Catch the first entries for the 2017 Vodacom Durban July on Tellytrack DSTV 239 on Thursday, April 13, at 6.55pm.

The Grade 1 R4,25million Vodacom Durban July will be run over 2200m at Greyville racecourse on Saturday July 1.

For event and raceday information visit http://www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za OR http://www.championsseason.co.za

 

 

The Vaal Inside track has a low key eight race card tomorrow and the exotics could be the way to go. Low draws are favourable by trends in all races on this course.

In the first leg of the PA, the classy Querari colt Wonderwall looks hard to oppose. He has outstanding form, having finished second over 1000m on debut and then following up with a fine second in the R1 million Kuda Sprint over 1200m. He beat Barrack Street by five lengths in the Kuda and the latter has won a Listed and a Gr 3 sprint since returning to the Highveld. However, there are a couple of interesting first-timers in the field. These include the Australian-bred Naaher, who is by Lonhro out of Listed-winning and Gr 1-placed  sprinter.

The highest rated race on the card is the sixth, which is an Allowance Plate for fillies and mares over 1800m. The best weighted horse on official merit ratings is American Story. This long-striding galloper is 4,5kg better off with Pennington Sands for a 3,25 length beating last time they met, if apprentice claims are ignored. She has never run badly at the Vaal and as a handy sort carrying only 52kg in a small field she is selected to win over a trip she will relish. Against her is a wide draw. Pennington Sands has a touch of class, and considering her good turn of foot can afford to be dropped out from her wide draw. However, she does have a welter burden to carry. Inaninstant looked to be a horse who would reach the top class at one stage, but she then put in a number of lacklustre efforts. She showed some sign of a return to form last time, so can’t be ignored.

The seventh is an interesting MR 72 Handicap over 2000m. Porcupine Creek overcame a wide draw to win over 1800m last time, having won his maiden over the same trip. He is now drawn in pole position and is off just a two point higher mark, so can go close over a step up in trip he should handle. However, he will likely have his work cut out to keep Hamaan and Stunned at bay. Hamaan proved he was crying out for this sort of trip when running third in the Listed Derby Trial. This is a weaker field and he will likely be doing his best work late as he has a tricky draw to overcome. Stunned was unlucky in the Derby Trial but has some fine form in ordinary handicaps. He is distance suited and is off a still attractive merit rating. Those three could be enough to get punters through the Pick 6.

The most competitive race in the Pick 6 is the fifth race, the third leg. In this MR 79 Handicap over 1700m, the eight-year-old Baracah has been selected to win as he is drawn well over a suitable trip and has come down a couple of points in the merit ratings. He goes well for Piere Strydom, who has ridden him in his last three starts. However, Starret City won well last time in his third run after a rest and can progress further. Bold Viking is another one who can progress further, but Dawn Assault, Kanonkop, Trip To Rio, Cockade and Hieronymus are all capable of winning too.

In the last leg of the Pick 6, Don Christo has come into his own and Gavin Lerena stays aboard, so he can win yet again. However, the blinkers strike Side Show as well as Dragon’s Breath are both talented sorts, if not enigmatic, and have to be included.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry is almost unstoppable in his charge to a second National Trainer’s Championship and Newyorkstateofmind can add to his already burgeoning tally at Greyville tomorrow.

The gelding took an age to shed his maiden but once that was behind him he was quick to reel off a further two victories. He has been campaigned relentlessly with at least one outing per month since October last year and although he lost a little of his form after his last win back in November, he is now showing a glimpse of his better form. He was third in a stronger handicap field at his last start and with Anthony Delpech taking over in the saddle Newyorkstateofmind can give Eddie Sweat a run for his money.

Eddie Sweat, named after the groom of the legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat, has been out of the winner’s box for some time now and although the five-time winner is hardly in the league of ‘Big Red’, Frank Robinson has been patient and the gelding’s time could come again this afternoon.

It has been over two years since his last victory but the handicappers have finally relented and the gelding’s rating has been dropping rapidly from a high of 94 to 67 and to a point where he now looks competitive again. He is also showing signs of a return to form.

Although Eddie Sweat can hardly be backed with any confidence Robinson looks to have picked the right race for him. He has seldom been far off the winner even though his losing streak stretches back 780 days he was staying on nicely in the soft ground at Scottsville last time out when three lengths behind Great Value.

He is well suited – like many of the older brigade – to the more forgiving and even poly track surface and although he takes on some fairly promising younger rivals, today could be his day.

Belinda Impey survived a savage attack by a disgruntled former employee a fortnight back but her stable hands and her Ashburton colleagues stepped into the breech to help out while she was in hospital and she will be back to saddle her smart mare Kept Secret, winner of both her recent starts. In form apprentice Ashton Arries, aboard Newyorkstateofmind last time out, has stuck with Kept Secret and a winning hat-trick will be welcomed by all.

Seatops and Damali look pick of the younger brigade but Eddie Sweat could provide for a good priced winner in what looks to be another tricky card.

