Last Saturday was a defining moment for many Vodacom Durban July hopefuls as indicated by the latest July log that was issued on Tuesday and it’s another big day at Greyville on Saturday.

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

Last Saturday, Rocketball and Banner Hill fell by the wayside after disappointing performances in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. Orchid Island and Safe Harbour, third and fourth respectively in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, did just enough to keep them in the hunt, although Orchid Island is pretty much assured of a place in the July and at 15 on the log, Safe Harbour also looks relatively safe.

Edict Of Nates and Al Sahem were already shoo-ins but also cemented their place at the top of the ante-post market when first and second respectively in the Gr1 Daily News 2000. Horizon kept his July hopes alive by finishing third but is nineteenth on the log and Pagoda, although down the field in the Daily News, mainly owes his current sixteenth place on the log to his runner-up berth behind Al Sahem in the Gr1 SA Derby.

The balance of the three-year-old hopefuls are pretty much out of the reckoning.

Saturday is the last big day for borderline cases. The Gr3 Cup Trial should prove a fascinating contest with six of the nine runners in the hunt for a July place.

Ten Gun Salute (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lightly raced, gelded but winless since beating Rabada in the Gr2 Daisy Guineas last season, Black Arthur has always been at cramped odds in the July ante-post market in spite of there being doubts of him even making the field. He is not among the first 25 on the current log so it’s basically win or miss out come Saturday. However, he was running on from a tricky draw in the Drill Hall Stakes so the signs are good.

Stable companion Elusive Silva looked pretty much a certainty for a place after his impressive win in the Sledgehammer but then ran an indifferent race in the Gr2 Betting World 1900. The winner, Ten Gun Salute, came from behind him in the straight but it may have been a case of the winner enjoying the soft ground and Elusive Silva not enjoying the going in his second run after a lengthy break. Currently borderline at twentieth, a hard-fought place may be enough see Elusive Silva edge into the top 18.

Nebula doddled a recent Pinnacle Stakes on the poly but a win is possibly not negotiable. The same goes for Master Switch who, along with Nebula, is currently in the top 25. A win for the filly Trophy Wife is also not negotiable.

Candice Bass-Robinson’s pair of Nightingale and Silver Mountain are both borderline cases. Nightingale is currently eighteenth on the log while Silver Mountain in the last five knocking at the door. It would seem that only a win in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes will enhance their chances but they face some tough opposition better suited to the trip so they face an up-hill task. The Gr1 Garden Province on July day could end up a forced option.

Nightingale (Liesl King)

The Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge is loaded with July entries but all six look relatively safe. Lowest on the log of the six is Saratoga Dancer in thirteenth place. Duncan’s Howells’s runner generally flies under the radar but he finished a close-up fifth in the July last year, a head third in the Drill Hall behind Marinaresco last month, and a forward showing here will all but cement his place.

At Turffontein on Sunday, Liege and The Elmo Effect will be looking to improve their chances in the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap. Liege has slipped out of the top 25 on the log but a win here will give the selectors a headache. The Elmo Effect seemed pretty much out of it after a flat last showing.

In all this is a defining weekend as far as the July field is concerned and come Saturday evening any debate is likely to centre around the last three or four spots in the line-up.

The final field and draws will be announced at a function on Tuesday, June 20.

By Andrew Harrison

High flying trainer Brett Crawford said his Graded feature runners for Saturday at Greyville, Captain America, Sail South, Nebula and Chevauchee, have all been doing very well at Summerveld.

Callie-Jo Bouman, Chante Holloway & Captain America

Captain America has proven in the past to not need a lot of racing to reach his peak so should be in prime condition for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge following his running on 0,4 length fifth in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. He did not jump well in that race either. His best efforts lately have been either from the front or second in the running, but more importantly he settles wherever he is positioned these days, which allows his resolute finish to have its maximum impact. His last four Grade 1 weight for age (wfa) mile appearances have netted a facile win in the Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein in 2015 and three placed runs behind the current Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle. In the last of those runs Captain America finished second in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, so on form is the horse to beat on Saturday. However, he does have a tough draw of ten, but Crawford does not believe he needs to lead. Regular rider Corné Orffer rides Captain America.

Gold Challenge contender Sail South has always had talent but has tended to over race. In this year’s Queen’s Plate he was dropped out to last and was duly seen to fight for his head on at least a couple of occasions. It was therefore a phenomenal effort to see him run on for a three length third to Legal Eagle, 0,75 lengths behind Captain America and 0,3 lengths ahead of Saturday’s favourite Marinaresco. In the Drill Hall he was no given the opportunity to fight for his head as he was taken to the front and set a good pace. He was only caught late and finished a 0,45 length sixth. Richard Fourie rides the improved six-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding for the fifth time in succession and they jump from a tricky draw of ten.

