There were some fine Vodacom Durban July trials over the weekend and as seems to happen every year in this great race it was two relatively lowly merit rated horses, Elusive Silva and Nother Russia, who burst into prominence as potential winners.

However, they were not the only pair who caught the eye.

The Justin Snaith-trained Elusive Silva is a four-year-old gelding by the former champion sire Silvano, who set a record a couple of years ago when his progeny ran one-two-three in the July. The winner that year, Power King, did not possess the class that Elusive Silva possesses if Sunday’s running of the Listed Sledgehammer over 1800m at Greyville is anything to go by. The tall and athletic four-year-old gelding’s previous run had been when winning the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m in effortless fashion on June 25 last year. He was turned out in fine condition on Sunday and turning for home in midfield under Anthony Delpech the acceleration was once again effortless.

He was admittedly receiving 4,5kg from the 1,75 length runner up Helderberg Blue, but won with more than a ton in hand. Betting World reacted by shortening him from 25/1 into 14/1 fourth favourite. Snaith was cautious in his comments and said Elusive Silva would still need to make a considerable step up. However, under the conditions of the race he can only be raised a maximum six merit rated points to 99. Snaith said he would give him one more run in either the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 on May 19 or the Gr 3 Cup Trial on June 10.

The former might be the better option, considering he has proven he runs well fresh and that race also carries a condition that the winner cannot be raised more than six merit rated points. A ten point raise is possible for the Cup Trial winner. If he does run in and win the 1900, he will go into the July with a 105 merit rating and as things stand will carry just 54,5kg. Furthermore, Snaith said he could not have come out of Sunday’s race in better shape. It is too early for Delpech, a record-equalling four-time July-winning jockey, to make a commitment, but Elusive Silva is sure to be on his shortlist.

Elusive Silver’s stablemate, the four-year-old Dynasty gelding Prince Of Wales, ran on from last to finish a good two length third in the Sledgehammer, despite needing the run. He was giving the winner 3kg and will relish the step up to 2200m in the July. Betting World shortened him from 50/1 to 25/1 for the July. Placed horses were not allowed to be given any merit rated raise under the Sledgehammer conditions, so he will remain on a 100 merit rating. Snaith said Prince Of Wales had come out of the race perfectly, and would come on from the run tremendously. For the superstitious Prince Of Wales runs in colours which look almost identical, if they are not the exact same colours, to those of the immortal Sea Cottage who won the July exactly 50 years ago.

The expensively purchased Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Horizon also caught the eye at Greyville on Sunday when winning an Allowance Plate over 1400m under Bernard Fayd’Herbe. The R5,2 million three-year-old Dynasty colt is not by Silvano, but is out of a full-sister to Silvano. He ran on strongly to beat Zodiac Ruler on Sunday by a head with Palladium a further two lengths behind. Both Zodiac Ruler and Palladium were having their first runs as geldings. Zodiac Ruler finished runner up in the Cape Derby and Horizon only managed fifth, but it still remains to be seen whether the form of the Cape Derby will turn out to be as strong as it was last year.  Betting World reacted to Horizon’s win by shortening him from 18/1 into 16/1, the same price as Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes’. Zodiac Ruler drifted from 20/1 to 25/1.

The four-year-old Tiger Ridge filly Nother Russia looks to be a chip off the old block as, just like her famous dam Mother Russia, she is a smallish chestnut with a massive heart and a beautiful action which covers a lot of ground. On Saturday she joined her mother as a winner of the Turffontein weight for age mile event, the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes, which was this year sponsored by HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco. She ran on fluently under Craig Zackey to win by 1,4 lengths from Bella Sonata. July entries Safe Harbour and Trophy Wife were a 3.05 and 3,3 length fourth and fifth, while other July entries Heaps Of Fun, Fort Ember, Juxtapose and Star Express were all unplaced. Nother Russia possesses the exceptional turn of foot of her mother, so will love Greyville and her odds have been slashed by Betting World to 22/1. However, the Gr 1 win mean the handicappers did not have to cap her merit rating and they have raised her to a 106. This means she will, as things stand, carry 53kg in the July.

By David Thiselton

There is a tricky nine race meeting tomorrow on the Vaal Inside track where low draws are favourable by trends in all races.

A MR 86 Handicap over 1700m is the highest rated race on the card and there are question marks about all of the leading contenders, so it is not easy to pick a winner. Hamaan from the yard of champion trainer Sean Tarry could be the one to beat. This horse is capable of running on well from off the pace and proved unsuited to handy tactics last time.

Lyle Hewitson takes over from S’Manga Khumalo and if he can tuck this horse in off the pace he will stand a good chance, but he has a tricky draw. Hamaan proved his ability when finishing a decent third in the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m and being by Silvano he should be improving all the time. The trip is a bit of a concern, as he would likely prefer further, although his only win has been over 1800m on the tight Turffontein Inside course.

