Commentator Sheldon Peters had all a-twitter before the first at Scottsville yesterday, broadcasting that hot favourite Sigismund had been kicked behind the pens.

So adamant was Peters that he asked his television producer to re-wind and show the incident.

In his defence, one of the runners did lash out at Sigismund and from the camera angle it did appear to make contact.

Callan Murray

However, rider Callan Murray was unperturbed or unaware of his mount being kicked and continued to circle with the balance of the runners.

The incident was relayed to the stipendiary stewards who in turn contacted the starter via two-way radio. Starter Paul Hepworth and course vet Roehaan Sutherland were both adamant on the radio that, “no horse has been kicked at the start.”

To compound matters, Sigismund did not feature in the finish leaving the public with the perception that the favourite had been kicked and that it had affected his chances.

Peters added even more fuel to the fire later reporting that Sigismund had pulled up lame behind.

Alistair Gordon, who missed saddling his horse as he had mixed up his starting times and was late on course, later reported to Chairman of the Stipendiary Board, Shaun Parker, that Sigismund had a troublesome testicle and that was the probable cause of the lameness which was on the opposite side to where the horse was allegedly kicked.

There was a double each for Shane Humby and Garth Puller on the day and Hashtag Strat led her field a merry dance in the Pinnace Stakes for Louise Goosen and apprentice Khanya Sakayi.

Wrogemann on the mend

After two weeks in an induced coma, Gunter Wrogemann was finally brought around on Friday. A fortnight back, Wrogemann had taken a horrific fall and had been kicked in the face.

His wife Sam posted yesterday that for two days he “wasn’t calm and completetley incoherent but by yesterday morning he was fully coherent”. He had no idea what had happened and that he had been in a coma for two weeks but was hopefully on the mend.

She thanked all for their terrific support.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein Inside meeting tomorrow holds interest for Vodacom Durban July watchers as the Mike de Kock-trained Royal Crusade runs in possibly the first leg of his bid to make the big race’s final field.

Royal Crusade

The three-year-old Silvano gelding runs in a Graduation Plate over 1600m and is entered in next weekend’s Grade 3 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville, which is the final opportunity for July hopefuls to show their credentials. Royal Crusade finished third in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and although he was well beaten by the runaway winner Monk’s Hood he will be the one to beat tomorrow. He is selected as an exotics banker but that is only because it is a tricky card as he will be up against some useful opposition. Glider Pilot is the highest rated horse in the race and in a handicap would be giving Royal Crusade 2,5kg. He runs at level weights with him here so must have a shout. He is by A. P. Arrow so would seem to need further but his best recent run has been over this trip. He is still a July entry but disappointed in the Jubilee over 1800m last weekend, so the connections will be hoping he can impress here.

Full Mast disappointed when last facing Glider Pilot and was well beaten by him but as a son of Go Deputy he will be improving. Furthermore, he has a plum draw of three with Piere Strydom up so must be considered. Punta Cana has always struck as a classy sort and now at last goes over the trip which would suit his pedigree, being by Trippi out of a Fort Wood mare who won the Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas and the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m. This is also his second run after gelding so he is a most interesting contender. The third De Kock horse is Puget Sound who set the pace last time over this distance and finished only two lengths behind Yakeen when receiving only 1,5kg, so as the latter went on to win the Jubilee Handicap he is another one with a chance. Top Rank won impressively on debut in a moderate maiden. However, he started at long odds that day and is merit rated only 74 so has a lot still to prove. The only filly in the race London Secret finished third in a fillies and mares feature last time so is another one who can’t be ignored.

In the first leg of the PA Carbon Atom is an improving sort who had too much ground to make up last time over 1600m when dropped out. He is now drawn in pole with Hewitson up and as a progressive two-year-old will make his presence felt. However, another two-year-old Silken Prince made a good debut over 1200m and will be a big runner from draw three under Piere Strydom.

In the fifth race over 2000m Chariot Of Gold is the obvious horse having finished third in the SA Oaks and sixth in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000. She is tipped but a danger could be Insignis, who on running style and breeding should relish the step up to 2000m. Tigerlace is also a fair sort who runs on well and she is drawn in pole.

By David Thiselton

Master’s Spirit can benefit from the talented Luke Ferraris’s 4kg claim and upset the big guns in the Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

On adjusted merit ratings the Justin Snaith six-year-old might as well stay at home – certainly compared with Dutch Philip and Tevez – but the rain has changed the complexion of the race and this is a horse that goes in the soft. Furthermore he is a decent price at 11-2.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Dutch Philip is a class act and the obvious favourite. He gave away more ground at the start than he was beaten when second to Silicone Valley in a similar race over a furlong further in April and on official handicap marks he has the beating of everything except Tevez. However he is untested in soft ground and at 18-10 that is too big an imponderable.

Tevez (7-1) acts on this going but there is more than a suspicion that he is not quite as good as he was and, rising nine, that is only to be expected.

