Rainbow Bridge, 16-10 favourite with the sponsors for Saturday week’s World Sports Betting Champions Cup, has yet to be confirmed a runner and punters might want to hold their fire until a final decision is made.

Eric Sands said on Saturday: “He was off his manger for a couple of days after the Vodacom Durban July and, although he was trotting sound, he had a little bit of warmth in one joint.

“He is fine now but I am only going to run him in the Champions Cup if everything is 100%. He is only turning five, he is not an over-raced horse and we want to keep him going as long as possible. But by the same token it is a Grade 1 and we are not going to run away from it if we can go.”

If he does line up, Gavin Lerena will be first call – “I thought he rode a good race in the July and he settled the horse well but he may have other commitments.”

Sands, who sent out Jungle Warrior to win what was then known as the Champion Stakes at Greyville back in 1988, believes that Rainbow Bridge was adversely affected by the delay at the start in the July.

He is not claiming that his horse would have beaten Do It Again – “We were beaten fair and square but the second loading was a killer. He was sweating up before the first loading but he was bouncing and ready to go. I know that the reloading played against a lot of horses but Rainbow Bridge is not the type of horse to whom you can say ‘Come back and go in again.’”

There is also a Champions Cup question mark about 15-1 shot Head Honcho who was picked out along with Rainbow Bridge by commentator Craig Peters as sweating up badly at the delayed start.

Andre Nel said: “Head Honcho is not a highly strung horse but Keagan de Melo said the first time he was ready to go and the second time he was flat. We were all in the same boat so I am not making excuses and setting the horse alight 200m before turning for home was never part of the plan.”

Head Honcho, who was in the first two much of the way, dropped right out in the final furlong to finish with only four behind him casting doubts about whether he really got the trip. “He did win the Betting World 2200 the previous year but it is not his proper distance and it was a much weaker race,” Nel pointed out. “It seems as though he can gallop 1 800m almost flat out and then he tires.”

The Champions Cup trip would therefore seem ideal but Nel said: “We are debating whether to run. He was slightly jarred up after the July but nothing catastrophic. Possibly he could run but he is better in Cape Town and we might decide to wait for the Cape season.”

There has been relatively little movement in the Champions Cup market so far with the most noticeable being last year’s runner-up Undercover Agent (14-1 to 9-1) and second favourite Buffalo Bill Cody who has been cut from 3-1 to 22-10.

Lyle Hewitson, now almost unbackable to retain his championship – some bookmakers are quoting odds as short as 1-11 – gives Durbanville a miss tomorrow but Muzi Yeni is refusing to concede defeat and has taken five rides – two each for Joey Ramsden and Glen Kotzen and one for Glen Puller. However none of the quintet has a particularly obvious chance.

Run Fox Run, winner of all her four starts including most recently the Olympic Duel Stakes, is the highest rated of the 14 entries for the Champagne Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday and is the only representative for Brett Crawford who won this 1 200m Grade 3 with Beach Goddess three years ago.

By Michael Clower

The price paid for a yearling at auction goes more to conformation and pedigree in the hope that it has some ability. As Dean Kannemeyer pointed out before his R4.5 million yearling buy, Seventh Gear, won the second at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday, “there are plenty of million-rand duds around. I think that it’s a bit unfair to put pressure on the trainer just because the horse was bought for a lot of money.”

But Seventh Gear is no dud although he has some way to go before he recoups his purchase price on the track – but the signs are good. A magnificent physical specimen, the colt still looked a little underdone in the paddock but finished off his race smartly as he and the luckless High Voltage fought out the finish with the balance of the field in another race.

Seventh Gear is unlikely to be seen out again this term, Kannemeyer intimating that the colt would be put away and prepped for the Cape summer with the Gr1 Cape Guineas and Gr1 Cape Derby on the radar.

Tobie Spies is a wizard with juveniles and the money arrived in spades for the grey filly Snow Palace in the third and it was money on the mark.

Craig Zackey sat patiently in the pack until two furlongs out with the fuse burning. Once the flame hit the powder, Snow Palace sped clear to win as she liked.

