Dean Kannemeyer holds a strong hand in the World Sports Betting 1900, one of the major stepping stones to this year’s Vodacom Durban July, and both It’s My Turn and The Slade will have to put up their hands at Greyville tomorrow if they are to be considered for the final July field.

With none of tomorrow’s runners in this Gr2 event assured of a July run, the race will be seriously competitive and there could be a few hard luck stories come 3.20pm tomorrow.

The Slade is relatively lightly raced and after reeling off a hat-trick of wins culminating in a close-up second to the smart three-year-old Eyes Wide Open in the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap towards the end of last season he was being touted as a possibly July winner.

However, the Peninsula was his last outing in the Cape Summer and it was nearly four months later that he stepped out in the Sledgehammer where he started favourite in the 1800m event.

But things didn’t quite go according to plan. “I expected more from him,” said Kannemeyer. “But Anton (Marcus) said they went very slow in the Sledgehammer which didn’t suit him. But he has been a little disappointing,” admitted Kannemeyer.

That race was nearly a month back and The Slade should strip a lot fitter tomorrow.

Stable companion It’s My Turn is fairly well weighted in the race and has his third outing for Kannemeyer. “It’s My Turn has had two runs for me. He’s back from injury but is doing very well. He ran a great race in the King’s Cup because he’s a better horse over 10 furlongs, possibly even a mile-and-a-half.”

Kegan de Melo has committed to ride for Kannemeyer for Champions Season so his choice of rides needs to be respected.

Investec Derby and Peninsula winner Eyes Wide Open is a glaring omission from the list of initial entries for the Vodacom Durban July but Pack Leader is from the same stable and races in the same colours. He was nearly two lengths clear of The Slade in the Sledgehammer and was not far back in the Cape Classics over the summer.

Glen Kotzen was optimistic earlier in the week as saying, “He has had a great preparation. He ran on Met day and only had one 1000m grass gallop after that before going into the Sledgehammer.

“He was way off and ran much better than expected. He was blowing hard afterwards, but the jockey was not hard on him. Since then he has come on a helluva lot and has been working twice as well.

“If he wins on Saturday and is raised just a couple of pounds his weight will be spot on for the July. I will be disappointed if he is not in the first three and if we are happy the run has qualified him he will not have another race before the July.”

The mare Fort Ember is the best rated runner in the race according to merit ratings and she has an enviable record at Greyville where she seems to “grow and extra leg,” according to Paul Peter. Her recent poor showing in the Champion’s Challenge at Turffontein is best ignored as her previous form was solid.

Justin Snaith, speaking after Oh Susanna had galloped at Greyville yesterday morning, was also fairly confident of his runner’s chances,

“If Platinum Prince could contend over a mile like he did last time then he will be a big runner as that was way too short and he has come on a lot from the run and has been doing very well. He needs a big run to qualify for the July but will have to be careful from that wide draw. Elusive Silva is back and if his legs don’t give him trouble he should also be in contention.”

Snaith has plotted a slightly easier route for African Night Sky who lines up in a Pinnacle Stakes event a half-hour later.

“He may need it a little but I am looking for a positive run into the Cup Trial and expect him to be in the money.”

By Andrew Harrison

Candice Bass-Robinson has a favourite’s chance of winning all three two-year-old races at Kenilworth tomorrow and in two of them her principal hope is odds-on.

Aldo Domeyer, still on 99 after unexpectedly drawing a blank here on Tuesday, should not have to wait long as he rides all three and Mixed Signals stands out in the opener.

This filly was a totally ignored 45-1 chance when running on well after it was all over to take second to smart stable companion Santa Clara on debut four weeks ago and should have come on enough. At World Sports Betting’s 13-20 she is short enough though because third-placed Tropical Hibiscus has since let the form down in a big way.

That said, there is no obvious danger. The Vaughan Marshall newcomer African Diamond (a R100 000 Rock Of Gibraltar filly) at 4-1 is the only other quoted at less than 10-1. Sparkling Fire at 14-1 is a big price for a Ramsden two-year-old.

