Former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate will be one of the centres of attention when he runs in the Gr2 Post Merchants at Greyville tonight. Legislate’s stud career was cut short as he has fertility problems so just how he performs back on the racetrack after an absence of two years will be interesting.

He hacked up in a recent barrier trial at Scottsville but tonight’s race is a different proposition. He was carrying plenty of condition in his trial and is unlikely to strip anywhere near his peak, but he does have class on his side.

The Post Merchants has a reputation of throwing up surprise results and tonight’s race could be no different as it has attracted a highly competitive field and the list of possible winners is a long one.

Legislate

Likely favourite is the Brett Crawford-trained Sunset Eyes, who finished second to stable companion Bold Respect in the recent Tsogo Sun Sprint. Sunset Eyes recorded his last win over Friday’s course and distance and both he and the Crawford stable are in mustard form.

Joey Ramsden was disappointed with Attenborough’s run in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner will be out to redeem himself. Ramsden blamed a wide draw at Scottsville and he has fared better here and will jump from a mid-field draw of seven.

Sniper Shot is smart and versatile although dropping back to 1200m after contesting the Daisy Guineas may be a problem albeit that he has run Sunset Eyes close on two occasions.

Alec Laird tends to fly under the radar and Pure Blonde could be the surprise package of the race. The gelding has some solid Highveld form and the blinkers are back on which should see him improve on his effort behind Bold Respect and Sunset Eyes in the In Full Flight Handicap.

Dennis Drier is chasing hard to regain his KZN Champion Trainer title he lost to perennial rival Duncan Howells last season and Caliente will be a strong fancy in the card opener after a smart barrier trial led to a promising debut.

However, he could find the year older Pavarotti Passion difficult to beat. Mark Dixon’s gelding has been a nightmare at the gates but showed in his first barrier trial that he has plenty of ability. His next trial is best ignored and the fact that he lines up this evening means that he has been passed at the gate.

Merit ratings have been a hot topic of debate this past week after African Night Sky seemingly got off lightly after his victory in the Cup Trial but that’s a debate for another day. An interesting runner tonight will be the showing by Flying Myth in the Wild Coast Sun Handicap.

Sean Tarry’s runner obviously has his problems given his record of time between races and they have not been at all good since winning a Juvenile Maiden back in 2016.

He started his three-year-old career off a rating of 93. That has dropped to this evening’s 66 and given his recent form that is probably a fair assessment.

But the fact that Tarry has persisted with the gelding may tell a tale and the switch to the poly track could hold the key. He’s not one for a big wager but also one that you cannot ignore.

By Andrew Harrison

The shortest priced female in the Vodacom Durban July, Cascapedia, is still on course for the big race despite having had to be scratched from the Jubilee Handicap on Sunday due to a spiked temperature.

Cascapedia (JC Photographics)

Her trainer Mike de Kock lambasted the handicappers for what he perceived to be inconsistencies in treatment of different July runners, including his own charge Yakeen, who won the Jubilee.

Assistant trainer Matthew de Kock said about Cascapedia, ““This is a setback as we’ve missed two prep runs with her, but this won’t change our plans. She’s already better, her blood’s not quite right yet but she will be fine. She has been doing really well in her work and we’ll give her a public gallop if needs be.”

De Kock pointed out that African Night Sky had run to at least a 121 merit rating in the Sun Met (he escaped punishment as a local rule states only the first five horses in a Grade 1 race can have their merit ratings upwardly adjusted and he finished a short-head behind the fifth-placed horse.)

African Night Sky duly won the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville with consummate ease on Saturday but was only raised four points, while Yakeen “fell across the line” in the Jubilee but received the same four point raise.

Matthew said about the Australian-bred three-year-old Teofilo colt Yakeen, “It will be hard to leave him out of the July now.”

By David Thiselton

The Paul Lafferty-trained Sniper Shot should go close on formlines in tomorrow night’s Grade 2 post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville. However, he had an interruption in his training program due to a sales offer and then had to be scratched from the Tsogo Sun Sprint due to a pulled muscle in his back. But all is now well with the three-year-old Judpot gelding and Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh said, “He has put up a good grass gallop and is looking fantastic.”

