Only six of the 49 original entries for Africa’s greatest race, the R4.25-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2 200m at Greyville in Durban on Saturday, July 6, failed to stand their ground at the first declaration stage today together with the recent sad loss of SA Derby winner Samurai Warrior.

There are 42 horses still in contention for a run with a further two, recent The Sledgehammer winner Orpheus, trained by Mike and Adam Azzie and Insignis from the Geoff Woodruff yard, in line to be supplemented tomorrow.

While some of the six that have been withdrawn might have found it difficult to make the final 20 runners carded for the race based on their current rating status, and with limited opportunities available to improve their situations, saving the R3 450 non-refundable fee to move forward may not have been seen as worthwhile.

Heading the withdrawals is the five-year-old Captain Al gelding Doosra from the Johan Janse van Vuuren stable that had a 104 merit rating and the Wolf Power victory on which to make a claim while the three-year-old Querari filly Arianos Shadow and the two entries from the Sean Tarry yard, Shenanigans and Silver God, would require considerable improvement to catch the eyes of the July Selection Panel.

The three horses seen generally as the main contenders for victory, Hawwaam, Do It Again and Rainbrow Bridge, have stood their ground with many racing fundis expressing opinions that it “looks like” a three-horse race.

The full early ante-post betting as declared by World Sports Betting is: 7-2 Hawwaam; 5-1 Do It Again; 11-2 Rainbow Bridge; 11-1 Barahin; 20-1 Head Honcho, Doublemint, Magnificent Seven; 25-1 Twist Of Fate, Orpheus; 28-1 Made To Conquer; 33-1 Return Flight; 35-1 Bunker Hunt; 40-1 Legal Eagle, Tilbury Fort, Hero’s Honour, Zillzaal, Charles, 45-1 Oh Susanna, Platinum Prince; 50-1 Lady In Black; 66-1 Alyaab, Miyabi Gold, Noble Secret; 70-1 Dark Moon Rising, Divine Odyssy; 75-1 Eyes Wide Open, Elusive Silva; 85-1 Alyaasaat, The Dazzler; 100-1 Fresnaye, Camphoratus, Secret Potion, Run Red, Protea Paradise, Silva’s Bullet, 125-1 Dawn Assault; 150-1 Roy Had Enough, Herodotus; 200-1 Banner Hill, Thanksgiving; 250-1 Red Chestnut Road, Fiorella, Roy’s Riviera, Flichity By Farr, Top Classman.

First declartions for the R4.25 million (Gr1) Vodacom Durban July

Sc#  Horse               Mass   MR       Draw  B  A  T  Jockey                    Trainer

 0  DO IT AGAIN          0.0  125 (125)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  RAINBOW BRIDGE       0.0  124 (124)    0      A     ……………           Eric Sands

 0  HEAD HONCHO          0.0  122 (122)    0      A  T  ……………           Andre Nel

 0  HAWWAAM              0.0  121 (117)    0      A     ……………           Mike de Kock

 0  OH SUSANNA           0.0  118 (118)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  TWIST OF FATE        0.0  117 (113)    0      A     ……………           Joey Ramsden

 0  LEGAL EAGLE          0.0  116 (116)    0      A  T  ……………           Sean Tarry

 0  BUNKER HUNT          0.0  112 (108)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  LADY IN BLACK        0.0  112 (112)    0      A     ……………           Dennis Drier

 0  DIVINE ODYSSEY       0.0  111 (111)    0      A     C Habib                   J A Janse van Vuuren

 0  TILBURY FORT         0.0  110 (110)    0      A  T  ……………           Sean Tarry

 0  EYES WIDE OPEN       0.0  109 (109)    0   B  A  T  ……………           Glen Kotzen

 0  RETURN FLIGHT        0.0  109 (105)    0      A     ……………           Sean Tarry

 0  ROY HAD ENOUGH       0.0  109 (109)    0      A     ……………           Frank Robinson

 0  BARAHIN              0.0  108 (104)    0      A     ……………           Mike de Kock

 0  MADE TO CONQUER      0.0  108 (108)    0   B  A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  HERO’S HONOUR        0.0  107 (107)    0      A     ……………           Gary Alexander

