Category Archives: July

Strydom stays loyal to Trip Tease

Posted on by

Vodacom Durban July-winning jockey Piere Strydom admitted he had jumped off Talktothestars for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, to be run this Saturday at Greyville, only because of loyalty to the connections of Trip Tease.

He said, “I have been riding for Louis (Goosen) and Mr Ferreira for so long and don’t want to mess it up for just one ride. But, if that was not the case I would have chosen to ride Talktothestars without a doubt. “

Trip Tease has only ever raced beyond 1000m once, but Strydom said the speedster had been settling a bit better lately, so was hopeful he would stay the 1200m trip. The five-year-old Trippi gelding, who has won 15 of his 25 races, has only been around the turn once on turf, and that was when winning over 1000m early in his career on the Turffontein Inside track. Strydom felt only Saturday’s race would tell how he handled the Greyville turn.

Strydom makes Talktothestars, whom he won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint on, as well as Trip To Heaven the pair to beat on Saturday. He said the only thing in Trip Tease’s favour over that pair was his pole position draw.

Meanwhile, Trip To Heaven and Talktothestars are drawn 5 and 15 respectively. Strydom concluded, “Hopefully from the draw we have a chance.”

The Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate provided Strydom with a record-equalling fourth July victory two weekends ago. The brilliant rider joined the great Harold “Tiger” Wright as well as Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech on that mark.

Piere Strydom poster: Gold Circle Publishing

Piere Strydom poster: Gold Circle Publishing

Strydom compared his first July winner London News (1996) to The Conglomerate, “London News was made for the July, he had natural gatespeed, he travelled well and he had great acceleration. But The Conglomerate didn’t have much in his favour and everything had to come right on the day.”

He had committed to ride for owner Markus Jooste after one of his many original options Black Arthur had initially been set to carry 53kg. However, he admitted asking to be released from this commitment after winning the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on Mac De Lago. The answer was no and he then still had to wait for Anton Marcus to make his choice too.

He said, “I was only on The Conglomerate at the last minute and we then drew 20. But on the day everything just worked out extremely well from the point of view of soundness, the way he behaved at the start, the way he started, then there wasn’t much pace, so he got there for nothing and then he quickened well. You don’t always get all of that.”

In the back of his mind had been the strangeness of the weight structure, with most of the field including all bar one of the three-year-olds being under sufferance.

However, in his analysis “nothing stood out” and ”form-wise there was about 2,5 lengths from first to last, everything had a small chance.” Therefore, when getting into his handy position for nothing he was confident he had a chance, especially with the going being quick on the day.

His confidence proved well founded as the four-year-old Australian-bred Lonhro gelding quickened well and had the race won before the flying Marinaresco arrived on the scene to be beaten just 0,25 lengths.

Strydom’s milestone 5000th winner was also achieved in the Jooste colours on a Ramsden-trained horse when winning the Gr 2 Selangor Cup on November 22, 2014, on Act Of War.

The peerless jockey has already ridden three Gr 1 winners since coming back from a three-and-half-month layoff for a broken collar bone on May 24 and will be hoping to add another one on Saturday.

David Thiselton

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed retired

Posted on by

The talented five-year-old bay gelding – one of the best-fancied runners – cantered home with a bloody nose in last Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July. After the race Kannemeyer, owner Lady Christine Laidlaw and Jehan Malherbe, racing manager for her Khaya Stables, discussed the matter and decided to retire Solid Speed.

Said Kannemeyer: “He ruptured blood vessels in both nostrils. He was travelling exceptionally well at the 1200m but was suddenly off the bit. Jockey Stuart Randolph started pushing but finally just put his hands down.

“Lady Laidlaw is absolutely passionate about her horses and, given Solid Speed has had issues before, we all felt strongly he had done enough. He has been very good to us.

“We fancied him in the Durban July, but unfortunately these things do happen.”

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the VDJ Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the VDJ Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed will be staying with Kannemeyer to become schoolmaster to his babies and in the paddock. “I love all my horses, but he’s a stable favourite,” said the Cape-based trainer. “I don’t think he knows how to kick or bite – but he certainly knows how to run. He’s a magnificent, big, beautiful horse. He’s a special one.”

Solid Speed, a gelded son of Dynasty, ran only 15 times in his career for eight wins from 1600m to 2400m, including the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 in May. His four places include a third in last year’s Grade 2 Gold Vase and a fourth in the stayers’ race on Met Day.

