David Thiselton

GOT THE GREENLIGHT was given a significant four point raise for his cosy 4Racing Premier’s Champions Challenge win on Saturday and runner up Second Base shot up nine points to 125.

As things stood before Saturday Got The Greenlight would have had to carry 55kg in the Vodacom Durban July and Second Base the minimum weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg. Got The Greenlight now carries a significant 2kg more, 57kg, on the basis that Rainbow Bridge on 134 will be the highest merit rated runner, and Second Base 53.5kg.

The handicappers decided to use Cirillo as the line horse.

Cirillo ran off a 120 rating compared to Got The Greenlight’s 124 and the margin was 1.75 lengths.

However, the handicappers were of the opinion that Cirillo in a slow run race could not have run any worse than his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate effort where he finished fifth and ran to a 123 rating.

Got The Greenlight was thus raised to 128 and Second Base, who beat Cirillo by a length, was given 125.

Summer Pudding was beaten 4,50 lengths into fourth and was lowered a couple of points to 127, meaning as things stand she will carry 56.5kg in the July.

Meanwhile, crack sprinter Rio Querari was raised to 130 following his comfortable win in the Grade 1 4Racing Computaform Sprint.

David Thiselton

RACING fans were treated to three top drawer performances at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday by Rainbow Bridge, Captain’s Ransom and Linebacker and it would not be remiss of anybody to call all three of them the best of their respective age group and gender in the country.

The weather forecast for the opening meeting of the SA Champions Season had at one stage looked bleak but in the end the combination of heavy rain at the end of last week and sunshine over the weekend led to perfect conditions and once again kudos must be given to track manager Kurt Grunewald, his assistant Kevin Searle and their team.

Rainbow Bridge proved himself every inch the highest merit rated horse in the land in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m under a fine ride by Luke Ferraris.

Trainer Eric Sands’ decision to offer the youngster the ride on this superstar while he was still officially an apprentice has proved to be a master stroke and the trio now make a fine team.

Under Ferraris Rainbow Bridge has reverted to his original style of being held up and relying on his devastating turn of foot. This helped him win the Met and it was equally effective in the Drill Hall.

He broke well yesterday from draw seven and was just off the leaders early. The inward movement of Cartel Captain then allowed him to slot in one wide of the rail. He relaxed well and Ferraris was not at all concerned about him being shuffled back. Eden Roc set a decent pace and Rainbow Bridge turned for home with about six or seven lengths to make up. The field dived for the inside coming off the three metre spur into the straight meaning Rainbow Bridge just had to switch slightly outward for a clear run on the outside of horses. He quickened superbly the moment he saw daylight and was soon powering past the field, hitting the front at the 100m mark and going on to win by 1,90 lengths from the Paul Peter- trained Johannesburg raider Catch Twentytwo. The Paul Muscutt-trained speedster Ultra Magnus ran a cracker to take third place ahead of fellow KZN horse Trip To Africa and next best was Silver Operator.

This year will mark six-year-old Rainbow Bridge’s third attempt to land the Vodacom Durban July for doyen of owners and breeders Mike Rattray and this was the first time he had won his intended pipe opener. In 2019 he finished a narrow second in the Drill Hall and last year missed the race due to a respiratory infection before opening in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge which he won. However, his second run after a layoff is usually a touch flat so it will be important for his third run this SA Champions Season to be in the July and he is on track for that to happen.

Catch Twentytwo ran a fine trial too especially considering Paul Peter had sent him in underdone and with plenty of improvement to come.

In the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas the Justin Snaith-trained Captain’s Ransom made it four out of four as a three-year-old under Richard Fourie. The twice Grade 1 winner sat in a handy position and in the straight she soon put daylight between herself and the opposition to win by 1,60 lengths from her arch rival, the Adam Marcus-trained Princess Calla. The latter produced an eyecatching finish  from last. The  Dennis Drier-trained Freestate Star flew the KZN flag with a 2,10 third and Zarina and Only The Brave were next best.