 0  DARK MOON RISING     0.0  106 (106)    0      A     ……………           Paul Lafferty

 0  DAWN ASSAULT         0.0  106 (106)    0   B  A  T  ……………           St John Gray

 0  THANKSGIVING         0.0  106 (102)    0      A     ……………           Duncan Howells

 0  ATYAAB               0.0  105 (101)    0   B  A     ……………           Mike de Kock

 0  CAMPHORATUS          0.0  105 (105)    0      A     ……………           R A Hill/S R Hill

 0  MIYABI GOLD          0.0  105 (105)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  NOBLE SECRET         0.0  105 (105)    0      A  T  ……………           Mike de Kock

 0  ZILLZAAL             0.0  105 (101)    0   B  A  T  ……………           Sean Tarry

 0  CHARLES              0.0  104 (100)    0      A     ……………           Brett Crawford

 0  DOUBLEMINT           0.0  104 (104)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  FRESNAYE             0.0  104 (104)    0      A     ……………           Joey Ramsden

 0  MAGNIFICENT SEVEN    0.0  104 (104)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  ELUSIVE SILVA        0.0  103 (103)    0      A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  SECRET POTION        0.0  102 (102)    0      A     ……………           Geoff Woodruff

 0  HERODOTUS            0.0  101 ( 97)    0      A     ……………           Glen Kotzen

 0  FIORELLA             0.0  100 (100)    0      A     ……………           Duncan Howells

 0  THE DAZZLER          0.0   99 ( 99)    0      A     ……………           Mike de Kock

 0  PLATINUM PRINCE      0.0   97 ( 97)    0   B  A     ……………           Justin Snaith

 0  BANNER HILL          0.0   96 ( 96)    0      A     ……………           Geoff Woodruff

 0  ROY’S RIVIERA        0.0   95 ( 95)    0      A     ……………           Frank Robinson

 0  FLICHITY BY FARR     0.0   94 ( 94)    0      A     ……………           Alyson Wright

 0  RUN RED              0.0   94 ( 94)    0      A     ……………           Andre Nel

 0  PROTEA PARADISE      0.0   92 ( 88)    0   B  A     ……………           Mike de Kock

 0  SILVA’S BULLET       0.0   91 ( 91)    0      A     ……………           Dean Kannemeyer

 0  TOP CLASSMAN         0.0   84 ( 84)    0      A     ……………           Paul Lafferty

(42)

STILL TO BE DECLARED – 2 Horses in Category

 0   INSIGNIS            0.0  102 (102)    A     N  Supplementary Entry                 2816231 Geoff Woodruff 

 0   ORPHEUS             0.0   94 ( 94)    A  T  N  Supplementary Entry M v Rensburg    2813027 M G Azzie/A A Azzie 

  SCRATCHINGS 

   SILVER GOD                               

   SAMURAI WARRIOR    

   RED CHESNUT ROAD   

   ARIANOS SHADOW     

   SHENANIGANS        

   DOOSRA             

   ALYAASAAT     

Important Vodacom Durban July dates to diarise:

• First Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 14 May 2019
• Second Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 3 June 2019
• Final Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 18 June 2019
• Weights Published: Tuesday, 18 June 2019
• Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 24 June 2019
• Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 25 June 2019
• Public Gallops:  7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 27 June 2019

Twelve horses will face the starter in the traditionally important Vodacom Durban July pointer, the Grade 2 WSB 1900, at Greyville on Saturday and eleven of them are entered in the country’s premier horseracing event.

Saturday’s race is run under merit rated band conditions and female runners receive a further 2,5kg allowance.

The horses are listed below in sequential order according to how well they are weighted according to official merit ratings and in brackets is the number of kilograms they are under sufferance:

Fresnaye (best weighted), Camphoratus (1,5kg), Eyes Wide Open (2kg), Fiorella (2kg), Made To Conquer (2,5kg), Doosra (2,5kg), Doublemint (2,5kg),  Magnificent Seven (2,5kg), Kampala Campari (3kg), Dawn Assault (3,5kg), Orpheus (3,5kg), Silver God (8kg).