Pace, or a lack of it, can upset even the best laid plans and Shane Humby was chewing on his hat as the field dawdled around the back stretch in the fourth setting up the race for a sprint home. Donovan Dillon was wise to the pace and sent favourite Winter Retreat about her business at the top of the straight, poaching a break on the opposition. It proved a timely move as Winter Retreat held on just long enough to hold the late challenge from Miss Jagger. “I was a bit worried as they crawled down the back straight. Filly is an out-and-out stayer and a sprint home did not suit her.”

Muzi Yeni is not going down without a fight in the national title race although his chances of catching log leader Lyle Hewitson look remote, Yeni 12 behind with a little over two weeks to the end of the season. Nathan Kotzen ensured that there was hanging around for his more fancied runner Paybackthemoney in the fifth as apprentice Gabriel Pieterse stretched the field from the jump on stable companion Kheelan Dynasty. Paybackthemoney returned the compliment with a comfortable win.

Kotzen and Dillon were back to collect the cheque in the sixth as Master Keys put in a storming run up the inside to get the better of Karatage and Bon Bon with favourite Perfect Air under pressure a long way out.

By Andrew Harrison

King Of The Corn and Sister Soozie can both take advantage of significant drops in rating accompanied by a drop in class when they line up for the fifth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. The staying ranks generally populated by moderate horses but King Of The Corn has five wins to his credit so is obviously capable.

His form since moving to join Garth Puller in KZN is hardly inspiring, finishing closer to last than first, but all three runs have been on the poly, the last two in MR90 Handicaps. On Sunday he is down two divisions and five pounds in the handicap.

Prior to his move north he had been showing consistent Cape Town form. Being an older horse, first time blinkers could sharpen him up and if he can run to anywhere near his best he will at least be competitive.

Sister Soozie’s two starts in KZN for Andre Nel have been better efforts but similarly she is down a division and four pounds in the handicap. She is further complimented by apprentice Jason Gates claiming another 1.5kg.

Although she has only win two races, Sister Soozie was good enough to finish third in the Settlers Trophy behind Magnificent Seven so is proven over Sunday’s 2400m trip.

Of the balance, Impact Zone was close-up in a hugely competitive Winter Challenge handicap behind the progressive The Sultans Bazaar while the lightly raced Spring Fling made a useful handicap debut behind Don Pierro and seems to be getting better the further he goes.

The first is the second of the workriders races and only for the needy and the greedy. However, Mac ‘N Scar, with accomplished rider Aron Xabendlini in the irons, has his third run after a break and has been up against useful fields of late. Petra is a smart filly and showed good improvement in blinkers last run and rider Callum Dixon finished runner-up in the first of the workrider races. Drunken Sailor and La Ferrari could also feature in an open race.

Marco van Rensburg was spitting mad after bearing the brunt of some careless riding in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, High Voltage being ‘cleaned up’ at a crucial stage of the race. Prior to that Duncan Howells’s runner had pressed Saturdays KZN Million winner African Warrior to within a length in the Godolphin Barb Stakes. A repeat of that performance could see him hard to beat in the second although there look to be a number of improvers in the race.

Shane Humby has a couple of promising runners on the day, first up being Diamonds And Pearls in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The filly is lightly raced but has improved with each outing. She came from a long way back when runner-up to Tango Time and judged on that the extra furlong should well suit.

An obvious danger is Saucy Broad who has shown up well in her last two starts. Now fitted with a tongue-tie she can do even better. A further threat could be Snow Palace. The Tobie Spies yard has been in deadly form, especially with juveniles, and the grey filly was touched off over the distance at Turffontein last time out.

The second of Humby’s chances could come in the very next race with Winter Retreat. She found good market support last start and failed narrowly and should have no trouble with the extra ground. Isikhwami Sami and La Duchesse could be the biggest dangers.

On a difficult card, a likely banker could come in the form of Perfect Air. Dennis Drier’s filly ran a cracker in a feature last time out. She is in good form and rates the one to beat. Dangers are Pumpkin Queen in spite of her big weight and a wide draw as was in need of her last start and is very capable in this company. Of the balance, Master Keys was a beaten favourite last outing and has the best of the draw while Connect Me is as game as they come. She got up narrowly at her last two and could do even better over this trip.

The seventh is another tricky handicap but Gimme Peace makes her local debut off some fair Cape form while Letaba showed up well first time out of the maidens and is lightly raced.

