It’s Justin Snaith who is the record-breaking trainer but younger brother Jonathan is the stable’s master strategist and the acknowledged form expert in the family. These are his views on the stable’s five runners in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July:

“At the weights African Night Sky is a worthy favourite.  His preparation has been flawless – and you couldn’t ask for a fitter horse.

African Night Sky (Candiese Marnewick)

“Do It Again is a high class individual. You can ignore his last run as it was his second run after a long rest and he didn’t produce his form. He is much better than that and you can expect him to return to his best on Saturday. He is a huge runner.

“Made To Conquer is a progressive sort and the type of older horse that often wins the July. He is a tough, hard-knocking individual and is sure to be competitive.

“Elusive Silva (Jono Snaith is a part-owner) was at one stage ante-post favourite for last year’s race but he got injured. He has had a fantastic prep and is a bit of a fairytale horse in that he was retired from racing with a tendon injury yet here he is back for the same race and with a realistic chance. He is a good horse and he has the class to win.

“Star Express has great form coming into the race but there are stamina doubts. She is best over 1 400m to a mile but, if she should get the trip, she will be a serious contender.”

Asked to single out one or two of the stable’s runners in the other races, he said: “Snowdance looks our banker of the day, the distance of the Betting World 2200 is a little bit short for Strathdon but he is so well in himself. We are very competitive in that race with Platinum Prince as well.”

By Michael Clower

The strict liability rule that holds a trainer responsible for almost anything that happens in their yard, or in some cases even out of it, is a major bone of contention worldwide.

Paul Gadsby

The rule most often applies to horses testing positive for prohibitive substances, and trainers presumed guilty no matter protestations of innocence.

Ashburton-based trainer Paul Gadsby fell foul of this draconian rule when he was found to be responsible and found guilty after his groom was caught kicking one of his horses in the belly in the wash bay at Greyville after a race.

According to the original charge sheet, the groom in his employ was caught kicking the horse Patroculus in the belly region, which horse was in his care and under his control as the trainer of that horse, thus mistreating the horse in question.

The Inquiry Board imposed a penalty of a fine of R40 000, of which R20 000 was suspended for a period of 12 months, provided that he is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 10.5.1, or a similar offence involving the abuse and/or ill-treatment of any horse during that period.

Gadsby lodged an appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed and after considering all the evidence the appeal board ruled that strict liability was not applicable in Gadsby’s case.

The appeal board accordingly upheld the appeal, set aside the finding and the penalty imposed and refunded Gadsby’s appeal deposit fee.

Lyle Hewitson, now virtually certain to join the select few who have become champion jockey while still an apprentice, rides at Durbanville for the first time for six months tomorrow.

“Adam Marcus rang me, said he had three nice rides and there is no racing in Durban that day,” says Hewitson, explaining his presence at the country course. It is this type of ‘have saddle, will travel’ approach to life that has played a big part in his path to the top.

Lyle Hewitson

The three Marcus rides are in three of the last four races and Marcus sees them more as place chances than banker bets. “We haven’t been able to do much of a preparation with Gyre (8-1 and off for nearly five months) but he did put up a good gallop at Kenilworth two weeks ago and he has done sufficient to run a nice race. The soft ground is not too much of a worry with him and he is a horse with a big heart.

“Red Rascal (9-2) has been doing well since his last run but has a wide draw to overcome so he will be tucked in and running on at the finish. Elusive Touch (9-2) ran a good race in the soft last time. She takes very little work and is in great form. Her winning chance is slim -she is drawn 12 out of 13 – but with luck in running she can run into the money.”

Hewitson’s other rides include longshots Princess Kika and Burano for Geoff Woodruff and 4-1 second favourite Chatuchak for Andre Nel in race seven, the Interbet.co.za Handicap. This one won over a furlong less in May but has yet to be tested in the soft.

He also has a chance on Sailor Sam (9-2) in the first but preference is for Greg Ennion’s other runner Rock Of Asia (7-2) who made much of the running when winning over the trip last time. Favourite at 15-10 is Tarsus who was not disgraced when pitched in against older horses in a handicap a month ago.