However, official merit ratings are not always a true reflection in South African handicapping due to the effect the “guidelines” have on them. For example Doublemint ran to a 117 when finishing sixth in the Sun Met if the official line horse, Undercover Agent, is used as the yardstick. However, a clause in the guidelines which only allows upward adjustment to the top five in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races saw him escaping punishment.

Doublemint could thus be seen as the proverbial penalty kick,, but, on the other hand, races are not run on paper.

However, adding to his chances is that Anton “Superman” Marcus is aboard. Furthermore, he has a good draw of four.

Doublemint has not run since the Sun Met, so will be a bit ring rusty, although he did gallop on the Greyville turf recently under Marcus.

The Twice Over colt is trained by Justin Snaith who won this race last year for the second time. He also has Made To Conquer, and Magnificent Seven engaged on Saturday so has a fine chance of making it a third.

The conditions of this race are attractive for July qualifiers as the winner cannot be raised more than six points and placed horses will not incur any merit rating raise unless requested.

Doublemint and Magnificent Seven can both afford to win without any change to their July weight due to the presence in the big race of their 125 merit rated stablemate Do It Again.

They are both merit rated 104 at present and off a potential 110 rating they would carry 53kg in the July and still be 0,5kg under sufferance.

However, Made To Conquer, who finished runner up in the July last year after winning the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup, is merit rated 108 and a potential 114 rating would see him having to carry 54,5kg in the July.

Magnificent Seven has not run since winning the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Stayers over 2800m on Sun Met day. This progressive gelding by Horse Chestnut has won seven of his last nine starts and will be effective over the 1900m trip as he won the Listed Algoa Cup over 2000m last October. He has a fair draw of five and should make his presence felt. He had Luke Ferraris aboard in a recent Greyville grass gallop. The latter retains the ride, suggesting there is a chance he might have his first ever July ride.

July runner up Made To Conquer finished eleventh in the Met in his last start. He was beaten 5,25 lengths by Doublemint and now has to give the latter 2kg, so is up against it. However, he does enjoy Greyville, as most progeny of Dynasty do. He put up a good recent grass gallop at Greyville together with July winner Do It Again. He has a tricky draw of seven and stable jockey Richard Fourie, who will ride Do It Again in the July, is aboard.

Fresnaye’s three runs in Johannesburg were a touch disappointing, but she had hardknocking form in Cape Town and should appreciate being back at the coast where the air is thicker. This twice Grade 1 Paddock Stakes-placed filly is ideally distance suited but has a tough draw of eleven under S’Manga Khumalo.

Camphoratus proved her class by winning the Grade 1 Empress Club over 1600m and if left alone for long enough will likely produce another blistering finishing effort here. She has a chance from a good draw of two.

Fiorella is distance suited having just failed in the Woolavington 2000 last year. She beat Fresnaye by a quarter of a length in the Empress Club but was way behind her in the Grade 1 Majorca. She needs to bounce back to form but has a tough task from the widest draw of all.

Kampala Campari disappointed in this race last year from this same pole position draw but if it pans out better this time he will be a threat being half-a-kilogram better off with Doublemint for a mere 0,2 length beating in the Peninsula over 1800m. However, Doublemint comes out on top on Met form. The Met was Kampala Campari’s last run. 

Eyes Wide Open will have come on from his last outing in the Sledgehammer. The Glen Kotzen yard believe they have this former Cape Derby winner back to his best as they have addressed a haemoconcentration problem he suffered in the summer. He has a tough draw of nine.

Orpheus ran them ragged in the Sledgehammer over 1800m on the poly. The jockeys will be more wary this time but he is still an interesting contender.

Doosra has a tough task at the weights and the trip might stretch him.

Dawn Assault is a resolute galloper who is capable of surprising, but he would probably prefer a less tight course.

Silver God is well bred being a half-brother to William Longsword and Real Princess but he will need to show dramatic improvement.

It is too early to make a selection as the runners still have to complete their preparations.

