The Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes is rightfully the most prestigious of the supporting features on Vodacom Durban July card and this year’s renewal is one of the classiest  seen in recent times.

Just Sensual (Liesl King)

The champion grey filly Bela-Bela proved in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge that a mile is her best trip. She had to be steadied at the back of the field for a stride or two in that race when encountering some interference, yet still managed to run on strongly from right at the back for an excellent third. She looks the one to beat from a plum draw of five.

Three-year-old Just Sensual has enjoyed an outstanding season, winning the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, finishing second in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and winning both the Grade 2 Tibouchina and Grade 3 Prix du Cap. Her form suggests she is at her best over 1400m, but Anton Marcus said after her Tibouchina win he had actually been disappointed as he had expected her to win easier, while trainer Joey Ramsden reckoned in the winning interview her best trip was a mile. She has a fair draw of seven.

Bela-Bela’s three-year-old Justin Snaith-trained stablemate Gimme Six won the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas in fine style and was arguably unlucky to have not won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.  She has drawn in pole position so her relaxed style plus exceptional turn of foot should carry her close.

Another big runner from the Snaith yard will be the highly regarded Star Express, who finished a narrow second in  the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m to the July entry Nightingale. She then ran just 1,3 lengths behind Just Sensual in the Tibouchina over too sharp a trip. She will be 1,5kg worse off with Just Sensual in the Garden Province, but will relish the step up in trip and will be spot on as the Tibouchina was chiefly seen as a preparation outing. On the downside, she has a tough draw of 13.

Justin Snaith & Bela-Bela (Tracy Robertson)

Fort Ember was impressive when winning the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over course and distance in January and her Tibouchina run can probably have a line drawn through it as she was hampered when trying to weave her way through traffic. She is classy and could be the dark horse, although she has a tricky draw of ten.

Bella Sonata has gone close to Nother Russia in her last two starts over this trip, including in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes, and the latter then proved how good she was by running a 0,2 length third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge behind Deo Juvente and Legal Eagle. Bella Sonata has a fine turn of foot so should love this course and distance.

Polyphonic is held on Empress Club form with Bella Sonata, but she subsequently won a Grade 2 over 2000m well. Piere Strydom sticks with her and she could be upset material as a highly regarded, but problematic sort who seems to have come to hand.

Chevauchee has always been highly regarded too and can’t be ignored, as this might well be her best trip. She comes from the unstoppable yard of Brett Crawford.

Her stablemate Louisiana impressed recently over course and distance is another outsider to consider. Bi-Pot and Oriental Oak have both caught the eye as long-striding, classy sorts during the Triple Tiara races in Jo’burg. She’s A Giver has class but would prefer a touch shorter, while reserve runner Captain Gambler would prefer further. Frosty Friday is a classy sort who ran well in the Tibouchina in her second run after a break of over a year. Kilauea looks held by Bella Sonata but will make her presence felt. This will be a race to savour.

By David Thiselton

July Fever is well and truly kicking in and the public will start finalising their selections after the Vodacom Durban July gallops on Thursday. However, exactly fifty years ago one horse was dominating the headlines as well as the family thoughts in the household of record breaking trainer Syd Laird.

Syd’s son Alec does not have many recollections of Sea Cottage’s famous dead-heat with Jollify in 1967, but does recall his father became increasingly difficult to live with in the two or three weeks approaching any July day.

Only the race could relieve the tension, but in 1967 the agony was prolonged as the judges attempted to separate Sea Cottage and Jollify. In the race Jollify, carrying 100lbs (45.3kg), had sat behind the leader Balaclava and coming off the narrow false rail jockey John Gorton shot him into the lead. Sea Cottage, carrying 127 lbs (57.6kg), had been hooked towards the outside for his run by Robbie Sivewright and still had a mountain to climb. However, the idol of the public had his eyes on the leader, who was towards the inside, and the crowd roared as he wound up into his famous finishing run. It is the natural tendency of a racehorse to hang towards the horse he is chasing, but Sea Cottage first had to get around King Willow and Red Sands who were making their runs down the centre. After he had completed that task there was less than 200 metres left and Sea Cottage began eating up the ground with his enormous stride. However, the disappointment could be heard in commentator Ernie Duffield’s voice when he said, “I think Jollify has held on.” However, the muted crowd were soon rapturous when a dead-heat was announced. The great horse had done it. Sea Cottage still had a bullet lodged in his hindquarters. He had been shot three weeks before the previous year’s July, but still ran in that race and finished a gallant fourth.

Six-year-old Alec was actually on course for the 1967 July and as there was no room in the owners and trainers enclosure during the race, he had to stand on an adjoining wall.

Sea Cottage was the first Summerveld-trained horse to win the July.

The training centre had been opened at the beginning of that same season. Alec remembers Summerveld being barren back in those days. His mother Marlene planted the trees which now tower over Syd Laird’s former yard, which is now used by Alistair Gordon.

Alec also remembers visitors always wanting to see one particular horse, Sea Cottage.

