Do It Again wrote himself into the record books as he became only the fourth horse in the 126-year history of the Vodacom Durban July to win back-to-back races, emulating El Picha at the turn of this century, Milisia Pride 1949/50 and Campanajo who won the first two running’s back in 1897/98?

It was a superb performance from a super racehorse who stamped himself as head and shoulders above his peers.

Justin Snaith declared his hand early and would not hear of defeat for his champion in the build-up. “He’s the best horse in the country at weight for age and now he’s shown that he’s the best horse in the country which ever way you look at it.”

Earlier in the week he declared, “I think 4/1 is a crazy price (about Do It Again). There is no ways he is a 4/1 shot in any race in South Africa you put him into. You can give him 65kg and he should be 2/1.”

Prophetic words as Richard Fourie gave him the perfect ride, staying out of trouble and giving his mount a clear run to the line to hold off the challenge of Rainbow Bridge with Twist Of Fate third and Eyes Wide Open fourth.

Mike Rattray, one of the doyens of South African racing, will have to wait another year for a win in the race he has most wanted to win. Rainbow Bridge was game in defeat but found one too good. “When a pressed the button I thought I had the race,” said jockey Gavin Lerena. “He ran all the way to the line but we just couldn’t get there.”

The race was not without drama. Favourite Hawwaam’s hot temperament is well documented and all seemed to be on track as he paraded without fuss. The last to be bundled into the starting stalls, he rushed the front gate and was release from his stall.

Anton Marcus was quick to jump ship and Hawwaam was backed out. It was evident to all that Hawwaam was feeling the effects of his antics and the course vet Roehann Sutherland had no choice but to withdraw him from the race. A clearly upset Sutherland said, “We are here to put on a show and entertain, but I had no choice.”

“It was the right decision,” said a sporting Mike de Kock post-race. “The best horse won and I hope this doesn’t make all the headlines.”

It was poignant win for owners Bernard Kantor and Nick Jonsson and Helga Mitchell, whose husband Jack having passed away a month or two back.

With under a month to go, in a relatively tight battle for the trainer’s championship, Sean Tarry extended his slender lead over De Kock and Snaith with victory in the Gr Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes as Celtic Sea gave Tarry back-to-back wins in the race. Redberry Lane gave current champion jockey Lyle Hewitson his first Gr1 victory as she touched off favourite Snowdance last year and yesterday he gave Celtic Sea another tremendous ride, shooting up the inside rail to hold off favourite Oh Susanna and the luckless Snowdance.

Earlier Tobie Spies showed why he is a master at preparing two-year-olds with a one-two in the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper. Cockney Pride caused something of an upset as t 18/1 shot was given a copybook ride by Craig Zackey. He tracked the early pace, took a split through the middle of the pack and never looked like losing in spite of the attentions of stable companion What You Are.

Not to be outdone, Sean Tarry emulated the feat in the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe as the well fancied Eden Roc got the better of stable sibling Putontheredlight and Invidia.

By Andrew Harrison

The July In Jozi meeting is always fun and well attended so there should be a good atmosphere on course at Turffontein tomorrow.

The Vodacom Durban July will be contested by the best field seen in Durban for a long time and should be a thriller.

Hawwaam still has something to prove as this is the first time he will take on top class older horses, but he strikes as being something special and it speaks volumes that Anton Marcus chose him ahead of Rainbow Bridge. He has quirks and the noise on the day and the hustle and bustle of the race might get a reaction from him but hopefully it will not blunt his chief weapon, his exhilarating turn of foot. If he is within striking distance he can justify favouritism.

Last year’s winner Do It Again has developed into a magnificent specimen who just gets better and better and he will be a tough nut to crack. If he wins again, this time carrying topweight of 60kg, he can justifiably be called world class.

Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge, who is Hawwaam’s half-brother, also has an electrifying turn of foot and on pedigree will relish this trip. He also has his quirks but trainer Eric Sands said his sometimes nervous demeanour appears to be diminishing.  He should be in the shake up from a good draw.

