Eyes Wide Open was slashed from 5-1 to 16-1 for the Vodacom Durban July by World Sports Betting yesterday following his triumph in Saturday’s WSB 1900 but rival firm Betting World took a much more relaxed view about the Glen Kotzen four-year-old clipping him from 66-1 to 40-1.

Both firms left the market leaders unchanged. Betting World has Hawwaam favourite at 7-2 with Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge on 5-1. WSB offers much the same, the only difference being Rainbow Bridge half a point longer at 11-2.

One World is odds-on at 17-20 with WSB to become the fourth successive horse to complete the Winter Guineas-Classic double at Kenilworth on Saturday.

M.J. Byleveld retakes the mount from Anton Marcus – presumably on the Grade 1 trail at Scottsville – and Vaughan Marshall has put in longshots Rochester and Blackbeard to stop the race being cancelled through lack of support.

Only four other trainers have entered horses for the R250 000 race, and then only one apiece. Second favourite at 15-10 is One World’s great rival, the Adam Marcus-trained Vardy (Craig Zackey) who was beaten a head in the Guineas and again receives 2kg.

Candice Bass-Robinson has booked the in-form Greg Cheyne for 8-1 Guineas third Majestic Mozart. Kotzen has yet to declare a jockey for 15-2 shot Herodotus although S’Manga Khumalo, who rode him into fourth in the Guineas, will be at the meeting and Louis Mxothwa will be on Justin Snaith’s 28-1 shot Clouded Hill who was only fifth in the Guineas.

– Last year’s much-travelled Sun Met runner-up Last Winter has left Dean Kannemeyer’s care to join Sir Michael  Stoute at Newmarket. Jehan Malherbe, racing manager for Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, said: “Last Winter has been in England since early April, initially at a spelling farm, and he went to Michael Stoute last week. He is a long way off running.”

Stoute also trained the 2016 Met winner Smart Call when she was in England.

By Michael Clower

With the Vodacom Durban July in mind and less than three lengths separating ten of the 11 horse’s home, one wonders what can be read into the result of the World Sports Betting 1900 run at Greyville on Saturday.

For a number of years, the race lost some of its lustre as a pointer to the July when shunted around the calendar but now its positioning and the fact that the winner is guaranteed a July place, has restored its importance as a big-race pointer – but one does have to read between the lines.

Eyes Wide Open may have had his July ticket stamped, no doubt a relief for Glen Kotzen, but the trainers of those hopefuls behind him will have been equally pleased given the blanket finish.

It is seldom that it’s the trainer that is reluctant to geld, it’s more often the owners with stars in their eyes that are the problem when it comes to an underperforming colt.

But Kotzen has obviously worked wonders with Eyes Wide Open, the colt’s blood picture more the problem than an ornery disposition which is usually the case for gelding, and Eyes Wide Open could well make a stallion given his pedigree and now enhanced racing record.

But reading on a local website, there were respondents to the argument that races like this should not be used as a ‘practice’ race. Horses should not be raced ‘unfit’ was the writer’s reasoning.

Extrapolate this to the Comrades Marathon that will be run early next month and the legendary ten-time winner Bruce Fordyce. Fordyce ‘practiced’ hard before the Comrades but was always content to finish in the pack in his build-up races. He timed his preparation to peak on Comrades day.

So too racehorse trainers. None of Saturday’s runners would have gone out ‘not trying’ or unfit and given the blanket finish, ‘unfit’ is a bit harsh.

Not for nothing is horse racing labelled the ‘brain game’ as punters need to understand the mechanics of training and racing to make informed decisions.

Eyes Wide Open may well have won on Saturday, and he needed to given his recent record if he was to be sure of a place in the 18 horse July field as he was outside of the 20 runners published in the initial July log.

Others in Saturday’s field were already high up on the July log and certain of their place but did they need to peak on Saturday or on Saturday, July 6.

