Twelve months on since going into the history books as the first woman trainer to win the Durban July – and in all probability the first trainer to do so in their first season – Candice Bass-Robinson reckons Rocket Countdown has a much better chance in the famous Vodacom race than his 45-1 price would suggest.

Rocket Countdown (JC Photographics)

“I am not saying he can win but I am optimistic about his chance of running a good race and I think he has a chance of being in the money,” she says. “He hasn’t been over the trip but I don’t think the distance will be a problem. He is bred to go further and he has a good turn of foot so he won’t need to be racing up there all the way.

“He has done very well since he has been in Durban and he put up a very nice gallop at Greyville last Thursday. It was his first time at the course and he also worked really well on Monday morning.

“I think it’s an open race if you take Justin’s horse (African Night Sky) out of it. I don’t know that we can be lucky twice in a row but you never know!”

By Michael Clower

Today’s Cape Town meeting has been switched to Kenilworth from Durbanville where the waterlogging problems that resulted in last week’s abandonment have been exacerbated by all the recent rain.

Just over 100mm has fallen at Kenilworth although the official going is no worse than soft (penetrometer 30 in the straight and 29 on the round course). However yesterday’s drying, followed by more this morning, could make the ground holding and put stamina at a premium.

Lyle Hewitson

Lyle Hewitson, now virtually certain to join the select few who have become champion jockey while still an apprentice, makes a rare out-of-season visit.  “Adam Marcus rang me, said he had three nice rides and there is no racing in Durban today,” he explains. It is this type of ‘have saddle, will travel’ approach to life that has played a big part in his path to the top.

The three Marcus rides are in three of the last four races and Marcus sees them more as place chances than banker bets. “We haven’t been able to do much of a preparation with Gyre (8-1 and off for nearly five months) but he did put up a good gallop at Kenilworth two weeks ago and he has done sufficient to run a nice race. The soft ground is not too much of a worry with him and he is a horse with a big heart.

“Red Rascal (9-2) has been doing well since his last run but has a wide draw to overcome so he will be tucked in and running on at the finish. Elusive Touch (9-2) ran a good race in the soft last time. She takes very little work and is in great form. Her winning chance is slim -she is drawn 12 out of 13 – but with luck in running she can run into the money.”

Hewitson’s other rides include longshots Princess Kika and Burano for Geoff Woodruff and 4-1 second favourite Chatuchak for Andre Nel in race seven, the Interbet.co.za Handicap. This one won over a furlong less in May but has yet to be tested in the soft.

He also has a chance on Sailor Sam (5-1) in the first but preference is for Greg Ennion’s other runner Rock Of Asia (2.4-1) who made much of the running when winning over the trip last time. Fellow joint favourite Tarsus was not disgraced when pitched in against older horses in a handicap a month ago.

Star Angel impressed when scoring here on her last start nearly two months ago – she led and was soon three or four lengths clear – and the 7-2 chance can defy a 3kg penalty in the TAB Telebet Juvenile Fillies. Vodka Lime (also 7-2) looks a big danger but 33-10 favourite Be Yourself is returning after a six-month absence.

Joey Ramsden has scratched Sparkeling Fire from race three, citing “change of venue.” She had a winning chance and now the vote goes to Valderrama. Grant van Niekerk, who rides her, can follow up on Black Indy in the next. His good draw may enable him to beat More Magic.

By Michael Clower

The Grade 2 Samsung Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day is as tricky as ever this year and an upset would be no surprise.

Anneka found extra gears when necessary second time out around the turn over 1200m on the Vaal Classic track. She looked to have a bit in hand at the finish and from a fair draw over a suitable trip will be right there.

Celtic Sea ran on well from off the pace and looked the winner before being caught late in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m with first-time blinkers on. She should enjoy this trip but has a tough draw to overcome and the blinkers have remained on.

Believe The Best is a scopey sort and beat a field of older maidens in commanding style second time out over this trip when having to overcome a wide draw at Scottsville. She has another tricky draw.

Believe The Best (Candiese Marnewick)

Canukeepitsecret was fourth in the Allan Roberston when running on from a high draw and she should be staying on if Byleveld is able to slot her in from a high draw.

Ronnie’s Candy showed a good turn of foot when winning the SA Fillies Nursery and was a touch unlucky when moving up in the Allan Robertson. However, she was well beaten in the latter race and has a tough task with Celtic Sea and Canukeepitecret.

Temple Grafin is small but won well on debut over 1200m. However, she now has a tough draw of 15.

Can You Feel It was narrowly beaten by Temple Grafin on debut but looks to have plenty of scope and could be the dark horse under Fayd’Herbe from a draw which could come into eight if the reserves come out.

Captain’s Princess is another scopey sort. She beat Firdoas and Ronnie’s Candy on debut over 1200m and then stayed on well for third in the SA Fillies Nursery. She should enjoy the step up in trip and has pole position for an in form yard.

Firdoas won the Listed Devon Air Stakes over course and distance when producing a telling kick and this classy Bernadini filly has scope for further improvement. However, she was drawn in pole that day and now has to overcome the widest draw of all.

Mazari is quite exposed but was only beaten 0,75 lengths by Firdoas in the Devon Air, despite having to give the latter 2kg. However, earlier she was well beaten in both the SA Fillies Nursery and Allan Robertson.

Miss Khalifa impressed on debut over 1000m but has not raced since January so is hard to assess. She does have speed and jumps from a good draw under Jeff Lloyd.

Running Brave is a courageous sort who keeps on finding but this is tougher than she’s faced before.