The horse selected to be the main danger, Yer-Maan, would also prefer further. However, this former winner of the Gr 1 Castle Tankard seldom has any luck with the draw and now has a plum draw, so should be staying on resolutely. Hieronymus has been given two points relief from the handicapper after staying on for a fair fifth over this course and distance last time and he is well drawn again. However, he is yet another horse in this race who would likely prefer further.

Smart Mart would also prefer further but does have a touch of class and can make his presence felt. Dan The Lad stayed on well to win his maiden over 1400m in his penultimate start but then over raced in a 1600m race next time out. He is better than that effort and if settling could be a player.

Urgent Fury’s last win was over this course and distance, but he was drawn in pole that day as opposed to eight here and he is also three points higher in the merit ratings. He does get on well with Gavin Lerena though, so has a chance.

Econium Love made a respiratory noise in a 1450m Graduation Plate last time when finding little extra and that does not augur well for the step up in trip. However, Khumalo is an interesting booking and he has a fair draw.

Lava Flow will have to improve on his first two outings back in South Africa, although if he recaptures his best SA form he will be a threat and it is also his third run after a layoff. Neuf De Pape is drawn well over a suitable trip and although he is off a four point higher merit rating he has a chance if reproducing his going away win over 1600m in his penultimate start.

Lion’s Emblem is the only horse who can be ignored as he has poor recent form and his best form is over staying trips.

The previous race is an interesting MR 80 Handicap over 1800m and here the promising Captain Al colt Crowd Pleaser has an ideal draw for his handy racing style. He was thought good enough run in the Gr 1 SA Classic over this trip last time and although not featuring his previous run in handicap company saw a comfortable win over 1900m, albeit on the Greyville poly where the competition is generally weaker than on the Highveld. However, he has always been well regarded and is the one to beat with Gavin Lerena up.

Cockade, being drawn two outside of Crowd Pleaser, is a handy type who will have the chance of getting a good tow. Scotland is a nice type who rose rapidly through the ranks after finding his feet and he was consistently close up after reaching the 70s in the merit ratings. His last run was all wrong and he would likely have benefitted from a layoff. Dawn Assault just got up to beat the handy type Cockade 1700m last time and is only 0,5kg worse off, so can go close again from a similarly tough draw. Kanonkop has breathing issues, but can never be ignored as he has plenty of ability.

Boiling Point had poor form until winning a 1450m workrider’s maiden like an odds on shot with first time blinkers on. He wasn’t disgraced behind a promising sort last time and is an interesting runner r with Strydom up over a step up in trip which should suit.

The best bet of the day could be My Angelface in race two over 1700m as she should relish the step up in trip and is drawn well. Furthermore, being a Northern Hemisphere-bred who is six months younger than her contemporaries she should be improving all the time.

By David Thiselton

The first three races at Greyville yesterday were for two-year-olds and there were some eye catching runs.

In the first over 1200m the horses had to circle at the start for over half-an hour, but this did not stop the Glen Kotzen-trained Philanthropist colt Pack Leader running on to win in impressive style by three lengths under Craig Zackey. He will make an impact in the two-year-old Gr 1 features. What A Winter colt Red Eight stayed on well for second. Pathfork colt Mighty Mercury has a long stride and a lovely action and after carving out a big lead he was only just pipped for third by the Oratorio gelding Storm Ruler. Mighty Mercury should come on from the run and is one to follow. Storm Ruler and fifth-placed Crusade gelding Subtropical should also improve.

In the second race over 1200m the Lezanne Forbes-trained filly Light On Her Toes is well-bred being by Gimmethegreenlight out of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson dead-heater On Her Toes. She did well to get up from a wide draw under Alec Forbes in a time which was 0,1 second quicker than the boys in the previous race. Owner Alesh Naidoo will thus have two Gr 1-winning chances at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting at the end of May as he also owns the top colt Varallo. Querari filly Zarnitsa improved to finish second by 0,75 lengths. The next two in the running, Ideal World filly Luna Child and Visionaire filly Bridal Veil, were both making their debuts and stayed on strongly. Sail From Seattle filly Coral Queen was just behind them, but this was already her third run.

In the third over 1200m, the Dennis Bosch-trained Trippi filly Victory Trip led from start to finish under Eric Ngwane to win in a time which was 0,77 second slower than the previous race. Second-placed Captain Al filly Esteemal is a big horse, who can be watched over further. The fifth-placed Believethisbeauty was unlucky as she was cramped for room for much of the straight and she can be watched, especially in a 1000m race as she has a lot of pace.

However, from a form perspective the third might prove to be the weakest of the three juvenile events, considering Victory Trip was having her fifth start.

By David Thiselton

Mike Stewart will study the weather forecast this morning before deciding whether to declare the improving Icon King – winner of his last three starts – for the Highlands-sponsored Winter Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Noordhoek trainer said: “He is drawn 18 out of 19 and he is also in the 1 400m handicap so I may go for that instead. But there could be a gale force Northerly and, if so, I would be sorely tempted to run in the Winter Guineas as the wind would be coming from behind in the straight.”

For once there was hardly any wind at the Cape Town course last Saturday but that was little compensation for all those punters who saw defeat snatched from the jaws of victory when La Favourari floored Tevez in the 1,200m Pinnacle.