Finally, Cosmic Cutter is better than his last effort. He has shown some promise and is in a weak field. Forest Jump improved nicely at his second outing after a promising debut and should be at his peak while stable companion Alma Mater showed up smartly in his barrier trial so obviously has some ability.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and the exotics look the way to play it.

In the first leg of the PA over 1450m Readysetglo was staying on well over 1500m last time for an improved performance and she has another plum draw. She is by the under rated sire Traffic Guard whose progeny improve over time so she should be coming into her own. Gallic Princess stayed on well over 1400m on the standside course last time when jumping from a tricky draw and is now well drawn in her third career start. She can improve further and those two should get punters through.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 2000m Maroon Bells is knocking on the door and just failed when charging late over 1800m last time. He does have a wide draw to overcome now and hasn’t raced for 93 days, but he should relish this trip and can run on again. Dry Your Eyes looks to be ideally distance suited and is well drawn so has a chance and Gold Griffin can go close if reproducing his last run over this trip, although he has a tough draw. Vetri Vel was beaten three lengths by Maroon Bells the last time they met over 1800m but he comes off a good race over 2400m and looks to be improving. Byron Bay is well drawn and enjoys this trip.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1200m Starlighttemptress can be just as effective over this trip as she was last time when winning over 1450m as long as she can get to the front from her good draw. Walnut Dash comes out strongly on formlines and Hartleyfive is interesting over this step up in trip, which could stretch her, as she has pole position and Gavin Lerena has stayed aboard.

In the sixth over 1200m Captain’s Alpha goes for a course and distance hattrick and can do it from a good draw as she has turned the corner with blinkers, is well drawn and is only two points higher in the merit ratings. Purple Diamond won a Grade2 over this trip as a two-year-old and off just a 73 merit rating can go close from a good draw. Brigtnumberten might lead from his wide draw and has a form chance.

In the seventh over 1800m, The Makwakkers stayed on well over 1450m last time and will relish this trip on pedigree. March To Glory is doing well for his new yard and should enjoy this trip. Chevron looks progressive, Electromagnetic should be involved from a plum draw and Theravada has a shout in a weaker field than last time.

In the eighth over 2000m, Vijeta has ability but usually loses ground at the start. If jumping on terms she is the one to beat but Pomander, Extravert and Await The Sunset can also be included. Long-time maiden Favourite Model also has a shout from a good draw.          

The last race over 2000m can be fought out by Elusive Butterfly, Hareer, Angelic Appeal, Rabia The Rebel, Pilgrim’s Progress and Illuminate as all have form to recommend them.

By David Thiselton

The thrill of Africa’s greatest racing event, the Vodacom Durban July, at Hollywoodbets Greyville in Durban last Saturday is over for this year but racing enthusiasts have another equally exciting feast of racing to look forward to at the end of the month with the country’s premier race for speedsters, the R1-million, Grade 1 Mercury Sprint, being one of the main graded races on Champions Day at the Theatre of Champions on July 27.

The meeting, also featuring the R1-million, Grade 1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup and the R1.25-million, Grade 3 eLAN Gold Cup, brings the curtain down on South Africa’s world-renowned three-month Champion’s Season and attracts thousands to the Durban venue where eight highly important graded races will take place on the 12-race card.

The Mercury Sprint, the longest running media-sponsored race in the country, is South Africa’s premier race for sprinters with the country’s fastest horses clashing over 1 200m under weight-for-age conditions which for the purists determines the real champion sprinter of the land. The result is likely to determine South Africa’s Champion Sprinter of the Year at the annual Equus Awards in August.

This year 27 horses have been nominated for the Mercury Sprint including the winners of three of the country’s top sprint races – the Grade 1 Cape Flying Champions, the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint.

For the first time in many years a two-year-old colt has been nominated to take on the older and stronger horses. Frosted Gold, from the Mike de Kock stable, is a New Zealand-bred son of All Too Hard that won the SA Nursery at Turffontein then ran second to the unbeaten Var colt Eden Roc in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville. Eden Roc followed that up on Saturday when he won the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1 400m on July Day being the exotic bet banker for most punters.  The Sean Tarry-trained colt has been entered for the R750 000, Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1 600m.

Among the 27 entries for the Mercury Sprint are the SA Fillies Sprint winner Celtic Sea that on Saturday beat Oh Susanna and Snowdance in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over a mile and the winner of both the Cape Flying Championships and the Diadem Stakes Kasimir. The winner of the Tsogo Sun Sprint, Chimichuri Run, is among the entries as is Snowdance that was second to Celtic Sea in the Scottsville Grade 1 for fillies and mares.