Star Angel impressed when scoring at Kenilworth on her last start nearly two months ago – she led and was soon three or four lengths clear, showing the sort of speed which helps tremendously on this course – and the 7-2 chance can defy a 3kg penalty in the TAB Telebet Juvenile Fillies. Vodka Lime (also 7-2) looks a big danger but 33-10 favourite Be Yourself is returning after a six-month absence.

Sparkeling Fire can recoup last time’s losses in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden Juvenile Fillies and Black Indy’s good draw may enable Grant van Niekerk’s mount to beat More Magic in the Betting World Maiden Juvenile.

By Michael Clower

Stalwart Cape trainer Vaughan Marshall lamented the tough draws he had landed on Vodacom Durban July day but said all of his charges were in fine shape.

He has a strong hand on the day and when asked which his best runner was, replied, “I am not prepared to put my head on the block from those draws.”

MJ Byleveld

Captain Al filly Canukeepitsecret jumps from draw 12 of 14 in the Grade 2 Samsung Golden Slipper over 1400m under MJ Byleveld. The small but tenacious two-year-old moved up well from a probably unfavourable high draw last time in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m at Scottsville and stayed on well for a 3,75 length fourth. Her full sister All Is Secret won the Allan Robertson in 2012 but then failed in the Gold Slipper when going handy from a wide draw. However, she then came back and won the Grade 1 Thekwini over 1600m from a good draw. Marshall and Byleveld might have those two results in mind when planning Saturday’s race.

Another full sister of Canukeepitsecret’s, The Secret Is Out, will attempt to go a mile for the first time in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m but has to jump from a draw of 13 under Byleveld. Last time out she used her speed to go handy from a plum draw of two in the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m and stayed on well to beat July runner Star Express by a quarter of a length at level weights. The blinkers remain on so Byleveld will have a tough task reserving enough for a final surge over this step up in trip. There looks to be plenty of pace in this race so he might have a problem trying to find a handy position. Dropping her out won’t be easy either as she has plenty of speed.

In the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m Marshall runs Provocateur from a draw of 11 out of 14. Byleveld took this Var colt handy from a draw of 8 out of 12 in early May over course and distance. He showed a fine turn of foot in the straight and ran all the way to the line. He faces the impressive winner of that race, Confessional, on the same terms for a one length beating, but the latter now has a much tougher draw to overcome. This race is full of class with the like of Cue The Music, Barahin and Soqrat also lining up but Provacateur could be the dark horse as he settled nicely despite having no cover in that aforementioned race and followed up by winning a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m on the poly by four lengths with first-time blinkers on. The blinkers are back on.

Marshall has two runners in the Compendium Insurance Brokers eThekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly, Woljayrine jumping from draw nine under Byleveld and Magic Sailor jumping from draw seven under Craig Bantam. Woljayrine won well over 1100m on the Greyville turf last time and is second best in at the weights here. Dutch Phillip, who is top class, is the one to beat.

In the last race, the Listed Greyville Convention Centre Handicap over 1600m on the turf, Marshall runs Lord Balmoral from a draw of ten. This horse likes to be handy over shorter so will not be a surprise pacemaker in his first attempt at this trip. However, he jumps slowly so Byleveld faces another tough task especially with the like of Eyes Wide Open in the field.

By David Thiselton

Jeff Lloyd hopes he has chosen the right horse in the Vodacom Durban July in which he will be aboard the Justin Snaith-trained four-year-old colt Made To Conquer.

Lloyd, a six-time South African champion jockey, has always been a particularly good rider of Greyville, where the uphill section from the 1000m mark up to the 450m long straight has found out many a lesser rider.

Jeff Lloyd (Supplied)

However, the July has always eluded him, although he has often gone close, finishing third on no fewer than eight occasions.

Made To Conquer has the pedigree to win the July.

He is by Dynasty, who won the big race in 2003 and produced the July winner of 2014, Legislate.

Dynasty’s progeny have a noticeable liking for the tight Greyville track due to their inherited ability to accelerate off the mark.