Do It Again (Candiese Marnewick)

Sniper Shot failed the pisoplasma test after being the subject of a sales offer. In his last three runs he won the Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m at Scottsville, finished second in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville to subsequent Grade 1 winner Undercover Agent and then finished second in the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas at Greyville to Do It Again.

Previous to that he had run twice at Scottsville over tomorrow night’s trip of 1200m and been beaten both times by Post Merchants contender Sunset Eyes. In the first of those meeting he gave Sunset Eyes 1kg and was beaten two lengths and in the second meeting in February he received half-a-kilogram and was beaten 0,75 lengths.

He now faces Sunset Eyes at level weights. However, if weight for age changes are taken into consideration he is 3,5kg better off for a two length beating and 1,5kg better off for a 0,75 length beating, so there is very little in it.

However, Betting World have Sunset Eyes as the 5/2 favourite and Sniper Shot is at 8/1.

Sunset Eyes does have a draw advantage of pole position vs draw ten, which is a big factor.

Sniper Shot was kept wide in order to overcome a wide draw in the Byerley Turk and ended lying third in the running alongside the well drawn Undercover Agent, but it will be tough to repeat that tactic against classy speedsters over a 200m shorter trip. Nevertheless, he should be running on strongly as he loves Greyville.

By David Thiselton

Candice Bass-Robinson, already one ahead of her first season 88-winner total, has a favourite’s chance of collecting with Dutch Philip in the Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The US$500 000 CTS 1200 winner heads the market at 18-10 with World Sports Betting which has the Vaughan Marshall-trained Olympian next on 9-2 with Master’s Spirit on 11-2. Justin Snaith has snapped up 4kg-claiming rising talent Luke Ferraris for the last-named.

Mrs Bass-Robinson’s second string Tevez is a 7-1 chance with Kingston Passage and Power Grid on 8-1. Other prices are 9-1 Nasty Harry, 16-1 Al Wahed, Fifty Cents, 30-1 Big Mistake and 33-1 Strikeitlikeamatch.

By Michael Clower.

Featured Image: Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Jarred Samuel is one of the unsung members of the weighing room but given a chance he can match it with the best of them as he showed when getting Unbelievable Lad home in a driving finish in the Hunting Tower Handicap at Greyville yesterday. It may not have been the ‘July’ but Samuel gave Ivan and Darryl Moore’s gelding a peach of a ride.

Jarred Samuel

For some reason, probably initiated by poly specialist Anton Marcus whose want is to head wide into the straight, swinging wide into the Greyville straight on the poly track appears to have some kind of benefit and Samuel, wide off the turn, went straight up the outside rail.

Highveld-based Craig Zackey sent Royal Rustler up the inside and the pair left the balance of the field chasing shadows as they hooked up 300 m out. It was nose-and-nose to the line with Royal Rustler angling out to join Unbelievable Lad but every picture tells a story and Samuel’s had his mount’s nose in front when it counted.

A wide draw on the poly track is not much of a handicap as Warren Kennedy proved in the seventh. He pressed forward early on Brett Crawford’s runner Savuti and then set his mount alight on the turn. It proved an inspired move as Savuti shot clear and was not for the catching. Dance Off and favourite Gunner chased from well of the pace but were never in contention for the judges.

Barrier trials get up the noses of many a trainer but it was two trialists that fought out the finish in the third. Priceless Ruler and Ticket Holder, both prominent in their respective trials, fought out a protracted duel with Dennis Drier’s gelding, owned by wife Gill, getting home narrowly. Duncan Howells knocked Drier off his throne as KZN Champion Trainer last season (judged on number of winners in KZN) but Drier has turned on the taps to regain his crown and Priceless Ruler put him 9 ahead of Howells with about seven weeks of the season to run so it could still come down to the wire as it did last season when Howells sewed it up inside the final fortnight.

Bequia was labelled the ‘money horse’ in the card opener and didn’t let his supporters down, winning easily under Bernard Fayd’Herbe for Garth Puller ahead of favourite Majestica who trailed in nearly three lengths adrift.

Blinkers were the inspired addition to Vaughan Marshall’s colt Provocateur and he put four lengths on the opposition in the second and looks more than just useful.