Kannemeyer also saddled Mambo Mime in the Durban July. He is happy enough with the colt’s 3.85-length 10th behind The Conglomerate. “It was a very good run, given the grey filly rolled on to him in the final 100m. Jockey Keagan de Melo said he thought Mambo Mime was coming through to win the race. Without the interference, he would have been closer.”

Mambo Mime might have one more run this season, in the Grade 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday 30 July.

The Champions Cup is run on Gold Cup Day and Kannemeyer has two horses lined up for the country’s biggest marathon – Balance Sheet and Solar Star, who both ran in last Saturday’s 3000m Gold Vase.

Balance Sheet started favourite for the Gold Vase but finished second last, while Solar Star ran a “great race” in fifth behind the Mike de Kock-trained Quartet: Enaad, Smart Mart, Kingston Mines and Kinaan.

Kannemeyer said punters should “put a line” through Balance Sheet’s Gold Vase run. “He stopped to nothing but knocked himself and was a bit swollen the next day. He’s back to normal now.”

So, he could well recoup losses in the R1.25-million eLAN Gold Cup (Grade 2) over 3200m at Greyville at the end of the month.

TABnews (Nicci Garner)

Zodiac Ruler’s not done

Posted on by

Justin Snaith’s horses have all pulled up well from Vodacom Durban July day and he said the unbeaten Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Zodiac Ruler would be considered for the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on eLan Gold Cup day.

He also spoke of his empathy for distraught owner Adriaan van Vuuren, having been in the same boat before, while at the same time coming out in defence of Gold Circle and KZN racetracks.

Snaith said the only reason Zodiac Ruler had ended up being at his Summerveld SA Champions Season yard was because the colt had been at his satellite yard in Johannesburg at the time of the latter’s closure. The two-year-old had not been allowed to return to Cape Town without going through quarantine. Snaith said his Johannesburg satellite yard had been closed because it had not been financially viable. He added it had only been opened in the first place because he had been led to believe restricted races would be included in the National Trainer’s Championships, but the NHRA had later changed their minds.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith said about the classy Zodiac Ruler, “I had never thought much of him, because we don’t push our babies. We have done very little with him.”

On debut over 1400m on the Greyville poly Zodiac Ruler was allowed to go off at odds of 14/1. Yet, despite losing four lengths at the start, he had still managed to get up to win under apprentice Lyle Hewitson.

 

On Saturday, just two-and-a-half weeks after that debut and now ridden by Richard Fourie, he was slow away by two lengths in the 1400m turf contest and was green early on the turn before settling beautifully on the rail behind a fast pace. Class usually comes through in a true run race and so it proved. He was last at the 400m mark, but then moved through effortlessly to put himself in contention. He responded well to the whip from the 250m mark and won with what looked to be plenty in hand by 1,5 lengths, converting odds of 8/1. The time of 82,23 seconds was only just outside the class record.

Zoidac Ruler is one of a number of successful horses Paul Lafferty has bought in Australia during his time as South African ambassador to the Magic Millions Sales company. The Summerveld trainer  said he had always believed Zodiac Ruler’s sire Zoffany would make it. He was proven correct immediately as the son of Dansili was the European Champion first crop sire in Europe in 2015. Zoffany won a Gr 1 over six furlongs in Ireland, but his biggest claim to fame was finishing just three-quarters of a length runner-up to the mighty Frankel in the Gr 1 St. James Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot.

Prolific owner Fred Crabbia spotted Zodiac Ruler on Lafferty’s website, liked the look of both him and the pedigree and duly bought him. He was spelled by Jane Thomas at Far End Pre-training in Mooi River and she described him as being “magic”. Crabbia then put him through the CTS Lanzerac Ready To Run Sale and had to go to R450,000 to buy him back, despite Thomas having not gone anything other than slowly with him either at home or at the Ready To Run breeze ups due to him still being too “big and dum”.

Snaith continued, “The Greyville track doesn’t look good, but all of our horses have pulled up well. Our horses have in fact had more injuries in other centres than in KZN this season and I have the statistics to prove it.”

He added, “It is not easy these days and I think Graeme Hawkins and Gill Simpkins and others at Gold Circle did a fine job in making the July a success and the Tote turnovers were up.”

