DAVID THISELTON

FORTY YEARS AGO a final field debacle in the Vodacom Durban July led to a change being made in the selection process starting from 1981 onward and today whilst there are still gripes from the connections of those who don’t get in the system does at least give all entries a chance.

Legendary three-times July-winning trainer Mike Bass remembers the newspaper billboards which pronounced the devastating news that his charge Cracker Lily, who was just about the ante-post favourite for the 1980 race, had been eliminated.

In 1980 the system was simply to select the top 20 horses in weight order and as Cracker Lily had been set to carry a low weight of around 49kg he was eliminated.

Bass was known for his expertise in bringing horses on slowly but surely to their peak and he seldom took three-year-olds to KZN in the winter.

He allowed the tall Cracker Lily plenty of time to mature in his three-year-old year and to overcome his issues. His chief issue was his “stringhalt”. This condition refers to a gait abnormality which is characterized by involuntary, exaggerated upward movement of one or both of the hindlimbs. Cracker Lily had no problem when galloping but when walking one of his hind-legs would often suddenly shoot up involuntarily, sometimes making contact with his stomach.

When the new season began the now four-year-old Cracker Lily was only a one-time winner but he was progressive and Bass targeted the July.

The colt by Palm Beach II (GB ) out of the good broodmare Lily started his campaign superbly, winning three Progress Plates in succession from 1600m to 1800m.

He then finished 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd in four B Division handicaps over 1500m, 1600m, 1700m and 1700m respectively.

He followed that by winning a B Division Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth.

Bass then entered him in the Grade 1 weight for age (wfa) Queen’s Plate over 1600m.

He finished a fine 4,25 length fourth to reigning July champion Over The Air.

In the process he beat Deep Magic by two lengths, World News by 4,25 lengths and Outswinger by 5,25 lengths.

Bass then ran him in the Grade 3 wfa South Easter Stakes over 1800m.

He waltzed in under regular pilot Paddy McGivern, winning by two-and-a-half lengths with the 1978 SA Guineas winner World News finishing third, beaten 4,75 lengths.

Cracker Lily then won the Cape Town Festival Handicap over 1900m at Kenilworth by an easy 1,75 lengths. 

It is not clear from the archives how the weights were set for his next start in the Grade 2 Republic Day Handicap over 1900m at Greyville, which is today’s equivalent of the WSB 1900.

However, it seems absurd that having thrashed World News in his two previous starts, both wfa events, he was now set to carry 3.5kg less than the World News. 

Cracker Lily was set to carry only 50kg and the Form Turf Guide and Blood Horse analyst said, “Cracker Lily looks to be the horse to beat at the weights as long as Robbie Sham can overcome a wide draw.”

As it happened he was beaten three-quarters of a length into second place by the top class Anytime Baby, who carried 56kg. Anytime Baby had shown how good he was by beating the celebrated Bold Tropic in the 1979 SA Guineas. The latter is commonly regarded as one of the best three-year-olds in South African history and he went on to win seven races in the USA including four Grade 2s.

The horse that finished third in the Republic Day, one -and-a-quarter lengths behind Cracker Lily, was six-year-old Beau Art, whose hitherto biggest claims to fame had been a runner up finish to the great Politician in the 1978 July and a third place finish to Politician in the 1979 Met.

Among the other horses Cracker Lily comfortably beat in the Republic Day were World News, Forty Winks, Outswinger and Statesman although he did receive weight from them.      

Nevertheless, the top twenty in the weights for the July all accepted. 

Cracker Lily was thus eliminated simply due to his low weight, whilst those he had easily beaten in various build up races, World News, Deep Magic, Outswinger, Forty Winks and Statesman,  were all included. 

The gentlemanly Bass recalls accepting Cracker Lily’s fate matter-of-factly. 

The subsequent July result saw the two horses Cracker Lily had split in the Republic Day, Beau Art and Anytime Baby, finishing first and second. The handicappers were given some vindication when Cracker Lily could only manage a 2,25 length second in the Sea Cottage Handicap over 1900m on July day, although he was giving 3.5kg to the winner Lagin.

However, Cracker Lily subsequently won the Grade 2 Clairwood Winter on the last Saturday of the season. He carried 49.5kg, and received 1kg from Lagin whom he beat into second by 1.5 lengths. July runner Forty Winks, carrying 56.5kg, was beaten 15,25 lengths. 