By David Thiselton

General Franco will make his eagerly awaited reappearance in the 1 200m Juvenile Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday and Jono Snaith reports that, with Richard Fourie at Greyville to partner last year’s Vodacom Durban July runner-up Made To Conquer in the World Sports Betting 1900, Greg Cheyne will ride the exciting Frankel colt.

The form of his debut win was given a hefty boost when Three Two Charlie, beaten three and a half lengths into second, romped home by almost as far in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden Juvenile Plate at Durbanville yesterday with Candice Bass-Robinson singing his praises as she celebrated Mother’s Day with a whole string of winners.

She said: “He is a lovely colt and he looks to me like he is pretty quick but he is quite lazy at home and he has taken a bit of time to come to hand.”

The Milnerton trainer and Bernard Fayd’Herbe made a clean sweep of the first three two-year-old races, courtesy of Roll In The Hay who swept to a five-length victory in the opener and Snow Report who pulled too hard for both his trainer and his jockey’s liking in the third. All three winners started at odds-on but the last one now has some serious tuition to come.

Mrs Bass-Robinson said: “I don’t want him to race like this. I would have preferred him to have had a bit of cover and in his next race I will have him dropped in and taught to settle.”

Fayd’Herbe added: “I was in two minds today. I didn’t want to get caught behind a couple of the others if I dropped him out. I knew he was the best horse in the race so I just used his class.”

Plans for the trio are fluid but the trainer said: “Features would be a possible but I will play it by ear with all of them.”

Mrs Bass-Robinson is now responsible for ten of the 42 races in Cape Town won by two-year-olds this season – Justin Snaith has also had ten and Vaughan Marshall seven – but her hopes of going into a clear lead with Elusive Rain in the fillies maiden juvenile were dashed when the 9-2 chance could manage only eighth behind the Glen Kotzen-trained Third Runway.

The 27-4 winner was ridden by Gavin Lerena on his first visit to Durbanville since 2012 when he was locked in a battle royal with Anton Marcus for the championship, a battle which ended painfully (for him) at Kenilworth on the final day of the season.

This winner was some compensation for Cedar Man managing only fifth in Saturday’s East Cape Derby and Lerena said: “I was expecting to win that but the horse didn’t travel great. I was in the box seat on Third Runway, though, and every time I asked her for an effort she gave it to me.”

The in-form Brett Crawford celebrated his second successive century when Hudoo Magic won at Scottsville but he had to sweat on an objection and a lengthy boardroom inquiry before he knew he had followed up with Indi Anna in the Tellytrack.com Handicap.

This meeting was put on at short notice to replace the scrapped election-day fixture and many owners and trainers praised the efficient way the gears were put in motion but it would not have happened at all but for representations made by Jono Snaith in his capacity as Western Cape Racing Association chairman. He is entitled to take a bow.

By Michael Clower

Silva’s Bullet faces an up-hill task if he is to make the final Vodacom Durban July field in spite of being on the receiving end in a bumper-car rally. Dean Kannemeyer’s runner was a relatively short priced favourite for the Garth Puller Racing Progress Plate, but any chances he had of winning were scuppered a long way out.

The stipendiary stewards were quick to call for a race review but after considering all the video evidence and the distance by which Silva’s Bullet had been beaten, they decided not to take action.

It all started at the 500 m mark when Warren Kennedy lost his right hand stirrup iron resulting in the ultimate winner, Our Coys becoming unbalanced.

Once regaining his right-side iron, Kennedy’s left foot came adrift, resulting Our Coys shifting abruptly inwards carrying Hand On Heart and Silva’s Buller inwards just as Silva’s Bullet was beginning his run.

Keagan de Melo was forced to switch Silva’s Bullet in but was faced with Our Coys and eventual runner-up Capoeira drifted in across him, forcing De Melo to switch again.

Silva’s Bullet was eventually beaten just under two lengths and that swayed the stipes decision.

Anton Marcus was planning a day off from the saddle but he was quick to heed a late call to replace Corne Orffer and Bernard Fayd’Herbe who were carded to ride in the rescheduled Durbanville meeting.

