Belgarion, third favourite for the Vodacom Durban July with most bookmakers and already backed from 9-1 to 7.5-1 this week with Track And Ball, runs next in the World Sports Betting 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday week. The four-year-old is hot favourite, 13-10 with the sponsors and 1.35-1 with Track And Ball.

Belgarion, son of the 2003 July winner Dynasty, has been laid out for the July since his last run when he won the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap at Kenilworth five months ago – and in all probability for a great deal longer than that.

Justin Snaith, now bidding for his fifth July win, has been guarding the gelding’s merit rating as if it is part of the stable’s crown jewels – and in a way it is. Snaith told me after the Peninsula victory: “Belgarion has a huge future come the Natal season. The previous time I ran him – when he won the Settlers at Durbanville in September- he got a sharp rise in the weights and I had to put him away. Had I not done so he would have gone up the ratings too quickly.

“That’s why I am not going to run him again in Cape Town this season. He is a horse who will run well in the July but not if he is at level weights with the best ones.”

Belgarion, only beaten twice in seven starts, pleased his trainer in that racecourse gallop with Do It Again at Greyville last Sunday: “I was very happy- I thought both of them galloped nicely.”

Do It Again runs in the Gold Challenge on June 28 and, if all goes well, he could attempt to become the first horse in history to win the July three times. Belgarion, though, is the one of more immediate interest.

Furthermore the 1900 has often proved significant in the build-up to the July. Last year’s winner Eyes Wide Open went on to finish fourth in the big one and the 2018 victor Elusive Silva was third. The 2015 and 2016 July winners both ran in the 1900, Power King finishing second and The Conglomerate fourth.

By Michael Clower

Mike and Adam Azzie will be targeting the Grade 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m on Champions Day for their promising filly Wylie Wench and are looking forward to the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint too after Rivarine bounced back to his best at the Vaal yesterday.

Wylie Wench, who has only had four starts, made it three 1450m wins in a row last week with a comfortable victory in a MR 92 handicap for fillies and mares at the Vaal.

The Azzies gave her a test of speed recently by working her with Rivarine and Mike said, “She did exceptionally well.”

She has also shown speed in her 1450m races and is of course from the family of Azzie’s great sprinter National Currency.

Azzie scratched her from the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas, run at Greyville on Sunday, because she drew wide but she might still appear in Durban this season as he would like to see her in a race at the Vodacom Durban July meeting.

That race might be the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.

Azzie said, “The Garden Province will be a big ask right now but she is getting better and better. Next year it will definitely be the right race for her.”

Six-year-old Var gelding Rivarine, who is out of Pocket Power’s J&B Met-winning full-sister River Jetez, has on occasion threatened to become a top class sprinter but has largely been disappointing. A Grade 3 and a Listed win are his best achievements.

However, on Monday he beat some good horses, including Grade 1 winners Chimichuri Run and Might High, when finishing a 2,5 length second to Mr Flood over 1000m.

Azzie said, “He enjoyed the break and we have now got on top of a few niggles he had.”

He added, “But Mr Flood is going to be a tough nut to crack in the Computaform Sprint.”

Indeed, Lucky Houdalakis looks to possibly have another rags-to-riches superstar on his hands.

By David Thiselton

Out Of Your League lived up to his name on Saturday when causing a 45/1 upset in the Grade 1 SA Derby and although the win gives him an automatic entry into the Vodacom Durban July trainer Fabian Habib did not entertain any thought of an entry.

He confirmed the July would be too sharp for him and added, “He will even go 3200m. He is a young horse so the Gold Cup this season might be too early in his career but we will make a decision closer to the time.”

Habib knew Out Of Your League would fight back on Saturday when appearing to have been swamped close to home after setting the pace.

He said, “He is the sort of horse who looks for company. In an earlier race over 2400m he was overtaken and fought back to be beaten a short-head. He is an out and out stayer.”

Habib was brought up in racing and at the National Two-year-old Sale one day went and watched the horses having their afternoon walks. He spotted Out Of Your League and recalled, “He just had this presence about him.”

He secured him for R130,000.

Out Of Your League has a fine staying pedigree being by SA Derby and Daily News 2000 winner Elusive Fort out of an unraced mare (by stamina influence Del Sarto) who was a half-sister to the useful Listed winner Buscador.