Twist Of Fate appears to have a lot of class and a big engine and has been prepared by a fine trainer. This R20,000 purchase is 2kg better off with Hawwaam for a 1,60 length beating and should be thereabouts, although he does have a tough draw to overcome.

Eyes Wide Open has come back to himself and has been looking in fine shape. Considering he beat Do It Again as a three-year-old at level weights in the Grade 1 Cape Derby and is now receiving 7kg he has to be a big runner.

It is tough to choose just one more for the all important sixth place as there are so many good horses involved.

However, the vote goes to the big-striding Head Honcho, who has enjoyed a good preparation and is probably continuing to improve.

It was tough to leave out Made To Conquer, Barahin, and Doublemint as well as three rank outsiders Lady In Black, Roy Had Enough and Camphoratus.

The Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m is another away race to look forward to and Snowdance might upset Oh Susanna as she might well be effective running from the front. Front And Centre is also top class but due to her tendency to lug in will likely have to be dropped out from a wide draw before flying down the inside.

At Turffontein punters should get off to a good start in the first race over 1160m with Magic School, an impressive specimen who was unlucky last time. He should be too strong for this field.

Later in the eighth race Running Brave should have too much class over 1400m in an Assessment Plate and can be bankered.   

The Sunday meeting at Turffontein sees some classy racing and particularly interesting is the return of the exciting prospect Buffalo Bill Cody. This horse has won all three of his races over a mile in comfortable fashion and can beat the classy Cirillo, who is not as well drawn. Soldier On is a useful sort whose form has been standing up well and he could fill third place.

By David Thiselton

Mike de Kock pretty well summed up this year’s Vodacom Durban July as probably the toughest he has seen and he’s been around a few years.

The four-time winning trainer said mid-week. “Barring Soqrat, all the best horses in the country are there.” The race will be run over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow.

He also had a little dig at the jockeys who he says will dictate the tempo of the race. Speaking to TABnews he said, “What has happened previously in the race is that many of them are duped into following the leader rather than judging the pace they need for their own mounts.”

“I think whoever sizes it up properly early on, who gets his horse into a good position, will have the advantage. The race can be won and lost over the first 200m.”

Justin Snaith, who saddled the first three past the post last year, saddles last year’s winner Do It Again. Although Do It Again shoulders top weight his form is impeccable and from a good draw he should be right there. His was one of the stand-out gallops last week and is obviously in a good space. He is second favourite in the ante-post betting and Snaith is supremely confident.

De Kock saddles two runners, ruling ante-post favourite Hawwaam and Barahin. The latter is off the minimum mark for a three-year-old colt and is probably still under the radar as far as the handicappers are concerned. He came from a long way back to win the recent Jubilee Handicap and he has won at Greyville. “Barahin is a one-dimensional horse,” De Kock surmised. “He’ll relax near the back of the field and run on late.”

Hawwaam on the other hand is a different kettle of fish. He is all the rage in the market and beaten only once in his career. However, De Kock was sceptical of his short ante-post price. “18-10, you must be joking,” he said on Tuesday. “That’s just hype.”

“Hawwaam is not straightforward. You don’t know what he’s going to do – whether he will jump slowly, or whether he will pull. This is also the first time he is running in an 18-horse field so we don’t know how he will cope.”

There is no doubt that he is a top contender and is well in at the weights with a good draw. But as De Kock alluded, his one concern is his temperament. He can be difficult in the preliminaries and a big crowd could upset him. He also has an inside draw in what is invariably a rough race which could set him off. That said, he was perfectly behaved when winning the Daily News 2000.

Eric Sands has given Rainbow Bridge the perfect preparation and this race has been his target since the day he was bought by Mike Rattray after the winning the Sun Met. He has done everything right for Sands and a win will not be out of turn.

Made To Conquer, another Snaith runner, was second last year and carries the same weight this year. He been catching the eye of late and big race rider Mark Khan is confident of a big showing. “He will be spot on for the July,” Khan told Snaith in the fourth box after the Cup Trial.