Orffer was booked to ride Hudoo Magic for Brett Crawford and the three-year-old Aussie-bred proved too classy for his older rivals with fellow sophomores Trippi’s Express and Priceless Ruler next best.

Trippi’s Express put in a determined run up the inside to make made a race of it with his stable companion, but Hudoo Magic was always going just a little bit better to score rather comfortably in the end.

The ‘bomb’ landed in the fourth where 9-1 chance Count Dubucks scraped home under De Melo ahead of a fast-closing Red Herring and Chestnut’s Charm, the latter pair rank outsiders contributing to a quartet dividend of R83 555.30.

Travelling Light made short work of ruling favourite Talia Al Ghul in the card opener, Gath Puller’s filly pulling nearly five lengths clear with the balance of the field four lengths adrift of Talia Al Gul.

Summerhill-based sire Capetown Noir has some good looking horses in his first crop and Enjoy The View was an equally comfortable winner of the second giving title chasing Lyle Hewitson another winner, this for Michael Roberts. The race developed into a two-horse contest over the final two furlongs but favourite Into The Future was first to weaken with the balance well beaten.

Five’s Wild has been a revelation since joining Kom Naidoo. Bought off the Shongweni Horses In Training sale for a paltry R5000, he ran third first time out for the stable and recorded his second win from just three starts as apprentice Jason Gates got him home in the seventh, the second of two apprentice races.

The first went the way of Hey Boy, a difficult ride by all accounts, but Denis Schwarz rode an accomplished race to get him home for Duncan Howells, who rounded off the meeting with 55-1 chance Special Blend giving the stable a well-earned double.

By Andrew Harrison

The final leg of the work rider series is always accompanied by much excitement so there is sure to be some intriguing battles in the eight race meeting at Turffontein tomorrow.

Former champion work rider Chamu Mabaya looks to have a fair book of rides and Joe Gwingwizha and Charles Ndlovu should also have good days.

In the first race over 1000m Kindavar, ridden by Mabaya, has a lot of zip and could get a tow from the speedy Desert Kitten before pouncing and attempting to win at the 22^nd attempt. However, she could be upstaged by Miss Samurai, who showed pace in her penultimate start over this trip and finished a 5,75 length second to subsequent Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Singforafa. Miss Samurai will be ridden by inexperienced workrider Kelly Fisher. Two-year-old Winter Haze has shown ability in two starts and displayed good pace last time. She was overtaken by a promising sort and pipped by another fair horse but being by What A Winter should be improving. She is now up against older horses which will make it tough despite the field being uninspiring.

Former champion Sam Mosia could win the next over 1000m on Bold Matador who looked the winner last time over this trip before being caught by a flying Hartleyfour. Charles Ndlovu has a good ride here on Country Squire, who hit the front in the aforementioned race before fading and he was reported to have made a respiratory noise. He can do better and should be improving being by Duke Of Marmalade. Gwingwizha rides Pidgeon Rock, who showed promises second time out but hasn’t run since last July.

In the third over 1160m Ndlovu rides The Russian Sailor who went close over 1200m last time despite losing two lengths. Written In Stone caught the eye in the preliminaries and in the race on Tuesday when second from a wide draw over 1200m at the Vaal Classic track and he is sure to be involved. Maldives should be running on well.

In the fourth over 1600m Mabaya can earn his riding fee by taking Kayla’s Eagle to the front and settling her. If he does accomplish those two tasks she can beat this uninspiring field. Caftan under Ndlovu beat Kaylá’s Eagle last time down the straight over this trip, but the latter raced too strongly behind horses. First-timer Ligogo by Golden Sword out of Listed Banayana winner Sapphire Ring makes some appeal under reigning champion work rider Goodman Dadamasi.

In the fifth over 1600m Ndlovu could win on Category Four, who proved suited to this trip when finishing third over 1700m on Wednesday. Flapjack under Mabaya and Royal Pursuit under Mosia are the dangers.