Made To Conquer is out of the Casey Tibbs mare Festive Occasion, who won the Grade 2 SA Oaks. Amomg Festive Occasion’s three Grade 1 placed efforts was a third place finish in the Woolavington 2200 over the July course and distance. Furthermore, she produced the Silvano filly Do You Remember, who won the Woolavington 2000 and followed up by finishing third in the July in 2013.

Lloyd was due to be in South Africa anyway in order to see how his son Jaden had been doing at the South African Jockeys Academy. He was given a few options for the July but plumped for Made To Conquer.

He said the bay colt had given him a good feel in the July gallops last Thursday and he was also pleased to discover the type of temperament he had.

He said, “He’s a good mover, he has a good temperament, but he’s not a horse who does more than he has to do. He is very laid back. I’ve ridden many horses who wait for the racecourse to do their best and I think he is one of them.”

Lloyd had admitted on the day of the gallops that he believed Made To Conquer would probably be at his very best in six months time. However, the veteran jockey certainly looks to have a fine chance of getting across the line first in his likely final bid to win the July.

He is due to retire soon but at the age of 56 is still at the top of his game. He broke the Queensland Metropolitan and State records for the number of winners in the 2016/2017 Australian racing season and is well clear in those championships again this season.

Made To Conquer is currently the 9/1 joint-third favourite with Betting World.

Lloyd will be hoping to make it a 95^th Group 1 winner and will jump from a fair draw of 11 if the reserve runners come out.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith, odds-on to win a third Vodacom Durban July with one of his five runners in the great race, has the favourite in a third of the 12 races at Greyville on Saturday.

In addition to African Night Sky (2-1 in the big one), Betting World makes Sergeant Hardy 5-2 for the tabGold Pinnacle, Platinum Prince 7-2 in the Betting Word 2200 and Snowdance a prohibitive 1-2 for the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province.

Interestingly two of those who didn’t make the cut for the July’s final field head the market in their respective consolation races. The Dean Kannemeyer-trained It’s My Turn is 4-1 favourite for the DStv Gold Vase and Perovskia is 5-1 joint favourite with Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open in the concluding Greyville Convention Centre Handicap. Jeff Lloyd will have his final South African ride on Harold Crawford’s Drill Hall winner.

Perovskia (Candiese Marnewick)

World Sports Betting, which has Snaith at 11-20 to win the July, quotes Sean Tarry next best at 15-2 and goes 10-1 Brett Crawford, 11-1 Paul Peter, 12-1 Mike and Adam Azzie,22-1 Paul Lafferty, 25-1 Mike de Kock, 33-1 and upwards others.

WSB is even betting on which horse finishes last. Secret Potion and the Snaith-trained Star Express share an unenviable favouritism at 9-2 while other leading contenders are the 11-2 shots Gold Standard, Liege, Fiorella and Rocket Countdown.

The threat by the Public Servants Association union to stage a protest at the meeting over Markus Jooste’s possible involvement has proved to be an empty one.

Last Friday the PSA issued a press release stating that it had written to both the National Horseracing Authority and Vodacom stating that horses linked to Jooste should not be allowed to run, with general manager Ivan Fredericks saying: “Vodacom, as an international brand, has a responsibility to society not to be associated with, or perceived to be purporting, the unethical behaviour that Mr Jooste is known for.”

However there is not one horse in the 12 races owned or part-owned either by Jooste or his Mayfair Speculators racing company.

Most of the PSA’s 240,000-plus members belong to the Government Employees Pension Fund which invested heavily in Steinhoff International and which has seen its investment virtually wiped out by the collapse in share price since Jooste’s shock resignation as CEO last December.

Last Friday the company published its results for the first time since Jooste’s departure. These show a total loss for the six months to March 31 of R9.6 billion. It was also revealed that the total value of overstated assets, coupled with the reversal of non arms-length transactions, was R98 billion. Even in international terms (€6.1 billion) this is a staggering figure.

BLOB Smart Call won for the first time since her triumph in the 2016 Met when scoring at Newcastle on Friday evening. The ten furlong Stobbart Energy Hoppings Fillies Stakes was her ninth race since leaving South Africa and was only a Group 3, and on the all-weather at that, but she quickened well when looking boxed in to lead inside the final furlong and justify 7-4 favouritism. She was ridden by Jim Crowley for Sir Michael Stoute.