As the grand finale to Champions Season, eLan Gold Cup day is the second biggest meeting in the country and the Mercury Sprint is a leading feature on the day.

By Richard McMillan

All of Sean Tarry’s Vodacom Durban July day runners were prepared in Johannesburg with the exception of Silver God but for the Gold Cup meeting all of the participants who ran on July day will be prepared at Summerveld.

He said Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province winner Celtic Sea and Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Eden Roc were both likely to run in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint and the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes respectively.

The only niggling doubt for Tarry about their participation was that a bad run for either could affect their probable positions as Equus Award champions elect.

The Golden Horseshoe runner up Putontheredlight is also expected to line up in the Premier’s. Tarry has also nominated Shango, who won at Scottsville yesterday, as well as Rock The Globe, who finished a 4,65 length ninth to Eden Roc on Saturday.

However, Tarry will have to think about his Grade 1-winning sprinter Chimichuri Run’s participation in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m as he drew 27 out of 27. Celtic Sea drew well in barrier position eight for the Mercury, Trip To Heaven drew eleven and Africa Rising drew 15.

He has two entries in the day’s headliner, the Grade 3 eLan Gold Cup. Liege, who won the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, and Shenanigans, who won the Betting World 2200, drew 16 and 7 respectively out of 26 nominations.

Tarry has plum draws in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m, one and two for Cirillo and Matador Man respectively and Captain And Master drew five.

He also has three nominations in the Grade 1 Thekwini, the promising Victoria Paige as well as one-time winners Keep Smiling and Escape To Victory. Victoria Paige finished a 4,90 length eighth on Saturday in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m from a wide but will much prefer this trip and should have a better barrier position having drawn 14 out of 26 nominations.

Eden Roc showed an exceptional turn of foot to get up on Saturday in the Golden Horsehoe over 1400m. Tarry rates him highly and felt he would enjoy the 1600m trip. He said, “I think he is very good. He is progressive, is a good mover and covers ground. He ticks all the boxes. He is by Var but is out of a family who have done well for me over 2000m in the past and his style of running will also help him get the trip.”

He also rates Putontheredlight and said, “I think he is a top horse. His female line doesn’t suggest he will get much further but if he takes after his father Pomodoro there will be no stamina doubts.”

He concluded about this pair, “It would be foolhardy for me to make predictions on what will happen next year but both have potential.”

Tarry had earned stakes of R24,636,825 at the time of writing, R2,057,362 clear of Justin Snaith and R2,292,762 clear of Mike de Kock.

However, Snaith has no entries in either the Champions Cup or Thekwini.

He does have a good hand in the Gold Cup with Strathdon, Made To Conquer, Elusive Silva and Doublemint. His Grade 1 winning sprinter Kasimir is the favourite to win the Mercury.

Mike de Kock has a good hand in the Champions Cup with the top class Buffalo Bill Cody and the three-time Grade 1 winner Soqrat, although the latter did draw wide.

He has interestingly entered the two-year-old Frosted Gold in both the Mercury Sprint and the Premier’s Champions Stakes. He also has Alyaasaat in the Mercury and Alibi Guy and Var And Away in the Premier’s.

His pair Palace Of Dreams and Lady Defiance have both drawn wide in the Thekwini and he has no entries in the Gold Cup.

The feature races on Gold Cup day include the R1,25 million eLan Gold Cup, the R1 million WSB Champions Cup, the R1 million Mercury Sprint, the R750,000 Premier’s Champions Stakes, the R750,000 Thekwini Stakes, the R400,000 Gold Bracelet, the R300,000 Umkhomazi Stakes, the R300,000 The Debutante as well as two R150,000 Listed races, so there are opportunities for both Snaith and De Kock to catch up.

However, the bookmakers make Tarry the hot favourite to win his fourth championship. He is at 2,5/10 and both Snaith and De Kock are 3,65/1.

Tarry said the decision to keep the July day participants at Summerveld had nothing to do with the theory that horses can travel down to KZN twice in a season but not three times. He pointed out that Celtic Sea had travelled down to KZN for all three of her SA Champions Season starts and that hadn’t stopped her winning the Garden Province on Saturday.