Red Al won a Juvenile Plate well third time out over 1500m when wearing down the opposition and is improving. However, she was receiving weight in that win and might also prefer further.

Awesomely Tuned was beaten 2,5 lengths by Red Al in the aforementioned race and is now 3kg better off. However, she is quite exposed and faces a tough task.

By David Thiselton

The Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m is often a Pick 6 stumbling block on Vodacom Durban July day but this year three highly promising horses stand out in a race which which will be one of the day’s highlights, although there are two relatively unknown quantities who punters will have to be wary of too.

Cue The Music has a superb pedigree, plenty of substance, is very laid back, has a good cruising speed and an exceptional turn of foot. He is a half-brother to the champion sprinter Val De Ra but the latter did win over this course and distance second time out.  Furthermore, Val De Ra was by the champion sprinter Var, whereas Cue The Music is by Oratorio, who won a Group 1 over this trip as a two-year-old and won the Group 1 Coral Eclipse over a mile and two furlongs as a three-year-old. Last time out in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion Cue The Music had no cover throughout and after moving up very well he was scythed down in the final strides. Anton Marcus now rides him from a plum draw of two and he is sure to find cover before using his turn of foot.

Cue The Music (Candiese Marnewick)

Barahin is a R2,6 million Gimmethegreenlight colt who has won two from three. Last time out he won the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes comfortably over the Golden Horseshoe course and distance, running on strongly from midfield to win easing up by 3,25 lengths. He still looked immature so there is plenty of improvement to come.  Bernard Fayd’Herbe keeps the ride and they jump from stall eight, as opposed to the six draw in the Gatecrasher.

Soqrat has won both of his starts over 1160m and 1400m respectively by wide margins and showed a fine turn of speed in the latter race. This classy looking colt is by Epaulette, who won two Group 1s in Australia over 1400m, and is out of a twice-winning Hussonet mare who is a three-quarters sister to a Group 2 winner who won from 1200m to 1500m. Soqrat should therefore be ideally distance suited and has a plum draw of four.

Tobie Spies upset the applecart when winning the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion with Van Halen and he has an unknown quantity in Basilius. This gelding won in commanding style over 1200m on debut down the straight at the Vaal and the form has been franked. His sire Potala Palace won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old and his dam by Spectrum won in the December of her two-year-old year over 1000m. Therefore, Basilius should have precocious speed and should be course and distance suited. A further plus is Jeff Lloyd is aboard.

Confessional is a good looking colt by Oratorio out of a full sister to Dynasty and he won his maiden well over this course and distance last time. He has scope for further improvement but on the downside he now has a wide draw to overcome and his time was 0,73 seconds slower than Barahin’s.

Provocateur is the second of the unknown quantities. He overcame a wide draw and sat in second without cover in the maiden won by Confessional, so did well to stay on for a one length second. In his next start with blinkers on over 1400m on the poly he went to the front and stayed on strongly to win by four lengths. Unfortunately he has another tough draw of eleven but he could be the pacemaker and is the dark horse.

Clifton Crusher ran on strongly in the Gatecrasher from draw 12 of 14, after being dropped out, and finished a 3,75 length third. However, he has to overcome a similar draw this time.

Across Seattle was a bit keen in the Gatecrasher from pole position so did well to stay on for fourth, a short-head behind Clifton Crusher, so if he settles better from a draw of seven he could earn again.

Goliath Heron was beaten 4,25 lengths by Cue The Music when fourth in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold medallion over 1200m. He has plenty of speed but on pedigree, being by Master Of My Fate out of a Silvano mare who won on debut over 1450m on the Vaal sand, he should stay the trip so has an outside chance from a good draw of six.

Sulka was staying on nicely in the Gold Medallion when a 5,75 length sixth so should enjoy this trip. However, he has a tough task reversing form with Cue The Music, although he does have pole position.

Crown Guardian produced a late surge to win over 1000m on debut at Kenilworth and came from some way off them to finish third over 1200m next time out in the Listed Somerset. However, the form was let down when Somerset winner Twist Of Fate ran downfield in the Gold Medallion.

Royal Italian, Rule The Night and In Cahoots look held.

By David Thiselton

It’s Justin Snaith who is the record-breaking trainer but younger brother Jonathan is the stable’s master strategist and the acknowledged form expert in the family. These are his views on the stable’s five runners in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July:

“At the weights African Night Sky is a worthy favourite.  His preparation has been flawless – and you couldn’t ask for a fitter horse.

African Night Sky (Candiese Marnewick)

“Do It Again is a high class individual. You can ignore his last run as it was his second run after a long rest and he didn’t produce his form. He is much better than that and you can expect him to return to his best on Saturday. He is a huge runner.

“Made To Conquer is a progressive sort and the type of older horse that often wins the July. He is a tough, hard-knocking individual and is sure to be competitive.

“Elusive Silva (Jono Snaith is a part-owner) was at one stage ante-post favourite for last year’s race but he got injured. He has had a fantastic prep and is a bit of a fairytale horse in that he was retired from racing with a tendon injury yet here he is back for the same race and with a realistic chance. He is a good horse and he has the class to win.

“Star Express has great form coming into the race but there are stamina doubts. She is best over 1 400m to a mile but, if she should get the trip, she will be a serious contender.”

Asked to single out one or two of the stable’s runners in the other races, he said: “Snowdance looks our banker of the day, the distance of the Betting World 2200 is a little bit short for Strathdon but he is so well in himself. We are very competitive in that race with Platinum Prince as well.”

By Michael Clower