Glen Kotzen appears to have got on top of all the problems that he had with Eyes Wide Open and the colt has come to hand of late. He beat Do It Again in the Cape Derby last season at level weights and is now 7kg better off. But a lot of water has passed under the bridge since their meeting in the Derby.

Lady In Black is a smart filly and Dennis Drier is supremely confident that she will run a big race. “I’m not sure if she can beat the boys but she will be right there,” he said at the gallops. “She’s been crying out for this trip.”

Twist Of Fate was runner-up to Hawaamm in the KRA Guineas and is now 2kg better off with the ruling favourite. Joey Ramsden won this race with The Conglomerate from 20 draw so knows what it takes to win this race.

For my money the bulk of the quartet – that will have a total pool in the region of R16 million – will come from the top seven in the betting with longer priced runners Head Honcho, Lady In Black, Legal Eagle, Made To Conquer and Doublemint all horses capable of a first four finish.

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By Andrew Harrison

Andre Nel is happy with his Vodacom Durban July contender Head Honcho and the sizeable gap between his runs has been part of the plan.

Assistant trainer Byron Foster spoke of how Head Honcho had “definitely” become “sharper” following a gallop three weeks before the July gallops.

Jockeys Keagan de Melo was pleased with his demeanour in the pull up area after the July gallop.

He said he had a good bounce in his step all the way back to the parade ring, suggesting he had recovered well from the workout.

Nel said because Head Honcho was now an older horse he had been able to look back on his career and see what had worked with him and what hadn’t. He said the type of gaps they had given him into this race, seven weeks from his last race which followed a layoff since the Sun Met, had seemed to have worked well for him so that was how they had planned to take him into the July.

He concluded, “He’s feeling good, he’s a sound horse, we’re happy with where we have him at the moment.”

They have Run Red in the Grade 3 Betting World 2200 and said, “Tough race for him, but a lot’s going in his favour. I think he is a decent type of a horse and has a lowish weight and a fair draw. He’s coming into the race pretty well and he will give a good account of himself.”

The yard fancy Red Shift in the last race over 1400m on the poly as he fine form over that course and distance. His last run on turf over 1600m did not pan out at all well and can probably have a line drawn through it. 

They run Q The Music in the Listed Engen Performance Stakes over 1600m and Nel said, “He’s a fair type of a horse and always tries hard enough so he won’t be far off them.”

By David Thiselton

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Justin Snaith said the bookmakers price offered about the defending Vodacom Durban July champion Do It Again was “ridiculous”.

He said, “I think 4/1 is a crazy price. There is no ways he is a 4/1 shot in any race in South Africa you put him into. You can give him 65kg and he should be 2/1. So, I am quite surprised. I think it is that Mike de Kock factor.

“Hawwaam has beaten small fields, three-year-olds and the Champions Challenge wasn’t the strongest field. These horses Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge are phenomenal horses, phenomenal. You have to be world class … which maybe Hawwaam is, maybe, but he’s got to prove it.

“So for me, I think the older horses are still very, very strong in this race, I always have said it and I stick by my guns. Before I came to Durban I thought it and I still think it.”

He said about his four runners, “They are extremely well. When they turn for home they are going to want to take off. All is well, Do It Again is flying, he looks magnificent, I couldn’t be happier. Doublemint, I am really impressed with him so far, all good. Everybody is saying Barahin is well weighted but he’s a three-year-old giving Doublemint weight, why’s he well weighted? Those three-year-olds will have to be phenomenal to give weight away to these four-year-olds who are all carrying 53kg. I’m not saying they can’t win, but they’ve got their work cut out.

“Made To Conquer ran second last year and those three-year-olds must give him weight? Made To Conquer is flying. Even if he doesn’t win the July he’s a runner in the Gold Cup if we decide to go that route. The July is a bit harder than last year but in saying that he’s weighted to run a big race. I don’t think I have ever seen a horse run second in the July and the following year carrying 53kg.