Frozen Tune 40 minutes later looks the weakest link in the Bass-Robinson treble as he has been beaten four times already – admittedly second three times and third on the other occasion – but the 16-10 chance has the best form.

Watch Me Dad (6-1) ran well first time despite losing ground at the start and looks a big threat while The Suit (18-10) had Tuesday’s winner Montego Bay a place behind when fourth last time and would be an appropriate tip on Meghan Markle’s big day.

In race three Russet Air (like Mixed Signals a Winning Ways horse to follow) stands out. He lost lengths at the start on debut when third to stable companion Machiavelli, finishing in front of The Suit and Montego Bay. The problem is that he is quoted at 6-10 and is poor value at those odds. Maybe a few Rand on the Domeyer treble would be a more attractive option.

Of the opposition Dynamite Jack and Famous Orator have shown ability while, with his trainer in such blistering two-year-old form, Arrivederci’s 20-1 looks each way temptation.

In the Betting World Maiden Rocket Girl takes on older horses after two good runs over the trip. She is favourite at 16-10 and looks good enough.

Two in-form 4kg claimers give 9-2 shots Northern Corner and Al Wahed strong claims in the Play Soccer 6 Handicap but the vote goes to Fire Walker (also 9-2). He has been raised five points for last time’s win but he won easing up.

By Michael Clower

The Listed East Coast Cup over 2000m is the supporting feature at Greyville’s WSB 1900 meeting on Saturday.

Leaves Of Grass is an Australian-bred daughter of Poet’s Voice and could be well handicapped. She was 2kg under sufferance when winning the Listed Jamaica Handicap over this trip at Kenilworth in January and her new eight point higher merit rating of 84 falls at exactly the top of one of the merit rated bands in this race. She was flying at the finish of the Scarlet Lady having come from last. She will enjoy the step up in trip, but on the downside she does have a tough draw of eleven out of eleven.

Franking is a big, galloping daughter of King Of Kings who has cracked a good draw of three. It should be noted that she has been carded with the wrong weight of 57kg and will actually be carrying 55,5kg. Last time out in the Scarlet Lady she was caught one wide just off the lead and was then cramped in the straight just when she had unwound into her big stride. She will relish this step up in trip, being by King Of Kings out of Jet Master mare Bennie And The Jets, who finished third in the Oaks Trial over 2200m. She would likely prefer a galloping track but will be dangerous if getting into a nice handy position, or leading, from this good draw.

Parabola quickened superbly when winning the Scarlet Lady. Her merit rating was raised four points to 91 and that falls near the bottom of her band so it will be tougher this time, but as a four-year-old daughter of Silvano she will be coming into her own.

Ngaga was caught wide throughout in the Scarlet Lady so can be forgiven the unplaced run and she now has a plum draw of two and has also been lowered three points by the handicapper. Her new 99 merit rating falls exactly at the top of the highest band in this race, so she is the best weighted horse in the race according to official merit ratings together with Epona. She should enjoy this trip.

Epona won this race last year, but comes in with worse form this year and will need to bounce back.

Fantasy Lady quickened well from the box seat in the Scarlet Lady to hit the front and she was staying on well when hampered late so is better than the bare result suggests and could be a player here from pole position over a trip she stays.

Kahula was cramped for room in the Scarlet Lady but was staying on well, so is another with a fine chance as her merit rating of 89 is at the top of one of the bands and she should enjoy the trip. However, she does have a tricky draw of eight.

Royal Utopia is a galloping type who could lead. In her penultimate start over 1800m at Turffontein she finished 4,4 lengths behind the Grade 1 winner Orchid Island at Turffontein when receiving 4,5kg, which was not a bad effort. She stays this trip and will be coming into her own being a four-year-old by Ideal World. However, she makes breathing noises which is a concern.

Hidden Thought is a progressive three-year-old and being by Lateral will relish this step up in trip. However, she has to face her stablemate Franking at level weights, as opposed to the 2kg she would receive in a normal handicap, so this is a tough ask in her first attempt at earning black type.