Snaith said the field and draw for the Premier’s Champions Challenge would be “looked at”, before a decision to run Zodiac Ruler was made.

He said of his July runners, “The main thing is they all came back safely.”

He had few excuses, but said Black Arthur had unfortunately been carried outward at the top of the straight and had thus ended up on the outside rail, where they had not wanted him to be. The colt had then been conscious of the crowd, so was reluctant to take the gap. Jockey Douglas Whyte believed he could have otherwise possibly finished third.

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Richard Fourie lamented not being able to have a horse to offer cover for his mount It’s My Turn, who had to jump from a tricky draw of 12. He said his reasons were more due to “peace of mind” than anything else as the horse had settled nicely throughout. It’s My Turn sat in third on the quarters of Ten Gun Salute. Fourie pointed out the winner had sat behind him, so he believed he had been in the right place. The Crabbia-owned horse stayed on well for fourth. Fourie concluded by saying the Dynasty colt might have even won had he been “more forward (mature).”

Anthony Delpech said yesterday Bela-Bela had lost her position when bumped around early and felt she might otherwise have finished in the top four.

Snaith said none of his July runners were likely to appear again this season.

Snaith said about Triple Crown-winning owner Adriaan van Vuuren’s shock statement he would be pulling out of horseracing, “He is talking from his heart, he loves his horses and I know what it is like to have a horse injured, we had to endure this anxiety with Legislate two years ago. He (Van Vuuren) doesn’t deserve to be taken to pieces like this in the media and it is due to people like him that so many are able to be employed in the industry.”

David Thiselton

vdj crowd

Tote players win big

Posted on by

Nearly R150 million was wagered on the tote on Vodacom Durban July day last Saturday and several TAB and tabGOLD customers won huge amounts for relatively small outlays.

The TAB Quartet pool on the big race, boosted by a R1.2-million carryover, soared to more than R17 million and several Quartet players had six-figure wins for small amounts.

A TAB customer in Embalenhle in Mpumalanga and a tabGOLD client selected the first four past the post in the Durban July and played them in a R24 Quartet Box. Each collected the full payout of R152,149 – over 6,000 times their outlay.

Another tabGOLD customer in Chatsworth bet a R20 Quartet on the Durban July and took home R126,790, while a player in Howick in KwaZulu-Natal bet a R100 Quartet and collected R633,954.

The biggest winner on the meeting was a TAB telephone betting customer in the Western Cape, who bet a R3,120 Pick 6 permutation and won nearly R1.5 million.

A Stanger-based player was another big winner, playing a R500 Pick 6 permutation and collecting R902,615!

A TAB customer bet a R220 Pick 6 at Gold Reef City and collected R176,510 and a Mabopane player won R103,155 on the Pick 6 with a R150 bet.

A Western Cape-based digital customer was the sharpest Pick 6 player on the day with a R120 permutation delivering a payout of R541,569.

The Pick 6 pool started with a R4-million carryover and the total pool was more than 14 million.

 

Shining moment for Ramsden

Posted on by

Joey Ramsden consolidated himself as a top echelon trainer on Saturday when adding the Vodacom Durban July to his glittering CV with the Australian-bred The Conglomerate, while Piere Strydom showed once again why he is regarded as one of South Africa’s greatest ever jockeys.

That it takes a top trainer to win the country’s premier race is evident in the winner’s roll. In fact, Ramsden became only the ninth trainer this century to have won the July.

Pundits are always experts afterwards, but a look at last year’s July ultimately provided the best clue to The Conglomerate’s chances.

He jumped from the widest draw of all in last year’s race as a three-year-old and connections were left wondering what might have been. His inexperienced jockey had panicked coming up the hill and from last place on the rail had soon found himself widest of all entering the straight, but still last. Yet, the horse still managed to move up strongly on the standside rail and looked to have a ton in hand when faced with a wall of horses and nowhere to go. In retrospect, had the jockey remained patient at the back and made his run down the centre or inside, he could have threatened the winner, or at least the placed horses.

This year, The Conglomerate jumped from the same barrier position, but significantly had one of the all-time great jockeys in world history aboard. However, what had likely led to him being largely ignored by pundits was his form since last year’s July. Furthermore, Strydom had only been given second choice of the Markus Jooste-owned horses behind retained jockey Anton Marcus, who had plumped for St. Tropez.

