National champion trainer Sean Tarry will attempt to land his third Vodacom Durban July on Saturday where he has four runners.

He also spoke about his other runners on the day.

He said both Al Sahem and Safe Harbour had travelled back to Randjesfontein to be prepared for the July after their good Daily News and Woolavington runs as “the facilities there suit them better.”

Tarry said about Al Sahem’s pole position draw, “I would have preferred to be out of the scrum, but I expect him to have enough early pace to find second or third place in the running.” He is 0,5kg better off with Edict Of Nantes for a 0,5 length beating in the Daily News 2000, and it would also be worth bearing in mind Tarry’s first July winner Pomodoro won the SA Derby, then ran below par in the Daily News before winning the July carrying 55kg. Al Sahem only has to carry 53,5kg. His sire Silvano has already produced three July winners. S’manga Khumalo replaces Anthony Delpech, who is retained by the owners of Nightingale.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

Woolavington 2000 third-placed Safe Harbour impressed in her televised July gallop alongside Al Sahem but Tarry reminded, “It was a good gallop, but Al Sahem is a lazy horse.” He added, “She has run her last couple of starts as if she is looking for this trip.” The long-striding three-year-old daughter of Elusive Fort is drawn eleven and has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight of 52kg. Nooresh Juglall rides.

Tarry is “very happy” with former Daily News 2000 winner French Navy, whom he says has improved since a tongue ties was applied three runs ago. He said his last start can safely be ignored as he hated the blinkers and was also hit in the eye by a clod. Leading apprentice Lyle Hewitson gets his second July ride on a horse who looks well weighted in his third attempt at the big race.

Tarry said about Betting World 1900 runner up Tilbury Fort, “He’s definitely on the up, but strictly on form will battle to turn around the form with Al Sahem. He has had a nice prep and seems to enjoy Greyville. He was a little bit handier than he usually is in the 1900 and I think he will stay the trip.” This Horse Chestnut three-year-old colt is officially 2,5kg under sufferance and jumps from draw eleven. His jockey Greg Cheyne has won the July before.

Tarry was happy his Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe contender Captain And Master had been able to see Greyville on Thursday where he put up an eyecatching gallop alongside French Navy.

He said, “It is a strong race but I am confident he is a good horse and he has a big chance.” Khumalo rides from a plum draw.

His other contender in this race is Purple Diamond and he said, “He is also nice horse although he might be better over a mile.”

Tarry said his Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper contender Desert Rhythm was never at her best at home, but he added, “Her form suggests she is a big runner.” Khumalo rides.

Tarry said about London Secret, “The jockey moved a bit early on her last time, so she will want a more patient ride. I think Gavin (Lerena) will suit her.” She has a good turn of foot and should enjoy the course and distance.

He said about Rockin Russian, “She was very green around the turn last time, but ran on well. I expect her to improve and can’t see the draw being a big problem as she will come from off them.”

He runs Trophy Wife in the Grade 3 Betting World 2200 and said, “She was in season last time in the Cup Trial, but ran on quite well. She will like the extra distance and I expect a good run.”

The consistent seven-year-old soldier Serissa runs in the Gold Vase over 3000m and Tarry pointed out the race had not panned out well for him in his only attempt at this sort of distance in the Gold Cup of 2014. He reckoned he had improved this season and didn’t envision anybody taking him on in front as they then would risk not seeing it out, so it should pan out well this time from a good draw of two.

By David Thiselton

Casual Diamond and Bernard Fayd’Herbe can start the ball rolling at Kenilworth tomorrow when the pair have an outstanding chance in the opening Juvenile Fillies Plate.

This Var filly looked as if she wanted further when winning over this 1 000m two and a half weeks ago – she was ridden from two furlongs out and only got up with 50m to run – but Justin Snaith is adamant that the trip will present no problems – “Her brother was fast and she will be fine for this,” he says. “She is doing well and she will be ready.”

Glen Kotzen

Stable companion Lacerta, who also won over the trip last time, is an obvious danger but watch out for Namibia. The Glen Kotzen runner has been off since the Listed race on Met day but she won first time and strictly on the book has superior form to the Snaith pair.

There is also Regal Ruby (opened 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting) who was considered good enough to run in the Perfect Promise and, although she only beat one home, there were excuses – she returned with a mouth injury and her rider reported that she was making a noise.

“She has had a break since then and has been doing well at home,” reports Greg Ennion. “But we haven’t been able to work her and she is nowhere near her peak.”

This is a common theme in the trainer comments for this meeting and is the reason why Snaith is uncharacteristically cautious about the chance of 14-10 favourite Cot Campbell in race two, the Tabonline Maiden Juvenile.

Candice Robinson (hamish NIVEN Photography)

This R3.3 million Trippi colt out of the mighty Ebony Flyer was all the rage for his debut in April but lost six lengths ambling out of the pens and finished out of the frame. He looked one to be on next time but Snaith says: “We expect him to run into the money but we are not overly bullish. Although he has come on he has had no grass gallop.”

Fool Proof (7-2) also caught the eye first time and Winning Ways recommended backing him when he stepped up to this six furlongs. “From a greenness perspective he should be better,” says Candice Bass-Robinson, “But it’s difficult to say (whether he has come on) because we haven’t had the best tracks to work on.”

Cot Campbell gets a tentative vote but there is also another factor to bear in mind. He and Foolproof – along with the potentially useful True Words (already backed from 13-2 to 5-1), have all been drawn on the stands side, which is now running slower than the inside. The penetrometer at last Saturday’s meeting indicated that those coming down the inside have a six per cent advantage and tacking across in a field of 19 would be suicidal.

