Ten Gun Salute has been cut from 80-1 to 20-1 for the Vodacom Durban July as a result of his surprise win in the Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night.

Elusive Silva (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joint-favourite Elusive Silva (only fifth in the 1900) has drifted from 15-2 to 10-1 and Drill Hall winner Marinaresco now disputes favouritism with SA Derby hero Al Sahem on 13-2.

It’s My Turn, third under top weight on Friday, has been cut from 22-1 to 14-1 but stable companion Prince Of Wales (eighth) has been marked out from 33-1 to 100-1. The other big mover is the Brett Crawford-trained Nebula who has been slashed from 75-1 to 18-1 following his win in Friday’s Pinnacle.

Brett Crawford said yesterday: “Nebula is a smart horse and I thought he would win. He now goes for the Cup Trial on June 10 and then the July – hopefully with bottom weight. I was also pleased with Edict Of Nantes (second in the Allowance Plate in his first race since winning the Cape Derby) and he runs next in the Daily News (June 3).”

Last year’s July winner The Conglomerate, only sixth under top weight when starting favourite for the Pinnacle, has been eased from 30-1 to 40-1.

By Michael Clower

2017 Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting guide [as at 10:55am May 22]:

13/2 Marinaresco, Al Sahem; 10/1 Elusive Silva, Edict Of Nantes; 12/1 Heavenly Blue; 13/1 Its My Turn; 14/1 Black Arthur; 18/1 Nebula; 20/1 Ten Gun Salute, Horizon, Saratoga Dancer, Krambambuli; 25/1 Master Switch, Pagoda, Captain America; 30/1 Zodiac Ruler, Copper Force, Brazuca, Africa Rising; 35/1 Master Sabina, French Navy, Deo Juvente, The Conglomerate, Nightingale, Tilbury Fort, Orchid Island; 50/1 Bela-Bela, Liege; 80/1 Secret Captain, Prince Of Wales, Banner Hill; 100/1 Bi Pot, Witchcraft, Girl On The Run, Safe Harbour, Silver Mountain, Trophy Wife, Smiling Blue Eyes; 150/1 Royal Badge; 200/1 Bold Viking, Macduff; 250/1 Jubilee Line; 300/1 The Elmo Effect, Fort Meyers, Rocketball, Copper Pot;

Odds courtesy of www.trackandball.co.za and subject to change

The bookmakers were left a bit confused by the result of the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night and their lack of any knee jerk reactions might have been due to the testing going conditions in which the race was run coupled with the moderate pace. The July log panelists will also be left with a few headaches.

Ten Gun Salute(Nkosi Hlophe)

The famously hard working Ashburton-based trainer Duncan Howells was rewarded again for the commitment of himself and his team when Ten Gun Salute recovered from a pulled muscle in his back, suffered just two weeks previously in the Drill Hall Stakes, to put in a sterling performance.

It was ironic that Howell’s discarded former stable jockey Muzi Yeni was aboard. Yeni has now been aboard for all four of the Australian-bred four-year-old’s career victories and it was his good relationship with the horse which prompted owners Hein and Hester Kuhn to offer him the ride.

Howells had said before the SA Champions Season began that this horse had greatly benefitted from a farm holiday and gelding. “He had become very headstrong and difficult to hold in work, but he is now a completely different horse,” he had said. That was proven in no uncertain terms on Friday night. Yeni circled the field from the near the back as they entered the straight. Ten Gun Salute then moved up effortlessly under the hands and hit the front at the 300m mark.  Yeni only had to get to work in the final 150m and Ten Gun Salute won by a cosy 1,5 lengths.

The Henrythenavigator gelding raced off a 100 merit rating and under the conditions of the Betting World 1900 can be raised a maximum of only six points. That means as things stand he will carry exactly the same weight as he did in last year’s July, 55,5kg. He will thus be 2kg better off this year if weight for age is taken into account. Furthermore, he was only 3,25 lengths back last year, but had clearly improved this year with gelding.

Elusive Silva (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Betting World only have Ten Gun Salute at 25/1 for the July, although he did shorten from 80/1. This suggests they are not taking the 1900 result too seriously, especially when comparing him to Elusive Silva. The latter finished a 3,25 length fifth on Friday night, despite receiving 2kg from the winner. Ten Gun Salute will only have to give Elusive Silva 2,5kg in the July, as things stand.

Yet Elusive Silva only drifted out slightly to 10/1 in the July betting.

The going on Friday night was soft, heavy in places, and the official penetrometer reading was 29,3 and in Elusive Silva’s defence he did become cramped for room at a crucial stage in the straight. He was staying on at the line in a race which was not run fast enough for him. He will also relish the extra trip of the July.

However, the July log panelists have a headache as Elusive Silva was in 16^th place on the first log and in the 1900 was beaten by three July entries who were all below him, Ten Gun Salute, Tibury Fort and It’s My Turn. Dean Kannemeyer might also be tempted to supplement the progressive Silvano gelding Mr Winsome, who dead-heated for third, beaten two lengths running at level weights with the winner.