Onesie ran well in her penultimate start at Scottsville but has a tough task on the form of the Scarlet Lady. However, she is better drawn this time and is another four-year-old by Ideal World, so will be coming into her own.

Being Fabulous is a talented filly who is better than her form suggests. This is her third run with blinkers and she might give more effort with Mark Khan aboard who makes a horse know it’s in a race.

By David Thiselton

Paul Peter has freshened up Fort Ember and expects her to have a big shout in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 on a course she loves.

Peter said, “She loves the climate down in Durban and grows an extra leg at Greyville. I feel she will gel with Strydom and punters must put her in.”

Peter said the pace was too hot for her last time out in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein and she was unable to overcome her wide draw.

That race was just two Saturdays ago so there would be a concern for some that this race has come too soon.

However, Peter has freshened her up and she did “extremely well” in her last bit of work yesterday (Wednesday) when not asked to do too much as he wants to keep her fresh to prevent her from going “flat”.

He said, “She came out of the Challenge sound. She is looking better than she did before that race.”

Fort Ember has at last cracked a good draw of three.

She has a fine record at Greyville, having won both the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

Furthermore, she is the best weighted horse in the 1900, being 2,5kg better off than any other horse according to official merit ratings.

She proved she can mix it with the boys in this season’s Sansui Summer Cup, where she finished second.

If she does well in the 1900, the Vodacom Durban July will be her next target.

By David Thiselton

Glen Kotzen is bullish about his Vodacom Durban July hope Pack Leader’s chances in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 on Saturday and will be disappointed if he does not book his place in the big race. He is also excited about his chances in the Listed East Coast Cup, where he has two runners.

Kotzen said about the three-year-old Philanthropist colt Pack Leader, “He has had a great preparation. He ran on Met day and only had one 1000m grass gallop after that before going into the Sledgehammer. He was way off and ran much better than expected (short-head second). He was blowing hard afterwards, but the jockey was not hard on him. Since then he has come on a helluva lot and has been working twice as well. If he wins on Saturday and is raised just a couple of pounds his weight will be spot on for the July. I will be disappointed if he is not in the first three and if we are happy the run has qualified him he will not have another race before the July.”

Kotzen earmarked this horse’s program before arriving in Durban, while his top three-year-old colt Eyes Wide Open avoids the July and goes the Daily News route.

Kotzen runs two three-year-old fillies, Franking and Hidden Thought, in the East Coast Cup over 2000m and it should be noted that the former carries 1,5kg less than carded.

Kotzen said, “I was disappointed my jockey (Richard Fourie) bailed on Franking.”

This big galloping type was unlucky in the Scarlet Lady over 1800m at Greyville when hampered just as she had unwound into her big stride.

He continued, “She is a seriously nice filly and I am excited about her weight. She will be a big runner.”

She is drawn three and will relish the trip being by King Of Kings out of Jet Master mare Bennie And The Jets who placed third in the Oaks Trial over 2200m.

He said about the Lateral filly Hidden Thought, “She hasn’t put a foot wrong and I’ve been dying to put her over more ground. She hung last time and it cost her and she was a bit jarred up but we have sorted that out. She will have a good finish over this 2000m trip and is also a big runner.”

Hidden Thought’s merit rating falls at the bottom of one of the merit-rating bands so she has to carry level weights with Franking as opposed to the 2kg she would receive from her in a normal handicap, but she also has a good draw of four.

Kotzen runs Sylvester The Cat in the seventh, a Pinnacle event over 1600m which will be contested by some top horses. This enigmatic Black Minnaloushe gelding has been knocking on the door lately in handicaps, albeit off a lowly 83 merit rating, and Kotzen said, “He has been running on top of them, is drawn well and stays the trip and is fit and really doing well.” Therefore, he hopes he can do well with a light weight against big horses who will likely be needing their respective runs.

By David Thiselton