“It will be very hard for Miyabi Gold but she has a nice draw and quite frankly you never know. She’s never far behind the top fillies in the country, she really can compete at Group 1 level with the fillies. I don’t see why she should be counted out then, but she has her work cut out.”

At time of writing Hawwaam was 2,35/1 and Do It Again had drifted out to 5/1 with Track and Ball.

Considering Snaith believes Do It Again is ridiculously good value and Mike de Kock said on Tuesday Hawwaam was ridiculously short in the betting there might be a shake up in the market before Saturday.

By David Thiselton

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Sean Tarry is leaning towards Legal Eagle as his stable elect for the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday but he said it had not been an open and shut case.

Tarry also runs the G-Bets Summer Cup winner Tilbury Fort and dual Grade 1 winner Return Flight.

He said, “Legal Eagle is certainly the best handicapped of my trio and has had a good prep. He is in a good space. Lyle (Hewitson) does get on well with Tilbury Fort but he also gets on well with Legal and this is the first time he has had a good draw with Legal.”

Some have questioned Legal Eagle’s chances after his last run when finishing 8,75 lengths back in a Pinnacle.

However, while the finishing position was disappointing Tarry pointed out, “Bearing in mind he was drawn poorly carrying 61,5kg there was no choice but to drop him to the back. We expected a good pace to be set by two of our runners, but the pace was a mess. Despite that he still ran a very good last 400m. The time over the last 400m was the same as his win in the sprint at the beginning of the season. So once again he was doing his best work late.”

Tarry was thrilled when Tilbury Fort landed pole position. He said, “He needs a draw because he needs a smooth run, if you go forward with him and try and slot in it doesn’t work, he needs to find a position immediately and then sit.”

Tilbury Fort was in the same Pinnacle 1400m as Legal Eagle and also finished strongly.

In the Premier’s Champions Challenge Legal Eagle caught the eye finishing strongly for a 5,20 length fourth. Tilbury Fort was 16 lengths back that day but a line can be drawn through the run because he was widely drawn and became unsettled when hunting for a position. He was also cut into.

Raymond Danielson is aboard Tilbury Fort and Tarry said, “He has ridden him a few times and gets a reasonable tune out of him. He has had a good prep.”

Tarry said about the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic and Grade 2 SA Oaks winner Return Flight, “Besides being crossed at the 300m and pulling a shoe, it wasn’t quite her run for some reason. The two fillies she had beaten in Johannesburg both ran in front of her and she did pull up with a little bit of dry mucus. So she might not have been quite right on the day. However, she has done well since then and has had a perfect prep. Her good draw of two will help. We are not going to be hunting to make the pace but if she does end up in the front that’s fine. If she doesn’t the 2200m is hard enough for her to be coming home strongly. Ryan Munger rode a big race for Yvette Bremner on National Park, he’s a good strong rider and has had a lot of winners this season.”

Legal Eagle carries 55kg, Tilbury Fort is officially half-a-kilogram under sufferance carrying 53kg and three-year-old Return Flight is officially 2kg under sufferance carrying 52kg.

In the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes Tarry has two runners and said, “Celtic Sea is a big runner although I have healthy respect for Oh Susanna and Front And Centre.”

Tarry said a line could be drawn through Celtic Sea’s KRA Fillies Guineas run. Looking at her easy win over 1400m on the tough Turffontein Standside course in March he believed she would get the mile although he admitted it might stretch her.

He added, “Desert Rhythm ran a nice race in the Tibouchina so it’s worth taking a chance.”

Tarry believes his strongest race on the day is the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

He said, “The extra 200m is definitely in Eden Roc’s favour, he has a good shout. Put On The Red Light is not out of it either, he found trouble over this trip last time and should have been closer. He will appreciate the Grade 1 mile at the end of this month, but I’m not worried about 1400m. Rock The Globe will also run a big race.”