Tarry said the decision was made due to the short three week gap between the July and the Gold Cup meetings and this would put the participation of any horse who did not travel well back to Johannesburg in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Legal Eagle, who finished second last in the July on Saturday will remain in training.

Tarry said, “We normally avoid Durban but tried it this year and it didn’t work. We will give him the same break as he has always had and then follow the same Cape Town-Johannesburg campaign that has worked so well. If he shows any signs of being lacklustre he will be retired.” 

By David Thiselton

Horse racing is a sport of incredible highs but mostly lows. For owners the highs are intoxicating but the lows take faith, patience and quite often deep pockets, and sometimes even that is not enough!

But when it all comes together the sport is even more rewarding as Lynn and Garth Towell celebrated a second win as Before Noon carried Lynn’s royal blue and grey silks to victory in the sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

A buy-back on a dispersal sale, Sean Tarry recommended the gelding to the Towell’s. “About ten days later Sean phoned and said ‘I don’t know how to tell you this but your horse fractured a hind leg in work’,” recounted Garth yesterday.

“He fractured a left hind leg in about January last year but Sean had it x-rayed and the vet said he thought the horse had a chance.”

“He was sent to Karen Eekman in Kyalami for re-hab. Karen spells a lot of Sean’s horses and I must thank both Karen and Sean for their dedication and care,” said Garth.

The faith, patience and not inconsiderable expense all paid dividends as after a year off, Before Noon made it back to the track in February. He won at his third comeback race at Greyville and had placed three times more before adding another winner to champion jockey Lyle Hewitson’s growing total in his title defence.

With a double yesterday, both for Tarry, Hewitson extended his lead in his title chase and has now racked up 205 winners so far. Nearest rival Muzi Yeni picked up one winner yesterday to take his total to 196. With three weeks of the season left, Hewitson is odds-on to retain the title that he won as an apprentice last year and will head to Hong Kong safe in the knowledge that if all goes pear-shaped in the notoriously hard school that is Hong Kong, he can always return to a safe haven.

Tarry has played no small part in Hewitson’s success, having picked up on the youngster’s talent when champion work rider and it was again on display as Hewitson got favourite Shango home from a testing draw to win the fourth. Tarry obviously has high hopes for Shango who is amongst his nominations for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at the end of this month along with last Saturday’s Gr2 Golden Horseshoe winner Eden Roc.

Hewitson was thwarted in his bid for a treble as another young gun, Luke Ferraris, got the better of him in the last. Riding for Michael Roberts, Ferraris got Winter Sun’s head down on the line to edge out Wishful Girl Linn with favourite Innogen under pressure a long way out.

Garth Puller was one of the finest ever to grace a racing dock and is also a fine horseman and trainer. Given his background he also knows the struggles that all participants in a tough sport face and is not averse to giving jockey’s chances. Athandiwe Mgudlwa is one of the fortunate few riders that does not have to battle the scale and Puller regards him as ‘under rated’. “He just needs to get his confidence back,” he said after Mgudlwa had got home on Simply Russian for Puller in the third. The race before he had finished runner-up on Puller’s short-priced favourite Winter Chill where he had to play second fiddle to the R40k purchase Candle Cove that gave Yeni his winner for the afternoon for Frank Robinson.

Robinson had favourite World Cruise in the fifth but was not overly confident of his chances.  In the money at his last five outings, World Cruise looked the right one in the 2400m contest but, “he’s a bit of a brass,” cautioned Robinson. “He’s always trying to get out of it.”

Whether he could have beaten the Puller-trained Belle Of Paris is debateable as apprentice Jabu Jacobs took full advantage of his 4kg claim and the filly made short work of her male rival.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal straight course stages an eight race meeting tomorrow and there are one or two opportunities for punters. 

In the first over 1000m, Sarah has won easily in her last two starts against her own gender and is the one to beat for the flying Paul Peter yard. The Tobie Spies yard are also in form and facile Flamingo Park debut winner True Charm could be a danger. 

In the second over 1000m, Dublin Quays is the one to beat as his debut win has worked out well and Marcus is now up. He can beat Astrix and De La Cruz.

