RACE 1: Preview: NIPPY WINTER (7) made good improvement when a close-up second at Durbanville last time out. HOMELY GIRL (4) was well fancied in a Cape feature last run and was not disgraced in fourth. She meets weaker here. REVERENT LASS (9) was all at sea on debut and is sure to make good improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-9-10).

RACE 2: Preview: PERSISTANCE (7) has shown up well in both starts but faces a field of unknows. Keep an eye on the betting here. ROD THE MOD (8) made no show in feature company last start but was close-up before that over course and distance. OVATION (6) was not too far back on debut and experience will count in his favour. There are a few first timers with quick pedigrees. (Andrew Harrison: 7-8-6-1).

RACE 3: Preview: VIDA FUTURA (7) made a smart debut at lengthy odds. He should much prefer this trip and rates the one to beat. FOREVER BILL (2) found good market support on debut but failed to show. He is obviously better than that showing and may be worth another chance. POMP AND POWER (5) found some long-shot market support on debut and was not far back. He could upstage them all. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-5).

RACE 4: Preview: PHEDRA (9) made a promising debut at long odds. She should enjoy the extra furlong and the experience should count in her favour. TEMPLE BAR (10) made good improvement at her second start when taking on males. She must have a decent chance on that showing. MARIA QUEROL (7) has put in two good sprints to date. She steps up to further and should go close. (Andrew Harrison: 9-10-7-6).

RACE 5: Preview: ADDERBURY LAKE (1) has run three crackers over shorter. The Extra should suit and from a plum draw rates a strong chance. WHATSINADREAM (2) goes well over the trip and has been a close-up second in her last two. Can go one better. LOVE NOTE (3) was much improved last run over the Durbanville 1800m. She also found market support that day so must come into all calculations. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-3-4).

RACE 6: Preview: LORD MARMITE (1) started at very long odds went sent over ground for the first time and nearly surprised. He obviously enjoyed the extra and is primed to go one better. SON OF SILK (2) is holding form and was close-up over course and distance last start. His time over the trip was 3.5 seconds slower than Lord Marmite. ALINGALONGA (4) is coming along the right way and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-4).

RACE 7: Preview: LIFE ON MARS (3) has shown some promise and should go very close in a field of this quality. ROYAL FLUSH (1) was well beaten second last run but that was a work rider’s event. He had shown some promise before that and this looks tailor-made. WORDSWORTH (2) battling maiden but ignore last run. Has a chance in this line-up. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-4).

RACE 8: Preview: AFTER THE STORM (2) has put in two smart recent efforts over this trip. She must have a strong chance in this company.  ALLOWAY GROVE (4) is holding form and seems best over this trip. Weak field. ARCTIC ICE (3) tried further after retuning from a lengthy break. He best form is over this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-3)

First entries for this year’s Vodacom Durban July were initially due in by 11am yesterday morning. However, because of the National Yearling Sales, Gold Circle made a late decision to reschedule first entries to Tuesday, April 20 with names being announced on Tellytrack after the first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, April 21.

Andrew Harrison

THE speculation begins today with the first entries for this year’s Vodacom Durban July due in by 11am.

The July is the catalyst for interest in South Africa’s Champions Season and with a number of outstanding performers this season the 125^th running of South Africa’s most famous race is set to be a cracker.

With nearly four months still to go before the big race, successes and failures of horses with potential July credentials will be followed closely and debated country-wide.

Justin Snaith has campaigned last year’s winner Belgarion sparingly. Snaith did a brilliant job in plotting Belgarion into last year’s race on favourable weight terms and the gelding has only had three outings since his big success.

He beat Rainbow Bridge with a telling finish in the Green Point Stakes and finished third behind Jet Dark and Rainbow Bridge in the Queen’s Plate and second to Rainbow Bridge in the Cape Met.

The July will no doubt be on the gelding’s radar again but will face a stiffer task this year as he has jumped in the merit ratings and will carry close to the top weight.

Eric Sands will be hoping for better luck with both Rainbow Bridge, likely top weight, and Golden Ducat, both certain entries, assuming they are fit and well. Rainbow Bridge has hardly put a foot wrong in his career and victory would finally realise the dream of prolific owner Mike Rattray.

Joey Soma has taken the slow route with last year’s runner-up Got The Greenlight and his preparation has gone well so far with the colt winning the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes in only his second start this term after warming up in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes when touched off by MK’s Pride.

Johan Janse van Vuuren appears to have a possible contender in the progressive Argentinian-bred gelding Puerto Manzano. He has yet to be tested beyond a mile but finished off his recent race in fine style for back-to-back wins and could possibly go the 2200m of the July. Time will tell.

The name of last season’s Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner and Equus Horse of the Year Summer Pudding is sure to be among the first entries. The only blip on her CV to date was a below par run in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes where she was reported coughing post-race. She has since put the record straight with a facile win in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes over the Turffontein 2000m.

