Al Wahed, roughly translated as The Chosen One, is an appropriate choice for the Itsarush.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth today and he is attractively priced at 7-2.

“He is going to love the soft ground and I think he has a big chance even though Captain Bagg is a good horse,” says Mike Stewart. “We have a huge weight advantage.”

The gelding came to the Noordhoek trainer from Duncan Howells because he was born with an offset knee and Stewart is able to send him out into the sea morning and afternoon, keeping the knee cool and comfortable.

The four-year-old won over this 1 000m in April and repeated the performance five weeks later but last time he disappointed and managed only sixth behind Captain Bagg. However there were valid excuses.

“He jumped badly, he was bumped by the horse drawn alongside him and then by the horse the other side – and by that stage he was five lengths behind,” Stewart explains. “His rider chased him up and 500m out he was in front but the horse had basically blown his bolt.”

Brandon May, who rode him in those two wins, is now back on board but Captain Bagg, installed evens favourite by World Sports Betting, could again be a big danger even though he is 2kg worse this time. When the pair met in April, and Al Wahed beat Captain Bagg a length and a half, the Eric Sands horse was conceding 5kg. Now the difference is 4.5kg.

But what really counts with Grant Behr’s mount is the pace. Normally they don’t go fast enough and he pulls his way to the front. When he won last time there was a decent gallop and Behr was able to hold him up.

Another to bear in mind is the Andre Nel-trained 7-2 chance Ovar who is a consistent sort and good in sprints.

Rock On Wood is fractionally odds-on for the opening Maiden Juvenile Fillies and deservedly so. She lost valuable ground at the off when hot favourite on her most recent start but she ran on strongly in the final furlong and would have won in another 20m. The one worry is that she is developing seconditis – that was her third runner-up position in as many starts.

Race three is wide open and 3-1 favourite Kenny Trix gets only marginal preference. Mount Keith (4-1) has similar credentials while 11-2 chance Summer Sky had Edict Of Nantes (9-2) two lengths behind when both were making their debuts.

Two-year-olds Drop The Pilot and Possibly Me are 15-10 equal favourites for race four and preference is for Greg Ennion’s runner who was taking on a big field when beating all except Reine Tonnerre.

Michael Clower

 

Piere Strydom – The Conglomerate (won): “He has misbehaved at the start in the past but this time he jumped beautifully. The pace was spot on for me and it was just a matter of him kicking at the top of the straight -which he did. I wasn’t aware that Marinaresco was coming so quickly but as against that my horse hit the front fairly easily.”

Grant van Niekerk – Marinaresco (2nd): “I was unlucky with my draw as I was always going to drop him in and I was second last turning for home. He then put his ears flat back and took off. He is a good horse but the winner had too big an advantage. It was disappointing, especially for Mr Bass.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe – Mac De Lago (3rd): “I didn’t have cover but I was happy where I was sitting. He ran a good race but the penalty for his last win cost him.”

Richard Fourie – It’s My Turn (4th): “He settled good and was moving nicely. At the 450m I asked him and he responded. He did everything as I asked.’

Anthony Delpech – Bela-Bela (6th): “She ran a fantastic race. I would like to have been a bit closer but I couldn’t hold my place. Possibly she is not yet strong enough to hold her own against the colts.”

Dougie Whyte – Black Arthur (7th): “He was a little intimidated by Mac De Lago leaning on him and taking me to the outside rail. I would have been 3rd otherwise.”

Gavin Lerena – Master Sabina (9th): “I would have been happier racing two lengths closer but the horse on my outside came in and I had to drop back a bit. But he finished well and ran on strongly.”

Weichong Marwing – French Navy (11th): “It wasn’t his day. He wasn’t enjoying the hard going.”

Anton Marcus – St Tropez (17th):  “I had every chance and I followed the winner but my horse just emptied.”

By Michael  Clower

 

 

 

 

Few saw it coming. Even trainer Joey Ramsden was sceptical beforehand, even more so after The Conglomerate drew the extreme outside gate. But under a superb tactical ride from Piere Strydom the 20-1 shot pulled off a memorable win in yesterday’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Always handy Strydom moved his mount through smoothly under hands and heels to hit the front 200m out and had the race in the bag in a matter of strides. The diminutive Marinaresco came from the rear of the field to finish a neck second.  There was a scramble for the minor placings with Mac De Lago getting up late for third to deny It’s My Turn with rank outsider Saratoga Dancer also running on well in fifth.

Favourite, the grey filly Bela-Bela, was finishing off her race but never threatened. With the tote paying six places she did just enough to save place punters.

It was a belated birthday present for an emotional Strydom who turned 50 last month. It was also a fourth win for Strydom in the country’s richest race and his second from the widest draw after getting home narrowly aboard Pomodoro in 2012.