In the sixth over 2000m Gwingwizha could win on Slay The Dragon who has a tricky draw but has fair form, is unexposed and stays the trip. Byron Bay under Dadamasi ran well in his previous start over this trip and should be right there and Three Dog Night showed improvement with gelding last time so can also be a threat under Mosia.

Mabaya can win the seventh over 2000m on the hard-knocking Irish Flame filly Shezahotti, who can run on after being dropped out from a tricky draw. Merengue and Laconia are both improving and are the dangers.

The last over 1160m could go to Themba Muchansa on the promising Varquera who has not had much luck to date but has caught the eye. Brittania Queen and Destiny’s Game look the dangers.

By David Thiselton

Class could be the deciding factor when Hoodoo Magic takes on some salted opposition in the Dormehl Phalane Property Group Handicap that heads the card at Scottsville on Sunday.

Brett Crawford’s Australian import has been up against the cream so far this season and given that this season’s crop of sophomore males is widely regarded as being above average, that form is likely to hold up.

Last Friday’s G2 KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate and Gr1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab are both close-up in Hoodoo Magic’s formline and he is sure to improve on his Byerley Turk effort behind Tristful in his KZN debut.

It was his first outing in over three months and Crawford’s runners are starting to click into top gear.

But he does face a hard-knocker in Sea Urchin. The seven-year-old’s form is not the stuff of feature races but Garth Puller has nursed him through his career and the gelding has come into his own of late with five of his nine wins coming this term, more significantly those wins came in his last seven starts.

Sea Urchin goes particularly well for apprentice Jason Gates who is full value for his 2.5kg claim and from an inside gate, Corne Orffer will need to be wary of a few prickles.

Fellow three-year-old Mastergambit is drawn on the paint inside of Sea Urchin, and although his form does not match that of Hoodoo Magic, he comes from a yard that is firing winning salvos and Mastagambit can make amends for his recent defeat when sent out favourite on the Greyville poly.

Silva’s Bullet did his supporters no favours when down the field in The Sledgehammer (Listed) on the Greyville poly, a race moved from Scottsville because of a sodden track, but Dean Kannemeyer’s runner did not travel well to the start and looked equally uncomfortable on the way home on the synthetic surface.

He is Kannemeyer’s sole entry for this year’s Vodacom Durban July and if he doesn’t feature in this conditions race where he has the weights in his favour, then any thoughts of participation in the VDJ would probably be out of the window.

An interesting runner is Dyno Man, Garth Puller looking to win the race that he is sponsoring. The grey has his third run after a break and pressed the progressive Mr Fitz to half-a-length last time out. The winner is well regarded although Shane Humby has shunned the Classics stating that his charge needs time to mature.

Be that as it may, it was a sterling effort from Dyno Man and he should strip at his peak come Sunday.

Dennis Drier has an enviable client base and the results show as he is well on his way to a consecutive KZN Champion Trainer title. He has another strong hand come Sunday although Ideal Duel may be a little down the list of his possible winners on the day.

The mare has steadily come to hand at recent outings and although all that form has been on the poly, the switch to turf should not trouble her in the Khayelihle Funeral Services Handicap.

It’s a difficult race to call with any certainty but Ideal Duel was running at them hard behind favourite Moon In June last time out but it would be foolish to ignore the chances of top weights Kilmokea and Philae.

Kilmokea was all at sea in the Scottsville mud in The Scarlet Lady (Listed) but her previous form was solid albeit against more measured opposition. Her recent form shows smart efforts behind Heart Of A Legend and stable companion and subsequent Gr1 Empress Club winner Camphoratus in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes so she has earned her weight.

Philae’s form line is not quite as impressive given the opposition but Andre Nel’s mare has been close-up in her last five and the extended trip from a good draw should see her contest the finish.

By Andrew Harrison

Racecard for Sunday’s Scottsville meeting on May 12 embedded below.

12 May – Scottsville

Cedar Man has been installed 22-10 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting East Cape Derby at Fairview on Saturday and Greg Ennion has booked former champion Gavin Lerena for the mount.

