gold Cup last year, and Captain Splendid, who seems to enjoy Greyville where he won the Lonsdale Stirrup in eye-catching style.

The second leg, the Gold Circle Golden Slipper, is the toughest of the Pick 6 legs and including the whole field has to be a consideration. However, the smaller budget selections in order of preference are Desert Rhythm, London Secret, Let It Flow, Neptune’s Rain, Gee Whizz, Bridal Veil and Lady In Black (if she gets in),.

Helderberg Blue (Nkosi Hlophe)

The third leg is the Durban Golden Horseshoe and Captain And Master looks top class and makes plenty of appeal from a plum draw. However, Trojan Harbour and Ancestry caught the eye in the Gatecrasher Stakes at Greyville. Highveld raider Hakeem and Varallo also have class and will enjoy the trip, so have winning chances too.

Leg four is the big one. Edict Of Nantes has the all right credentials to win July. He has good gatespeed and his good temperament means he can be switched on and off at will. He has an exceptional turn of foot and will stay the trip comfortably. His jockey Anton Marcus will be going for a record breaking fifth July, while his trainer Brett Crawford has already landed five Grade 1 victories this season. His draw of 12 means he will be away from the early scrum and Crawford is happy with it. He can be compared to the older horses on a line through Gold Standard, who made the frame in what looked to be an exceptionally strong Met field. Edict Of Nantes is right up with Gold Standard on his best form, yet is merit rated eight points lower so looks well weighted. He is a banker consideration. However, he beat his three-year-old contemporary Al Sahem by 0,5 lengths in the Daily News 2000 and the latter is now 0,5kg better off. Furthermore, Al Sahem is by the great sire Silvano, whoe progeny improve continuously and whom have won three Julys between them. Edict Of Nantes sire Count Dubois is yet to have a July winner. So, Al Sahem must be included in the Pick 6, despite his pole position draw meaning he is going to have his work cut out to avoid being shuffled back in the pack. It looks like a three-year-old race and the bold opinion is that this pair will be enough to get through this leg.

The fifth leg, a MR 104 Handicap,  is a tricky affair. Hashtag Strat has exceptional cruising speed and can stay all the way to the line over this minimum trip, so will have a big shout from a plum draw of two. Angel’s Power has a fine turn of foot and will be suited to the fast pace in this race over an ideal trip. Asstar runs well fresh and is two points higher than winning a Listed race over course and distance. Our Destiny is another who will be suited to the fast pace, while the classy Attenborough is interesting with first-time blinkers on. Doing It For Dan should be able to use his big action in a race with as much pace in it as this one, while pole position-drawn Horse Guards has a fine form chance and has come to hand since gelding.

The KZN Yearling Sale Million is the last leg and Al Mariachi will be all the rage having finished third in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m last time and looking likely to `stay the 1300m trip. However, he has a wide draw and is not the certainty he is being made out to be. The Dazzler won his debut with long strides and did it easily and with Delpech up will be a big runner. Prince Of Kahal beat older horses well last time, Well Connected could still be anything. Cat’s Legacy and Crymeariver can also be considered.

By David Thiselton

Three-time Vodacom Durban July-winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer will be hoping history can repeat itself on Saturday and will be relying on the gelding Mr Winsome to do it.

Two of Mr Winsome’s part-owners Roy and Gladys Meaker will also be feeling the butterflies 41 years after their pair of horses Gigantic and Bahadur gave them their first involvement in the July.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kannemeyer said, “He is looking a million dollars. He has had a nice preparation and was most impressive in the Betting World 1900, weaving his way through to dead-heat with It’s My Turn for third. He is sound and tough and quickens up well, so we are hoping for a good, clean run race. He has had the same type of program as Power King (2015 July winner) and has not put a foot wrong. Edict Of Nantes is the one to beat, but beyond him it is open. If It’s My Turn has a chance from draw 17, Mr Winsome is not out of it.”

Mr Winsome’s last run in the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby does not look good on paper as he only just got the better of the 89 merit rated Sun On Africa, despite facing him at level weights.

It raised the question whether he preferred more forgiving going as some of his best performances, including in the 1900, have been on rain affected ground.

However, Kannemeyer said, “There was not a good pace and Anthony (Delpech) said he always had Sun On Africa beat.”

Kannemeyer arrived in KZN for the SA Champions Season two years ago believing he did not have a realistic July contender, yet he won it with Power King.

Mr Winsome has a remarkably similar profile to Power King.

The first parallel is he is a four-year-old gelding by the top sire Silvano and like Power King is a typical Silvano in that he keeps on improving with age. The second parallel is they both produced flying finishes from the back to find the frame in the 1900. They are both black type Derby performers, Power King having finished a close up second in the Winter Derby over 2400m at Kenilworth. Both will have only just snuck into the handicap, Power King with the minimum weight for an older male of 53kg and Mr Winsome with 53,5kg. Like Power King, Mr Winsome will have a KZN-based jockey who had never previously won the July aboard. Power King gave Stuart Randolph his first July winner and Mr Winsome has the in-form Warren Kennedy aboard. Power King jumped from a plum draw of six and Mr Winsome has a good draw of nine. Another interesting, if not significant, fact about their respective pedigrees is that both of their 8^th dams are by the early 20^th century ten-time South African champion sire, Greatorex. Power King’s 8^th dam is the 1909-born British-bred Greatorex mare, Trafalgar, while Mr Winsome’s 8^th dam is the 1917-born SA-bred Greatorex mare Nasturtium.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

The one difference between the pair is Mr Winsome was so far off the July radar that Kannemeyer did not enter him at first nominations. He only entered the fray at the final supplementary stage on June 12.