In the Grade 2 WSB Guineas The Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker once again proved his class. His stablemate Seeking The Stars set a good pace and Linebacker had plenty of work to do to fetch him in the straight from a midfield. position. However, he did so with consummate ease to the extent that jockey Grant van Niekerk looked over his shoulder before he had even reached Seeking The Stars. He then pressed the button and it was race over. Linebacker has a lovely fluid stride and quickened effortlessly to pass his stable companion and win by 0,60 lengths.

Kommetdieding, who might well be the most popular horse in the country, ran on well from last for third, a good pipe opener. Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock once again proved difficult to restrain in the early running but did manage fourth ahead of MK’s Pride.

It was good weekend results-wise for Van Niekerk but he is likely to be in hot water with the stipes as he appeared to clean out two horses, Anna Capri and Vernichey, when winning the 4Racing Computaform Sprint on Saturday and in yesterday’s WSB Guineas appeared to clean out Russian Rock.

Andrew Harrison

VAUGHAN MARSHALL is the undisputed Guineas king. With five Cape Guineas trophies in his cabinet, he added his first KZN trophy to that collection as his pair of Linebacker and Seeking The Stars made it a stable one-two in the Gr2 WSB Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

In stark contrast to what was a messy version of this year’s Cape Guineas that was run at a mudding pace, Marshall ensured that all were going to be kept honest as Seeking The Stars with replacement rider Luke Ferraris, deputising for and injured Anton Marcus, catapulted out of his outside gate and set sail for home allowing Grant van Niekerk to settle Linebacker midfield as MK’S Pride and Bartholdi tracked the pace.

For a couple of strides at the top of the straight it was a case of plenty of horse but nowhere to go for Linebacker. With his mount reefing under him, Van Niekerk took the brave way home, barging through the traffic. From there on it was a matter of how far as Linebacker always had the measure of Seeking The Stars and as Van Niekerk eluded to post-race, he could have won by a lot further. He also pointed out that although Linebacker had a sprinters pedigree, he would stay all day.

Not so lucky was the hitherto unbeaten Kommetdieding who was in trouble early. As Russian Rock was forced to ease off the heels of The Gatekeeper shortly after the start, he forced Sihle Cele to take evasive action. Kommetdieding was last into the straight and Cele kept him up the outside of the pack. He showed an admirable turn of foot to snatch third.

Now with a good look at Greyville and 400m further to travel, the Gr1 Daily News 2000 looks tailor-made.

“They are lucky that she’s not in the colt’s Guineas, she would have them running for the hills,” were the confident words from Justin Snaith after Captain’s Ransom added the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas to her Cape Fillies Guineas victory. “She is a freak. She’s only 70% fit and only had two gallops in the five or four months since her last race,” he said of the hot favourite who sauntered to a comfortable win over Princess Calla.

Captain’s Ransom never gave Richard Fourie a moment’s doubt as he kept her one off the fence and three back before taking a clear passage for home. The filly did race a little green as she shifted in when asked to go but was never in danger of defeat.

The performances of Got The Greenlight, Linebacker and Rainbow Bridge at the weekend confirmed that this year’s Vodacom Durban July is going to be a cracker.

Rainbow Bridge fluffed his lines last year but Eric Sands has got the Gr1 Cape Town Met winner in a good space, probably better than last year, as he motored home to a facile win in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes.

Many thought that the gelding would be found out by the trip when up against seven-furlong specialists but there is little substitute for class. Rainbow Bridge scythed through the opposition to win as he liked with Catch Twentyytwo hanging on for second ahead of Ultra Magnus and Trip To Africa.

“He’s a lot more forward this year than last year,” confirmed Eric Sands. “Last year Covid got in the way and then he got sick, so we missed this race.”

Sands was also happy with the showing of Golden Ducat. “This was too short for him and he doesn’t turn it on like Rainbow Bridge. He will be right there in the July.”

David Thiselton

THE JOE SOMA-TRAINED Got The Greenlight confirmed himself up with he best in the country at Turffontein Standside on Saturday when toying with the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge field in good to soft conditions although the lack of pace did not suit Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding and WSB SA Triple Crown hero Malmoos’ preformance was effected  by his lack of cover and his tough campaign possibly got to him too.