Calladdi found his best form for Gavin van Zyl when he burst clear inside the last 100m to land the fifth. Up until then, Warren Kennedy was involved in a tight tussle with Muzi Yeni on Big King, but Calladdi suddenly found an extra gear and rocketed away with Bonnie Dawn running on late for third.

Sharpe’s Eagle had his wings clipped when favourite for the third but O’Keefe eased the pain for Andre Nel in the Summerhill Stud Handicap as she kept on resolutely to get the better of Kahula and Inga with Pumpkin Queen coming from well back to take fourth.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Standside stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and purists will not want to miss either the first race or the main race on the card, an MR 102 Handicap over 1000m.

The first race features the maiden with the best form in the country, two-year-old Pomodoro colt Cirillo, but he might not have things all his own way as three-year-old gelding Seventh Rule could be dangerous. Cirillo has finished narrow seconds in three features to date, including the Kuda Sprint, the Grade 3 Protea Stakes and the Grade 2 SA Nursery. He was one of the shortest priced horses in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion but was severely hampered so a line can be drawn through that run. He has a high draw which is favourable by trends and should get off the mark.

Seven Lives (JC Photographics)

Seventh Rule has not run for eight months and makes his Highveld debut for new trainer Ashley Fortune, who gets plenty of help in the yard from her legendary jockey husband Andrew. Interestingly, Andrew’s son Aldo Domeyer makes the journey from Cape Town for the meeting and rides Seventh Rule. This horse had decent form in Cape Town including finishing close quite close up over 1000m to the like of Kasimir and Steel Rose. He can get away with it running fresh over a sprint, although his low draw might be against it.

However, Domeyer’s best ride on the day is likely for Fortune’s contender in the last race over 1160m, Mount Keith. He came from Cape Town with some fair sprint form and should have come on from his first two starts on the Highveld which yielded second and third place finishes over 1200m, both times behind the ever improving Snow In Seattle.

In the main race Seven Lives is an improving three-year-old gelding by Seventh Rock and his late charge last time caught the eye. In a smaller field he should not have as much ground to make up if held up. Brigtnumberten is consistent and 4kg better off with Seven Lives for a 2,2 length beating in April so there should not be much in it, although as they are drawn next to each other Seven Lives might get a tow from him and then pounce late. Queen Laurie is the most talented horse in the field as she proved in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint where she finished a fine fourth. She often costs herself with tardy starts but if she jumps reasonably well and then finds cover from a tricky number one draw she could mow them down late.

Torre Del Oro is an honest sprinter who is drawn on the right side by trends and with Lyle Hewitson up he should be thereabouts. Wrecking Ball is talented and has a lot of speed. If there were races over 900m she would just about be a champion because she often fades in the final stages. Angel’s Power had some good form but his loss of form coincides with him making breathing noises. Greasepaint is an admirable seven-year-old who is still competitive. He is 4kg better off with Seven Lives for a 2,25 length beating in April, but as the latter is a three-year-old he would have improved since. African Ruler appears to have lost his way but has come down the merit ratings as a result.

The best bet on the card could be Santa Vittoria in race three over 2000m. She stayed on well last time to the promising sort Silvez and as she is by Commands out of a Galileo mare will relish the step up in trip.

Another fair bet could be Hungry Heart in race five over 1400m. This Irish Flame filly is improving and has a good draw over an ideal trip with Piere Strydom aboard.

The seventh and eighth races are tricky sprint handicaps and going wide is the advice. In the first of them Rebel’s Champ does have the form to win though and has a 4kg claimer up.

By David Thiselton

Harold Crawford is involved in a race against time to get Perovskia ready for the Vodacom Durban July after the Drill Hall winner was injured in last Saturday’s Cup Trial.

The four-year-old dropped out in the straight and finished last but one, nearly seven lengths behind African Night Sky, and the veterinary examination ordered by the stipes showed a severe cut in the gelding’s left fore.

Crawford said yesterday: “As he turned into the straight I saw him change his legs as another horse gave him a bit of a bump. He wobbled a bit and then didn’t carry on.