From the following year onward the final field panellists were apparently allowed to select at their own discretion. This was likely in order to prevent what was becoming a familiar scenario, i.e. has-beens having one more crack at the July and effectively preventing the inclusion of young horses who had the form to win the big race.

The July fields in the 1970s were characterised by the lack of three-year-olds, which emphasised how difficult it was for a young horse to be included in the final field. 

From 1970 to 1980 inclusive only 23 three-year-olds ran in the July and yet three of them won and two of them were runner ups, while one of them crossed the line first but was demoted after an objection.

Under today’s merit rating system Cracker Lily would likely have been among the twenty top-weighted horses among the entries on the grounds of his Queen’s Plate run alone.    

However, more importantly he would have been near the top of the July log with such form and would thus have been an automatic inclusion in the final field.  

TO say that today’s Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting lacks a little quality is an understatement but without those horses in the lower echelons being given a chance, horse racing would be much the poorer. And for owners with those horses in training, they all need a bite of the cherry.

That said, in an effort to cut down costs on a card that has many races to keep punters guessing, Secret Is Ours in the fourth and Broadway a race later could provide anchors.

The cleverly named Broadway has a blue-blood pedigree and made a promising debut when racing green at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.  There should be plenty of improvement to come from Lezeanne Forbes’s colt when he lines up in the fifth and he is up against a host of struggling maidens.

With expected improvement he could prove difficult to beat.

It must have been a difficult decision to geld Secret Is Ours given his pedigree but evidence is that it was the correct move. Secret Is Ours has had two outings since and is finally adding some lustre to that pedigree and was a close-up second last run. He meets very little of note in the fourth and could possibly be another banker on the day with only Montana Sky overdue a change of fortune. Tienie Prinsloo’s runner gets his chance here. It may prove prudent to keep an eye on the betting.

In the first, Crimson Causeway was only run out of it late when making her debut and should tighten up considerably from that outing. Danse Milord has been a little costly to follow but did have a wide draw in her poly debut. Red Juniper is also likely to come on lengths from her debut and with Anton Marcus aboard Federica any market support is likely to prove significant.

The second is just a case of ‘what will get me through the PA’ in a seriously open race. Beat It is an older mare taking on males but she has been dropping in the ratings and did well from a difficult draw last run. Florence has been coming on nicely and was a close-up second last start and could prove the best of the Clinton Binda stable trio. Hampton Court, Life Goes On and Stanton Street are others to consider.

In the third, Perfect Display is lightly raced but her best effort has been on this surface. The tongue-tie stays on and she may be the one to beat although Airbuzz and Princess Sabrina should be included as insurance.

Another weak field faces punters in the sixth. Proud Warrior was well beaten by Fever when last they met but he takes a four-point drop in the ratings which can make him competitive again. Smart Sox enjoyed it back on the poly last run and a repeat can see him back in the money while Fever has made steady improvement in blinkers. He takes a small rise in the handicap but can go in again.

The seventh is not easy either. Sea Sponge is an old hand but never far back. This may just be his best chance of a third win. Philispiel was a recent maiden winner but has come to hand of late and looks progressive while Straight Up is always thereabouts and comes from an in-form stable.

In the last, Enrapture has the best of the draw after two wide marbles. She found some inspired betting support last run and should go close. The tough mare Colour Of Light is due a change of fortune and was a touch unlucky last run and should be right there again. Hereinafter was much improved in blinkers last outing and Marcus retains the ride while Not Now Pussycat has not been too far back and has a better draw.

David Thiselton

Muzi Yeni not only had a fine day as a jockey on Saturday, scoring a double including the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m on the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Vars Vicky, but also as a tipster as he tipped the Pick 6 among other exotics in his Johannesburg newspaper column.

Yeni made Vars Vicky a banker in his column and the Gary Player Stud-bred Var gelding pulled it off by the skin of his teeth, deservedly, as runner up Bohica’s hanging antics in the final 100 metres have to be weighed up against Vars Vicky having to be eased at a crucial stage.

Vars Vicky, who runs in the colours of prominent Mauritian owner Vicky Veeramootoo, came into the race with a record of four wins from 1000m to 1450m in seven starts.

His last defeat, over 1400m, was too the exciting unbeaten colt, Paisley Park.