Muzi Yeni confirmed his mount had hardly come off the bit although the gloss was taken off his cool, calm and collected riding performance by an incident at the 1600m mark.

The stipendiary steward report stated, “Approaching the 1600m, SECOND BASE (G Lerena) had to check to avoid the heels of GOT THE GREENLIGHT (M Yeni). Thereafter JOHNNY HERO (M van Rensburg) was bumped in and became unbalanced and BARAHIN (S Khumalo) had to be steadied as a consequence. Jockey G Lerena the rider of the 2nd placed horse SECOND BASE lodged an Objection against the winner GOT THE GREENLIGHT (M Yeni) on the grounds of interference at about the 1600m. The Objection Board, after considering the evidence that was put forward by both connections, was of the opinion that as this incident occurred at the 1600m, that there was sufficient opportunity for SECOND BASE to overcome any prejudice that it had suffered and that it could not be certain to the requisite degree that SECOND BASE would have finished ahead of GOT THE GREENLIGHT had this incident not occurred. In view of this, the Objection was overruled and Jockey Lerena’s deposit was refunded. An Inquiry will be opened regarding this incident.”

Malmoos was the favourite but his fine gatespeed was going to effect him at some stage in the season as he is a horse who prefers cover over middle distances and reining him back is difficult. Unlike his runs in the WSB SA Classic and WSB SA Derby, where Luke Ferraris did manage to slot him in, he was on this occasion caught one wide in a handy position and must have raced too strongly as his usual resolute finish was missing and he finished a 6,50 length fifth.

Summer Pudding’s chief weapons, her high cruising speed and relentless finish, were nullified by the crawl set by Divine Odyssey and she was beaten 4,50 lengths into fourth. Trainer Paul Peter would likely be lamenting not putting a pacemaker into the race.

Got The Greenlight was not affected by the pace as he relaxes well in the running and has a peerless turn of foot.

For the second time in succession, both of them in Grade 1 races, he sauntered effortlessly into the lead. He has the tendency to take his foot off the pedal when hitting the front so having taken the lead as far out as the 200m mark he was going to be vulnerable late. Second Base, who ensured a one-two for sire Gimmethegreenlight, had sat behind the winner in the running and although he could not match his initial turn of foot, he produced a terrific finish to be beaten just three-quarters of a length. It was a fine VDJ trial.

Cirillo stayed on from second in the running for third, his eighth Grade 1 place and tenth Grade 1 cheque.

Got The Greenlight looked the best handicapped horse in the Vodacom Durban July before Saturday and that might or might not change according to how the handicappers read the race. If they use the consistent Second Base as the line horse he might escape unpunished. In comparison to 120 rated Cirillo he has run more or less to his 124 rating on paper as he beat him by 1,75 lengths. However, the handicappers might take into account the ease of the win and raise him one or two points. Summer Pudding or Malmoos are unlikely to used as line horses as they both ran below par.

In the Grade 1 4Racing Computaform Sprint the Justin Snaith-trained Rio Querari went some way to securing the Equus Champion Sprinter title with his first Grade 1 weight for age win of the season. He relaxed superbly in the running before displaying his devastating turn of foot. Not even a traditionally unfavourable low draw could stop him and he made his winning run under Grant van Niekerk on the inside of horses.

Mike Azzie has called Sheela the best filly he has trained since Harry’s Charm and she gave new sire The United States a boost by winning the Grade 2 4Racing SA Nursery over 1160m by a length under S’Manga Khumalo from another fine prospect, Smorgasbord, with the rest of the field unsighted.

The Grade 2 4Racing SA Fillies Nursery was won by the hard knocking Paul Peter-trained Soft Falling Rain filly Heaven’s Girl under Warren Kennedy.

The Peter yard also won the 4Racing Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m. The Where’s That Tiger three-year-old filly Netta, ridden by Kennedy, romped home by six lengths as the market leaders Running Brave and Seehaam went out like lights in the straight.