The three-year-old Horse Chestnut colt Tilbury Fort has always been noted for his courage and having run a good 2,8 length fourth in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, he proved his disappointing run in the Gr 1 SA Classic had nothing to do with his stamina capacity. He had the advantage of pole position draw on Friday night. He was able to get into the box seat behind his stablemate Serissa, who set nothing more than a steady pace. From there he stayed on resolutely for a 1,5 length second, receiving 4kg from the winner. On weight for age terms, he was only 1,5kg better off with the winner.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

It’s My Turn was one of the best value horses in the early ante-post betting at around 22/1 as he has the beating of Marinaresco on the form of the Met and the latter remains the joint July favourite with Betting World at 15/2.

On Friday night It’s My Turn overcame a draw of ten to be alongside Tilbury Fort in the running and he stayed on well to dead-heat for third, despite having to be switched from behind a slowing horse at the top of the straight. He gave the winner 2kg and was beaten only two lengths. Under the conditions of the race, placed horses can’t be raised, so he will carry 55,5kg in the July as things stand. This puts him on an even keel with Ten Gun Salute on the form of the 1900, but will also have come on from this run as it was his first since The Met.

It’s My Turn finished fourth in the July last year as a three-year-old carrying the same 55,5kg. Betting World have shortened him to 14/1.

Mr Winsome weaved his way through the field from last and was finishing fastest of all. Three-time July-winning trainer Kannemeyer often arrives in KZN without a July runner, but then one merges, and that one looks to be Mr Winsome this year. It would be no surprise to see him supplemented after this fine effort, particularly in light of him being part-owned by long-time stalwart KZN owners Roy and Gladys Meaker.

Rocketball (Nkosi Hlophe)

Prince Of Wales, a borderline horse on the first log did not enhance his chances of making the final field, as he could only stay on steadily for a 4,4 length eighth.

Master Switch was 20^th on the first log, but his 10,15 length eleventh was the third time in three outings at Greyville he has finished out of the frame.

Banner Hill, Macduff and Coper Pot did not enhance their chances of making the field, finishing 7^th, 9^th and 12^th respectively.

The long-striding Rocketball finished tailed off last and remains a massive disappointment.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry and Keagan de Melo could hold the key to tonight’s Gr2 Betting World 1900. While much of the pre-race interest has been centered on the obvious Vodacom Durban July entrants, notably the Justin Snaith pairing of It’s My Turn and Elusive Silva, Geoff Woodruff’s runners Master Switch and Go Direct while the Glen Kotzen-trained Banner Hill has also attracted attention after his recent victory.

A little under the radar have been Tarry’s July entries Tilbury Fort and Copper Pot but the key runner here could be Serissa. Tarry’s veteran galloper is the only obvious pacemaker in the line-up and with nothing to lose as far as the July is concerned the obvious instruction to De Melo will be to control the pace to suit the other stable runners.

Serissa (Nkosi Hlophe)

It’s probably best to put a line through Tilbury Fort’s run in the SA Classic and concentrate on his previous efforts, which although seemingly nothing special, had shown glimpses to suggest that one write’s off his chances at your peril.

Tilbury Fort has drawn in pole but stable companion Copper Pot’s faces an uphill task from gate 14.

For most a solid gallop would suit, especially the likes of Elusive Silva who finished with a rattle to win the Sledgehammer from Helderberg Blue. What was more impressive is that this was his first outing in nearly ten months. It was also his first race since gelding and with a handy weight and a plum draw his is likely to start close to the top of the boards.

Ominously, Jubilee Line has hardly garnered a mention in pre-race speculation but with Mike de Kock at the helm and Callan Murray riding with supreme confidence, he too must come into the reckoning.

With many of the runners fighting for a place in the July it is likely to be a rough-and-ready contest and while one can reasonably expect a July entrant to make it into the winner’s enclosure, the list of possible winners is a long one.

The Allowance Plate and the Pinnacle Stakes that follow directly after the Betting World 1900 also have July entries battling for a place. Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes is sixth on the July log and since he has not been out since the Derby and carries 61kg, this is possibly a pipe-opener and fellow three-year-olds Bold Viking and Secret Captain could prove better propositions, the latter off 52kg and a plum draw possibly the pick.

Last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner The Conglomerate has been winless since, his best effort coming when runner-up in the Sansui Summer Cup. Off his current merit rating he will come into the July nicely handicapped and Joey Ramsden is likely to have left some meat on the bone and would more than likely be happy with a forward showing. Two that will need a bold effort if they are to come into the reckoning for the July are Nebula and Royal Badge.

By Andrew Harrison

Lyle Hewitson has been discharged from hospital after suffering a broken collar bone in a nasty fall at Fairview on Saturday after his mount Gitano Giant broke down.

