Brett Crawford – three Grade 1s inside the last fortnight, the Met already in the bag and favourite to take the July – has the sort of strength in depth that most trainers can only dream about and he can strike with rising star Kingston Passage at Kenilworth on Sunday.

Greg Cheyne’s mount has won the last three of his four starts and has opposition-crushing blistering pace. He was fancied to beat Tevez in a Pinnacle earlier in the month but the dual Merchants winner caused a false start by bursting through the gates and Kingston was one of those who took too long to pull up to risk going again.

The Western Winter three-year-old went up eight points for his win the previous month and there is no shortage of people brave enough to take him on at these much more favourable terms in the Tabonline.co.za Handicap.

Vincente, for instance, was a length and a half second to him in April and is 3kg better while South Side made all to win a conditions plate over this trip and has gone up only three points.

Mike Stewart has long been singing the praises of Al Wahed and predicting a string of success once the rain comes. The five-year-old has only been raised a kilo for his last win which was on fast ground that didn’t suit him.

Brandon May’s mount could be hard-pushed to beat Ovar though. The Andre Nel five-year-old started favourite for Al Wahed’s race and was only beaten a length into fourth despite suffering slight interference and afterwards found to be not striding out.

He could well prove the main danger to Kingston Passage although the sahorseracing computer has South Side finishing second with Ovar close with Power Grid for third, Prince Alfred fifth and Al Wahed only sixth.

There is also Power Grid to consider now that the sting is out of the ground. The three-year-old with the unusual action – the muscle on one leg is mostly wasted – has plenty of talent and was only beaten three-quarters of a length in that ill-fated Pinnacle despite it being his first race for four months.

Candice Bass-Robinson has had more Kenilworth two-year-old wins this season than any other trainer and Aldo Domeyer the most as a jockey – both have won 11 – and Middlemarch makes a lot of appeal in the first. The consistent Apollo Star and Benfontein, who really raised his game last time, have much superior form but Middlemarch may have improved enough.

By Michael Clower

The Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m is always one of the most exciting races of the SA Champions Season as the early speed at which sprinters travel can be seen from side on as they rush for the turn at Greyville and the best of them still manage to find another gear in the straight in the charge for home.

Professor Brian is unbeaten in five runs as a gelding. He is usually held up and then simply mows the field down. His best assets are his superb turn of foot and big stride. He is officially not well handicapped in this conditions event as he is merit rated 91 and all horses on a 94 merit rating and lower carry 52kg. However, he has been taking giant steps from a lowly starting point of 58 and could defy the handicapper again. His hold up style means the draw of 12 will not be an insurmountable disadvantage.

Seventh Plain, a big long-striding bay gelding, looked something special when winning the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion as two-year-old over this trip at Scottsville and he followed up by winning the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

He disappointed as a three-year-old but caught the eye in no uncertain terms in his second run as a gelding when staying on strongly for a 3,5 length third to London Call over 1100m at Scottsville. He was 1,5kg under sufferance with the winner that day and it was also his first run since returning from Cape Town.

He has landed a plum draw of four and off his 97 merit rating falls halfway between the top and the bottom of his 95-99 merit rated band in the conditions event.

The fillies always have an advantage in these races on paper. Joan Ranger off 101 is near the bottom of the 100 to 104 merit rated band but her 2,5 kg gender allowance gives her a shout over an ideal trip, although her tough draw of 14 will be particularly tough as she is a type who likes to be handy.

Brett Crawford-trained horses can never be ignored these days and the improved Search Party has a chance despite a draw of nine. The weights for the Post Merchants were set before the running of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, where he was runner up but being raised from 106 to 109 has made no difference to his weight for this race as the 58kg band is for 105 to 109 ratings.

His stablemate Gulf Storm, fourth in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, remains on a 106 rating and considering he finished fourth in last year’s Gr 1 weight for age Mercury Sprint over this course and distance he has a shout.

Amazing Strike has always been well regarded and has turned the corner so is a runner over a suitable trip from a plum draw.

Barbosa ran a fine third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and a repeat will see him have a chance as his 104 rating falls at the top of the 56kg band.