On the downside his last defeat in a sprint was by 4,25 lengths by Winter Stories, from whom he was now going to receive 4kg.

However, that race followed a four-month layoff and he likely needed it. 

Winter Stories was then scratched to make his task easier.

He was still officially 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse True To Life, but this filly was then also scratched and he went into the race 3.5kg under sufferance with the now best weighted Singforafa.

On the plus side he had won his last two starts over 1450m and 1200m respectively in impressive style and was clearly on the up.

He also had a nice high draw of 12, which is favourable by trends.        

Vars Vicky jumped well enough and got a tow from the long-striding Bohica, who jumped from draw eight.

He moved in at the 300m mark but Yeni then had to ease him as Bohica and Gallic Princess started drifting in different directions, closing a wide open gap.  

This left Yeni having to rebuild his momentum from the 220m mark and having to make up at least two lengths on Bohica. 

Vars Vicky displayed his fine action to eat into the lead. 

Bohica hung right over to the inside under a left-handed stick between the 100m mark and the 20m mark and this enable Vars Vicky to get up on the line.

Gallic Princess was a well beaten three length third ahead of Eden Roc and Singforafa. 

Earlier, Yeni rode Running Brave in the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m The top mare had to carry second topweight of 60.5kg against the boys but had most of the field beaten on the form of the WSB Summer Cup and Grade 3 London News Stakes. However, Yeni’s warning that a lot of runners should be included told a story that the gallant Fanie Bronkhorst-trained mare would likely need the outing after her tough campaign in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Yeni himself put the whole field in his suggested Pick 6. She duly ran well below par, finishing unplaced, and Yeni reported he had felt something amiss with her in the running. The race was full of horses who were perhaps past their best or had bigger fish to fry, so the fact that the 76 merit rated Phillip Vermeulen-trained Savannah Storm, who was officially a whopping 13kg under sufferance, won the race, under Marco van Rensburg, was perhaps not as much of a surprise as it had first seemed. The Sudden Storm gelding had won his last two and in his last start beat the classy three-year-old Puerto Manzano, although he had received 6kg from him.

A stranger result at first sight might have been the Sean Tarry-trained Aryaam gaining bold black type by winning the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m under Lyle Hewitson despite having previously failed to win her maiden in four attempts. However, this hard-knocking Dynasty filly had every right to win Saturday’s race as it was a handicap and she was in the handicap carrying 54kg. Therefore, the only question should be whether the race deserved Listed status. Such a black type three-year-old event should not be a handicap in the first place, but as the merit ratings ranged from 88 to 72 it is likely to be downgraded to Non-Black Type anyway.

The winner of the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m, the Alec Laird-trained Louis The King gelding Pamushana’s Pride, has now won four races including his last three and looks as if he could justify being a bold black type horse in time. His regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo just got him up from Baymax and Ushuaia.

The Non-Black Type Gold Rush Sprint was won in cosy fashion by a classy sprinter in the making, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Celestial Love, under Warren Kennedy. This What A Winter filly was receiving 8.5kg from the disappointing favourite Forever Mine and beat him by 4,5 lengths and she was receiving 6.5kg from the speedy Valyrian King and beat him by a length.

Yeni also won the last race on the Paul Matchett-trained Act Of War gelding Battle Force, who has now won three in a row and looks to be going places.

Yeni’s R800 Pick 6 suggestion returned a cool R53,953.30.

Andrew Harrison

PICK 6 punters will have to play big or take chances at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. This is not an easy card starting in the opening leg.

Hello Tomorrow can get them off to a winning start. She has had her chances but in this company she looks more than capable. Her last run is best ignored and her best recent effort has been around a turn. What A Splash has done all of her racing down the Scottsville straight and does not have the best of draws although it is a small field. But the opposition is no great shakes and she can go one better.

The fifth is difficult and could be a case of go big or take your chances. Bayview Express has been up against much stronger at recent outings and drops to a lowly handicap. That and Anton Marcus may be enough to see Yogas Govender’s charge home. Lowan Denysschen sends out High Green who has drawn wide but loves this course and distance. You can ignore his last start when squeezed out badly when looking to make his run. Mighty Smart has a lot in his favour as he stays the trip, has a useful claiming apprentice up and a light weight from a good draw. That said, he’s battling for his second win. Origami showed up well first run out of the maidens. He has made steady improved and appears to be maturing.