Lyle Hewitson

The leading apprentice now faces a race against time to be ready in time to ride in the Vodacom Durban July.

However, he did not sound optimistic and said, “I will use all means possible to heal it better and faster but I will only come back when strong enough and the July is only six weeks away.

Hewitson had his first ride in the professional ranks on March 6 last year and has already notched up 177 winners, including one overseas.

He had a ride in last year’s July, setting the pace on Dynamic and finishing a 3,95 length 12^th.

He has wrapped up this year’s SA Apprentice Championships already, having had 103 winners this season, 76 clear of joint second-placed Eric Saziso Ngwane and Diego de Gouveia.

He was also seven clear of Callan Murray, on 36 winners to 29, when the latter ended his apprenticeship earlier in the season.

By David Thiselton

Vodacom Durban July watchers will be on tenterhooks throughout this week in the build up to one of the most important pointers to the big race, the Betting World 1900, which will be run on Friday night at Greyville.

The 1900 is one of the Champions Season D-Days for horses who are on the borderline of July qualification.

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

Justin Snaith has the topweight It’s My Turn, who finished fourth in the July last year. However, he was only in 18^th place on the first July log, so will need to run a big race either here or in another qualifier like the Cup Trial. Snaith’s other 1900 pair, Elusive Silva and Prince of Wales, put in excellent SA Champions Season pipe openers in the Listed Sledgehammer handicap over 1800m. Elusive Silva showed showed a magnificent turn of foot to win easing up and is now joint-second on the July boards at 8/1. He only has a 99 merit rating, but was in 16^th place on the July log. The winner of the 1900 can only get a maximum of a six point merit rated raise, so he looks likely to be one of the best weighted horses in the July. Prince Of Wales gave Elusive Silva 3kg in the Sledgehammer and ran on strongly to be beaten only two lengths. Snaith said he had come on tremendously for the run, so he still represents good July value at 33/1. Prince Of Wales and Elusive Silva have landed plum draws on Friday night.

Last year’s July-winning trainer Joey Ramsden has a fascinating runner in Macduff. He is merit rated only 89 and finished way back in the Sun Met, but he had some good 1800m form behind Whisky Baron before that. He won his only previous start at Greyville. That was in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly, where he showed a good turn of foot, He is as effective on turf and has a plum draw on Friday night.

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry runs the tough old front-running veteran Serissa, who should ensure a decent pace. He also runs five-year-old Hyaku and the three-year-olds Tilbury Fort and Copper Pot. Copper Pot has a good turn of foot, but has been found wanting in features to date. Tilbury Fort finished a good 2,8 length third in the Gauteng Guineas, but was way back in the Gr 1 SA Classic, where he might not have enjoyed the going, as he should stay the 1900m trip.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Geoff Woodruff’s Master Switch has come into his own this season, so should do better in this race than he did last year. His stablemate Go Direct has also come into his own in the typical manner of a four-year-old by Go Deputy and is a dark horse. Both of Woodruff runners have wide draws.

Three-time July-winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer runs Mr Winsome, who is a typically improving son of Silvano, but must prove he is as good against out of province horses as he is against the locals.

Gavin van Zyl runs the long-striding but continually disappointing Rocketball. He has dropped to a 95 merit rating and showed some signs of revival last time.

Four-time July-winning trainer Mike de Kock runs Jubilee Line, who is yet to live up to the regard he is held in, but ran a good race in a 2000m handicap last week.

Duncan Howells runs Ten Gun Salute, who was in last year’s July and has been said to have come on a lot from gelding.

Glen Kotzen runs Banner Hill who proved himself more than just a stayer when easily winning his Champions Season pipe opener over 1800m on the Greyville turf.

By David Thiselton

2017 Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting guide [as at 12:53pm May 15]:

13/2 Marinaresco, Al Sahem; 7/1 Elusive Silva; 14/1 Heavenly Blue; 15/1 Black Arthur, Saratoga Dancer; 16/1 Horizon, Edict Of Nantes; 18/1 Its My Turn; 20/1 Pagoda, Hat Puntano #; 25/1 Copper Force, Africa Rising, Captain America, Krambambuli, Zodiac Ruler; 28/1 Brazuca, The Conglomerate, Deo Juvente; 33/1 Prince Of Wales, French Navy, Master Switch; 35/1 Bela-Bela, Master Sabina, Nightingale; 40/1 Orchid Island, Secret Captain; 50/1 Liege, Banner Hill; 66/1 Nebula; 80/1 Ten Gun Salute, Bi Pot, Silver Mountain; 100/1 Safe Harbour, Witchcraft, Girl On The Run, Smiling Blue Eyes, Trophy Wife; 150/1 Jubilee Line, Tilbury Fort, Macduff, Bold Viking; 250/1 Royal Badge, Copper Pot; 300/1 The Elmo Effect, Rocketball, Fort Meyers.

Odds courtesy of www.trackandball.co.za and subject to change