Captain’s Causeway’s 104 rating falls at the top of his band and he wasn’t disgraced in the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

Talktothestars was unlucky from a wide draw in the Mercury Sprint last year and now has a plum draw of three, although he has to give the whole field 2kgs and will need a reproduction of his penultimate start in the Computaform Sprint.

Lord Balmoral had some good form in Cape Town but has to bounce back from a disappointing Champions Season pipe opener at Scottsville.

Just As I Said is a speedy sort who has improved and, although his last start suggests the handicapper now has his measure, he is drawn in pole and can’t be ignored.

Redcarpet Captain has always been full of ability and has won his last two, both on the poly over this trip, but he has not raced since last September.

Top Form is course and distance suited but needs to bounce back from a thrashing by Professor Brian on the poly.

Captain Swarovski looks a bit high in the weights and was well beaten by Top Form last time he ran at Greyville, albeit on the poly.

Mr Roy was beaten in a lesser handicap the last time he tried this trip.

By David Thiselton

Marinaresco was yesterday reported in fine fettle and on course for the Vodacom Durban July despite his below-par effort in last Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge and being lumbered with top weight in the big one.

The four-year-old started favourite for the Gold Challenge but seemingly failed to pick up and finished with only four of the 15-strong field behind him. Rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe reported to the stipes that he felt something amiss although the consequent veterinary examination failed to reveal anything wrong.

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “There was nothing amiss but I think the pace over a mile was a bit too hard for him and maybe he was racing a little bit too close to it for his liking. He is 100%.”

The stable’s Majorca winner Nightingale, who ran a fine race to take second to Just Sensual in the Tibouchina, could renew rivalry with the winner in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province but the July now looks more likely. “We are leaning towards that way at the moment,” said her trainer.

However Silver Mountain, who disappointed in the Tibouchina, has been retired. She was a runaway winner of last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas before taking fourth in the colts’ equivalent and second in the CTS Million Dollar.

Mrs Robinson said: “She was very good as a three-year-old but she wasn’t quite the same filly at four. Last Saturday she was travelling pretty well and, I don’t know if she hit a bad patch or what, but she was suddenly not travelling and Piere didn’t persevere with her. There was nothing wrong afterwards.”

The decision of the handicappers to raise Captain America’s merit rating by two points to 118 for his win in the Gold Challenge was responsible for Brett Crawford scratching the gelding from the Vodacom Durban July late on Monday afternoon.

Crawford said: “It meant a further kilo that Captain America would have had to give away to the rest of the field. With his distance limitations, and after discussing the matter with his owners, we decided it would be in the best interests of the horse to wait for the Champions Cup (July 29).

“This is basically a weight-for-age race and so he won’t be giving away heaps of weight. We felt we should scratch him early so that the public is aware of the position.”

The scratching came as a surprise to many, this writer included, but perhaps it shouldn’t have. Crawford told the April 19 edition of this page that a decision would be made after the Gold Challenge on whether Captain America ran in the July or waited for the Champions Cup.

Top weight in the July usually proves too great a cross to bear. Since El Picha in 2000 only Pocket Power, who dead-heated in 2008, has managed the feat.

By Michael Clower

June 20 [Tue] Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws 

2017 Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting guide [as at 1:03pm June 13]:

5/1 Edict Of Nantes; 11/2 Al Sahem; 7/1 It’s My Turn; 15/2 Elusive Silva, Marinaresco, Black Arthur; 14/1 Horizon; 15/1 Ten Gun Salute, The Conglomerate; 20/1 Nightingale; 28/1 Pagoda, Saratoga Dancer; 30/1 Nebula, Krambambuli; 33/1 Coral Fever, Mr Winsome; 35/1 Bela-Bela, Safe Harbour, Master Sabina; 40/1 Tilbury Fort, French Navy; 50/1 Brazuca; 66/1 Master Switch, Liege; 150/1 Trophy Wife; 200/1 Witchcraft, Macduff; 250/1 The Elmo Effect, Girl On The Run, Banner Hill, Royal Badge;

Odds courtesy of www.trackandball.co.za and subject to change

Will ante-post 10-1 chance Black Arthur get into the Vodacom Durban July is the question which will be on the lips of many punters throughout this week?