He had begun the season merit rated 87 and after two unplaced runs over a mile on the poly had dropped to an 82. However, since then he has impressed on a number of occasions, including when flying from the back to win the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap over 1750m at Scottsville. However, his 1900 run was the biggest eye opener as it proved he was more than just a KZN off season performer.

He is now merit rated 102 and will face the 1900 winner Ten Gun Salute on 2kg better terms for a two length beating, and It’s My Turn on the same terms.

Kennedy has grabbed his opportunity with both hands and as well as riding the horse in work he even goes as far as grooming him and taking him for walks in the afternoon.

Kannemeyer would be particularly glad to win the race for “a great bunch of owners.”

He runs Var filly Mara in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper over 1400m and said, “She is an improving half-sister to Impala Lily but is more rangy and I think she will get a mile. It’s her first run out of the maidens, but she has a lovely action and it’s an open race so she can’t be left out.”

He drops Trippi gelding Summer Sky to 1200m in the eThekwini Sprint. The Trippis love the poly and Kannemeyer said, “He has potential and his last couple of runs didn’t go his way. He has to overcome a draw and is maybe best over 1400m but don’t leave him out.”

By David Thiselton

It’s that time of the year again, you know, when pagans, mad dogs, Englishmen and Druids gather at Stonehenge – a circle of stones which served as a sundial – to greet the summer solstice. While other dudes, equally colourfully attired, gathered on a farm in Glastonbury to listen to music. In our country it’s midwinter so colds and flu abound, but a certain non-medical or spiritually- inspired fever begins to spread, and on the east coast it is not just about sardines. Soon the entire country is affected by the seemingly irresistible urge to splurge by having their annual flutter. Those afflicted are perhaps best described as flutter punters.

Yes it is July fever and it reaches fever pitch – what else – on the first Saturday every July. The Vodacom Durban July is a handicap in which the older and usually better horses carry more weight than the younger and fairer colts and fillies, thus every horse has a chance of winning. Imagine Usain Bolt having to give say five metres start to Wade van Niekerk. So picking a lucky number or liking the name of a horse is a good enough reason to have a flutter, especially as the tote –TAB outlets – will pay out on any horse which finishes in the first six. The other consideration is that your choice may well be unfancied by the bookmakers and regular losers, I mean punters, and will therefore pay more than a well-backed horse.

Black Arthur (Nkosi Hlophe)

So it is a case of paying your money and tata ma chance, so don’t miss out on office or family draws. No ticket no chance.

For those who want a little guidance and subscribe to the axiom that a shorter priced winner is better than a longer priced loser, here are some pointers. At last Thursday’s gallops, four horses stood out for me, and each of them shortened in the betting the next day: Number 11 – at the tote you bet on a number not the name – Black Arthur, who galloped very strongly; Number 7, The Conglomerate, who won this race last year, and carries less weight this year; Number 8, It’s My Turn, who has come in under the radar by not winning of late; and Number 11, Ten Gun Salute – an army term I am told to describe a half-cocked Twenty One Gun Salute – who won very impressively recently, is trained by Duncan Howells at Ashburton, and was well ridden in the gallops by work rider Kospendule Hlongwe. His big race jockey, Muzi Yeni, will fly in from Mauritius to ride him on Saturday.

It is Hobson’s choice, and I may have inadvertently given you the four numbers for the quartet – if you box 7,8,9 and 11 for R24, and IF they make up the first past the post, Eureka, Mayebabo, Holy Cow whatever, you will win a portion of the estimated R11 million which will be wagered on the quartet alone. But back to who will win? Well last year, to the amazement of family and those who know that I follow jockey Piere “Striker” Strydom, I did not back him on The Conglomerate, as he had an outside draw to overcome – and I had scrambled eggs on my face when he sailed home. Incredulously I had doubted the ability of a maestro who has ridden more than 5,000 winners, and who this season, despite not riding for a leading stable, has ridden more than 100 winners – every fifth horse he rides wins! So, in an open July with no clear Colorado King or Sea Cottage, or favourite, my two cents will be on It’s My Turn and “Striker”.

For flutter punters, who have as much chance of backing the winner as the experts, may I suggest that the four horses I have mentioned are good win and place options. For example, a R20 Win and a R20 Place bet on any one of them, could in the case of Black Arthur and It’s My Turn yield a win of around R120, whereas the same bet on The Conglomerate or Ten Gun Salute, would, if they win, yield around R200. Furthermore, if any of these four run into the first 6, you may well get your R40 layout back. As some say, easy game. Moreover, a small wager makes the race so much more exciting, and it only happens once a year.

By Rob Haswell