By David Thiselton

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Tips and Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

12 TRICKSTER   8 MRS PLAYER   5 QUEEN ISABELLA   9 SCENTED MISTRESS
Preview: Mostly first timers but Cape visitor TRICKSTER (12) can improve on her Kenilworth debut effort. MRS PLAYER (8) was a touch disappointing on debut but did find some market support. QUEEN ISABELLA (5) has been rested since her smart barrier trial and should come on from that. SCENTED MISTRESS (9) is a nicely bred visitor and one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 12-8-5-9).

Race 2

10 KEEP THE LIGHTS ON   6 MY LADY   9 SHADES OF RED   3 EYE CATCHING.
Preview: KEEP THE LIGHTS ON (10) was well supported on debut and was narrowly beaten. That experience should tell. MY LADY (6) made a fair debut over coursed and distance and can improve on that showing. SHADES OF RED (9) improv3ed nicely at her second barrier trial. EYE CATCHING (3) made a modest Cape debut but should come on from that effort. (Andrew Harrison: 10-6-9-3).

Race 3                      

6 SAN ANDREAS   8 VAR’S ELUSION   10 HARDWIRED   11 CAPTAIN OUPIE
Preview: SAN ANDREAS (6) showed up well in his barrier trial and is likely to come on well from that. VAR’S ELUSION (8) has put in two smart efforts on this course and should run another bold race. HARDWIRED (10) showed up well in his first run back from a break and has done well on this course. CAPTAIN OUPIE (11) showed up well at long odds in his Cape debut and has a chance on that showing. (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-10-11).

Race 4

1 ASTUTE VISION   2 TWICEASFAST   8 TO DO RON RON   12 CHANEL ALLURE
Preview: ASTUTE VISION (1) has shown promise and has improved in blinkers. She should go well again. TWICEASFAST (2) showed up well in her barrier trial and is one to watch in the betting. TO DO RON RON (8) failed narrowly last time out. She has improved in blinkers. CHANEL ALLURE (12) looks held by To Do Ron Ron on their last meeting but has gone close over course and distance. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-8-12).

Race 5

4 RED ROCK CANYON   1 DONALD MCDONALD   6 LORD OF THE MANOR   11 POWER TO COMMAND
Preview: RED ROCK CANYON (4) shows some useful Cape form over the trip. He has improved in blinkers and should go close. DONALD MCDONALD (1) showed up well on debut. He should much prefer this trip and has the best of the draw. LORD OF THE MANOR (6) caught the eye when running on well in a recent sprint. He should prefer this trip. POWER TO COMMAND (11) has been trying further but can run fresh over this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-6-11).

Race 6

9 ON THE DOUBLE   5 PERFECT AIR   6 ELECTRIC SURGE   2 DOWN TO EARTH
Preview: ON THE DOUBLE (9) goes well over course and distance. She has drawn a little wide but should go well again. PERFECT AIR (5) won her last start in the Cape. She may prefer it a bit further but can race fresh over this shorter trip. ELECTRIC SURGE (6) is much better than her last run when taking on males. She had smart form in useful company before that. DOWN TO EARTH (2) won well first up out of the maidens. She has jumped in the ratings but does show some promise. (Andrew Harrison: 9-5-6-2).

Race 7

5 TWIST OF FATE   10 AZORES   8 BORN TO PERFORM   6 GG’S DYNASTY
Preview: TWIST OF FATE (5) has smart form in top company. He is well weighted here and at best should be hard to beat. AZORES (10) has promising Cape form. He jumps in class here but has a light weight. BORN TO PERFORM (8) is always game and won well last time out. GG’S DYNASTY (9) has smart form at this course and should be close-up. (Andrew Harrison: 5-10-8-9).

Race 8

3 SKIDOO   1 WINTER BLUES   11 YESSIRICANBOOGIE   10 CANDY GALORE
Preview: Open. SKIDOO (3) has smart Cape form over the trip. He must have a strong chance. WINTER BLUES (1) is always game and goes well on this course. YESSIRICANBOOGIE (11) showed top class potential as a juvenile. She was narrowly beaten last run but does have a big weight. CANDY GALORE (10) was an easy winner over course and distance last time out. She meets stronger here but is smart on her day. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-11-10).

