The Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe for two-year-olds over 1400m also has the potential, traditionally, to be a stumbling block for exotic players on Vodacom Durban July day.

However, this year it is has some classy horses involved so exotic players will not be viewing it with the same dread they will be viewing the Golden Slipper.

Captain And Master put up an impressive workout alongside French Navy at the July gallops last Thursday. He cruised to an eye-catching three length victory in his second career start over 1200m at Scottsville on May 20. He will love the step up in trip to 1400m and has a plum draw with S’Manga Khumalo aboard.

Trojan Harbour looked classy when winning his last two starts, including the Listed Gatecrasher over this course and distance. He has early pace, relaxes well in the running and has a fine turn of foot. However, against him is a wide draw.

Ancestry is an impressive specimen and has had a reversal in draw fortunes with Trojan Harbour, so has a chance of reversing the Gatecrasher form, although he is 2kg worse off.

Varallo, runner up in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, is a classy type with plenty of scope for improvement and he should relish this step up in trip, so has a chance from pole position under Anton Marcus.

Hakeem impressed second time out when easily beating a weak field over 1400m. Mike de Kock has been doing exceptionally well with sons of Redoute’s Choice lately, so Hakeem has a chance from a fair draw under Delpech.

Naafer, a Grade 1 SA Nursery runner up, was a touch disappointing when fifth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. He is out of a Listed-winning sprinter, but his Grade 1 Australian Cup (2000m) winning-sire Lonhro should see him appreciating this step up in trip. He has some class and Gavin Lerena rides, albeit from a wide draw.

Woljayrine finished 1,75 lengths clear of Naafer in the Medallion and has a chance of staying this trip, so is a dark horse from a good draw.

Varimax improved second time out when dropped from 1400m to 1200m and showed pace and a fine turn of foot, winning by 6,75 lengths.

On debut he was beaten by the progressive Purple Diamond over 1450m. The latter was having his second start in Jo’burg, having run a good fourth in a strong Listed race over 1200m at Kenilworth before that.

Neither of the latter mentioned pair can be ignored. However, the rest of the field look to be up against it against the classy sorts mentioned. Captain And Master is the selection to beat Trojan Harbour, with Ancestry, Hakeem and Varallo next best.

By David Thiselton

Traditionally one of the trickiest legs of the Vodacom Durban July day Pick 6 is the Gr 2 Golden Slipper for two-year-old fillies and this year is no different.

The Pick 6 has a R10 million guaranteed pool this year, and is expected to reach R11 million plus, and exotic players will no doubt be viewing this race as one of the biggest obstacles to traverse.

Mambo In Seattle filly Desert Rhythm is proven over the trip and the form of her 1450m win has been franked. Her staying on fourth in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m was a decent effort and Sean Tarry’s most regular jockey, S’Manga Khumalo, is aboard.

Her stablemate London Secret showed good pace before finding extra to win comfortably on debut over 1160m. Takingthepeace then reversed the form over the same trip when receiving 3kg, but the latter would just about be tipped to win this race if taking part as she has a lot of class and scope. London Secret, by Gimmethegreenlight, should enjoy the course and distance and Gavin Lerena is up from a good draw.

The reserve runner Lady In Black impressed in the preliminaries and in the race on debut over 1200m at Scottsville and on pedigree this Dynasty filly will relish this course and distance. She has a fair draw of seven if getting in.

The speedy Sail From Seattle filly Gee Whizz over raced on debut when held up over 1200m. In her second start over 1000m at Scottsville, Richard Fourie allowed her to stride out from the off and she won easing up by three lengths. Fourie might adopt front running tactics again from a good draw, but there is a stamina question mark.

Neptune’s Rain was forced to be more handy than usual in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson, but stayed on well for third. On pedigree the Antonius Pius filly should also enjoy the step up in trip, but she is drawn widest of all.

Bridal Veil is a scopey daughter of Visionaire, who was beaten into fourth by Light On Her Toes when she made her debut over 1200m on the Greyville turf in April. However, she was running on well and the form of that race has proven to be strong. Second time out she comfortably won a Maiden Juvenile Plate on the Greyville poly over 1200m, beating Sequined by 1,75 lengths. The latter franked the form by finishing a close second in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m. Bridal Veil looks likely to enjoy this trip, but has a tricky draw.