In the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m he also has two runners and said, “They both have poor draws. Cavivar will enjoy the trip and Lyle will ride the race as it unfolds. It might be a bit short for Victoria Paige but I hope she runs on in the straight.”

He said about the WSB 2200, “Zillzaal has a good shout. I would like to see him lying about three or four lengths back from his good draw. I think Shenanigans will run well, he’s had a nice prep and a lot is in his favour. Captain And Master ran well last time when stepped up to 1800m so we are giving him a chance. Silver God is 3,5kg under sufferance but was also under sufferance when running well in the WSB 1900 and Cup Trial. He can’t be judged on his last race which was on the poly.”

In the Grade 3 DSTv Gold Vase he runs Wonderous Climber and said his dip in form could have been expected as it was hard to keep a horse on the boil for so long. He expected a better showing but wondered whether 2400m was his better trip.

He expected Social Order to be a big runner, a nice “roughie” for the day, in the eighth over 1600m, an ideal course and distance.

He has always rated Mythical Bolt, who runs in the 11^th over 1200m, but said this might be his last run before gelding.

By David Thiselton

Eyes Wide Open has come tumbling down the betting.  In mid-May you could get 75-1 about him but he is now as short as 12-1 with only four horses – Hawwaam, Do It Again, Rainbow Bridge and Barahin – considered to have a better chance in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July.

“Do the maths,” says Glen Kotzen. “In last year’s Cape Derby he beat Do It Again by a length and three-quarters at levels and now he is 7kg better.”

In fact Eyes Wide Open was to have gone for last year’s July – he was the early favourite – until Kotzen saw signs of a chip when the horse’s fetlock was x-rayed. He had it removed and gave him the necessary rest. That patience has been rewarded with the World Sports Betting 1900 and a close second in the Cup Trial.

“Eyes Wide Open is back to his best, back to when he won the Cape Derby,” the Woodhill trainer enthuses. “He put up a fantastic gallop last Thursday and the jockey battled to pull him up.”

An 18 draw briefly took the wind out of his sails but Kotzen is blessed with a supremely optimistic outlook on life that owners find both encouraging and infectious. It didn’t take long before he was back looking on the bright side. “I won’t say that we were not worried about that draw but we were dealt it and we are going to deal with it.

“In fact it might be a blessing in disguise and maybe it will keep him out of trouble. We just have to pray that Warren Kennedy finds a nice clear passage and doesn’t end up running wide.”

Kotzen has been following the progress of the favourite with particular interest because of the parallels he sees with Big City Life ten years ago. “He has had a not dissimilar prep to Big City Life who won the Cape Derby, the KRA Guineas and the Daily News.

“The one real difference is that the conditions of the July have changed and, whereas Big City Life came in off 51kg, Hawwaam has to carry 56kg. He is the best three-year-old in South Africa but it is going to be tough for him.

“My horse is absolutely flying and he is making it all so exciting for us. All we need now is to have luck in running.”

As if to gather that luck around him Kotzen looks back to ten years ago. “It was the most amazing thing – the horse was on a roll and we were on a roll. You just couldn’t stop us and with every race that went by we got more and more confident. In fact I was so confident about the July that I felt almost invincible.

“The only time I got butterflies in my stomach was when I saw that Big City Life was cruising and Pocket Power was some seven or eight lengths behind him. I thought: “Oh my God, I am going to win this!”

By Michael Clower

Probably the most popular bet on Vodacom Durban July day is the quartet on the main race where punters need to forecast the first four horses past the post in the correct order.

The pool on Saturday is expected to top R16 million so if you catch it right you will earn enough to buy more than just a pie and coke.