Ever the professional Strydom was offered the ride on Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Mac De Lago who looked a better proposition, but he had already committed to ride for the Jooste’s and their racing manager Derek Brugman even though retained rider Anton Marcus had the pick of the rides.

“It was an exceptional ride,” said Ramsden, “Although he should thank his compardres in the weighing room. They let him in so easily.”

“This is always a great day. I have been coming here for 18 years and it’s always great racing.”

He had a consoling word for the owners of second-placed Marinaresco. They must be sad an heartsore. Marsh (Shirtliff) and Bryn (Ressell) are good friends of mine and great owners.”

A win for Marinaresco would have signed off on a memorable career for trainer Mike Bass who retires at the end of the month.

There are no immediate plans for the winner with the eLan Gold Cup and the Mike and Carol Bass Champion Stakes coming up at month’s end. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t stay (the Gold Cup trip) but he will be at the top of the handicap. It’s up to Derek to decide.”

Dubai is an unlikely option. “I’m not quite sure he’s good enough,” Ramsden said.

Marinaresco must now rate as the best three-year-old in the country as he came from last at the top of the straight. He showed a tremendous turn of foot and ran past all but The Conglomerate with ease although Ramsden was never worried. “I think Piere knew he had it in the bag.”

Weiho Marwing gave Mac De Lago the thumbs up. “He ran a great race.” Brother Weichong said French Navy had every chance even though he missed the break but was not suited to the slow pace.

There were some hard luck stories. Solid Speed returned with a nosebleed while both Triple Crown hero Abashiri and St Tropez, stable companion to the winner, returned lame.

Star filly Inara finally broke her KZN hoodoo and landed her fifth Gr1 with victory in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Unplaced last year behind Same Jurisdiction, she put the record straight as she ground out a win from off a strong pace to keep Strydom at bay and a Gr1 double as Olma finished with a rattle but too late to make a difference to the result. Pacemaker Bichette stayed on for third.

“Things didn’t go right for her last year,” said Candice Robinson assistant to her father Mike Bass who hands over the reins his daughter come the end of the month.  This could well be Bass’s final Gr1 of his career and winning rider Grant van Niekerk was profuse in his praise as it was Bass who recognised his talent and gave a raw jockey, just recently out of his apprenticeship, the plum job of stable jockey.

What made the win more special is that Inara has now won in three different centres, having won the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein back in April and three others in her home town.

Second in the Vodacom Durban July last year when trained by now retired Stan Elley, Punta Arenas did not make this year’s final field but made up for it by winning the “July” consolation, the DELTA Air Lines 2200m. Now with Dennis Drier, Punta Arenas kept finding extra to deny the Mike de Kock pair of The Centenary and Alghadeer, the latter failing to reach his reserve when offered for auction last week.

Second and third in the DELTA Airlines, De Kock trumped that with a 1-2-3-4 in the SABC Gold Vase over 3000m.

Kingston Mines was sent out as the hare and opened a good few lengths on his rivals coming up the hill at the 800 m mark. He kept finding in the straight but was challenged by Smart Mart. These two looked to have the race to themselves before Enaad finished with a wet sail, running them both down in the shadow of the post with Kinaan finishing the best of the others to snatch fourth.

Leading all the way, Final Judgement pulled of a 25-1 surprise in the Gold Circle Golden Slipper, rallying under a strong ride from Stuart Randolph to narrowly hold off the attentions of Dawn Calling and Sail. Odds-on favourite Maleficent, prominent throughout surrendering tamely to finish unplaced.

Jumping from pole position, Randloph had no hesitation taking Final Judgement to the lead with Muzi Yeni slotting Dawn Calling perfectly into position behind the favourite.

Once in the straight Maleficent left Dawn Calling in the clear and she was left to chase home Final Judgement.

Two-year-old male form has been muddling but Zodiac Ruler put up his hand with a superb victory in the Durban Golden Horseshoe.  The imposing Justin Snaith-trained colt was again slow out of the gate and found himself at the tail end of the field.  “They went very fast. That suited me,” said rider Richard Fourie.

Duncan Howells was super confident of the chances of his filly Lunar Rush in the KZN Yearling Sale Million and so it proved. Anthony Delpech took the race by the scruff from the start and the result was never in doubt. This was the second win in the race for Howells who also scored with crack filly Same Jurisdiction two years back.

 

 

The Conglomerate, under a superb tactical ride from Piere Strydom, pulled off a memorable win in today’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Always handy Strydom moved his mount through smoothly under hands and heels to hit the front 200m out and had the race in the bag in a matter of strides. The diminutive Marinaresco came from the rear of the field to finish a neck second ahead of Mac De Lago, It’s My Turn and Saratoga Dancer in fifth. Favourite, the grey filly Bela-Bela, did just enough to save place punters in sixth.

It was a fourth win for Strydom in the country’s richest race but the first for trainer Joey Ramsden and owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste.