She has also won at Greyville, winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, which cemented her place in the minds of most Equus voters.

But this year’s crop of three-year-olds appears to be of vintage quality and the new blood is set to test the proven older campaigners to the full.

The form of the Cape Guineas has worked out in spite of the race being run at a muddling pace.

Second-placed Linebacker went one better in the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby and fourth-placed Jet Dark went on to upstage Rainbow Bridge in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

The one question mark is the weak showing of the winner, Russian Rock in the Derby and subsequently in a Graduation Plate at Greyville.

Recent Triple Crown winner Malmoos disappointing in the Guineas but comfortably beat Linebacker in the Concorde Cup over the Kenilworth mile.

Mike de Kock has indicated that Malmoos may miss the July after a hard season but one hopes that another July trophy in the cabinet will prove too much of a temptation.

The Daily News 2000, the most important July warm-up for three-year-olds, should provide a telling pointer.

The big unknown is the unbeaten Kommetdieding. He was a short-priced favourite for the Cape Derby before injury scuppered his race but he was hardly tested in the Gr3 Politician Stakes where third-placed Rascallion, second to Linebacker in the Cape Derby, was three lengths adrift.

The Daily News 2000 will more than likely be on his radar.

Other sophomore male’s that have claims are Catch Twentytwo, Rascallion, The Gate Keeper and Copper Mountain who pushed Got The Greenlight to the limit in the Horse Chestnut.

Recent facile Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena is head and shoulders above her female rivals on the Highveld and Paul Matchett must surely have July intentions. The Gr1 Woolavington 2000 would be an ideal prep race.

Justin Snaith has another cracker in Captain’s Ransom, beaten only once and a facile winner of the Gr1 Majorca Stakes beating Clouds Unfold. She has not raced beyond a mile at this stage of her career and the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes may be her main Champions Season target but her name may still appear on the list of first entries.

Running Brave, second to Summer Pudding in the Gauteng Summer Cup last season, is sure to be among the first entries while confirmed stayers African Adventure and former Cape Derby winner Atyaab are also possible.

Two jockeys who may be forced into a choice of rides come Monday, 21 June, the date of final acceptances, are Muzi Yeni and Luke Ferraris. Yeni could be caught between Got The Greenlight and War Of Athena while Ferraris could be faced with a choice between Rainbow Bridge and Malmoos.

Entries will be announced live on Tellytrack on April 21 after race 1.

Andrew Harrison

SHARE HOLDER has been something of an under achiever – always threatening but never producing what was expected. Paul Lafferty explained that one of his problems was that he had a serious hoof injury that had only recently allowed them to fit a proper shoe.

With all four hooves in working order it was a change of tactics that finally produced the effort that most knew he was capable off in the third at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Most pundits pegged the race as a two-horse contest between Seventh Gear and last season’s WSB Guineas winner Wild Coast, but they were both out-pointed by Muzi Yeni who rode a perfect front-running race.

To quote a Lafferty euphemism, ‘Share Holder pulls like a dentist’ and the instructions to Yeni were to let Share Holder roll. In hindsight, the instructions were superfluous as Yeni wasn’t left with an option as the big chestnut pulled him clear.

Given a breather up the hill, Share Holder was going great guns at the top of the straight with Wild Coast already under the pump but there were ominous signs from Seventh Gear as Keagan de Melo stalked his rival. With two furlongs to run, De Melo released the handbrake and for a few strides it looked as if Yeni was smelling cooked goose.

But Seventh Gear probably needed to gear down to fifth for a bit of grunt as he only got to Share Holders’ tail and no further.

It was a win full of merit and long overdue while Seventh Gear will improve a few lengths. As for Wild Coast, his Champions Season may have already hit the rocks – time will tell.

No one was going to get rich on Kailene in the card opener but those who did have a plunge on the odds-on shot had little to worry about. Making her local debut after a creditable showing in a Cape feature, she always looked to have the wood on her opposition and so it proved.

Lyle Hewitson rode a copybook race, one wide with cover as Global Secret cut modest early fractions under Warren Kennedy.

Taking a traffic-free passage for home, Kailene was never asked a serious question as she cruised to the line under hands and heels with Global Secret staying on for a well beaten second.

The history of sport is littered with precocious talents that have made their names before hitting their 20’s. 19 year-old Luke Ferraris, just recently out of his time as an apprentice, has had a leg up with his Grand Father and father being top trainers, but no matter the pedigree, if you don’t have the talent you are never going to make it.

Young Ferraris is a man of few words, ask him a question and he cuts to the point in a few syllables, a television interviewer’s nightmare but a journalist’s pleasure.

The second was not the Cape Met on Rainbow Bridge or the Triple Crown on Malmoos, but Ferraris was clinical aboard the well fancied Final Destiny for Garth Puller in his maiden win. “He was a right horse in the race,” commented Puller and Ferraris executed it with the precision of a veteran.