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate’s two best performances in seven outings this season had been fourth place finishes in both the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m. He had lacked zip in the finish in the 1900, but in his defence it was his second run after a four month layoff and gelding. His Cup Trial run was difficult to analyse as he was involved in a bumping match with Saratoga Dancer on the outside which led to him being demoted from third to fourth.

The four-year-old son of Lonhro duly ran in this year’s race off a merit rating of only 101, seven points lower than a year ago, and from being 1kg under sufferance last year, he was now 2,5kg under sufferance.

Furthermore, as the Cup Trial was a handicap and the Betting World 1900 a merit-rated bands conditions race, he was going to have improve a number of lengths from those last two runs.

Ramsden thus pulled off a magnificent training feat on Saturday. He had spoken beforehand of the tremendous work The Conglomerate had been putting in at Summerveld and of a faultless preparation. Strydom then came to the party and rode a fantastic race, managing to slot the bay into a handy position from the wide draw.

The final factor was the trip, only the horse’s second attempt beyond 2000m. He once again relished it and quickened well before staying on resolutely.

Ironically, The Conglomerate was one of the many horses in the race affected by the much talked about “manipulation” of the weights. Had Legal Eagle been scratched before the setting of the weights, The Conglomerate would have been perfectly handicapped i.e. scraping into the handicap with the minimum weight for an older horse of 53kg. Instead, he carried 55,5kg and was 2,5kg under sufferance.

The charismatic Ramsden provided entertainment in the build up to the July with his antics at the draw ceremony and was also at his best on Saturday, bowing ceremoniously to President Zuma with hands out-stretched before receiving the trophy.

David Thiselton

Handicappers take on the July

Posted on by

The handicappers have used the fourth-placed It’s My Turn as the line horse to assess Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July and this has spared the winner and placed horses from receiving big raises in their merit ratings.

The Conglomerate, who was in the race 2,5kg under sufferance, has been raised from 101 to 106 for his victory, the impressive runner up Marinaresco, who was 4,5kg under sufferance, has been raised from 101 to 109, and fifth-placed Saratoga Dancer, who was 5,5kg under sufferance, has been raised from 95 to 101.

It’s My Turn, who was 2,5kg under sufferance, remains on 105.

Had third-placed Mac De Lago been used as the line horse it would have been a different story and they would have all received considerably bigger raises.

However, the handicappers look to have done the right thing in the overall context of the race, considering the only five horses which were actually in the handicap finished third (Mac de Lago), ninth (Master Sabina), eleventh (French Navy), thirteenth (Abashiri) and last (Solid Speed) respectively.

Overall these five have clearly run below their ratings, so it would have been unfair to assess the winner and placed horses against one of them.

David Thiselton

vdj slide fin

July numbers up

Posted on by

Gold Circle’s commercial executive Patrick Loker was ebullient after the Vodacom Durban July totalisator figures showed an upturn from last year in every department despite the budgeted for amounts having predicted a downturn.

He said, “We are exceptionally pleased to have achieved this in the current economic climate and I would like to thank everybody who contributed.”

Gold Circle’s totalisators turned over R28,116,818 on the July alone compared to R27,728,586 last year, an up turn of 1,4%, and this was 9,62% higher than their budgeted for figure of only R25,648,994.

SAFTOTE turnovers showed a 5,16% increase on the July, going up from R56,095,080 to R58,987,753.

Gold Circle’s totalisators turned over R58,867,624 on the Greyville meeting on Saturday, which was 0,2% higher than last year and 8,32% higher than their budgeted for figure.

SAFTOTE turned over R127,960,447 on the Greyville meeting, which was 7,71% higher than last year.

Gold Circle’s turnovers for all venues on the day was R62,803,905, which was 1,01% higher than last year and 8,94% higher than their budgeted for figure.

SAFTOTE’s turnover for all venues was R144,992,274, which was 7,34% higher than last year.

David Thiselton

What the jockeys said

Posted on by

Piere Strydom – The Conglomerate (won): “He has misbehaved at the start in the past but this time he jumped beautifully. The pace was spot on for me and it was just a matter of him kicking at the top of the straight -which he did. I wasn’t aware that Marinaresco was coming so quickly but as against that my horse hit the front fairly easily.”

