6 RABADA (insufficient recover time) was scratched from the 2016 Vodacom Durban July this morning 19 TROPHY WIFE now becomes a runner with S’manga Khumalo declared to ride.

Updated final field and betting for the R4,25million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville racecourse on Saturday, July 2:

Mike Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe is happy with the yard’s Vodacom Durban July day string at Summerveld.

He stuck his neck out and named Helderberg Blue as their best runner on the day and this in-form Gr 3 Delta Air Lines contender certainly looked a picture when putting in a slow canter on the beach sand at Summerveld yesterday (Tuesday).

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Meanwhile, the yard continue to be happy with July contestant Marinaresco. This Silvano gelding is a three-parts brother to Bulsara, who finished a 2,2 length fifth to Igugu in the 2011 July, despite carrying roundabout 1,5kg overweight.

Marinaresco, like Bulsara, has an exceptional turn of foot. Fayd’Herbe added, “He is a fighter, he likes to win.”

Jockey Grant van Niekerk has declared he is no longer worried by Marinaresco’s wide draw.

The yard run all of Inara, Silver Mountain and Lanner Falcon in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and Fayd’Herbe was reluctant to separate them. He said, “All is well and may the best one win.”

The yard were also bullish about Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase contestant Three Balloons. Fayd’Herbe said, “He is coming to hand and 3000m is his distance.”

He said Ernie had also been doing well ahead of the tabGold Sprint over 1200m, where he has a wide draw in his first race on the poly.

David Thiselton

Three-times Vodacom Durban July-winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer said both of his candidates for this year’s race, five-year-old Solid Speed and three-year-old Mambo Mime, were “spot on.”

Asked on which one he preferred he said, “On their home work Mambo Mime, but Solid Speed has never been a good work horse. Solid Speed is a five-year-old and Mambo Mime is a three-year-old and they carry the same weight, so that’s a different ball game.”

Jockey Keagan de Melo said he had been very happy with Mambo Mime and based on the feel the horse gave him believed he would definitely stay the 2200m trip. He is drawn in 12 and should be running on like he was in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. On Monday he worked with Dynastic on the beach sand at Summerveld and drew clear effortlessly.

Jockey Stuart Randolph is also happy with Solid Speed. The latter represents the same owner, trainer and jockey as last year’s winner, Power King, runs off the identical merit rating of 106 and is drawn in barrier 5 compared to Power King’s 6.

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the July Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Balance Sheet and Solar Star both looked well in their workouts on the beach sand this week ahead of their engagements in the Gr 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m.

Kannemeyer has always believed Solar Star would get this sort of trip. He pointed out the latter had stayed on well in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, where he finished fifth, only 1,65 lengths behind the winner Balance Sheet. However, Solar Star will now be only 0,5kg better off with his stable companion, so won’t find it easy to reverse form, especially considering Balance Sheet is proven over the trip, having finished second in last year’s Gold Cup over 3200m.

Kannemeyer runs Impala Lily in the first over 1400m on the poly and believes she will appreciate the step back to 1400m. It looked that way in her work out on the beach sand on Monday as she is a robust sort with big hind quarters. Her pole position draw is a further plus.

Cape Laddie ran a fine race under Anthony Delpech last time when caught wide over 1400m on the poly and still managing to stay on for a one length second to the fair sort Irish Pride.

He is now drawn well over the same course and distance in Saturday’s second race, but he does have to deal with a one point merit rated raise and Delpech was concerned about it being his second run after a long break.

David Thiselton

Joey Ramsden can win two of the first three races when Durbanville stages its first meeting for four months today.

His two-year-olds are good this term – he has won more Cape Town juvenile races (16) than any other trainer and both Sandy Bay and World In Union look nailed on. The former has run well in her last three starts and looks a worthy favourite for race two.

She drops back a furlong to 1 200m after being run out of second close home last time. “She has been a slow learner and we felt we would like to bring her back a bit,” reasons her trainer.

The obvious danger is Under Milkwood who showed promise when fourth to Whose That Girl on debut despite running green. “She has come on a lot since then and she went exceptionally well when I worked her last Friday,” says Greg Ennion. “She was a Ready To Run horse so she knows the course.”