Trainer Justin Snaith confirmed the classy son of Silvano would be “spot on” for the big day. He also spoke about his other three July runners, It’s My Turn, Krambambuli and Elusive Silva, and revealed the decision whether to run Bela-Bela in the July or Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes was still up in the air.

Supporters of Black Arthur will be hoping for consistency from the final field selection panellists. In 2014 the panellists found a place for the crack three-year-old Futura, who was near the top of the July betting boards, but who had only managed third in the Cup Trial behind One Cool Dude and Serissa. The Brett Crawford-trained horse went on to become an Equus Horse Of The Year, but by that stage was yet to win a race at Graded or Listed level, although he had won four of his six career starts. Their decision was vindicated when Futura ran third in the July. Last year the panellists found a place for both The Conglomerate and Saratoga Dancer, who had finished third and fourth in the Cup Trial respectively, although the order was reversed after an objection. The decision was once again vindicated as they finished first and fifth in the July respectively.

Black Arthur, in fact, has remarkably similar form to that which The Conglomerate had at this time last year. Both were winners of the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas at Greyville as three-year-olds and both were unlucky to be just out of the placings in the July as three-year-olds. Both then failed to find a place in any of their following Cape Summer season starts and both were consequently given necessary gelding. They then had their first starts as geldings in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes where they both stayed on without being a threat. The Conglomerate then crossed the line fourth in the Betting World 1900 and third in the Cup Trial off a merit rating of 101 last year, while Black Arthur, on Saturday, finished third in the Cup Trial off a merit rating of 104. Neither The Conglomerate nor Saratoga Dancer put in the best performance in the Cup Trial of last year, but Black Arthur was the best performer in Saturday’s Cup Trial. He carried topweight and gave 3kg to the winner Elusive Silva, who beat him by 0,55 lengths, and 7kg to the runner up Crowd Pleaser, who beat him by 0,5 lengths.

Jockey Anthony Delpech told Snaith afterwards Black Arthur had just tired slightly in the closing stages, indicating he had only just needed it and would thus be spot on for the July.

Snaith said, “If he does not get in, I hope it is because they have found a good one and not just a horse who has no chance. Black Arthur is proven at Group level, he has had a perfect preparation and just about every punter out there knows he is a horse who can win the race.”

Futura’s inclusion in 2014 was made easier by the scratching of four horses who had been in the top 16 on the final July log, plus the scratching of one of the borderline horses.

Last year the field also cut up, but The Conglomerate and Saratoga Dancer were still included ahead of the like of Trophy Wife, who had recently won a Gr 2, albeit against her own gender, and narrow Summer Cup runner up and Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap third-placed Deo Juvente, who had admittedly pulled up in his final July preparation run in the Jubilee Handicap.

Meanwhile, Snaith said It’s My Turn had not run in another race after his third in the Betting World 1900 simply in order to protect his handicap mark. Off his current 106 merit rating, It’s My Turn will carry 1kg less weight than the 55kg he carried in last year’s July when finishing fourth as a three-year-old. Also, on Sun Met form It’s My Turn has the beating of Marinaresco at the weights and the latter is four points shorter in the betting than him.

Snaith believed Krambambuli deserved his lofty position on the July log after his places in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy and Gr 2 Peninsula, both over 1800 at Kenilworth, and his wins in the Gr 2 Cape Stayers over 2800m and Highland Night Cup over 2400m. He said this horse had been so well at home there had been no need to give him another run before the July.

He said the decision whether to run Bela-Bela in the July or the Jonsson’s Workwear Garden Province Stakes would be left entirely up to her owners and they would have to make the decision before the final declaration stage next Monday.

Snaith was pleased with Elusive Silva’s win in the Cup Trial, especially as he had lost his footing for a moment at the top of the straight. The latter fact was revealed by jockey Richard Fourie and the yard will keep a close eye on Elusive Silva to make sure the incident caused no ill effects.

Snaith will also run Sergeant Hardy in the Mercury Sprint after his good performance on Saturday and he confirmed the big three-year-old sprinter had “loved” Greyville.

By David Thiselton