Similarly, Head Honcho in the Pinnacle Stakes that followed, looked the proverbial certainty given the weights. But former Racing Editor of the Daily News, Stewart Ramsay, pointed out that all Head Honcho’s good recent form had been over further and that he had not run since the Sun Met.

So, the question punters will have needed to ask is whether the weight advantage would be enough to overcome the lay-off and course and distance specialist Matador Man?

The answer was no!

By Andrew Harrison

The eight race meeting at Turffontein Inside tomorrow features the Listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m and Rockin Russian deserves a change in luck after interference close to home last time appeared to have cost her victory in a 1400m Assessment Plate.

The side on view of that incident showed Rockin Russian moving up to win but then having her momentum suddenly taken away so it was surprising when the head on proved she was intimidated and bumped that the objection was overruled.

However, the run proved that she was in a good space and drawn two off a competitive merit rating over a suitable trip she should go close under Lyle Hewitson.

Regal Graduation has improved as a four-year-old and has been consistent from 1160m up to 1450m. She was staying on well last time over 1400m against some decent males so should now start enjoying this trip.

Folk Dance looked to be a top prospect at one stage when winning the Grade 3 Fillies Mile easily but she never had much luck with draws. She then started becoming disappointing as she did have one or two races where the draw was in her favour. However, last time out in the Scarlet Lady over 1750m at Scottsville she bounced back to form by finishing a 2,60 length third to the useful Miyabi Gold. The ground was soft that day, whereas it is likely to be fast tomorrow, so there are question marks whether that run heralded a real turning of the corner or not.

Penny Royal is a well-bred daughter of Captain Al and from a good draw she can make her presence felt as she has done well in two runs with pacifiers fitted. She should get this trip.

High Seas Beauty was staying on after a slow start last time when just a head behind Penny Royal. She has won over a mile before.

Flying Fable was a touch unlucky in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over this trip and before that won over a a mile at the Vaal in fine style. She should bounce back here but against her is a tough draw of 16.

Bullsade is much improved and interesting over this trip. She is 1,5kg worse off with Penny Royal for a length beating and she is drawn in pole.

Cashel Palace has always shown some class and over an ideal trip should have a chance despite having to carry top weight.

Those are the one which make most appeal and they are selected in the order mentioned.

The previous race is an interesting Pinnacle Stakes event over 1800m which has a number of Vodacom Durban July entries involved.  

Cash Time is the selection as he is drawn in pole and should continue his improved form with blinkers. The main danger looks to be Cape Derby winner Atyaab. The front-runner Pilou should also have a fine chance at this tight track as he appeared to go too slowly in front the last time he tried this trip and was swamped, so he could make amends here and stretch them out in front.

By David Thiselton

General Franco can pay his own tribute to the late Jack Mitchell by turning in a second mind-blowing performance in the opening Suburban Spares Juvenile Plate at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The son of Frankel, only the fourth by the great horse to race in South Africa, took the breath away with the sustained acceleration he produced to power through the field to slam the best of the opposition by three and a half highly impressive lengths a month ago. Admittedly most of them were fellow newcomers but second-placed Three Two Charlie franked the form in no uncertain fashion at Durbanville last Sunday.

The General (now as short as 4-10 with WSB) looked as if he would be a worthy opponent for Captain Of Stealth in next month’s Langerman but Jono Snaith says that was never the plan – “It was always our intention to run him in something like Saturday’s race and then put him away. He has done really well since his first run and has improved a lot.”

Snaith added that he has a lot of respect for 5-1 second favourite King Of Gems who also won first time out, admittedly by a narrower margin and in much less spectacular manner. “That was a good effort to win on debut,” says the in-form Brett Crawford. “He is working well and he has done well.”

Captain Of Stealth’s trainer Vaughan Marshall is represented by 11-1 shot Fearless Warrior who also won on debut but disappointed when starting second favourite for the Somerset 12 days ago. The course vet could find nothing wrong but it is perhaps significant that he is being asked to turn out again so soon.