By Michael Clower

The Highlands Stud Winter Derby meeting, including all its supporting features, will now be run on Saturday week (July 14), previously a blank day in the Cape Town racing calendar. The programme will be sent out this morning.

Last Saturday’s Kenilworth card was abandoned at 7.30am following further rain. “More was forecast to start around the time racing was due to begin and trying to get through just one or two races would have been ridiculous,” said Duty Manager Teresa Esplin.

Last Wednesday’s Durbanville meeting was also abandoned after parts of the course became waterlogged and, if the forecast of further rain today proves correct, Wednesday’s fixture at the country course could come under threat.

By Michael Clower

Defending champion Matador Man’s defection to the Vodacom Durban July next Saturday has left the door open for the filly Dawn Calling in the KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Runner-up to Matador Man last year, Duncan Howells has been meticulous in his planning for this event, and the filly will strip at her peak tomorrow.

Dawn Calling does her best at Greyville, her last win coming at the expense of the smart Ngaga in a Pinnacle Stakes. More recent was her close-up sixth in the Tibouchina Stakes behind The Secret Is Out after jumping from a difficult outside draw.

Dawn Calling

She takes on males here but this time has drawn three off the fence and she could take some catching.

Africa Rising has been lightly raced this term, having only his fourth start and his third after returning from a lengthy break. He would appear to have some issues but his last start was in the Hawaii Stakes so he does take a slight drop in class.

London Call is the best in at the weights but Mark Dixon’s runner appears best down the Scottsville straight where he has recorded 10 of his 11 victories. That said, he has won at Greyville but steps up in trip for the first time.

Unagi and Romany Prince come into the race with solid Highveld form and must rate chances while the improving Scrabble ran a cracking sprint behind the smart mare Isingamoya last time out and should prefer this trip.

The Million Mile is the only race on the turf with the balance of the card all on the poly track. The entire meeting is restricted to KZN-bred horses, each race carrying a stake of R200k, and punters are faced with a competitive card.

Isingamoya, racing in blinkers for the first time, got the better of the progressive Scrabble last time out and can follow up in the opening leg of the PA but she has to give the younger Victory Trip a hefty 8kg in the handicap which may be beyond her. Victory Trip trialled well behind the smart Traces in her latest visit to a race course and she boasts smart poly form. But it is a wide open affair with visiting runners Covered In Snow and Ouro unlikely to go down without a fight.

Wynkelder, third to Sniper Shot and Sunset Eyes in the Post Merchants, looks the part in the fourth with Hard To Play, Cumulus and Amazon King the obvious dangers.

Only six runners are carded for the fifth and if Wynkelder obliges, Tony Rivalland can pull off a quick double with the ever game Al Ciberano who has some useful poly form, albeit mostly over shorter. But he does have to five Fieldmarshal Fenix 5kg and Sean Tarry’s gelding was staying on nicely over 1200m at Scottsville last time out and can do better over this trip.

The sixth is something of a punter’s nightmare but Mighty Valdie has come good at his last two starts down the Vaal straight and was a touch unlucky behind Infamous Fox.

Champenois and Kahula make most appeal in the eighth and Mark Dixon can round off the afternoon with Fantasy Lady who is way better than her last effort in the soft.

By Andrew Harrison

Rock My Soul may lack the class of the top two in the Highlands Stud Winter Derby at Kenilworth tomorrow but he is the only horse in the field to have both won over the trip and in soft ground.

With more rain forecast for this evening the race could well turn into a stamina-sapping slog and the Joey Ramsden gelding proved his ability to handle that only ten days ago when his performance saw his rating upped by nine points.

Joey Ramsden

Hopefully the handicappers have interpreted the result correctly – he wouldn’t have had a prayer in this off his old mark – and, if they have, the 4-1 chance has only Ancestry and Doublemint to beat.