Tsessebe has a nice long stride and this daughter of Philanthropist caught the eye when winning easily over 1200m second time out on the Greyville poly. She should relish the step up in trip, but is drawn second from the outside.

Let It Flow by Judpot was unlucky in her first two starts, both over 1200m. In her third start she was up with the pace throughout and responded well to late urgings from Anthony Delpech to find the necessary extra. The connections confirmed after the race she was looking for further. The form of that race has been franked and she has landed a plum draw. Furthermore, Delpech has kept the ride.

Rockin Russian was held up in the Devon Air Stakes from a good draw in order to find the rail and she ran on well for a three length fourth. This Seventh Rock filly is a half-sister to the Gr 3-wining miler Rikitikitana and will have benefitted from her first experience of Greyville. However, she has a tricky draw of ten and Khumalo is now aboard Desert Rhythm. Rockin Russian beat Let It Flow by a length on debut, although the latter was finishing strongly after being baulked for run.

Green Top by Gimmethegreenlight is well related and will relish this step up in trip having been outpaced on debut over 1200m before staying on strongly to win going away. She has a reasonable draw and Muzi Yeni stays aboard.

Mara is a scopey sort who ran on well to win on her KZN debut over 1400m on the poly. This Var filly is well drawn and will improve further coming from the Dean Kannemeyer stable and being a half-sister to the useful Impala Lily, but Delpech appears to have abandoned her.

Light On Her Toes started her career in promising fashion, but appeared to not stay this trip from a wide draw in the Devon Air Stakes. The run did come only two weeks after her fifth in the Allan Robertson, but she is hard to fancy from another wide draw, despite both her father Gimmethegreenlight and mother On Her Toes being Guineas winners.

Star Profile beat Spring Breeze over 1450m by 1,75 lengths and was then only 0,75 lengths behind Desert Rhythm in the SA Fillies Nursery. She is a nice looking type but she has already raced eight times for just win and she takes a while to get going so Greyville might not suit her.

Spring Breeze is well drawn, but will need to improve.

Outlander’s two wins have been over 1000m and she looks held over this trip.

Second reserve Awesomeness ran on strongly to win on debut over 1000m, but was unplaced in the false start marred Strelitzia, beaten 8,75 lengths by Neptune’s Rain.

Third reserve Green Ice could earn based on her fifth in the Devon Air.

Desert Rhythm is selected to beat London Secret with Lady In Black next best ahead of Neptune’s Rain, Gee Whizz and Bridal Veil, but punters might have to go wider than these six in the exotics.

By David Thiselton

It was a big day for the Kwazulu-Natal breeders at Greyville today (Sunday) and particularly for the Scott Bros Stud that bred the winner of the KZN Breeders Million Mile, Matador Man, and the winner of the Levelling the Playing Fields series final, Mark My Card.

But it was champion trainer Sean Tarry that stole part of the limelight on the day with six winners including Matador Man that is out of the mare Sahara, a daughter of Scott Bros top stallion Mogok, sire of many top internationally Group race performers and The Apache that won the Group 1 Arlington Million before being placed second on an objection.

Scott Bros not only bred the Toreador gelding but Robin Scott who runs the Highdown Stud in the Nottingham Road area of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and founded the stud 50 years ago with brothers Des and Neville, is part owner of the striking three-year-old that has now won three of his nine starts and placed in four others.

It was a special day also for apprentice jockey Eric Ngwane who was given the ride after carded rider S’manga Khumalo had been stood down during the meeting. The young rider produced an outstanding effort to bring Matador Man down the outside of the field from off the pace to collar the filly Dawn Calling in the final strides to the line.

For Tarry it was another display of the power of the yard that has set a new South African winning stakes record of more than R30-million in a season and there are still many big races to come before the end of July. The yard won the first three races on the card before winning the sixth with Heaps Of Fun, the feature with Matador Man and the final race with Hyaku.

For the KZN Breeders Club it was an outstanding success with the other eight races on the card all carrying stakes of R200 000 and all nine races confined to horses bred at studs in the province.

By Richard McMillan

Joey Ramsden reports The Conglomerate on song in his bid to become the first dual winner of the Vodacom Durban July since El Picha at the turn of the century – although he believes the advantage lies with Edict Of Nantes in the same Mayfair Speculators colours.

He said: “The Conglomerate is just as well as he was when he won last year but the three-year-olds have to have a massive chance. For the first time in years they have handicapped a three-year-old to win and Edict Of Nantes will have to really fluff his lines not to.”