The gelding, second over 2 000m at Durbanville last time, showed that stamina is his game by going close is the Kenilworth Cup in February and finishing fourth to Magnificent Seven in the New Turf Carriers Stayers on Met day.

The favourite has won seven of the last eight runnings of the Port Elizabeth showpiece. Cedar Man and 7-2 second favourite St Valdimir dominate the 14-strong field on merit ratings, being assessed 4.5kg better than the next best.

WSB also bets 15-2 In a Perfect World, 17-2 Drop Kick, Sailing Lizard, Swift Surprise, 12-1 Mercurana, 14-1 Wildcat, Just Chaos, 22-1 and upwards others. Cape Town trainers have traditionally dominated this 2 400m Listed race and have won all the last nine runnings. They field only five of the 14 runners this time but their quintet are five of the eight highest rated.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal straight course stages a nine race meeting today where there are a few opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m Secret Palace is an athletic type who stayed on well over this trip around the turn on debut in yielding going. She can win this with expected improvement, although it is never easy against the boys even if she is getting a 2,5kg gender allowance. The two dangers could be the well-bred first-timers Bold Over and Indy Go. Bold Over is by Twice Over and is a half-sister to the Grade 2 Golden Slipper winner Desert Rhythm and Indy Go is a R325,000 gelding by Captain Of All out of Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo.

In the second race Virtuosa caught the eye on debut running on strongly from way back and she does not face an inspiring field here. Spring Break is well bred being by Trippi out of the speedy mare Miss October and this R1,8 million filly could be the biggest threat. Allmyloving has some speed and can stay on and both Capetown Dream and Get Set have shown some ability.

In the third race over 1400m Therevada caught the eye in a workrider’s maiden on debut when staying on with long strides and Gavin Lerena now rides. He is made a PA banker.

The first leg of the Pick 6 sees Captain Of Tortuga and Rockin Russian renewing rivalry. The former won comfortably when they last met but the latter likely needed it badly that day as she was coming off a long break. There shouldn’t be much in it this time as Rockin Russian is now having her third run after a layoff. Fired Up caught the eye on debut as one who should be progressive but ran wide and over raced second time out over 1600m. Back to this trip he could make his presence felt again.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Virginia has always been held in good regard and she benefited from a layoff recently which allowed her to do some maturing. She should have come on from that good comeback run and her class can enable her to carry topweight here over a suitable 1600m trip. She can be made a PA banker, although Walnut Dash and Quebec Queen are decent sorts who can be included in the Pick 6.

In the next race over 1200m, a MR 104 Handicap, Danza is proving suited to this distance and is knocking hard so he is the one to beat. Clever Guy beat Danza by 0,70 lengths last time and is now 1kg worse off so there should not be much in it. He only finished 5,30 lengths back in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint on Saturday. The switch from blinkers to cheek pieces helped in his penultimate start when beating Danza and the cheek pieces are back on. Africa Rising is an admirable sort with some class and a nice turn of foot and as one who stays further than this trip he should run a good race fresh here. Those three could get punters through.

In the seventh over 1100m the consistent Mademoiselle is off a nice merit rating and with a galloping weight of 55kg over a trip she should enjoy she is the one to beat. Pool Party has run three fine sprints against decent sorts in her last three starts, one of them a win and with a 4kg claimer up she will be a big runner here. Miss Pinkerton has been disappointing lately but she is capable and can also be included.

In the eighth over 1000m the two promising sprinting stablemates Winter Storm and American Hustle should fight it out, despite carrying topweight of 61kg. They are going paces and the big horse Winter Storm is preferred.

In the ninth over 1000m Farraranga has pace and can do better than last time. Generous Notion has done well against decent sorts in her last three starts over 1200m and now has blinkers on over 1000m so should be right there. Geographe Bay returns from a short layoff and is now running off a competitive merit rating. Reserve runner Claremorris is knocking on the door and must be included if getting in. Illegal has plummeted in the merit ratings and should now start being competitive. However, this is a wide open race and it would be wise to choose as many horses as possible for the Pick 6.   