The Grade 2 4Racing Camellia Stakes as won in scintillating style by the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained What A Winter filly Celestial Love under Gavin Lerena to give owner Laurence Wernars his first success in a memorable day (he also owns Netta and Second Base).

The most courageous performance of the day was put in by the St. John Gray-trained Judpot gelding Don’t Look Back who kept on finding extra under pressure to beat Smoking Hot in the Grade 3 4Racing Gold Bowl, although he did later have to survive an objection.

Andrew Harrison

A soft track will add another dimension to calculations as the build-up to this year’s Vodacom Durban July begins in earnest this weekend with Champions Day at Turffontein today and three important races at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow.

Heavy rain in Durban yesterday will almost certainly take the sting out of the ground and punters will need to factor that in. The going yesterday was posted as good to soft with a pen reading of 26.

Turffontein has also had rain where the 4Racing Premier’s Champions Challenge looks to be a three-cornered contest between Summer Pudding, Got The Greenlight and Malmoos.

Summer Pudding finally gets to cross swords with two of the best males in training and the handicappers may well be holding their collective breaths given her rating – 4.5kg better than Malmoos and 5kg superior to Got The Greenlight.

But no matter the semantics, it will hopefully be a cracking race.

The South African Guineas was always a Grade 1 contest and the start of South Africa’s Champion Season until Mr Jooste stuck his unwanted nose into racing and replaced the John Skeaping Trophy with an inflated purse for the Premier’s Champions Challenge, ostensibly in a bid to give Champions Season the finger.

The inflated prize money for the races on the day was too tempting for many resulting in the quality of the South African Guineas being affected and down-graded to Grade 2.

The ballast in a listing ship has since shifted and Sunday’s Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas are both worthy of Grade 1 status given the quality of the fields.

With the Gr1 Daily News and VDJ in mind, it may be asking a little much of the unbeaten Kommetdieding in the Guineas, so it will not come as much of a surprise should he lose is unbeaten record. But such has been the manner of his wins, that it’s hard not to look past him – head and heart!

He was the short-priced ante-post favourite for the G1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby before injury put paid to his race and he has not been out since the Politician Stakes back in January.

This will be the first time that he faces some of the cream of the current sophomore crop and just how he copes will be closely watched. He has had a gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville so looks well prepared.

MK’S Pride has been the ‘pride’ of Gauteng this season and it may be hype versus ability come Sunday. He was good enough to get the better of proven class in Got The Greenlight in the Hawaii Stakes even though the latter may have been short of a gallop and a furlong or two.

From a pole position draw, he has it all to prove.

Vaughan Marshall will be out to prove that the Cape sophomore form is as strong as it is purported to be.

Russian Rock and Rascallion have let the side down in their seasonal KZN debuts so the spotlight will be on Linebacker, runner-up in the Cape Guineas but remedied in the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby. His form is hard to fault and he cannot be left out of anything along with stable companion Seeking The Stars who was a comfortable winner last run and not far back in the Cape Guineas.

Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock will also be under the spotlight again.

In golfing terms, the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas looks something of a ‘gimme’ for Captain’s Ransom. Justin Snaith’s filly looks exceptional and has already taken on and beaten older runners at Grade 1 level.

She galloped impressively on the course last week and from a plum draw she will be difficult to beat and will be many a punter’s banker.

Of the balance Princess Calla and possibly Only The Brave could provide some opposition.

Eric Sands has opted to get his charges, Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, going early in what will be a path to the Vodacom Durban July with both horses owned by Mike Rattray who is desperate for a win in a race he has always converted.

Rainbow Bridge is rated way better than his rivals in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes but the seven furlongs is on the short side and Sands will be banking on class to get him home as the gelding faces two 1400m specialists in Catch Twentytwo and Pinkerton.