Race 9

8 KINGSTON ROCK   4 SPEED OF NIGHT   5 MAI TAI   12 LETABA
Preview: KINGSTON ROCK (6) has been knocking at the door for some time now but he goes well over this trip and with a claiming apprentice up should go close. SPEED OF NIGHT (4) shed his maiden last run but has shown potential. The blinkers go on. MAI TAI (5) is a useful filly. She has improved in cheek pieces and goes well this trip. LETABA (12) tried further last run but seems best over this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-5-12).

Race 10

3 ROCKCLIFFE   5 JUSTAGUYTHING   2 STORMY MISS   7 RETAIL THERAPY
Preview: ROCKCLIFFE (3) is way better than his last start. He has done well to stronger and at best should go close. JUSTAGUYTHING (5) is back over his preferred trip and a repeat of his last run can see him into the money. STORMY MISS (2) took on a strong field first up out of the maidens. She is lightly raced and can still improve. RETAIL THERAPY (7) shed her maiden last run but has made steady recent improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-2-7).

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

Erik The Red could be Durban bound after making it four off the reel with a devastating turn of foot in the Kuda Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth on Tuesday.

Varsfontein’s homebred Captain Al colt was giving away more weight than a sumo wrestler yet he started almost unbackable at 3-7 and, when Richard Fourie pressed the button, he accelerated like a Ferrari to storm home four and a half lengths clear of the smart Matthew The King.

“He could end up in the Cape Guineas at the end of the year but the question now is whether we go to KZN for the Group I races,” said Jono Snaith, adding diplomatically: ”That will be up to Susan Rowett and John Kalmanson.” Seemingly, though, the owners are not going to be left in any doubt about what the Snaiths feel because Jono said, almost in the same breath: “The way he won, it will be hard not to – and I think he is good enough.”

Fourie shares much the same view, saying: “He’s a racehorse and I wake up in the mornings to ride horses like him. He is definitely capable of winning a Group 1.”

Of course, unless the regulations change, Fourie won’t be able to ride him or any of the other Snaith-trained KZN stars. How does he view this, Fee Ramsden asked him. “I’ve put a line through the Durban season,” he admitted. “I am just focussing on earning a living and what racing needs to do is to keep focussing on keeping the show going.”

Amazingly this was the first Somerset success for Justin Snaith since Gimmethegreenlight nine years ago. The dual champion trainer also won the Kudex Pinnacle with last year’s Winter Derby second Nexus and the Kudex Perfect Promise with Captain’s Ransom who fairly flew up the rails in Suzette Viljoen’s colours to lead just over 50m out.

Fourie was on both these and Jono Snaith sees Captain’s Ransom as a classic filly – “She is a very exciting prospect and she will end up in the Cape Fillies Guineas. She should stay every inch of the mile too.”

Piet Steyn has had to wait a long time for a horse good enough to take him back to the glory days of his early training career but in Katak he appears to have found it. So have the punters who backed the colt from 5-1 to 23-10 favourite in the Kuda Variety Club Mile – and Aldo Domeyer made sure they never had a moment’s anxiety. Indeed when he pressed the button it was race over.

The jockey was mightily impressed, saying:” Mr Steyn told me that he thinks he has one of the best horses in the country and I don’t feel that sentiment is out of place. Indeed I can’t wait for the summer season because that is when you are going to see the best of him – and he has everything he needs to go to the top.”

The Winter Series looks like being on the agenda and Steyn, who owns the colt 50:50 with Marsh Shirtliff, said: “I am thankful to Marsh (for coming in with me). He is a great man and it’s nice to be in partnership with him.”

Hassen Adams’ What A Flirt goes for the second and third legs of the fillies winter series after delighting Paddy Kruyer and Greg Cheyne in the Kuda Fillies Maiden while Anecdote showed the benefit of first time blinkers for Geoff Woodruff and Mj Byleveld in the mile maiden. Woodruff, to move to Cape Town later in the year, also won the last for Mike Fullard and James Drew with Worlds Your Oyster (Corne Orffer).

Brett Crawford and  Orffer doubled up with impressive newcomer Invincabelle in the opener and Sing Out Loud in the Kuda Sweet Chestnut. This Ridgemont filly was plumb last for much of the way after fly-jumping as the gates opened but, as her jockey related, “When I gave her the bit she just took off.”

By Michael Clower

Image: Candiese Lenferna