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.