It looked just a question of pressing the button when Aldo Domeyer loomed up alongside the pace-setting La Favourari but the favourite suddenly emptied like a pricked balloon. Seemingly his 12-week absence was taking its toll and he weakened into third at the line where La Favourari was still happily bowling along.

“I was going a little bit fast but I didn’t want to restrain him,” related Grant van Niekerk. “I knew something was coming, I thought it was probably Aldo Domeyer and I felt I was going to get beaten. Then mine seemed to find another gear.”

Andre Nel, left scratching his head for the second race running, added: “We were racing fit and the others were probably not but he has improved. It’s tricky finding races for him but we will keep boxing on with him.”

Watch out for Forest Prince next time. That was the message from Jonathan Snaith after the Var colt, allowed to drift from 9-2, came from a long way back to take third to fellow 14-1 newcomer Virtue in the first. “He is a very smart horse – one to note,” said Snaith.

Blow In The Box should also collect next time after ruining his chance at the start in the Moksh Authentic Indian Cuisine Maiden and failing to peg back Corne Orffer on the Brett Crawford-trained Phelan Lucky by only a diminishing half length.

“He blew it in the box,” quipped rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe. “”In fact he came out alright but he was very green and didn’t want to go. He could have done with a horse in his inside.”

 

The Eric Sands-trained Commander Bond (Greg Cheyne) in the mile maiden bridged a 20-year gap for nuclear physicist Steph Steyn who seemed as delighted as if he personally had thwarted Blofeld from splitting the atom.

“My last winner here was Motocross in April 1997. She went on to win races in Port Elizabeth but we gave up racing soon afterwards because it was so expensive,” he related. “My son Ruan was a small boy then but he has become very keen so we are now back in the game.”

Domeyer, successful on Virtue, sprang a 20-1 shock on the Glen Kotzen-trained Lindleys Lane, thwarting MJ Byleveld’s all-the-way bid on Amazingly in the Racing Association Maiden in the final two strides.

He said: “MJ is normally a lot easier to get past. He has obviously improved!”  Byleveld was not amused, as he made clear after winning the last on Keep The Faith for Vaughan Marshall.

Van Niekerk was given a R2 000 fine for hitting Twilight Trip more than three times in consecutive strides when coming with a devastating late run in the mile handicap. But he was more concerned with the way his mount suddenly hung in three strides from the post, causing the rider to pull his whip through in an effort to avoid interference. “I wasn’t sure I’d get the verdict,” he related. “But luckily the horse put his head down at the right time and I did get it. Thank God.”

Marsh Shirtliff, part-owner of the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained winner, echoed similar heartfelt sentiments after revealing that his money was on.

The in-form Craig Bantam had his claim cut to 2.5kg after making most to reach the 20-winner mark on State Ballet in the TAB Handicap.

By Michael Clower

It’s still early days but Justin Snaith will have been well pleased with what he saw in the Listed Sledgehammer Handicap at Greyville yesterday as two of his Vodacom Durban July entries put up their hands. But Snaith will not have been the only one with his head resting easy on his pillow last night; fellow Cape Town colleagues Candice-Bass Robinson and Brett Crawford will have been equally comfortable come bedtime.

Snaith’s gelding Elusive Silva under Anthony Delpech came home lonely in the Sledgehammer and was eased up before the line while stable companion Prince Of Wales came from well off the pace to snatch second.

It was a race tailor made for the pair and a good blow-out for things to come.

Both have been relatively lightly raced but Winter Derby winner Elusive Silva will have his July odds slashed by the time you read this, this morning. This was his first outing since the Derby back in June last year and a ‘tweaked’ muscle at the pull-up was responsible for the interim break and also missing the Cape Summer Season. But this was an excellent return to the track and there will be a few punters looking to nail the early worm this morning but it may already be too late.

Prince Of Wales was also returning from a break and made up plenty of ground in the stretch to get up for second and he too will be a lot shorter in the market come opening time.

Also smiling yesterday will have been Candice Bass-Robinson and Brett Crawford. Bass-Robinson was handed a stable full of talent that also included a ladle full of pressure when her father handed over his license to his daughter as along with the package came the R5 million yearling buy, Horizon.

As most racing sceptics will attest, yearling price seldom equals a return on the track, but Horizon has given himself and his owners a chance. By super sire Dynasty out of a full sister to another champion sire, Silvano, few pedigrees boast more blue-blood. A winner of the Gr3 Politician Stakes, the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas in a fort night’s time will add lustre to Horizon’s track record but the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July would cement his place as he is a horse that appears to be looking for further than eight furlongs.

The scratching of Epona will have left a gap in the betting for the Listed The Scarlet Lady, but Corne Offer made the most of her absence as he drove Crawford’s runner to a comfortable victory. The daughter of Ideal World had the race won a long way out but the back-up pf traffic behind her will give fuel to some thought.

The start of racing was delayed for half-an-hour as there was an issue with the placement of the starting stalls on a narrowed tack.

By Andrew Harrison