David Thiselton

Champions Day heralds some exciting clashes throughout the card and like the WSB Derby and Wilgerbosdrift Oaks day the results might well be favourable for punters.
All of the features will be sponsored by the new racing operator in weighting 4Racing.
In the big one, the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m, Got The Greenlight has a freshness advantage over her two chief rivals Malmoos and Summer Pudding. This will be his third run of the season and he should be cherry ripe to display his devastating turn of foot. He relaxes well in the running and his only fault is that he idles once he has hit the front, so Muzi Yeni will have to time it well. Ideally he will want to be in the slipstream of Malmoos in the straight. The latter also has a good turn of foot and follows it with a resolute finish all the way to the line. Summer Pudding has a relentless finish and she would also not be a bad choice to sit in behind. Malmoos relaxes well when covered but his fine gate-speed means he can risk being caught wide from draws of five like this one. Summer Pudding, on the other hand, has pole position and considering her high cruising speed she will likely be handy before delivering her powerful finish. These three should dominate the race. Cirillo has not had much luck in running lately and could fight out the quartet position with stablemate Tierra Del Fuego and WSB SA Triple Crown bridesmaid Second Base.
The Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m is wide open but the draw often plays a part in this race and Chimichuri Run at last lands a nice high draw. Train Sean Tarry is confident he is in a better place than he was for his last two below par runs and although this is on the sharp side he could mow them down late in the day with his superb turn of foot. True To Life has been in devastating form lately and recorded an excellent time over course and distance last time, although she does have a tricky low draw of five. Cape Flying Championship winner Rio Querari also has a tough draw of four. Last year’s winner Rivarine has the stand-side rail draw and should never be underestimated as he can deliver a devastating finish if held up with cover. The ever improving Mind reader has developed into a bull of a filly and can’t be ignored either. There are others with chances too and it is advised to go as wide as possible on a day when punters are able to go thin in a few legs.
Sheela is an exciting entry in the Grade 2 SA Nursery as Mike Azzie has described her as the best filly he has trained since Harry’s Charm. However, Smorgasbord is going to be a tough nut to crack.
The unbeaten Under Your Spell only has the number one draw to beat in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery but in a field of nine it might not cost her the race. Heaven’s Girl looks to be the back up.
The Grade 2 Camellia Stakes looks likely to be fought out by Sweet Future, Tropic Sun and Celestial Love but the first mentioned  has a big stride and exceptional natural speed so is made the best of the day.
The Gerald Rosenberg could see Seehaam upsetting Running Brave as she is crying out for this trip but it should be a close fight.
In the Grade 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m African Adventure, who gets better the further he goes, can defy topweight of 61kg at the expense of Don’t Look Back and Smoking Hot.

David Thiselton 

THE VODACOM DURBAN JULY is not a true handicap as there are some conditions. 

At the time of publication of the weights the following rules apply: 

“The weights shall not exceed 60kg and shall not be less than 52kg.” 

“The maximum weight for four-year-old and older females is 59kg and the maximum weight for four-year-old and older males is 60kg.” 

“The minimum weight for females is 52kg and the minimum weight for males is 53kg.” 

“The maximum weight for three-year-old females is 56kg and the maximum weight for three-year-old males is 57kg.”   

The weight for age allowance for a three-year-old at the time of the VDJ is 2kg (equals four merit rated points). 

Therefore, if the highest rated horse Rainbow Bridge remains on 134 and presuming that will be the highest merit rating in the race then: 

1) the three-year-old females will carry half-a-kilogram more than 52kg for every point their merit rating is above 122. 

2) the three-year-old males will carry half-a-kilogram more than 53kg for every point their merit rating is above 124. 

3) the four-year-old and older females will carry half-a-kilogram more than 52kg for every point their merit rating is above 118. 

4) the four-year-old and older males will carry half-a-kilogram more than 53kg for every point their merit rating is above 120. 

5) a three-year-old male who is rated 132 or more (and not above 134) will carry 57kg. 

6) a three-year-old female who is rated 130 or more (and not above 134) will carry 56kg 

7) a four-year-old or older female who is rated 132 or more (and not above 134) will carry 59kg.   

There is one scenario in which a three-year-old female, three-year-old male or four-year-old or older female can carry more than 56kg, 57kg or 59kg respectively and that is if they are the highest rated horse in the race.   