The 14-length margin of defeat at her last start will have put many off Laurel Lane but Duncan Howells was quick to admit that his filly was beaten by a better horse. “Sorry Mister Howells, there was nothing I could do,” was the succinct observation from Ferraris who was in the saddle that day.

He was back aboard yesterday, took the race by the scruff of the neck, and kept rolling to the line.

Yeni has had a memorable week with War Of Athena rounding off the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and winning the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes aboard Joey Soma’s charge Got The Green Light, second in last year’s Vodacom Durban July.

He may have a few tough choices to make come July time – the first nominations out on Wednesday.

When races go punter’s way in the early exchanges, there is generally a bomb on the way and Yeni was the provider as he produced Nathan Kotzen’s filly with a telling late run to win the sixth at the ‘skinny’ odds of 40-1.

Andrew Harrison

NOW’S the time for punters to keep their eyes open and their notebooks at the ready. With the official start of Champions Season just a month away the better class horses will start to make their appearance as they warm up for the features.

The Hollywoodbets Greyville turf hosts an eight-race meeting with two races worthy of special mention. The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a Conditional Progress Plate where most interest will be centred on Seventh Gear and Wild Coast with Share Holder also in the mix.

Wild Coast surprised last season in the WSB Guineas and was never in the hunt in three subsequent races. Justin Snaith’s colt obviously has some ability but in truth that Guineas form has not worked out and it remains to be seen if Wild Coast can up his game.

He gets a chance here where he is favourably weighted but takes on a hard-knocker in Seventh Gear. Dean Kannemeyer stretched his charge to 2500m last time out but he was never in the race with a chance and is back over what should be a more suitable distance.

Both Seventh Gear and Wild Coast come off lengthy breaks which may see them short of a gallop and this race is probably a warm-up which may leave the door open for Paul Lafferty’s runner Share Holder who is racing fit. He has been a touch disappointing but is consistent and if the top two are caught short, Share Holder can pick up the pieces.

The seventh is a Graduation Handicap that falls into a similar category of horses prepping for the season. Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Love Bomb is the class filly in the line-up but Frank Robinson was quite open, commenting that his charge would need the run. That coupled with a steadier of 62.5kg on her back from a wide draw, she is up against it but class always comes to the fore and victory would not be unexpected.

Glen Kotzen has slipped into town with little fanfare and he saddles Point Of Sale who makes her local debut but comes with some fair form in strong Cape features. She also has loads of class and a big weight but she goes well this trip and should not be in need of the outing. Purple Persuasion also goes well over this trip and with a claiming apprentice up she can be competitive. Princess Anastasia was disappointing last run and is way out at these weights. However, she does appear to be better than her form suggests and she can surprise while Fiftyshadesdarker is another to consider as a likely winner off her light weight.

Kailene could fit as a bi-pot banker in the card opener. She contested a Cape feature last run and her rider lost his crop in the finish. Prior to that had shown ability and the extra will suit. Of the balance, Bay Of Dreams started at long odds when a close-up fifth over the trip. A repeat will see her go close again and she gets first time blinkers.

The second is an open race where Final Destiny found one too good for him over course and distance last time out. He shows some promise and should be competitive here. Cleto was much improved last run starting at long odds and he appears to have come to hand. Montana Sky was desperately unlucky last run but has another difficult draw to contend with. He switches to the turf but is always game.

Rain Wear and Diamonds And Toads could be the principal runners in the fourth. Rain Wear has been narrowly beaten at her last two and is in top form and rates the one to beat. Diamonds And Toads played second fiddle to the well-fancied winner last run and also switches to the turf but is consistent. Laurel Lane was well fancied last run but was ‘ambushed’ as Emerald Palace strode to a 14-length win. That’s unlikely to happen again.

In the fifth, Hello Tomorrow was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. She has been consistent and from a plum draw with a claiming apprentice up she should go close again. Lhasa Star finished ahead of Serena Slam when last they met and has her third run for her new stable. The cheek-pieces go on and she must be in with a big shout although Serena improved nicely second time at the races. She has the worst of the draw but has a top rider aboard and can turn the tables.

In the sixth, Winter Time should strip a lot fitter after showing improved form when sent over ground with cheek-pieces on. That was her first run back from a lengthy break Sacred Ibis has come to hand of late and goes well this trip while Twice As Special didn’t feature on the poly last start but her Highveld turf form was not too bad. She has a chance in this company and comes from a stable that often wins with long-priced runners.

The last is a wide open handicap where the betting could be your best guide. Gold Season has his first run for Dean Kannemeyer. He was taking on strong Highveld fields and his rating has dropped from a high of 93 to 74. With a change of scenery, he can do much better. Canadian Bolt has his third run after a break. He was close-up last start and should be cherry-ripe. Movie Magic showed up well first run back from a break with the blinkers back on while Palace Wind was a touch unlucky in a bunched field last run. He has come good of late and has the best of the draw. The Snow War and Master Of Destiny are others to include in bigger exotic perms in a difficult race.