Anthony Delpech was left with a headache any jockey would like to have after winning the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on Saturday aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Bela-Bela and Anton Marcus also now faces a tough decision on whom he will ride in the Vodacom Durban July after the Mike Azzie-trained Rabada’s win in the Gr 1 Daily New 2000.

Both riders would set a new mark of five July victories in the saddle were they to win the big one this year as they are currently joint-record holders with the great Harold “Tiger” Wright.

On Saturday Delpech’s narrow Daily News runner up was ironically named It’s My Turn as the top jockey was coming off five SA Champions Season Graded race victories in succession – somebody else finally had a turn.

Marcus admitted dropping the whip shortly after turning for home on Rabada had been a worrying moment, especially aboard a horse who had always responded well to reminders. However, like a true professional he compensated by flicking the rein into Rabada’s range of vision and the robust bay duly found extra to repel Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn. However, the latter would likely have been pencilled into more July note books as he has an impressive stride and was closing rapidly despite the earlier crawl they had travelled at. He failed by 0,25 lengths to give both Snaith and Delpech what could well have been a unique Guineas and 2000 double-double, the pair having won both the Daisy Fillies Guineas and Canon Guineas with Bela-Bela and Black Arthur respectively at the beginning of the month.

Delpech’s only loss in the six previous SA Champions Season Graded races this year was in the opening one aboard the now retired Legislate in the IOS Drill Stakes.

Anton Marcus, when posed the question about Rabada staying the July trip, replied, “The pace today was pedestrian.”

This played into the Summerhill Stud-bred Brave Tin Soldier colt’s hands as he found the box seat behind the leader from a good draw and his stamina reserves were not put to the true test.

“At the moment I am just happy to have won this race for Markus,” he continued,  referring to champion owner Markus Jooste, for whom he is the retained rider. Rabada’s July participation will likely be discussed by Azzie, Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman and jockey Marcus. Jooste’s leading July hope at present among a few contenders would likely be fast-finishing Betting World 1900 runner up St. Tropez.

Another eyecatching July Trial in Saturday’s Daily News was run by the Gavin Van Zyl-trained Rocketball, who reached top gear close to home and was finishing strongly with an impressive stride. Third-placed Mambo Mime also ran on well representing last year’s July-winning combination, Dean Kannemeyer and Stuart Randolph, and so did fifth-placed Ten Gun Salute.

However, the three-year-old males are all likely to carry the minimum allowed July weight for their age and gender of 53kg, because even the current 106 merit rating of the highest rated of them, Rabada and Black Arthur, means being 2kg under sufferance with top merit rated entry Legal Eagle (120).

Rabada might go up a point or two if Rocketball, rated 105 and beaten 1,5 lengths is used as the line horse, and It’s My Turn (101) and Mambo Mime (100) will in that case be raised too, but it will all be superfluous in the July picture unless Legal Eagle is scratched before the setting of the weights.

Black Arthur put up a gallop before the first race on Saturday and, striding out very well under Delpech, pulled away effortlessly from his companion, who had given him a lead. The work out pleased both Delpech and Snaith.

Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty filly Bela-Bela might also be raised a point or two from 107 if 104-rated Heaps Of Fun, beaten 2,1 lengths, is used as the line horse, especially considering the ease of the win. This will be significant because for every point above 108 she will carry 0,5kg above the minimum allowed July weight for a three-year-old filly of 52kg.

Delpech spoke about Bela-Bela’s amazing turn of foot and described her as the second best filly he had ever ridden after 2011 July hero Igugu.

The energetic grey, like a lot of world class fillies, nods her head in the running, perhaps an indication of how much she loves her job, and she looked the winner a mile out.

Negroamara stayed on well for a 1,75 length second and Nightingale, hampered around the turn when Ruler Of The Sky broke down, was staying on even stronger for a  good third.

Negroamaro’s owner Laurence Wernars still seeks his first Gr 1 win after 25 years of owning racehorses, but this was another of a few Gr 1 seconds he has had. Drill Hall winner New Predator later disappointed in the Wernar colours in the Daily News and likely didn’t stay the trip.

Earlier, Kannemeyer and Delpech had combined to win the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. The first time Kannemeyer put this Silvano gelding beyond 2000m he finished second in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup and this was only his second attempt beyond that distance. He remains in the July picture. However, winning the Lonsdale off a 98 merit rating at the expense of a slightly unlucky Heldeberg Blue might not be enough to get into the big race. The Gr 2 Gold Vase and/or Gold Cup route looks more sensible anyway.

David Thiselton