The relevant clause in that case is: “Notwithstanding 2 and 3 above (i.e the weight minimum and maximum rules), the Handicapper will raise all weights proportionately to 60kg.” 

This happened in 2016 when three-year-old Abashiri on 117 was the highest rated horse in the race, two points higher than the 115 of the highest rated four-year-old or older horse French Navy. 

The handicappers therefore had to allot Abashiri the maximum weight of 57kg for a three-year-old and then calculate the rest of the weights from that starting point. 

This meant French Navy ended up with 58kg after the three-year-old weight for age allowance had been factored in. 

The weights were then all dragged up to 60kg, meaning Abashiri had to carry 59kg.   

However, this year the key merit ratings, presuming Rainbow Bridge stands his ground at the time of the publications of the weights and is still merit rated 134, are: 

118 for older females; 

120 for older males; 

122 for three-year-old females; 

124 for three-year-old males. 

Trainers would ideally want their charges to be on those respective merit ratings or below because otherwise they are going to have to carry more than the minimum possible weight for their respective age and gender. 

As things stand the horses who will be carrying more than the minimum possible weight for their age and gender are: 

Rainbow Bridge                                   (134) 60kg; 

Belgarion                                             (130) 58kg; 

Do It Again                                          (129) 57.5kg; 

Summer Pudding                                 (129) 57.5kg; 

Golden Ducat                                      (128) 57kg; 

Jet Dark (3yoc)                                   (130) 56kg; 

Got The Greenlight                              (124) 55kg; 

Sovereign Spirit                                   (124) 55kg; 

Captain’s Ransom (3yof)                     (126) 54kg; 

Malmoos (3yoc)                                   (125) 53.5kg; 

Running Brave                                    (119) 52.5kg 

The horses who will be carrying the minimum possible weight for their age and gender without being under sufferance are: 

Cirillo (120) 53kg; War Of Athena (122) 52kg; 

Common terminology which describes the above two cases is: “War Of Athena/Cirillo sneaks into the handicap with the minimum  weight”. 

So as it stands only 13 horses are “in the handicap”. 

 The other 41 are all “under sufferance.” 

Of course a lot can change as the merit ratings will be affected by the many big races between now and June 15, the day on which the weights are published for the big race. 

The weights can not change between June 15 and the big race date, July 3. 

Andrew Harrison

BABY SHOOZ was among the lowest rated entries in the list of 54 nominations for the Vodacom Durban July that were revealed on Wednesday. It may have been an optimistic entry by Peter Muscutt but it is best to get in at the bottom if you think there is a possibility for improvement given that supplementary entries are not cheap.

Baby Shooz has always been held in high regard and a race like the WSB 1900 could well prove a stepping stone into the July for a horse of his ilk.

He lines up in a seven-horse field in the opening leg of the Pick 6 on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday and the race can go some way into showing which way he is headed.

There was little to write home about in his come-back run in the Kings Cup where he hardly got out of first gear from his 12 draw and finished 12^th.

It was not his run and Muscutt has exchanged apprentice Jabu Jacobs for Anton Marcus.

So, the jury is out at this stage and while you cannot leave Baby Shooz out of any combinations with any confidence it may prove prudent to look elsewhere for the winner.

Justin Snaith was priming Native Tongue for a possible raid on a Highveld feature earlier in the season after a cracking effort behind Share Holder in a Novice Plate. A relatively disappointing effort next time out when favourite saw all plans on hold in spite of turning the tables on Share Holder on more beneficial weight terms.

Native Tongue has had one run back since that win and there was a lot to like about the way he was finishing behind Quick Star. He is over a more suitable trip here.

Sir Michael was in that same race behind Quick Star and was running at them late. He too was returning from a break and Dean Kannemeyer should have him fit and fighting.

Punters face a particularly tricky card but one of the more interesting races is the seventh. Duncan Howells entered Quepid for the WSB Fillies Guineas on May 2 but said that given the likely strength of that field, Sunday’s race was a more realistic option.