The Joey Ramsden pair Double Alliance (8-1) and Minnesota Dream (9-1) also won at the first time of asking. The former has been off since his fifth in the Met day Listed race and Minnesota Dream was fourth in the Somerset.

Marco Polo (15-1) is the Snaith second string and drops back a furlong after finishing over seven lengths behind Captain Of Stealth at Durbanville. His running will provide an interesting comparison with the Marshall star.

Boomps A Daisy cost punters dear in her two runs at Durbanville but she has looked a different proposition at Kenilworth and she seems well-treated with a mark of 73 (not to mention odds of 15-10) in the Burchwood Hotel Handicap.

Rock Spirit (7-2) holds Capkuta on their running earlier in the month and can get the better of the frustrating Salt in the Model Liquor Distributors Maiden.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith will be a little closer to sorting out his contingent for the Vodacom Durban July after the races at Greyville tomorrow. Snaith has nine entered for the race come the first Saturday in July, three of those at the bottom of the log published by Gold Circle a fortnight back.

Currently, Doublemint is 16^th and a guaranteed place for a run according to the first July log, with Magnificent Seven and Miyabi Gold two slots lower in what is a maximum field of 18.

All three are set to do duty tomorrow, Doublemint and Magnificent Seven in the Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900 and Miyabi Gold in the Listed East Coast Cup.

With the Vodacom Durban July in mind, there is a lot at stake for a host of runners, some borderline cases and others, almost certain of a place in the field, warming up.

Being a borderline case, Doublemint will cement his place with victory in the WSB 1900 and Snaith has booked master pilot Anton Marcus to do the job. Marcus partnered the colt in a 1400m spin at Greyville last week so will know exactly what he has under him and also what he is up against as there appears to be very little between Doublemint and Kampala Campari, although Andre Nel’s runner is not nominated for the July.

Double Mint was a neck clear of his rival in the Gr3 Peninsula Handicap and a similar distance ahead in the Sun Met. Doublemint is a little closer in the weights this time around so the race could pan out into a battle of wits between two of the best, Marcus and Bernard Fayd’herbe.

But there are others with fish to fry. The experiment with blinkers in the Sun Met did not work for Made To Conquer but he is still 12^th on the July log after finishing second with Jeff Lloyd aboard last year and he galloped along with Doublemint on the course last week. A forward showing should keep him from slipping down the list.

An interesting runner is recent The Sledgehammer winner, Orpheus. His easy end-to-end victory is still under the microscope but his performance prompted a supplementary entry into the July on Tuesday.

Others that need good showings are former Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open, Dawn Assault, Magnificent Seven and the filly Fiorella.

Fiorella, down the field in last year’s July but a head back to Oh Susanna in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, will need a similar showing if she is to make this year’s line-up. Duncan Howells has been at pains to point out that there have been no races over a suitable trip for his filly because of her high merit rating, so although she has the worst of the draw she cannot be written off.

Miyabi Gold, 18^th on the July log, overcame heavy underfoot conditions in The Scarlet Lady at Scottsville before the meeting was abandoned but Sabina’s Dynasty was rattling home behind her and possibly put up the better showing.

The two meet again at level weights in the Listed East Coast Cup and considering that Sabina’s Dynasty was having her first run for Brett Crawford, one can expect a similar performance tomorrow where the extra 250m may swing things in her favour.

Possibly best bet on an otherwise tricky card is July entry Head Honcho in the Pinnacle Stakes, eighth race on the card. Although he has not run since the Sun Met where he looked a possible winner before being caught late by Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again, beaten less than a length, he looks a cut above this field in spite of the mile possibly being a touch on the short side for him.

Andre Nel made sure that this race held up for Head Honcho, saddling four of the seven runners, and even though he is up against course and distance specialist Matador Man and a lively Snaith runner in Platinum Prince, he should prove too classy.

By Andrew Harrison

18 May – Greyville (WSB 1900)