Grant van Niekerk – Marinaresco (2nd): “I was unlucky with my draw as I was always going to drop him in and I was second last turning for home. He then put his ears flat back and took off. He is a good horse but the winner had too big an advantage. It was disappointing, especially for Mr Bass.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe – Mac De Lago (3rd): “I didn’t have cover but I was happy where I was sitting. He ran a good race but the penalty for his last win cost him.”

Richard Fourie – It’s My Turn (4th): “He settled good and was moving nicely. At the 450m I asked him and he responded. He did everything as I asked.’

Anthony Delpech – Bela-Bela (6th): “She ran a fantastic race. I would like to have been a bit closer but I couldn’t hold my place. Possibly she is not yet strong enough to hold her own against the colts.”

Dougie Whyte – Black Arthur (7th): “He was a little intimidated by Mac De Lago leaning on him and taking me to the outside rail. I would have been 3rd otherwise.”

Gavin Lerena – Master Sabina (9th): “I would have been happier racing two lengths closer but the horse on my outside came in and I had to drop back a bit. But he finished well and ran on strongly.”

Weichong Marwing – French Navy (11th): “It wasn’t his day. He wasn’t enjoying the hard going.”

Anton Marcus – St Tropez (17th):  “I had every chance and I followed the winner but my horse just emptied.”

By Michael  Clower

 

 

 

 

The Conglomerate comes up trumps

Posted on by

Few saw it coming. Even trainer Joey Ramsden was sceptical beforehand, even more so after The Conglomerate drew the extreme outside gate. But under a superb tactical ride from Piere Strydom the 20-1 shot pulled off a memorable win in yesterday’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Always handy Strydom moved his mount through smoothly under hands and heels to hit the front 200m out and had the race in the bag in a matter of strides. The diminutive Marinaresco came from the rear of the field to finish a neck second.  There was a scramble for the minor placings with Mac De Lago getting up late for third to deny It’s My Turn with rank outsider Saratoga Dancer also running on well in fifth.

Favourite, the grey filly Bela-Bela, was finishing off her race but never threatened. With the tote paying six places she did just enough to save place punters.

It was a belated birthday present for an emotional Strydom who turned 50 last month. It was also a fourth win for Strydom in the country’s richest race and his second from the widest draw after getting home narrowly aboard Pomodoro in 2012.

Ever the professional Strydom was offered the ride on Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Mac De Lago who looked a better proposition, but he had already committed to ride for the Jooste’s and their racing manager Derek Brugman even though retained rider Anton Marcus had the pick of the rides.

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

“It was an exceptional ride,” said Ramsden, “Although he should thank his compardres in the weighing room. They let him in so easily.”

“This is always a great day. I have been coming here for 18 years and it’s always great racing.”

He had a consoling word for the owners of second-placed Marinaresco. They must be sad an heartsore. Marsh (Shirtliff) and Bryn (Ressell) are good friends of mine and great owners.”

A win for Marinaresco would have signed off on a memorable career for trainer Mike Bass who retires at the end of the month.

There are no immediate plans for the winner with the eLan Gold Cup and the Mike and Carol Bass Champion Stakes coming up at month’s end. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t stay (the Gold Cup trip) but he will be at the top of the handicap. It’s up to Derek to decide.”

Dubai is an unlikely option. “I’m not quite sure he’s good enough,” Ramsden said.

Marinaresco must now rate as the best three-year-old in the country as he came from last at the top of the straight. He showed a tremendous turn of foot and ran past all but The Conglomerate with ease although Ramsden was never worried. “I think Piere knew he had it in the bag.”

Weiho Marwing gave Mac De Lago the thumbs up. “He ran a great race.” Brother Weichong said French Navy had every chance even though he missed the break but was not suited to the slow pace.

There were some hard luck stories. Solid Speed returned with a nosebleed while both Triple Crown hero Abashiri and St Tropez, stable companion to the winner, returned lame.

Inara (Nkosi Hlophe)

Inara (Nkosi Hlophe)

Star filly Inara finally broke her KZN hoodoo and landed her fifth Gr1 with victory in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Unplaced last year behind Same Jurisdiction, she put the record straight as she ground out a win from off a strong pace to keep Strydom at bay and a Gr1 double as Olma finished with a rattle but too late to make a difference to the result. Pacemaker Bichette stayed on for third.