Anton Marcus, bidding for his fifth July win, was quizzed by Neil Andrews on Tellytrack’s Kenilworth coverage on Saturday about his decision to prefer the Brett Crawford runner.

He said: “It was a very hard decision. As much confidence as I have in Edict Of Nantes I have ridden The Conglomerate in his last two starts and I think he could have the run of the race. He is definitely one of the older horses to beat.

“Edict Of Nantes is a better horse on a galloping course but I think he is untapped. I am holding thumbs that he gets a trouble-free race. That is the most important thing.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe had words of encouragement for supporters of top weight Marinaresco, saying: “We are hoping for a big run. He has a nice draw, we just need luck in running and things to happen for us in the race.”

Cup Trial winner Elusive Silva, scratched after injuring his off-fore during last Thursday’s July gallops, will miss the rest of the season and most of next season too.

Justin Snaith said: “He stumbled badly on a cut-up bit of track, injured himself and will be out for a year.”

The public gallops before the Sun Met and the July play an important role in the build-up and promotion of these two races and are popular with the public but the former champion trainer has long been opposed to them.

He said: “I didn’t want to gallop Elusive Silva and he didn’t need a gallop, and what happened to him is the reason I don’t like them.”

Richard Fourie, successful on Legislate three years ago, got the call for first reserve Horizon almost immediately and said: “Obviously I am very disappointed at what happened to Elusive Silva but I’m pleased to get a ride in the race, particularly on a horse with a decent chance like Horizon.”

By Michael Clower

The Met has always eluded Justin Snaith – and his father before him – but African Night Sky raised their hopes that he just might be the one by pulverising the opposition in the Highlands Stud Winter Derby at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Seemingly some of the 14-10 favourite’s rivals knew their fate even when still in the back straight. Bernard Fayd’Herbe, winning this for the third time, afterwards related with some relish that MJ Byleveld on Ollivander turned to him and said: “If your horse doesn’t s*** in he will never win!”

He duly did, quickening away from the opposition from over a furlong out as if he had a plane to catch – much to the relief of owner Fred Crabbia who confessed: “I was so nervous I didn’t know where to turn.”

The winning margin was five and a half lengths and who knows what it would have been had the gelding’s rider pressed the button a bit earlier. “From the way he won this I think he could be a special horse,” said Fayd’Herbe, evoking memories of his 2006 winner Pocket Power.

Indeed African Night Sky, the first to complete the Winter Series treble since that legend, emulated him by refusing to go into the winner’s box. The winner, somewhat appropriately, was bred by the race sponsors and is by their resident stallion Dynasty.

True, his main market rivals either failed to fire or to stay – the jury is out on which with some of them – and fourth-placed Our Mate Art was found to be coughing but it was an impressive performance.

Snaith, who also won last year’s race with the ill-fated Elusive Silva, said: “This is a proper horse and the Met has always been the plan. Fingers crossed, we will look after him and aim him at the right races.”

Tap O’Noth was almost as impressive in the Langerman. Eyebrows were raised when Vaughan Marshall mentioned him in the same breath as William Longsword after he won on debut but the Captain Al colt, named by owner-breeders Alec and Gillian Foster after an ancient Scottish fort, accelerated like a class act and Byleveld said: “He is a serious horse. We went a good gallop and he picked it up on his own. He had it won inside 100m.”

“It was his demeanour and the way he went about things,” said Marshall, explaining how he had spotted the talent even before the colt saw a racecourse. “He took to work as if he was an older horse and he clearly had the right attitude. We will put him away now and aim him at the Guineas if he proves good enough.”

Silver Coin, the 14-10 favourite, never got into it and finished last but the veterinary examination ordered by the stipes revealed that he wasn’t striding out behind.

Joey Ramsden and Anton Marcus had better luck with Rose In Bloom in the Irridescence while 17-10 favourite Ngaga was seemingly a little unlucky when failing to peg back Richard Fourie on the Glen Kotzen-trained Silvan Star in the Ladies Mile. “The gap I went for was tight, the horse on my inside moved out and I had to wait for a couple of strides,” said Grant van Niekerk.

Whose That Girl led a one-two for Candice Bass-Robinson in the Winter Oaks while Brett Crawford also showed the well-being of his string in advance of Saturday’s big day with a Corne Orffer double.

By Michael Clower