“It was an exceptional ride,” said Ramsden. “This is always a great day. I have been coming here for 18 years and it’s always great racing.”

Marinaresco must now rate as the best three-year-old in the country as he came from last at the top of the straight. He showed a tremendous turn of foot and ran past all but The Conglomerate with ease although Ramsden was never worried. “I think Piere knew he had it in the bag.”

Weiho Marwing gave Mac De Lago the thumbs up. “He ran a great race.” Brother Weichong said French Navy had every chance even though he missed the break but was not suited to the slow pace.

There were some hard luck stories. Solid Speed returned with a nosebleed while both Triple Crown hero Abashiri and St Tropez, stable companion to the winner, returned lame.

Andrew Harrison
Picture: Nkosi Hlophe

2016 Vodacom Durban July result

July 2, Greyville Race 7

Win 14 = R 24.50
Place 14 = R 3.40
Place 13 = R 3.20
Place 2 = R 4.20
Place 9 = R 1.90
Place 17 = R 4.90
Place 18 = R 1.40
Swinger 13/14 = R 67.90
Swinger 2/14 = R 90.50
Swinger 2/13 = R 75.50
Exacta 14/13 = R 461.60
Trifecta 14/13/2 = R 12465.10
Quartet 14/13/2/9 = R 152149.10
Double 14/14 = R 258.40
Favourite: 18
Scratchings: 6,20

Joey Ramsden continues to be happy with his Vodacom Durban July pair St. Tropez and The Conglomerate.

The pair have a hard task on paper being 3,5kg and 2,5kg under sufferance respectively according to official merit ratings.

The Conglomerate has never quite recaptured the form which saw him running on strongly to win last season’s Gr 2 KRA Guineas off the back of a fast pace. However, in his last two starts over 1900m and 1800m at Greyville respectively, where he stayed on into the money, the potential effect of his finish was blunted by a pace which was not strong enough on either occasion.

Furthermore, the Australian-bred by Lonhro has always looked a sort who would relish the July trip. He was one of a number of unlucky horses in last year’s July when finding his path completely blocked on the outside rail at a stage where he looked to still have plenty in the tank.

Ramsden said at the July final field and draw ceremony The Conglomerate had been putting in tremendous work at home, so he was disappointed, to say the least, to draw the very outside barrier position of 20, which will come into 18 on Saturday in an 18 horse line up.

On the plus side brilliant jockey Piere Strydom will be aboard. In Strydom’s third July win in 2012, he won from the very outside berth of 20 on Pomodoro.

Strydom said about The Conglomerate’s draw yesterday (Wednesday): “It’s not nice at all. Number one you give away start. Number two I need to get lucky by either getting ahead or for there to be enough pace to enable me to slot in, otherwise I will be caught wide again.”

He said about his chances, “I can’t say I have a good chance. Anton had the pick of the Markus Jooste crop, but there is still a chance though, because on form they are very close to one another.”

Speaking about his last July win from the outside draw, he said: “I was worried about the draw on Pomodoro but he had ability, he was a good sort. Whether The Conglomerate is as good, I am not sure.”

St. Tropez is typical of a four-year-old Silvano gelding in that he is progressive and the best might not yet have been seen of him, so his relatively lowly 99 merit rating could well be misleading. His running on second in his last start, the Gr 2 Betting World 1900, followed a six month layoff and Anton Marcus has been pleased with his work since, so he should be spot on.

He has had three runs at Greyville for a win and two seconds. Last year he ran in the July consolation race, the Gr 3 tabGold 2200, and was left with too much to do by a rider with not much experience of the course, although he was staying on well and finished a 3,25 length second. He jumps from draw ten on Saturday, which might be a fair draw as it will give Marcus options.

Marcus is going for a record-breaking fifth July win, while Ramsden is seeking his first July winner.

Ramsden runs Gr 1-winner King Of Pain in the Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m where he carries topweight of 60kg and has a plum draw of two with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up. Ramsden said this six-year-old Greys Inn gelding had missed a week of work recently due to a foot issue, so was not quite as fit as he would have liked him, but he added the horse could not be in a better place mentally.

King Of Pain’s biggest career win in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m in 2014 followed a four month break. In his only attempt at 3000m or beyond he was an impressive winner of the Gr 3 CTS Chairman’s Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth In February this year under the rider who knows him best, Fayd’Herbe.

Ramsden was of the opinion the track was hard at Scottsville when six-year-old Captain Al gelding Disco Al was defending his crown in the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m two Sundays ago and it had not suited him. He has been freshened up to run in Saturday’s Gr 3 Delta Air Lines 2200 from a plum draw of five under Strydom off an unchanged merit rating of 101.

He has proved affective over this sort of trip before and won Port Elizabeth’s biggest race, the Gr 3 Betting World Algoa Cup over 2000m, in both 2013 and 2014.

By David Thiselton