Justin Snaith, who saddled the first three past the post last year, saddles last year’s winner DO IT AGAIN (5/1). Although he shoulders top weight his form is impeccable and from a good draw he should be right there. He is second favourite in the ante-post betting and Justin Snaith is supremely confident. Mike de Kock saddles two runners, ruling ante-post favourite Hawaamm and BARAHIN (7/1). The latter is off the minimum mark for a three-year-old colt and is probably still under the radar as far as the handicappers are concerned. He came from a long way back to win the Jubilee Handicap and he has won at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

RAINBOW BRIDGE (7/1) has had the ideal preparation and this race has been his specific target since the day he was bought by Mike Rattray after the winning the Sun Met. He has done everything right for Eric Sands and a win will not be out of turn. MADE TO CONQUER (20/1), another Snaith runner, was second last year and carries the same weight this year. He has been catching the eye of late and jockey Mark Khan is confident of a big showing. EYES WIDE OPEN (14/1) has come to hand of late and beat Do It Again in the Cape Derby last season. Here he is very well weighted in comparison to Do It Again but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since their meeting in the Derby.

HAWWAAM (22/10) is all the rage and beaten only once in his career. There is no doubt that he is a top contender and is well in at the weights with a good draw. One concern is his temperament. He can be difficult in the preliminaries and a big crowd could upset him. He also has an inside draw in what is invariably a rough race which could set him off. That said, he was perfectly behaved when winning the Daily News 2000. LADY IN BLACK (75/1) is a smart filly who is well in at the weights. Trainer Dennis Drier is supremely confident that she will run a big race. “I’m not sure if she can beat the boys but she will be right there,” he said at the gallops. “She’s been crying out for this trip.” TWIST OF FATE (16/1) was runner up to Hawaamm in the KRA Guineas and is now 2kg better off with the ruling favourite. Trainer Joey Ramsden won this race with The Conglomerate from 20 draw so knows what it takes to win this race.

For my money the bulk of the quartet will come from the top seven in the betting with HEAD HONCHO (28/1), LADY IN BLACK (75/1), MADE TO CONQUER (20/1), LEGAL EAGLE (33/1) and DOUBLEMINT (33/1) runners that could make the first four.

Remember that you can always take a percentage should your combinations exceed your budget.

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

By Andrew Harrison

Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson pointed out form was a big factor going into any Vodacom Durban July, whether it be the jockey, horse or trainer, so is pleased to have Marco van Rensburg aboard his charge Roy Had Enough.

Highveld-based Van Rensburg has won the Listed Sledgehammer on Orpheus, the Grade 2 Post Merchants on La Bella Mia and the KZN Breeders Million Mile on Morning Catch on three of his rare raids to Greyville this season. 

Roy Had Enough snuck into the July after winning the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville two weeks ago.

However, he is the biggest outsider in the race and Track and Ball have him at 100/1.

However, Robinson is not concerned and recalled when working as assistant trainer to Herman Brown how Sleek Machine just failed to catch the favourite London News in the 1996 July despite being one of the biggest outsiders.

Robinson said, “Roy Had Enough is as good as Sleek Machine and is not far off Orbison (third in 2010).”

He continued, “If you watch the Sledgehammer, Roy Had Enough runs away from Eyes Wide Open, who probably needed it but so did our horse, so why is one of them 12/1 and the other 100/1?”

He said, “His last race was only two weeks ago but that is not a concern, he is a very tough horse and is such a good eater, he never leaves anything. Nine out of ten good horses are very good eaters, they have good constitutions and that is why they are top horses. At the July gallops it was clear to see how well Roy Had Enough was.”

Robinson added, “The July is often won by a horse who can win over 2400m because they usually go a cracking pace.”

Roy Had Enough is drawn 15. 

He said, “I’ve been watching past Julys and the wider drawn horses stay out of trouble. As long as you have something in front of you. Do It Again won from draw 15 last year and if he had been stuck on the fence he would not have been able to build up the same momentum coming into the straight.”

Roy Had Enough has a good turn of foot and can maintain a strong finishing run, so is suited to the tight Greyville track. 

He is being underestimated by the bookmakers.

Robinson said he had freshened up his Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes runner Roy’s Riviera and pointed out she had not lost any weight from before her run in the Track And Ball Oaks to now. 