The third over 1000m is likely to be contested by first-timers. The best of those to have raced is Rainbow Haze, who ran on over 1000m on debut in a fair field and was not disgraced. However, Scarlet Tiger is tipped to win. This first-timer is by Captain Al and is a half-sister to Mela Stregata, who was expensively purchased and has speed and talent but has hitherto been disappointing. The other first-timers to consider could be Pachal’s Samore, who is by promising new sire Vercingetorix out of a four time-winning Victory Moon mare from 1200-1400m, Musaytara, who is by Var out of the Grade 2 Debutante runner up Dijla (Elusive Quality), although the latter has not produced a winner yet, and Sasskia, who is by Master Of My Fate out of a one-time winning Dubawi mare.

The fourth over 1600m should be a duel between On My Mind and Blue Spark and the former is given the nod as one who has more experience and better time figures.

In the fifth over 1600m Ronnie’s Candy is talented and is well in at the weights. She has the ability to easily beat this field but this is her first run after a suspension for epistaxis. Scent Of Evening has beaten Ronnie’s Candy before over 1400m at level weights so must have a shout receiving 3kg here. However, Ronnie’s Candy was likely using that aforementioned race as a preparation. Furthermore, Scent Of Evening, although undoubtedly talented does have issues. So Pretty Border might also have to be included in the Pick 6 and Jackpot.   

In the sixth race over 1600m Zabarjad won his maiden easily over this trip last time. It was an improved performance and he looks capable of progressing off his opening handicap mark of 69. Gavin Lerena is an eyecatching booking although it won’t be easy carrying topweight. Oh Yeah will appreciate the step up in trip and has been dropped two points after his disappointing handicap debut. He is capable of better than that last run. Riga D’Oro ran a fair race first time out the maidens last time over this trip at Scottsville and could earn. However, many others will have to be considered if Zabarjad is not bankered. 

In the seventh over 1400m Monopolize ran a flat race in his second run after a layoff over 1200m last time. Over this ideal trip he should bounce back. Greenwood Drive will be dangerous from the front and proved last time this trip is not too sharp for him. Rocky Night also represents the Peter yard and should enjoy this course and distance from a middle draw, Count Tassilo beat both Greenwood Drive and Rocky Night last time over 1450m and this six-year-old Silvano gelding has won over the course and distance before. Nordic Rebel enjoys this course and distance and has dropped to a competitive mark.         

In the last race over 1200m the two-year-old Lighthearted is an imposing sort and could not find a gap when appearing to be travelling well last time over this trip and this followed a good win over 1000m. He represents the flying Paul Peter yard and should be in the shake up. However, he does have a big weight and a high draw and it remains to be seen which draws will be favourable on the day. Steffi’s Graft has a lot of natural speed and probably found the 1400m a touch beyond her last time. Back over this trip she must have a shout and in that last race over 1400m a low drawn horse won so the number one draw here should not be a disadvantage. Pretty Jolly moved up well over 1400m last time but found no extra late and she might appreciate the step down in trip. Baahir can go close if repeating his penultimate run, although he did disappoint last time. Category Four was not disgraced over 1000m over the weekend and should appreciate the step up in trip.

By David Thiselton

Rainbow Bridge has been installed 15-10 favourite by the sponsors to gain July compensation in the World Sports Betting Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday fortnight.

But the runner-up in the Vodacom Durban July has enjoyed mixed fortunes in recent runnings of the Champions Cup. Marinaresco won it 2016 but the previous year Punta Arenas finished second last and in 2014 Wylie Hall (relegated to second in the July) managed only third last in the Champions Cup. In 2017 and 2018 the July second did not even run in the Champions Cup.

Last Sunday’s Turffontein winner Buffalo Bill Cody is 3-1 second favourite for the nine furlong R1 million Grade 1 with 12-1 quoted about July third Twist Of Fate, Soqrat, Oh Susanna and Cirillo. Eyes Wide Open, third in last year’s Champions Cup and fourth in the July, is next on 14-1 together with Undercover Agent whose trainer Brett Crawford has won four of the last six runnings of the Champions Cup.

Sean Tarry is now considered by the bookmakers to be virtually unassailable in his bid to become champion trainer for the fourth time in five seasons. He leads current champion Justin Snaith by some R2.5 million and is variously quoted at 1-2 and 7-20. Snaith and Mike de Kock (close behind Snaith) are both between 3-1 and 15-4.