The daughter of Querari has taken time to come to hand but is in cracking form of late. Howells was mystified by her defeat to Freestate Star at her penultimate outing but a slight change of tactics in her first start on the poly saw apprentice Thabiso Gumede ride a cracker to get his mount up on the line.

On that showing the 1900m of this race should suit and the Guineas may still remain an option.

Emerald Palace made short work of Laurel Lane when shedding her maiden over course and distance last time out, cantering to a 14-length victory. Laurel Lane subsequently franked that form but Howells will have a good line on Gavin van Zyl’s filly as she was a victim of Quepid in the maidens.

Likely favourite is the year-old Silver Maria. She warmed up nicely at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time out, staying on well behind Keep On Dancing. Her Cape form before arriving in KZN was solid and if she takes to the poly, Quepid will need to pick up her feet.

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH is going all out to equal the 108 year-old record of Fred Murray, the only trainer to have won four Durban July’s in succession, and has entered eleven runners in this year’s renewal which will be sponsored by Vodacom for the 20th time.

Murray won the race every year from 1910 to 1913 with four different horses including Nobleman, who was ridden by Hall Of Fame trainer Syd Laird’s father Alec Laird.  

The famous race has attracted an entry of 54 this year and the strength in depth will ensure that its 122nd renewal is one of the strongest in its fabled history.  

Six of Snaith’s entries are owned or part-owned by top Durban Businessman Nick Jonsson, including twice winner Do It Again, who will have a second crack at becoming the first horse to win the race three-times, L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, The Gatekeeper, Crown Towers, Sachdev and Silver Host.

The Gatekeeper is a full brother to Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate and has for a long time been one of Snaith’s chief July hopes this season. However, he is a slow maturing type, so the best is yet to be seen of him and he still has a bit to do to qualify.

Snaith regards Silver Host as one of the dark horses, although he would appreciate further than 2200m and was not as impressive as The Gatekeeper in today’s race course gallop.

Snaith’s five other entries are last year’s winner Belgarion, the star filly Captain’s Ransom, Hoedspruit, Doublemint and African Night Sky.

Captain’s Ransom is by speed influence Captain Al and her two Grade 1 wins have been over a mile. However, she is a half-sister to a Sir Percy gelding who has won over two miles on the all-weather in the UK.

Snaith will be going for a sixth VDJ win in total and he will thus be attempting to join the legendary Terrance Millard as the second-most prolific winner of the race behind seven-time winner Syd Laird.

Twice Vodacom Durban July winner and reigning national champion trainer Sean Tarry has eight entries but does not have a very strong hand. Cirillo is the highest rated among them but has a stamina doubt, so the most exciting of his entries are probably the progressive filly Seehaam, who will relish the step up in trip, and the classy three-year-old Flying Carpet, who was a fast finishing fourth in the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic.

The highest rated horse in the race is the Eric Sands-trained dual Met winner Rainbow Bridge on 134. Runner up two years ago, he carried topweight last year and ran the first 2000m in a quicker time than the Hollywoodbets Greyville course record for 2000m so he will have a fine chance if ridden more conservatively. His stablemate Golden Ducat ran a cracking fourth last year and is a lot better than his Met sixth place, a disappointing run which might have been the result of having had too hard a race when winning the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy. Both horses are owned by Mike Rattray, a nonagenarian who has had a lifelong ambition to win this race.

Four-time VDJ-winner Mike de Kock has two entries including the WSB SA Triple Crown hero Malmoos.

The Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara heroine, the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena is also among the entries.

Three-times VDJ-winner Dean Kannemeyer has three entries including the Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock and the Grade 3 Politician Stakes runner up Legitimate. Russian Rock is a son of 2012 VDJ winner Pomodoro and Legitimate is a son of Kannemeyer’s first July winner Dynasty. The latter got home from draw 20 out of 20 in 2003 ahead of the Mike Rattray-owned Yard-Arm and it is regarded as one of the race’s greatest performances. Dynasty has already produced two July winner, Legislate (2014) and Belgarion (2020).

Veteran Cape trainer Vaughan Marshall has two entries including Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Linebacker and the hard-knocking Grade 1 performer Rascallion.