Andre Nel has called up his old compatriot Aldo Domeyer for the so far rather disappointing Lady Li Lay (opened favourite at 19-10) in the Racing Association Maiden and stable jockey Grant van Niekerk partners 2-1 shot Le Claire for Ennion. Le Claire is easily the highest-rated but has tended to throw away her chance by getting worked up in the pens. She just might be good enough to beat 28-10 chance Bridal Party.

Off Broadway (14-10) has the best form in the last even though he is on the wrong side of the course. Keep an eye on the Nel newcomer Silver De Lange who has been nibbled at from 9-2 to 33-10.

By Michael Clower

Derek Brugman shares Joey Ramsden’s view that the advantage lies with the three-year-olds in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July and the Mayfair Speculators racing manager is understandably keen on dual Grade 1 winner Edict Of Nantes.

He said: “Pace and luck in running are going to play a very large role in the outcome but I think the three-year-olds are well weighted and definitely have an advantage over the older horses because of their ratings – and if I had to pick one three-year-old to represent me it would be Edict Of Nantes.”

Brugman, a former bookmaker and a shrewd judge of form, believes the other Mayfair runner The Conglomerate has been well treated, saying: “For a previous winner of the July he is well weighted and he will be carrying only half a kilo more than he did last year. This time he has a draw, his prep has been great and I think he is a big runner.”

Edict Of Nantes (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brugman expects Sean Tarry to ensure the race is run at a decent gallop – “You would have to think that he will want a reasonable pace for Al Sahem because a crawl is not going to suit the horse and Sean is the type of guy who will take things by the scruff of the neck.”

Justin Snaith, bidding for a third July win, reckons that 33-1 shot Master Sabina is the dark horse in the field and explained: “He is a two-time Summer Cup winner and he has a lot of positives. He has a good weight and a good draw. Also he has run well in the July before, he gets every bit of the trip and he is doing very well at home.”

Black Arthur is the shortest priced of the Snaith quartet at 13-2 third favourite – “This time he has a good draw and he will be carrying a kilo less than last year (when he finished seventh from stall 17). He is doing exceptionally well.

“It’s My Turn (fourth last year and 8-1 this time) likes Greyville and is peaking at the right time while Piere Strydom in the July is worth two lengths.”

The stable’s fourth string is 50-1 rank outsider Krambambuli who is drawn one from the outside – “I’m not worried about that – most of the big races I’ve lost in Natal have been from inside draws and the July is often a rough race. I know this is a hard ask for Krambambuli but if it turns into a hard-run affair, with everyone bumping everyone, he could run into the money.”

BLOB Sun Met winner Whisky Baron arrived at Mary Slack’s Abington Place stables in Newmarket at the end of last week after completing his quarantine obligations in Mauritius and Britain.

Ross Kieswetter, who owns the gelding in partnership with elder brother Craig, said: “Brett Crawford and Mike de Kock are going to look after him from now on.”

The gelding may well run in Britain this year although the Dubai Carnival and, more particularly a crack at one of the big international races in Hong Kong, have been mentioned as the objectives.

By Michael Clower

Garth Puller has a few runners as a trainer at this year’s Vodacom Durban July, which will mark the 30^th anniversary of his brilliant ride on Bush Telegraph in one of history’s most celebrated Julys.

Puller dieted strictly on brown rice and stewed apples to ride Bush Telegraph at 49kg in 1987 and he gave an insight into Anton Marcus’s task this year of slimming down to 54kg to ride the favourite Edict Of Nantes.

Edict Of Nantes (Nkosi Hlophe)

“It won’t be a problem for Anton, he has had enough time and will just have to watch his diet and increase his amount of exercise.”

Puller reckoned Edict Of Nantes would be in the top three, although his tip to win is Black Arthur, who created a little bit of controversy by being included in the final field ahead of first reserve runner Horizon.

Black Arthur’s trainer Justin Snaith said at a panel discussion on Friday evening, “The one good thing is we will now be able to see.” He was referring to Horizon now being in the field and facing Black Arthur after the unfortunate scratching of one of his own runners Elusive Silva.

Puller has a chance in the first race with the progressive Silvano filly Flying Silver, who jumps from a tricky draw of ten in the MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m with Sherman Brown up.

He said, “It is a tough race and the two to beat in my opinion are Silver Class and Lesiure Trip.”

Garth Puller

Puller said his sprinting gelding Asstar had always enjoyed KZN and his late first appearance this year was due to him not being able to find a suitable race for him coupled with him getting him fit at Summerveld, where he has been for a while. Asstar runs in the eighth race, a MR 104 handicap over 1000m on the poly, and Brown rides from a tricky draw of nine. Last year Asstar won both of his Champions Season 1000m starts and one of them was in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over Saturday’s course and distance. In his only other start he finished third in the Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1200m. However, Puller was annoyed Asstar is still two points higher in the merit ratings than he was for the Umgeni, despite having not won a race since. In the handicapper’s defence he did finish second in the Listed Southeaster Sprint over 1100m to Tevez in December.

Puller has Mieque’s Approval colt Ryker in the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m on the turf.

He said, “He is a nice type but is in the deep end from an outside draw, although he won’t disgrace himself. ” He showed a nice turn of foot when winning his debut over 1000m and his full-sister Preamble won over 1400m. However, the big talking horse in this race is the 17/20 favourite Al Mariarchi, who finished third in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion and comes from the unstoppable yard of Brett Crawford.

Puller had always wanted to try Rio De La Plata over 3000m and tries him in the Grade 3 SABC Gold Vase but he couldn’t be confident about his or Ever Dear’s chances as they are considerably out at the weights.

By David Thiselton