Olympian (9-2) has strong claims, not least because he is proven in the ground. Over 1 200m last time he had Nasty Harry, Master’s Spirit and Power Grid behind and is weighted to confirm the placings.

Kingston Passage (8-1) looked very good last season, particularly when making the running, and he likes this trip. His ability to act in the wet is a complete unknown but that doesn’t mean to say he won’t.

Power Grid, also an 8-1 chance, should be in his element but you would have to wonder if he is quite good enough to beat this opposition.

Nasty Harry (9-1) will like the underfoot conditions and Mike Stewart has long predicted that Al Wahed will really come into his own when the rain arrives. That said, the six-year-old has too much to do at the weights while Strikeitlikeamatch is a long shot even at 33-1 and allowing for his ability to go in the ground.

Of the others 30-1 shot Big Mistake has been disappointing in recent starts while Fifty Cents (16-1) has been off since February.

Snaith Racing are now finally beginning to unleash their two-year-olds. They run four in the first, four in the second and two against older horses in race three. Seven of them are first-timers. But they will have to be smart to beat Shadowing in the opener and the form book says that Winter Five is likely to prove too strong for Without Limits in race two.

By Michael Clower

Former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate will be one of the centres of attention when he runs in the Gr2 Post Merchants at Greyville tonight. Legislate’s stud career was cut short as he has fertility problems so just how he performs back on the racetrack after an absence of two years will be interesting.

He hacked up in a recent barrier trial at Scottsville but tonight’s race is a different proposition. He was carrying plenty of condition in his trial and is unlikely to strip anywhere near his peak, but he does have class on his side.

The Post Merchants has a reputation of throwing up surprise results and tonight’s race could be no different as it has attracted a highly competitive field and the list of possible winners is a long one.

Legislate

Likely favourite is the Brett Crawford-trained Sunset Eyes, who finished second to stable companion Bold Respect in the recent Tsogo Sun Sprint. Sunset Eyes recorded his last win over Friday’s course and distance and both he and the Crawford stable are in mustard form.

Joey Ramsden was disappointed with Attenborough’s run in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner will be out to redeem himself. Ramsden blamed a wide draw at Scottsville and he has fared better here and will jump from a mid-field draw of seven.

Sniper Shot is smart and versatile although dropping back to 1200m after contesting the Daisy Guineas may be a problem albeit that he has run Sunset Eyes close on two occasions.

Alec Laird tends to fly under the radar and Pure Blonde could be the surprise package of the race. The gelding has some solid Highveld form and the blinkers are back on which should see him improve on his effort behind Bold Respect and Sunset Eyes in the In Full Flight Handicap.

Dennis Drier is chasing hard to regain his KZN Champion Trainer title he lost to perennial rival Duncan Howells last season and Caliente will be a strong fancy in the card opener after a smart barrier trial led to a promising debut.

However, he could find the year older Pavarotti Passion difficult to beat. Mark Dixon’s gelding has been a nightmare at the gates but showed in his first barrier trial that he has plenty of ability. His next trial is best ignored and the fact that he lines up this evening means that he has been passed at the gate.

Merit ratings have been a hot topic of debate this past week after African Night Sky seemingly got off lightly after his victory in the Cup Trial but that’s a debate for another day. An interesting runner tonight will be the showing by Flying Myth in the Wild Coast Sun Handicap.

Sean Tarry’s runner obviously has his problems given his record of time between races and they have not been at all good since winning a Juvenile Maiden back in 2016.

He started his three-year-old career off a rating of 93. That has dropped to this evening’s 66 and given his recent form that is probably a fair assessment.

But the fact that Tarry has persisted with the gelding may tell a tale and the switch to the poly track could hold the key. He’s not one for a big wager but also one that you cannot ignore.

By Andrew Harrison

The shortest priced female in the Vodacom Durban July, Cascapedia, is still on course for the big race despite having had to be scratched from the Jubilee Handicap on Sunday due to a spiked temperature.

Cascapedia (JC Photographics)

Her trainer Mike de Kock lambasted the handicappers for what he perceived to be inconsistencies in treatment of different July runners, including his own charge Yakeen, who won the Jubilee.

Assistant trainer Matthew de Kock said about Cascapedia, ““This is a setback as we’ve missed two prep runs with her, but this won’t change our plans. She’s already better, her blood’s not quite right yet but she will be fine. She has been doing really well in her work and we’ll give her a public gallop if needs be.”

De Kock pointed out that African Night Sky had run to at least a 121 merit rating in the Sun Met (he escaped punishment as a local rule states only the first five horses in a Grade 1 race can have their merit ratings upwardly adjusted and he finished a short-head behind the fifth-placed horse.)

African Night Sky duly won the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville with consummate ease on Saturday but was only raised four points, while Yakeen “fell across the line” in the Jubilee but received the same four point raise.

Matthew said about the Australian-bred three-year-old Teofilo colt Yakeen, “It will be hard to leave him out of the July now.”

By David Thiselton