“Things didn’t go right for her last year,” said Candice Robinson assistant to her father Mike Bass who hands over the reins his daughter come the end of the month.  This could well be Bass’s final Gr1 of his career and winning rider Grant van Niekerk was profuse in his praise as it was Bass who recognised his talent and gave a raw jockey, just recently out of his apprenticeship, the plum job of stable jockey.

What made the win more special is that Inara has now won in three different centres, having won the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein back in April and three others in her home town.

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Second in the Vodacom Durban July last year when trained by now retired Stan Elley, Punta Arenas did not make this year’s final field but made up for it by winning the “July” consolation, the DELTA Air Lines 2200m. Now with Dennis Drier, Punta Arenas kept finding extra to deny the Mike de Kock pair of The Centenary and Alghadeer, the latter failing to reach his reserve when offered for auction last week.

Second and third in the DELTA Airlines, De Kock trumped that with a 1-2-3-4 in the SABC Gold Vase over 3000m.

Kingston Mines was sent out as the hare and opened a good few lengths on his rivals coming up the hill at the 800 m mark. He kept finding in the straight but was challenged by Smart Mart. These two looked to have the race to themselves before Enaad finished with a wet sail, running them both down in the shadow of the post with Kinaan finishing the best of the others to snatch fourth.

Leading all the way, Final Judgement pulled of a 25-1 surprise in the Gold Circle Golden Slipper, rallying under a strong ride from Stuart Randolph to narrowly hold off the attentions of Dawn Calling and Sail. Odds-on favourite Maleficent, prominent throughout surrendering tamely to finish unplaced.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jumping from pole position, Randloph had no hesitation taking Final Judgement to the lead with Muzi Yeni slotting Dawn Calling perfectly into position behind the favourite.

Once in the straight Maleficent left Dawn Calling in the clear and she was left to chase home Final Judgement.

Two-year-old male form has been muddling but Zodiac Ruler put up his hand with a superb victory in the Durban Golden Horseshoe.  The imposing Justin Snaith-trained colt was again slow out of the gate and found himself at the tail end of the field.  “They went very fast. That suited me,” said rider Richard Fourie.

Duncan Howells was super confident of the chances of his filly Lunar Rush in the KZN Yearling Sale Million and so it proved. Anthony Delpech took the race by the scruff from the start and the result was never in doubt. This was the second win in the race for Howells who also scored with crack filly Same Jurisdiction two years back.

 

 

The Conglomerate wins the 2016 Vodacom Durban July

Posted on by

VDJ slide fin 1

The Conglomerate, under a superb tactical ride from Piere Strydom, pulled off a memorable win in today’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Always handy Strydom moved his mount through smoothly under hands and heels to hit the front 200m out and had the race in the bag in a matter of strides. The diminutive Marinaresco came from the rear of the field to finish a neck second ahead of Mac De Lago, It’s My Turn and Saratoga Dancer in fifth. Favourite, the grey filly Bela-Bela, did just enough to save place punters in sixth.

It was a fourth win for Strydom in the country’s richest race but the first for trainer Joey Ramsden and owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste.

“It was an exceptional ride,” said Ramsden. “This is always a great day. I have been coming here for 18 years and it’s always great racing.”

Marinaresco must now rate as the best three-year-old in the country as he came from last at the top of the straight. He showed a tremendous turn of foot and ran past all but The Conglomerate with ease although Ramsden was never worried. “I think Piere knew he had it in the bag.”

Weiho Marwing gave Mac De Lago the thumbs up. “He ran a great race.” Brother Weichong said French Navy had every chance even though he missed the break but was not suited to the slow pace.

There were some hard luck stories. Solid Speed returned with a nosebleed while both Triple Crown hero Abashiri and St Tropez, stable companion to the winner, returned lame.

Andrew Harrison
Picture: Nkosi Hlophe

2016 Vodacom Durban July result

July 2, Greyville Race 7

Win 14 = R 24.50
Place 14 = R 3.40
Place 13 = R 3.20
Place 2 = R 4.20
Place 9 = R 1.90
Place 17 = R 4.90
Place 18 = R 1.40
Swinger 13/14 = R 67.90
Swinger 2/14 = R 90.50
Swinger 2/13 = R 75.50
Exacta 14/13 = R 461.60
Trifecta 14/13/2 = R 12465.10
Quartet 14/13/2/9 = R 152149.10
Double 14/14 = R 258.40
Favourite: 18
Scratchings: 6,20