Nebula (Nkosi Hlope)

Nebula will need a big run in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m to book a Vodacom Durban July berth as he was on the outside looking in on the last July log. He won his KZN pipe opener hands and heels over 1600m on the poly, where he showed a fine turn of foot. The Algoa Cup winner will relish the step up in trip and is drawn in pole with leading jockey Greg Cheyne aboard. Cheyne had a bad fall on this horse in the Calulo Mile at Kenilworth in February. It was neither the horse nor jockey’s fault, but Cheyne was side-lined for three weeks. Nebula will need to improve on his run in the Gr 2 Peninsula over 1800m at Kenilworth in December, where he finished a 3,8 length seventh carrying 55kg and receiving 4kg from the winner. However, the winner was Whisky Baron, who of course went on to win the Sun Met. Furthermore, Nebula’s last start proved you can never write off a Silvano, they just get better and better with age. Silvano’s progeny have also proved themselves to have a liking for Greyville. Nebula himself has had four starts at Greyville, all over 1600m, for two wins, a third and a fourth and the third was in a Listed event.

Chevauchee has always been brimful of talent and races in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m. The lightly raced four-year-old High Chaparral filly has won two Listed events, over 1200m and 1600m respectively, so the 1400m trip should be right down her alley. Crawford said she had not handled Scottsville in her SA Champions Season pipe-opener in the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes so a line can likely be drawn through that unplaced run. The only other time she has finished out of the top three in a ten race career was in this year’s Gr 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m where she moved up well but then found no extra, so she likely didn’t see out the trip. Before that she gave each of the useful males Fifty Cents and Horizon 3,5kg in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth and ran a 1,75 length third behind them. She jumps from a tricky draw of eight in the 14 horse field on Saturday and Cheyne is aboard.

By David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m is a last gasp opportunity for Vodacom Durban July borderline horses to put up their hands for a berth in the field and this year’s race will be fascinating as six of the nine runners are July entries and they will all need big runs to book their places.

Black Arthur (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rising Sun in unison with Gold Circle always put on an amazing race day and Greyville is the place to be on Saturday to watch the Cup Trial, the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes.

The Justin Snaith-trained Black Arthur is the fourth favourite in the July at 10/1 with Betting World, yet is nowhere to be seen on the latest July log, which was released yesterday. He started 10/1 for last year’s July and finished a 2,75 length seventh, but was unlucky as he was hindered by a horse inside of him when making his run on the outside and could have got closer. He subsequently had a haemoconcentration problem and can be forgiven his below par form in the Cape summer. Gelding has solved his issues and he was staying on in the Drill Halls Stakes over 1400m to finish just 2,75 lengths back under Anthony Delpech. He should come on a lot for the run and will relish the step up in trip. He has landed a good draw of four and Delpech, who partnered him to win last season’s Gr 2 Canon Guineas, stays aboard. He has to carry topweight, but it would be no surprise if he turns out to be better than his current 104 merit rating as he has always been highly regarded.

His stablemate Elusive Silva went up to near the top of the boards after his impressive win under Delpech in the Listed Sledgehammer over this course and distance. He is currently a July 13/1 shot, having run a bit of a flat race in the Betting World 1900, although the lack of pace did not suit him there and a gap did not open for him immediately at the top of the straight. He is now in position 20 on the July log and needs a big run, but Delpech looks to have opted for Black Arthur. He could not have got a better replacement in Richard Fourie and off his 99 merit rating he gets 2,5kg from Black Arthur. He does have the widest draw of all to overcome and will likely have to rely on his magnificent turn of foot to earn a July berth.

Nebula (Nkosi Hlope)

Nebula is the Algoa Cup holder and won his Champions Season debut over 1600m on the Greyville poly hands and heels after moving up impressively. He looks to have come into his own and is drawn in pole.

The long-striding Royal Badge was running on in eyecatching style in that race and will relish the extra 200m in this race.

Master Switch has run below par in all three of his starts at Greyville as he has not settled well, but he now has a plum draw and if he finds cover and settles he has the ability to go close.

Champion trainer Sean Tarry has four in the top 20 on the log and will try and qualify the gallant filly Trophy Wife in this race. She has been one of the best of a magnificent crop of females and last time out was staying on well for a 1,9 length third in defence of her Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg crown over 2000m at Turffontein . After a layoff she had three runs in about five weeks, so that was a tough ask and she might now be ready to give of her best.

Celtic Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Celtic Captain has been scratched from the July as it is probably a touch too far for him. He can be headstrong so is another one who needs cover, because if he settles he has a fine turn of foot and a sustained finish. His draw of six is thus a bit tricky but if he does find cover and settles this trip will be ideal and he will go close.

