Paul Lafferty believes his Ideal World gelding Dark Moon Rising has done enough to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July after finishing a 0,5 length second in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 at Greyville on Saturday.

The yard also spoke about their runner in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, Sniper Shot.

Dark Moon Rising was running off just a 95 merit rating on Saturday but was 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, the luckless Fort Ember, and was 2kg under sufferance with the winner Elusive Silva.

He thus proved he was better than his rating suggested.

Dark Moon Rising (Candiese Marnewick)

Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh pointed out the progressive gelding also had two things go against him on Saturday.

As a horse who would stay 3200m “on his coconut” he is firstly one who needs a good pace and instead got a crawl.

Secondly there was no false rail, so this nullified his good draw of two as he had to be dropped back and switched outward for a run, which was made particularly difficult off the slow pace.

Nevertheless, the rangy bay ran on strongly with long strides on the outside and swept past all but one of the runners.

Waugh said, “All things considering it was a great run.”

The yard plan to now go straight into the July.

Sniper Shot was the subject of an offer to purchase from overseas after his excellent runner up finish in the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas. However, he failed the compulsory pyroplasmosis test so the sale was called off. This meant he was out of work for two weeks and has consequently put on a bit of condition according to Waugh. He has proved effective over sprints and will have an important gallop midweek this week.

By David Thiselton