Sea Cottage (Supplied)

Alec has better memories of Syd’s 1971 July winner Mazarin. His father often said, “Sea Cottage was the best I trained but Mazarin was the best three-year-old.” Mazarin’s owners Eric and Fane Tenderini were so confident of victory in 1971 they had booked out a venue in the Edward Hotel for a celebratory party and a massive cake made in Mazarin’s red and white colours awaited the guests. He duly won by a comfortable 3,25 lengths in record time. Mazarin had a downturn in form as a four-year-old, but the Tenderini’s refused Syd permission to apply blinkers. Their reasoning was that in the UK at the time horses who wore blinkers were considered “rogues”, so any potential stallion would never be seen in them.

Syd’s record-breaking seventh July victory was with the great Politician in 1978. Alec’s outstanding memory of that year was when an announcement was made shortly before the start that Welcome Boy had replaced Politician as favourite. Syd nudged Alec and said, “I will have to do something about that” and walked over to put more money on Politician.

The July was a huge part of the Laird household’s lives. Alec viewed winning it as his most important goal after he had taken over the yard when Syd passed away suddenly in 1988.

He only had to wait until 1996, when London News won for owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee. History repeated itself as the Jaffees has also booked out The Edward for a celebratory party.

The Jaffees also booked a venue in one of Hong Kong’s leading hotels, The Peninsula, before London News won the Gr 1 QE II Cup the following year, although Alec believes they likely had a cancellation clause.

Alec’s best chance of winning the July recently has been with last year’s runaway J&B Met winner Smart Call, but she headed overseas instead. However, he still has his eyes very much set on a second July win in the future.

By David Thiselton

Greyville’s Lightning Shot bar and the ever popular BraaiZone have joined forces to offer a special “Beer and Boerie” promotion at the KZN Breeders Raceday on Sunday 25 June. The 9-race programme is headed by the Million Mile as well as the Final of the recently introduced “Levelling the Playing Fields” series.

For just R35, patrons will be able to purchase a tasty Boerie Roll, with sauces of your choice, from the BraaiZone and receive a voucher for a complimentary SAB Beer from the Lightning Shot Bar. As Gold Circle is encouraging families to join us on Sunday 25^th June for the KZN Breeders’ race day at Greyville, the option of a Beer can be exchanged for a cool drink, also available from the Lightning Shot Bar.

Younger racing fans will be well catered for at the KidsZone and the KZN Breeders are giving away prizes throughout the afternoon. Entrance to the race course is free and all are welcome.

Candice Bass-Robinson, who will have her first Durban July runners, was disappointed when she heard that Horizon hadn’t made the cut but she was wearing a broad smile after watching the draw on television at Kenilworth.

“I am very happy with Nightingale (six) and nine is a perfect draw for Marinaresco,”she said. “He has to be given a chance and half to three-quarters the way back is where he needs to be ridden.”

Nine is one of the few draws not to have been successful in the past 16 years but Bernard Fayd’Herbe, drawn three when he dead-heated on Pocket Power in 2008, said: “I have still to study what is around me but I am happy enough with nine – it’s certainly better than ten and upwards.”

Greg Cheyne was also satisfied with Tilbury Fort’s 11 slot, saying: “He will come in one when the reserves come out and I started from ten when I won on Big City Life in 2009.”

Grant van Niekerk, drawn 11 and 17 on close-seconds Smanjemanje and Marinaresco, said of Black Arthur’s eight: “I am very happy. Thank you Justin Snaith!”

Aldo Domeyer, though,was less taken with Krambambuli’s 19, saying: “I was hoping for a good draw. Krambambuli’s going to need everything going his way – but you never know.”

By Michael Clower

The die is cast and the 18 top thoroughbreds to contest Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the R4.25-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July over 2200m at Greyville on July 1, have been announced.

Al Sahem (JC Photographics)

With two reserve runners, the final field together with jockeys and barrier draws was revealed at a special function at Greyville yesterday and considering the recent July Log standings, there were no real surprises although the odd eyebrow might have been raised.

But it was the draw that threw the cat among the pigeons with second favourite Al Sahem drawing the plum gate at one while favourite Edict Of Nantes will have to jump from draw 13. There is little between the two on form them having fought out the finish of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and apart from the draw, the Sean Tarry-trained Al Sahem has a 0.5kg weight advantage over his rival.

After his wide draw last year from which he won the race, Joey Ramsden drew three for The Conglomerate and Callan Murray will be flying back from Hong Kong to ride him while third favourite before the final field was announced, Elusive Silva, did not fare as well and will have to break from gate 15.

Black Arthur and Marinaresco will jump from gates eight and nine respectively with Ten Gun Salute at five and the filly Nightingale on his outside.

No jockey has been announced for Summer Cup winner Master Sabina, now with the Justin Snaith stable, but Gavin Larena will fly back from the United Kingdom to ride Brazuca, Callan Murray will return from Hong Kong for the race and Muzi Yeni will make his way back from Mauritius to throw a leg over Ten Gun Salute.

Graeme Hawkins, Gold Circle’s Marketing Executive, announced during the luncheon the exciting tote expectations for the big day including a guaranteed Pick 6 pool of R10-million which is expected to reach R11-million plus and a massive guaranteed Quartet pool on the Vodacom Durban July of R13-million which is expected to reach R15-million.

There will be place payouts on the first six placed horses and the pool for this bet is expected to reach R8-million.

By Richard McMillan