In the Lightning Shot Handicap, Mr Mcsteamy comes into this race holding his form and does his best over course and distance. He takes a slight drop in class and Anton Marcus is back aboard. Toonani was well supported in the market last time out but may have been short of a run after returning from a break. He should improve on that showing and looks a threat. Of the balance, Roy Royale is back over his best surface and is down in the ratings while All True Man improved last run and has his third start after a break.

Ideal Duel is a recent maiden winner but has improved with every outing, shedding her maiden at third time of asking. She appears to have some scope and meets little of note in the SA Racing App Handicap.

By Andrew Harrison

Piet Botha has come out of retirement and rides two horses for Glen Puller at Kenilworth on Saturday – Love To Fly in the Juvenile Plate and Jay Rock in the Racing Association Maiden.

Botha, 40, said yesterday: “I resumed riding work on December 27. I wanted to ride one horse and see how it feels. I haven’t looked back since, and I aim to continue for as long as I stay fit and healthy. My weight is pretty good – I was 56kg when I stepped on the scales last Saturday.”

A bad fall at Summerveld in 2010 ended his career the first time round when a broken rib caused endless pain and led to his being medically boarded with supposedly-permanent nerve damage.

He rode two Grade 1 winners in Mauritius and has a string of Grade 2 and 3 winners in Cape Town to his credit including the Green Point and Matchem on Roman Charger, Peninsula Handicap (Dunford),  Chairman’s Cup (Selous trained by Puller), Odessa ( Joshua’s Princess), Sceptre (Joshlin) and J & B Reserve Stayers.

Since his retirement he has been concentrating on building up his coffee machine business.

By Michael Clower

Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty is enjoying a fine run at present, especially with his juveniles, and despite having a string which totals just 45 horses he said there were more promising youngsters waiting in the wings.

Lafferty has one of the most exciting two-year-old fillies in the country, Touch Of Magic, who was landed for a bargain price at a Magic Millions Sale in Australia last year.

On debut over 1000m at Scottsville on March 1, this strongly built bay sat in behind the leaders, showing good cruising speed, and after being switched out by Diego De Gouveia quickened effortlessly to win by 3,75 lengths. The runner up Rose Hill finished a close second next time out to frank the form.

Lafferty described Touch Of Magic as a “real machine” and was thrilled for owners Brian Riley, Michael Leaf and Sherwin Jerrier, whom he described as “absolute gentleman to train for.”

He added, “The Allan Robertson is her aim. She is a bomb and we are just keeping her ticking over. If we find the right race she could come out before then, but I wouldn’t worry at all about sending her straight into the Allan Robertson.”

Touch Of Magic already has considerable paddock value.

Earlier this year her dam Moccasin Bend, who is by the USA-bred Majestic Light stallion Eternity Range, made headlines.

Her Not A Single Doubt colt fetched Aus$725,000 at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast knocked down to the Shadwell Stud of Sheik Hamdan’s.

Three years earlier new breeder Gary Castledine had bought Moccasin Bend, a Gr 2 W A Guineas winner, for Aus$135,000 in foal to four-time Gr 1-winner Sepoy. The latter was both the champion two-year-old and three-year-old colt in Australia.

Lafferty liked the look of the resultant foal, Touch Of Magic, and with Brian Riley accompanying him secured her for what now looks a bargain Aus$75,000.

Lafferty has five young Judpots in his string as he regards him as an excellent value stallion.

On Sunday his Judpot colt Sniper Shot won a Juvenile Plate over 1200m at Greyville from pillar to post under 4kg claimer Ashton Arries, beating among others the smart Cape colt Sir Frenchie into third by 1,5 lengths.

That was his second win in succession and Lafferty said, “He is useful and speedy. Our Captain Al colt Freddie Flint, who finished fourth in the Sentinel Stakes, is also promising. But we have some unraced two-year-old colts who are better than them, including a couple of Australian-breds and one by Count Dubois.

He hoped some of his two-year-old males would prove to be Gr 1 class, although he recognised the strength and depth of the Cape and Gauteng campaigners among the crop.

The yard’s Elusive Fort filly Crymeariver “could be anything” after winning a Juvenile Plate over 1200m at Scottsville on debut, beating the well regarded winner Neptune’s Rain. On paper her form compares favourably with her Maiden Juvenile Plate-winning stablemate, the Rebel King filly Simply Scrumptious. However, Lafferty believes these fillies are not up to the class of Touch Of Magic.

Lafferty has sent out eleven winners since March 1 at a strike rate of 27,5%.

His puts his recent success down to team effort and also made particular mention of the benefit of a Faradic Machine. This impulse therapy machine treats horses every day at the yard. It has double benefit to owners, who are not charged for its use, as it keeps the veterinarians at bay. An example of its positive affect can be seen in the filly Pearl Emblem. She was transformed from a battling one-time winner into a horse who won a further six races in the space of six months.

Lafferty’s horses have been turned out in magnificent condition lately and he attributed this partly to the two very good “clippers” (who could be termed equine hairdressers) he has working for him.

By David Thiselton