The championship is decided on NHA figures which exclude sales races. The Sporting Post considers this unfair and its statistics (which put Tarry nearly R6 million clear) include these high value races. The racing paper has a point – the sales races are worth so much that they have become prime targets for all owners and trainers with eligible horses.

By Michael Clower

Highveld trainers are putting pressure on the locals, especially at the bottom end of scale and Paul Matchett is another trying to make hay when he runs Informative in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this afternoon.

Placed in all three starts to date, Informative shows good pace and was only touched off late when coming up empty over the final 100 m in his last start.

However, the Scottsville track is a little more testing than Turffontein and he could face serious opposition from Paul Lafferty’s first timer On The Bayou who has had the benefit of a gallop over the course and distance.

On The Bayou rocketed out of the gate and although this was only a barrier trial, the balance of the runners were left treading water. Stable companion Burmese Ruby made an early attempt to go with his stable companion but the others were left trailing nearly 13 lengths behind.

Time for the trial was not particularly fast but then On The Bayou was never put under pressure and cruised home under Mark Khan who will be in the hot seat again.

 Of the balance, Man Of Action was not too far back in open company last outing and can feature again while Live By Night and Mister Minister must also be considered.

In the second, Winter Chill showed up well in his barrier trial behind the filly Maidens Prayer. The latter finished runner-up to recent Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Cockney Pride in her debut which augurs well for the chances of Winter Chill but 9-10 are skinny odds.

Puller holds a strong hand in the seven-horse line-up with Double Espresso and Krisnies Jet also in the field. The betting should provide some indication as to the stable fancy.

Kom Naidoo was a little miffed that Rainbow Unicorn did not make it into the field for the Gr2 Golden Slipper ahead of a couple of maidens and will be looking to make a point in the third.

Castellano and Rainbow Unicorn look principal protagonists in the third. Rainbow Unicorn opened her account from a poor draw last time out but is three gates better off here.

Glen Kotzen is in a terrific vein of form at present and Castellano looks the biggest threat to Rainbow Unicorn. She is drawn even wider than her rival but came from well back when shedding her maiden over 1600m at Greyville and her turn of foot should hold her in good stead.

The fourth is a touch tricky with many going the trip for the first time. Favour (9-2) was not far back in a promising debut and put in a good trial before that. He has the best of the draw and Dean Kannemeyer’s string is hitting its straps. Lyle Hewitson is slowly edging clear in the defence of his national jockey title and teams up with his staunch supporter Sean Tarry with 14-10 ante-post favourite Shango. In spite of having the worst of the draw he has shown up well in two Highveld sprints.  The step up in trip should be right up his alley. Duncan Howells can put a spanner in the works with his two runners, All The Way Up and Saipan, both capable of improving on recent form.

Banking in a maiden event over 2400m is a risk but World Cruise (16-10) could fit the bill for the exotics in the fifth. Frank Robinson’s runner is consistent and more importantly proven over the trip. He may be the one to beat. What A Blast has not been far back since Dennis Bosch tried blinkers at his last two but has yet to go the trip. Just Prime and Belle Of Paris also warrant attention.

Don Pierro (7-1) has always been a bit of a handful but Tessa Rich did sterling work to get him settled before winning for her father Gary and his subsequent move to Bosch. The Australian-bred still has his quirks but is talented. He enjoyed the extra ground last start and with a light weight can follow up – but it will be close.  Before Noon (4-1) was narrowly beaten by Don Pierro when last they met but was subsequently a touch disappointing on the poly. He can do better here. Brighteyebushytail (14-1) is dropping in the handicap and has improved in blinkers while Walterthepenniless (9-2) has yet to run a bad race in blinkers and should be thereabouts again.

The seventh is wide open. Dallas (5-1) has been consistent and has improved further with blinkers and should go close here. Fives Wild (5-1) is in cracking form for his new stable and was game in defeat last time out. Luke-warm favourite Celebration Rock and Written look pick of the balance.

Finally, Rampancy was green and not far back when starting favourite on debut and could be good value at 5-1 in the ante-post market as she should come on with the experience. Ante-post favourite Innogen (2-1) ran in feature company last start, all of her runs being around the turn. She can improve down the straight course. Wishful Girl Linn has placed in all three starts and has gone well this trip. One to watch is Golden Syrup who has shown signs of coming to hand and can feature with Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard.

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By Andrew Harrison