Ancestry, also Ramsden-trained and a possible fourth Winter Derby winner for Bernard Fayd’Herbe, has yet to reproduce his good two-year-old form, and has not won or been placed in the soft. But the 11-2 chance has only had one attempt at it and even then it was only yielding which doesn’t really compare with what it will be tomorrow.

Doublemint, 2-1 favourite, is similarly unproven in this ground. The race is his to lose on Winter Classic form, even with his kilo penalty, but he has not raced beyond 1 800m and there has to be a question mark over the final gruelling furlong.

Spring Man, on the other hand, should be in his element by that stage. He has not been further than 2 000m but his sire won over this trip and his dam is by Fort Wood. He was fourth in the Winter Classic and is rated only a kilo below Rock My Soul. Brett Crawford must be quietly fancying his chances of a first Winter Derby with this 4-1 shot.

Justin Snaith, bidding for his third successive Winter Derby, also runs Love Happens who has been backed from 7-1 to 11-2. Richard Fourie’s mount has to still to prove that he goes in the ground but his sire Silvano is an influence for stamina.

Of the others 25-1 chance Pacific Chestnut has won over the trip but has been unplaced in both runs in softish ground. Power Tower (14-1) beat Rock My Soul half a length over 2000m at Durbanville in April but was receiving 4.5kg plus apprentice allowance.

Fresnaye should get the trip in the Winter Oaks but her 7-10 price is prohibitive. The unbeaten One World has to concede two kilos and more in the Langerman and that’s a stiff task in this ground. Even so, he is hard to oppose.

Helen’s Ideal may not have beaten anything special when she won on debut four weeks ago but she looked a smart sort and at 6-1 she can beat the big guns in the Irridescence.

Brave Move’s ability to handle the ground is unproven – despite what it says in the Tab sheet – but she still appeals at 5-2 in the Ladies Mile.

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Standside meeting on Sunday is headlined by three good class Pinnacle Stakes events which are full of interest.

In the 1600m Pinnacle Arctica is well in at the weights and this classy type is also perfectly course and distance suited. He is a handy type who keeps on finding extra and is coming off a good third in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over course and distance in which he stayed on strongly and was a touch unlucky as he had to be steadied at the 300m mark. The main dangers could be the honest sort Pilou, who was beaten just half-a-length by subsequent Jubilee winner Yakeen over course and distance in his last start. Infamous Fox is a three-year-old on the up who is drawn in pole and he could also be involved in the finish.

Arctica

In the 2400m Pinnacle last year’s Gold Cup winner Hermoso Mundo has his second run after an injury forced layoff. He was staying on strongly last time in the Gold Bowl over 3200m when needing the run and is very well weighted in this race according to official merit ratings. Furthermore, he has the good 4kg claimer Luke Ferraris aboard so will be hard to beat. Kitty’s Destiny was 1,5 lengths ahead of Hermoso Mundo when finishing a 1,5 length third in the Gold Bowl and if apprentice claims are included he is now 6kg worse off. However, he has always struck as a staying type and looks the most likely runner up. Just Cruised in finished second in the Gold Bowl but is 2kg worse off with Kitty’s Destiny for a half-a-length beating.

The 1160m Pinnacle will be the most competitive of the three races. Queen Laurie has speed and class and proved it when running fourth in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m. However, she often starts awkwardly so a lot depends on how well she jumps. She showed in the Computaform she is capable of sitting behind horses and running on strongly. Females are given an allowance in these Pinnacle events so she has a fine chance on paper too. Pure Blonde, coming off a fine fourth place in the Post Merchants, enjoys this course and distance and has a high draw which is usually favourable. Rocky Valley comes off a fourth place in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and was fifth in the Computaform Sprint so also has a chance. Champagne Haze is the best weighted of the male runners but has to put two disappointing runs behind him, including when more than two lengths behind Queen Laurie and Rocky Valley in the Computaform. Romi’s Boy has speed and can stay on so can never be ignored.

In the next race Premier Show is an up and coming three-year-old who drops back to sprints after failing in his first attempt at a mile in the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Camel Walk is the one to beat as he bounced back to form earlier in the week and does not face a strong field.

By David Thiselton