He said, “I think there will be a good pace which will suit her. I think she is definitely up to this class. Her draws and the way her races have panned out this season have been against her yet she still won one of them and was close up in others. She is a beautiful horse. She must be the fittest horse in the race too.”

Roy’s Riviera possesses an exceptional turn of foot and from draw five under Van Rensburg should be in the shake up.

Robinson has particular respect for the Justin Snaith pair Oh Susanna and Snowdance, especially as they have been built up in distance coming into the race.

He concluded, “Johnny Nicholson, who I used to work for and who won the July with Beau Art in 1980, came to my yard the other day and was so impressed with both horses. He looked at them and said, ‘These two are top horses.’

Robinson runs Shogun in the 12^th over 1400m on the poly and said he had been “jumping out of his skin.” He believed he only had Red Shift to beat.

By David Thiselton

Mike de Kock has a high regard for his Vodacom Durban July favourite Hawwaam but said his general price of around 2/1 was ridiculous and was based purely on hype.

He added, “For anybody to even make a comparison to Horse Chestnut right now is completely ridiculous and out of order and not forgetting that I have had other good horses since (the like of Ipi Tombe, Vercingetorix, Igugu, Variety Club etc.). There are also two horses in the July field, Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge, who have achieved more than he has”.

However, he did agree that Hawwaam was still unexposed and nobody truly knew just how good he was yet.

He said, “I don’t think he knows how good he is himself. Nothing went right for him last time in the Daily News 2000 and he still won. Before that he won very well in a weight for age Grade 1 against older horses albeit against a field I thought was pretty ordinary.”

He continued, “This is the first time he will race in a big field.”

It is a top quality field too and there is sure to be some hustle and bustle out there.

De Kock said, “It is the first time he is going to have to get involved with so many horses and I think that is going to test his mettle.”

He continued, “He does like to win though and he is versatile, he has won from handy positions and coming from off the pace. He is volatile, but he is certainly not a mad horse at all. He is just a manly horse, he is a boytjie. He has never done anything stupid before. That time at the SA Derby meeting he reacted like that simply because he was alone in the ring. He just loves being around other horses. He has always been sociable and bonds quickly with any horse we stable next to him.”

De Kock has good regard for the Daily News 2000 runner up Twist Of Fate and reckoned the 2kg swing in the weights for a 1,60 length beating would put them closer.

De Kock also believes Hawwaam’s stablemate Barahin will finish close to Hawwaam.

He said, “I think Barahin is fitter than he has ever been and he has only been beaten two or three lengths by Hawwaam so at the weights he has got be right on top of him. Barahin has a completely different style of running, he relaxes well in the running and takes time to unwind and the further he goes the better he gets. I like Barahin over ten furlongs and further, so this trip will be right down his alley.”

De Kock was impressed with Barahin’s win in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein last time.

He said, “He gave weight away and ran past older horses like they were looking for parking.” 

Hawwaam is to be ridden by Anton Marcus from draw four and Barahin will be ridden by Muzi Yeni from draw six.

De Kock would have preferred a wider draw for Hawwaam, away from the hustle and bustle, but he added, “It is what it is, I’m certainly not complaining and would prefer this good draw to a bad one.”

De Kock runs the David Ferraris part-owned Soft Falling Rain colt Aqua Delta in the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. He scratched Frosted Gold because of his wide draw and kept Aqua Delta after attaining a reasonable draw of ten.

He said, “He is unexposed and is a nice type, I like what I see. We will see how good he is against tougher company and if he does well he might be sent over to Hong Kong.”

He runs Soft Falling Rain filly Mawsool in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and said, “Again, she was the one who drew best of my entries. I’m not quite sure she is this league yet, but I’m running her to expose her.”

He runs The Dazzler in the Grade 3 Betting World 2200 and said, “He had a training gallop on Saturday thanks to Muzi not riding to instruction, they hacked around, the race was a joke. So we are running him again here. He is fit and well and will be competitive.”

By David Thiselton