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith has six runners included in the initial log for the R4.25 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July released earlier today. Last year’s winner Do It Again heads the log while stable companion and second last year, Made To Conquer is 15^th on the initial list of the 18 preferred entries.

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge, winner of the Gr1 Sun Met and a fast-finishing second in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes last Friday evening, is second on the log followed by last Saturday’s Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner Hawwaam.

Mike de Kock has cautioned that Hawwaam is not certain to take his place in the race but also has Gr1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab in fifth place and another smart three-year-old Barahin (15^th).

Sean Tarry has three entries in the top 18 headed by the crack filly Return Flight (4^th) backed up Legal Eagle (10^th) and Tilbury Fort (11^th).

Last Friday night’s Gr2 KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate is 7^th on the log.

Other Snaith runners are Oh Susanna, Doublemint, Magnificent Seven and Miyabi Gold.

With just under 60 days to the country’s biggest race, there is still much water to flow under the bridge but the log gives trainers a guide as to where they stand as far as getting a run in the race is concerned.

First declarations are due on Monday, May 13, with first supplementary entries due the following day.

The logs are compiled in consultation with the handicappers and reflect all the horses, in order of preference, as to the make-up of the final field at the time of the log’s publication.

An updated VDJ log will be issued on Wednesday, May 22, following the running of the WSB 1900 on Saturday, May 18, at Greyville.

Journalist: Andrew Harrison

The drama at the Kentucky Derby capped a weekend of captivating racing.

The stewards at Churchill Downs were certainly brave in making the decision to disqualify the winner Maximim Security, but whether it was the correct one will be debated for years to come.

The rule the stewards referred to states: “If a leading horse or any other horse in a race swerves or is ridden to either side so as to interfere with, intimidate, or impede any other horse or jockey, or to cause the same result, this action shall be deemed a foul. … If, in the opinion of the stewards, a foul alters the finish of a race, an offending horse may be disqualified by the stewards.”

So, the first decision the stewards had to make was whether a foul had taken place.

The answer to that question was a clear cut yes.   

Maximum Security, who led from pillar to post in sloppy conditions, veers away from the rail rounding the final turn at the top of the straight. He thus impedes War Of Wills. The latter’s momentum was not only affected but he is forced outward and in doing so bumps Country House.

Probably the most badly impeded horse was Long Rainge Toddy, who was squeezed out between War Of Wills and Country House.

The stewards now had to decide whether the foul had altered the result.

After the incident Maximum Security runs back towards the rail and then in the straight he fends off all challengers bravely.

He crosses the line full of running, 1,75 lengths clear of Country House. 

A long 22 minutes later the stewards announced their unanimous decision to disqualify Maximum Security.

The objection was lodged by jockey Flavien Prat, the rider of Country House, and this is the chief the decision has been deemed controversial as Country House was not badly affected by the incident.

Country’s House’s trainer Bill Mott admitted his horse had only been affected “slightly.”

He said, “It may have affected us slightly, but I would say it affected the other two horses dramatically. . . . They lost all chance, and those two horses lost their opportunity to win or place.”

Prat and Mott said the horse, and not the jockey, had caused the interference.

Maximum Security’s jockey Luis Saez said, “My horse shied away from the noise of the crowd and may have ducked out a little.”

Maximum Security’s trainer Jason Servis said, “I don’t think it changed the outcome of the race. It looks like something scared him in the infield, but I haven’t been able to watch it that close.”

However, Country House is now in the record books and at 65/1 odds is the second longest shot to win the famous “run for the roses” after 91/1 Donerail in 1913.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott thus scored his first Kentucky Derby victory in his tenth attempt spread over 35 years.

It was Flavien Prat’s first win in his third attempt.

Maximum Security could have been claimed for US$16,000 before his debut, when Servis entered him in a maiden claimer.

He was the only unbeaten horse going into Saturday’s race and started 9/2 second favourite.

Most pundits believe he then proved himself the best horse in the race.

President Donald Trump also believed so and said on twitter, “The Kentucky Derby decision was not a good one. It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch. Only in these days of political correctness could such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby – not even close!”

By David Thiselton