Go Direct, not a July entry, produced an amazing finish to win a Pinnacle event over this trip at Turffontein in April and he was caught wide in the Betting World 1900 before ending in a probably too handy position. He now has a plum draw and if held up off the pace could surprise.

The front-running Crowd Pleaser is the most interesting runner in the race as he won an Allowance Plate over this trip on the poly last time out and beat none other than Edict Of Nantes and Lady Of The World, who won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 in their next respective starts. The latter pair were likely preparing in that race but it was still a fine display and Crowd Please has won his last three starts at Greyville. Against him is his wide draw as he will have to make some use of to get to the front.

By David Thiselton

The Adam Marcus trained four-year-old gelding Royal Badge is rated a 150/1 shot with Betting World for the Vodacom Durban July, but a perusal over the progeny record of his under rated sire Go Deputy will quickly show he is not just a hopeful entry. He will stake a claim for a berth in the big race when he runs in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m on Saturday at Greyville.

Adam Marcus

Marcus said, “His biggest asset is he is an extremely good mover.”

He showed that in his Champions Season pipe opener on the Greyville poly over 1600m. He turned it on in the straight and his big stride carried him to a fast finishing fourth, 2,4 lengths behind Nebula, whom he faces on Saturday on 3kg better terms.

Marcus said, “It was a wonderful prep after a little break and he has improved from that run and is exceptionally well. I was very pleased with the acceleration he showed, so don’t think the 1800m will be too short for him. We have always thought of him as a horse who was on the up and at this time of the Champions Season it just takes one race to go your way and you suddenly have a boom horse.”

Unfortunately, Royal Badge’s regular rider Richard Fourie will be aboard the fancied July horse Elusive Silva on Saturday.

However, Marcus is pleased with the replacement Grant van Niekerk, whom he said should know Royal Badge as he has ridden him in track work in Cape own before.

Adam’s famous father Basil, who was a seven-times Hong Kong Champion jockey, had two July runners as a trainer in Jay Peg and Desert Links.

Grant Van Niekerk (Nkosi Hlophe)

Adam has not yet had a runner in the big race, but has earmarked a program for Royal Badge, which is based on the one Desert Links followed in 2008.

Desert Links won the Cup Trial, finished a 1,6 length fifth in the July and then won the Gold Cup.

Adam said, “It is very exciting to have a horse in contention for a place in the July and hopefully he gets in, that would be awesome.”

Looking at the stakes earners of Go Deputy’s first crop: Adobe Pink won two races in a busy season as a three-year-old and ended the season merit rated 76, but she won four on the trot as a four-year-old and ended the season merit rated 96; Pessoa was merit rated 78 entering the July of his three-year-old year and then won four on the trot, including his first three starts as a four-year-old, and he later added the Gr 3 King’s Cup to end the season merit rated 103; Changingoftheguard did well as a three-year-old winning two races including a Listed race and was merit rated 95, but an eight month break from January until September benefitted him because in his second start as a four-year-old he won the Matchem Stakes, beating the crack three-year-old King Of Pain. These are just three examples of the progeny of a sire who have always paid to follow the moment they turn four-years-old as the improvement is notable in virtually every instance.

Royal Badge himself did well as a three-year-old, winning three races, but his first black type-earning performance came in the December of this season as a four-year-old when cruising to a 2,75 length win in the Gr 3 Grand West Cape Summer Stayers handicap over 2500m. He is now merit rated 95 and among his competition on Saturday will be another Go Deputy four-year-old, Go Direct, who has also proved progressive this season.

Royal Badge has a tricky draw of seven in the nine horse field, but in that last 1600m race he had a similar draw and was dropped out to second where he found the rail and switched off nicely.

By David Thiselton

The VDJ LOG as at 13:00 on Tuesday 6 June 2017:-

> Final Supplementary Entries: Close 11:00 Monday, 12 June 2017

> Weights Published: Tuesday, 13 June 2017

> Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 19 June 2017

> Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 20 June 2017

> Public Gallops:  7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 22 June 2017

2017 Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting guide [as at June 6]:

9/2 Edict Of Nantes; 11/2 Al Sahem; 13/2 Marinaresco; 9/1 Black Arthur; 11/1 Its My Turn; 12/1 Elusive Silva; 14/1 Ten Gun Salute; 15/1 Nebula; 16/1 Horizon, The Conglomerate; 28/1 Saratoga Dancer, Bela-Bela; 30/1 Captain America, Master Switch, Krambambuli; 33/1 French Navy, Brazuca; 35/1 Tilbury Fort, Master Sabina; 40/1 Copper Force, Pagoda, Orchid Island, Liege, Nightingale; 50/1 Zodiac Ruler, Safe Harbour; 100/1 Girl On The Run, Silver Mountain, Trophy Wife; 150/1 Witchcraft, Royal Badge; 200/1 Macduff, Banner Hill; 250/1 The Elmo Effect;

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