Another top Cape three-year-old entered is the Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix-trained Kommetdieding, the unbeaten Grade 3 Politician Stakes winner. He is third favourite in the Hollywoodbets betting.

Last year’s runner up, the Joe Soma-trained Got The Greenlight, is also entered. He might come in well weighted and is the current second favourite behind Malmoos.  

Leading Johannesburg trainer Paul Peter has tree entries including the darling of the SA turf and current Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.

Johan Janse van Vuuren has three entries including Second Base, who was placed in every leg of the WSB SA Triple Crown, and the progressive three-year-old Puerto Manzano.

Candice Bass-Robinson, the only lady to have ever won the VDJ (with Marinaresco in 2017) has entered Met third-placed Sovereign Spirit.

The Cape’s Adam Marcus has entered Princess Calla, third in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and fifth in the Met.

KZN have eight entries but all of them will need something of a miracle to qualify considering this year’s strength.

The Zietsman Oosthuizen-trained Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers winner Atyaab is the sole entry from the Eastern Cape.

David Thiselton

SIX big horses for the SA Champions Season, Kommetdieding, Linebacker, Seeking The Stars, Captain’s Ransom, The Gatekeeper and Silver Host galloped at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and pleased their respective connections.

The unbeaten Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix-trained Kommetdieding, a comfortable winner of the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m, missed his last start due to an overreach injury. However, he was only out of work for a week and looked in fine fettle in the parade ring. Rix described him as not a big horse at all, about sixteen hands and one inch, but as one who carried himself well. She also spoke of his wonderfully laid back temperament adding, “He is still a colt but doesn’t know it.” Kommetdieding sat behind stable companion, the twice winner Pink Ffloyd, from the Drill Hall and was superbly relaxed under regular rider Sihle Cele. In the straight he switched out and the acceleration was instant. He used his big action and was obviously enjoying himself and kept Pink Floyd, who came back at him, at bay. 

Next up was the Vaughan Marshall-trained Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner and Grade 1 Cape Guineas runner up Linebacker and his stable companion Seeking The Stars, who beat him into second in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m before winning the De Grendel CTS Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m and then finishing unplaced in the Cape Guineas. Seeking The Stars, a natural front-runner, led the pair under Anton Marcus. Linebacker, under Grant van Niekerk, switched out at the top of the straight and using his big, uncomplicated stride made up the leeway effortlessly. They then galloped together to the line, although Linebacker ducked away from the shadow at the finish post. On that performance Linebacker could well be the one to beat in the Grade 2 WSB Guineas on May 2 from a plum draw, as he glided past the stands in eyecatching style.  Kommetdieding will be a tough nut to crack but does have a wide draw of eleven out of the 15 entries. Seeking The Stars is not out of it either. Marshall pointed out that he had simply gone too slowly in the Cape Guineas and said he would not only stay 1600m but probably further. However, he will have to be used up to a certain extent to get to the front from a wide draw, which is currently 13.

Captain’s Ransom, a winner of five out of six including the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, also over 1600m, is an impressively strong individual. She is described by trainer Justin Snaith as “a machine.” She worked on her own and anybody wandering who did not know her would not have been overly impressed by the gallop as she was not asked to do a lot under Richard Fourie. However, Snaith obviously knows what constitutes a good workout for this star and was pleased. She starts off in the WSB Fillies Guineas where her she is cramped 3/10 odds at present and her chief opposition will be Princes Calla and the pole position drawn Miss Elegance.

The Snaith pair The Gatekeeper, ridden by Richard Fourie, and Silver Host, with Grant van Niekerk up, galloped at a comfortable pace from the Drill Hall with the latter in front. The Gatekeeper, a full-brother to former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate, is still immature but displayed a big stride in the straight and the pair went to the line together. Snaith believes Silver Host is the best stayer in the country and regards him as one of the dark horses for the SA Champions Season as the Vodacom Durban July is on his radar. The Gatekeeper has for a long time been one of Snaith’s chief July contenders although he still has to qualify as he is merit rated just 110.  He starts off in the WSB Guineas.