The sixth is another difficult handicap. Al’s My Daddy was never in the hunt in his local debut on the poly but his Cape Town form on the turf is better. With only 53kg to shoulder he could be the right one. Gentleman’s Wager smoked home from a wide draw on the poly last outing but he got a six-point raise in the handicap which is concerning. Also his best form seems to be on the poly. Spring Fling has jumped from a 72 to an 84 MR in just two starts but he rocketed home at his last start and may only now as a 5yo be finding his best. Peaceful Day returns from a lengthy break but has shown up well against stronger in the past and any market support must be respected.

Spydas Corner is still on the up and although he takes on a strong field he could be your exotic bet banker. Narrowly beaten last start, he may just have been short of a run. He has a light weight and the blinkers are exchanged for cheek pieces. This race should tell how good he is. Good Rythm is in cracking form and should be in the money even though he takes on a smart field. Pearl Of Asia has always been smart and proved it last run with a comfortable win. He took the maximum six-point hit in the handicap, the one concern is that his best recent form has been down the straight. Sunset Eyes is a top sprinter but has not been out since November last year. Anywhere close to his best he should be hard to beat.

It may prove prudent to load up in the eighth. Gardenia won at long odds on debut and made no show first up out of the maidens. She has been rested but definitely has ability. She’s A Keeper has only had two starts. She made a useful handicap debut and looks progressive but she takes on a host of younger fillies with potential. Calulo gets a stronger rider aboard while Purple Moon Rising looks to have some scope. Boogie Shoes, Magnetic Dime, and Simply Russian are all worth scrutiny.

If you are through to the last leg of the Pick 6 you will probably be looking at a substantial payout.

Ruby Sky has made steady improvement and is lightly raced and she appears to be coming to hand. Another Love has only missed a cheque once in six starts but has been up-and-down the distance charts which is a worry but the blinkers may have solved her problem. Just The Wind has not been too far back on the poly and the switch to turf may help. The name Meghan is topical at the moment and might be a sentimental inclusion. The filly has put in two decent sprints of late and although the draw is a concern, she does look capable.

In the first, Poppy Of Bayeaux can boost resources. She was well backed on debut but was green and should come on lengths from that effort.

Anton Marcus has stuck with Good Traveller in the second in spite of the widest draw. He was a more than comfortable winner on debut although second-placed Silvery Blue has since finished down the field. Waterberry Lane made major improvement at his second start and came from a long way back to win. He has had the benefit of a trip around a turn.

Promise To Dream can get the PA off to a solid start. He has taken on winners in two of his three starts and the smart-looking War Room has been too good for him. He was close-up in his other start and looks more than capable in this field.

EVEN though this year’s Vodacom Durban July will once again be held ‘behind closed doors’ with no public sale of tickets, the organisers are confident of delivering all the features which make this Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event. “Horseracing, Fashion and Entertainment are the core elements which make up this spectacular event, and even though we won’t have the public at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse again this year, we will deliver an event befitting the 125^th running of this famous race.” said Steve Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive of Gold Circle. “We are fortunate to be able to call on our experience of staging one of the first major ‘behind closed doors’ events last year and to have a title sponsor in Vodacom, with whom we are celebrating our 20^th year, to partner with us through these challenging times.”

The fashionistas would already have taken notice of the “Birds of a Feather” theme released earlier this week, as College and Technicon design students begin their journey to lift the coveted Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award. The DFF Rising Stars Collection will once again compliment the Invited Designer Showcase to complete the 2021 VDJ Fashion Experience leading up to race day.

The Vodacom Durban July returns to its traditional first Saturday in July and the stage is already being set for one of the best fields of thoroughbreds to compete for the pinnacle prize in South African horseracing on 3 July. All of Belgarion (2020 VDJ), Got The Greenlight (2020 Daily News 2000, 2^nd 2020 VDJ), Do It Again (2018 & 2019 VDJ), Rainbow Bridge (2019 & 2021 CT Met), Golden Ducat (2020 WSB Champions Cup), Linebacker (2021 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby), Malmoos (2021 WSB SA Classic), War Of Athena (2021 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic) and the horse everyone is talking about, Kommetdieding, are expected to be among the list of first nominations on 14 April for the historic 125^th running of Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the Vodacom Durban July.