“Any horse will stop when he is hit on the fetlock joint like that and he came back with a nasty wound on his left one. He is not lame or sore on it but he is feeling it. I don’t yet know whether or not I will get him ready in time but I will see how he improves this week.”

By Michael Clower

Gunner has not managed to find the winner’s enclosure since he won the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Stakes two season’s back where he became the first Gr1 winner for his sire Gimmethegreenlight.

Paul Gadsby has had a frustrating time since that win but it could all change at Greyville today where Gunner runs in the Delago Delux Handicap. The handicappers have been slow to give him any relief, probably with his Gr1 victory in mind, but the gelding has dropped to his lowest rating today and has given notice at recent outings that he is coming back to his peak.

Gadsby has stretched him to 1400m at his last two with apprentice Khanya Sakayi aboard and he has shown improvement in both races.

Gunner

He was a length off the useful Legend two runs back which saw his merit rating bounce back to 80 and although Sakhayi dropped his stick last time out, he was under three lengths back to the promising Anthony Hotspur and was dropped to a 77 MR.

Top rider Bernhard Fayd’Herbe takes over in the saddle and Gunner looks primed for this event.

Today’s race meeting honours training legend Charles Laird and the races have been named after the horses that have made an impact on his career and also Summerhill Stud who bred many of his top horses. Summerhill also stood top sire National Emblem who was the first feature race winner for Laird on his first day as a fully fledged trainer.

Duncan Howells has been chasing hard for his third KZN trainer’s title but his efforts have been hampered by a virus that affected the yard for over a month and saw many of his horses run below their best form. One was Girl In Gold who runs in the Summerhill Stud Handicap. She is way better than her last start when racing wide throughout and can do much better here.

Top weight Kahula has been racing in feature company and has not been far back. She has a fair weight to shoulder but has red-hot apprentice and Champion Jockey elect, apprentice Lyle Hewitson aboard which is a big plus.

Arizona Sunset has only been out of the money once for Ashburton-based Kom Naidoo and daughter of Mogok is well suited to the 1800m trip and with apprentice Serino Moodley taking 1.5kg off her back, she looks well in with only 53kg to shoulder.

Of the balance, Star Evolution and Pumpkin Queen are others to consider.

Apprentice Luke Ferraris has been making the most of his opportunities and has a fine chance in the card opener where he partners Glen Kotzen’s filly Majestica. She was a close-up second when taking on winners at Scottsville recently and from a good draw has a lot going for her.

The second appears to be a more difficult proposition although a set of blinkers could bring out the best in Vaughan Marshall’s runner Provocateur. He has shown some promise but has twice been run out of it in the finish and blinkers could do the trick.

Out side of Provocateur, Farland and Rumbleinthejungle look to be obvious threats.

Sharpe’s Eagle was given two barrier trials by Andre Nel before making his debut proper and the lightly raced colt has improved with each outing. He started at long odds when staying on well on debut and once can expect further improvement.

In the opening leg of the jackpot, Fieldmarshal Fenix takes a drop in class after showing up well against stronger last time out. He has a big weight to shoulder but should be competitive. Good To Give was a close-up second when tried in blinkers and is seldom far back. Open Court is lightly raced and has taken to the poly track. He also made a smart handicap debut and a repeat should see him in the firing line along with Royal Rustler who has recorded both of his wins over course and distance and has been consistent and is a must for all exotic bets.

By Andrew Harrison

Vodacom Durban July favourite African Night Sky has been raised four points by the handicapper to 112 after his impressive win in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m on Saturday.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

Handicapper Matthew Lips said Platinum Prince, who finished a 0,9 lengths third, was chosen as the line horse. On paper that equated to just a two point raise for African Night Sky but another two points were added due to the circumstances of the win i.e he came from a long way back, suffered some interference (which caused him to switch) and yet still won easily. As things stand African Night Sky will carry 57kg in the July. Betting World currently make him 16/10, World Sports Betting have him at 17/10 and Track and Ball offer 19/10.

Platinum Prince and second-placed Crowd Pleaser remain on their same merit ratings of 101 and 102 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap winner Yakeen has been raised four points to 103 and the narrow runner up Tilbury Fort went up three points also to 103. Yakeen’s best July ante-post price is now 22/1 and Tilbury Fort’s is 25/1.