World Sports Betting opened Sandy Bay 13-10 favourite on Monday but the money has come since and she is now odds-on. Under Milkwood remains firm at 22-10 with the Mike Bass newcomer Tipping Point already nibbled at and now 11-2.

Donovan Dillon, who rides Sandy Bay, is also on World In Union in race three and he has made an enormous impression in his first Cape Town season. He has won 17 two-year-old races, far more than any other jockey.

World In Union started hot favourite in a decent maiden over a mile at Kenilworth 11 days ago and led over two furlongs out before being headed by Studiolo and going under by only a neck. This 200m shorter trip should be fine for him, he has a good draw and has already been backed from evens to 17-20.

The obvious danger is Volatile Energy – indeed the sahorseracing.co.za computer has him finishing only a neck behind the Ramsden horse – but the Bass runner is not so well drawn. However he has strong form claims as he had Studiolo just behind when third to William Longsword over this trip last month. He has been backed from 7-1 to 15-4.

Gimme Green’s chance in this is likely to be pinpointed by Cape Horn in race one. The Dean Kannemeyer horse, 15-20 and hard to oppose here, had Gimme Green three lengths back fourth when second to Ramsden’s I Travel Light at Kenilworth 18 days ago. The latter’s stable companion, the unflatteringly-named British Fairy, is a 16-1 chance and difficult to fancy.

Valado (11-2) is drawn badly in race four but he might just have the pace to upset the 15-10 favourite Impressed. He got caught wide without cover on the bend at Kenilworth last time but still went close.

Michael Clower

Established Champions in all sports have the capacity to take success in their stride and eighteen-year-old apprentice sensation Lyle Hewitson is on the right path in this regard.

Hewitson stood by jockey Richard Fourie at Summerveld yesterday and it would have been difficult to tell who between them was on the cusp of his first Vodacom Durban July ride and who had already won the race before, such was the relaxed demeanour of both.

Hewitson said, “I am just going about life as normal at the moment as I am riding in races this week. But there is a great vibe around the July, the press have been great, it’s very exciting.”

Lyle Hewitson (Nkosi Hlophe)

He learnt about a month ago he would have a July ride, but did not know which horse he would be on. He added it was only when his name was revealed at the draw ceremony next to the Justin Snaith-trained contestant Dynamic it hit him and he described it as a “surreal” moment.

The reaction from his alma mata Kearsney College emphasised the feat as he received a barrage of sms’s and social media messages from pupils, Old Boys and teachers alike.

A lot of his friends attend the July every year, but are especially looking forward to Saturday’s renewal as they will have somebody to cheer home.

Hewitson admitted he had never dreamed he would be in this position just over three months ago when making his professional debut on March 6 at Scottsville.

He has already added 53 winners to the 22 he achieved as a workrider and will almost certainly lose his claim in record-breaking time. He said, “I couldn’t have mapped anything I have done so far.” Dynamic, a six-year-old gelding by Dynasty, is drawn in pole.

However, Hewitson is yet to plan his race. He said, “We have a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the race.” Dynamic has a tough task, being 3kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings, and he is rated a 33/1 chance by bookmakers. However, Hewitson has been happy with the horse’s preparation.

Dynamic finished a four length third in last season’s July  consolation race, the Gr 3 tabGold 2200, in his only attempt at the July trip. However, he was staying on strongly when runner up as a three-year-old in the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby, so looks to have the necessary stamina reserves.

Meanwhile, Fourie was quietly confident about his mount, the Snaith-trained Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn.

He was happy with the Dynasty gelding’s July gallop and said, “He was on the wrong leg but I wasn’t worried because we were going slow. When I picked it up he quickened instantly.” On his chances he said, “At Greyville if you have a Dynasty you have a big chance.”

It’s My Turn, who is coming off a possibly unlucky second in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, is officially 2,5kg under sufferance and has a tough draw of 14 to overcome. He is 13/1 with most bookmakers.

By David Thiselton