The merit ratings of July contenders Gold Standard and Roy Had Enough, beaten into 5^th and 6^th in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, remain unaltered on 117 and 110 respectively.

By David Thiselton

Fifteen horses will face the starter on Friday night at Greyville in one of the SA Champions Season’s most exciting races, the Grade 2 Post Merchants, which usually culminates in a cavalry charge for the line.

Black Cat Back’s five wins have been over 1400m but he has done well in sprints in his last two starts. In February in the Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m at Scottsville he set a good pace but was mowed down by Sniper Shot, who has since gone on to prove his class. The yard then fitted blinkers to Black Cat Back and ran him in a Pinnacle event over 1200m at Greyville. He wasn’t quickly away and came around them from behind into the straight. He still managed to stay on for a 1,25 length third to his useful stablemate Sunset Eyes. The form was then franked by the runner up Tribal Fusion. Interestingly the blinkers were removed for Black Cat Back’s next start in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville and he was a touch outpaced before running on strongly for  a 2,25 length third to Bold Respect, with Sunset Eyes in second. Bold Respect went on to win the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. The blinkers remain off Black Cat Back on Friday night and he has a plum draw of four. His 103 merit rating is near the top of the 100 to 104 band.

Sunset Eyes (Candiese Marnewick)

There is not much between Sun Set Eyes and Black Cat Back as the former beat the latter by 1,75kg in the In Full Flight but is now 2,5kg worse off.

Three-year-old Sniper Shot was scratched for the Tsogo Sun due to a minor back strain. The last time he ran over this trip was at Scottsville and he received only 0,5kg from Sunset Eyes and ran him to 0,75 lengths. He was a touch unlucky too and had the rest of the field well beaten, including beating Tribal Fusion by close to ten lengths. He has a tricky draw of eight and is now at level weights with Sunset Eyes, but if weight for age changes are taken into account he is 1,5kg better off.

Attenborough is an enigmatic sort but proved his ability when winning the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, albeit in a below par Grade 1 field. He was dropped out in the Tsogo Sun and ran on well for fifth. His Computaform Sprint rider Richard Fourie is back aboard and he should be staying on strongly.

Too Phat To Fly is the best weighted horse in the race on official merit ratings due to her female allowance. She was not disgraced in the SA Fillies Sprint, running on after a slow start but it is always tough against the boys and she has the widest draw of all.

Legislate is a former Equus Horse of the Year and finished third in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over this course and distance two years ago, He hasn’t raced for over two years and will likely need it despite putting up a good barrier trial.

Bishop’s Bounty showed his class when winning the Diadem with a blistering finishing effort. The tough Kenilworth track suited him. He is likely to be dropped out from a wide draw in this race and it is going to be tough to make up the ground but he will be running on strongly.

Our Mate Art will have to improve considerably on his Tsogo Sun Sprint run, which he likely needed. He won the Matchem over 1400m this season, showing he has the speed and should be running on.

Pure Blonde was beaten three lengths by Black Cat Back in the In Full Flight and is only 0,5kg better off, so has a tough task on that form. He finished second from a tough draw in the Grade 2 Senor Santa over 1160m, although the form of that race is open to question.

Three-year-old Wonderwall showed he can mix it with good sprinters when fourth in the Grade 2 Senor Santa, beaten 0,8 lengths by Pure Blonde. He faces the latter on the same terms, although if weight for age changes are taken into account he is effectively 1,5kg better off.

Wynkelder just failed to beat Hack Green and Sergeant Hardy over 1100m here in April but on In Full Flight Stakes form is 1,5kg worse off with Black Cat Back despite being beaten 1,5 lengths by him.

My Pal Al needed his last two starts but has the ability, although his best form has been on the poly.

Rock Of Africa looks held by Wynkelder on Greyville form and by the like of Black Cat Back on Scottsville form.

Hoist The Mast has a tough task at the weights against the other female Too Phat To Fly on official merit ratings, but she did once beat the like of Sommerlied at level weights when just failing to win the Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m so has the ability to upset.

Mombela is a talented sort with problems, so is lightly raced as a six-year-old and this is his first attempt at a feature race.

By David Thiselton