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).

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.

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.”

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

Gavin van Zyl runs three-year-old Rocketball in the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday and has a number of other runners at the meeting.

The horse the yard seem most bullish about on the day is the KZN Yearling Million contender Poster Girl, while Sunday’s KZN Million Mile winner No Worries will likely be scratched from the SABC Gold Vase.

Jockey Warren Kennedy described Rocketball as a “very strong horse”, so was not concerned by his antics at the July gallops when keen as they set off.

He said they had gone a very slow pace, so he had not surprisingly taken a “tug”, but he added the main thing was “he did not overdo it.”

Kennedy pointed to the Judpot gelding’s recorded 22,9 second 400m to finish time at the gallops as proof he had the necessary finishing speed for the tight Greyville track.

The timing system on the day is done through a flag drop, so the accuracy has to be questioned, but Rocketball did quicken well in the Gr 1 SA Derby.

In the Gr 1 Daily News the pace had been too slow and Kennedy said, “He had too much ground to make up, but ran all the way to the line.”

He concluded, “He is in a good place, his prep has been good. I am happy with the draw (seven).”

Rocketball worked on the beach sand at Summerveld yesterday (Tuesday) and showed off his giant action. If he can come into the straight with momentum on Saturday that action could carry him close.

Kennedy’s best July finish has been third on the 100/1 shot Forest Path in 2009.

Kennedy said about first race contender Brown Sugar, who carries topweight of  62kg minus the 2,5kg claim of Eric Saziso Ngwane, “It’s her favourite course and distance (1400m), she won well last time, and has the claimer aboard.” The form of that last race is hard to assess, but the field were well spread out which usually indicates a good performance and the handicappers gave the four-year-old a four point raise in the merit ratings.

The yard have two runners in the Middle Stakes over 1400m and Kennedy said, “Bagger Vance (drawn 14 with Brandon Lerena up) has become consistent and is in a good space at the moment. Tipo Tinto is a funny horse, he is seven-years-old, and hard to predict.” If Tipo Tinto repeats his last run over course and distance, when most unlucky, he could earn from a draw in which he should be able to drop in as there is plenty of pace on his inside.

Gavin van Zyl said about Isca, who runs in the Compendium MR 103 handicap over 1000m on the poly, “He is quick, so this could be his right trip and he drawn next to the right horse (Harry Lime).” The grey Var gelding has been dropped three points, but is 0,5kg under sufferance. He put in a flying bit of work on the beach sand yesterday (Tuesday) and is looking in tip, top shape. He jumps from draw two under Kennedy and has a chance provided he behaves in the pens. Just Ask Me runs here too and Gavin said he had been doing nicely, but would find it too short.

Poster Girl is next up and Anton Marcus rides from a plum draw of two in the lucrative 1300m event. Kennedy emphasised, “She is doing very, very well at the moment.” He pointed out she was the only horse in the field with Gr 1 form.

Assistant trainer Gareth van Zyl said about the yard’s runners in the eleventh race, the tabGold Sprint over 1200m on the polytrack, “Budapest is doing well, it might be a bit sharp, but it’s worth a shot. Redcarpet Captain has been gelded, but it is not easy from the draw (eleven).” He said Redcarpet Captain had improved in his work since gelding. The pair worked together on the beach sand yesterday (Tuesday) and Redcarpet Captain showed a lot of speed and had to be reined in by Kennedy, but it was the reverse in their grass gallop the other day, where Budapest had the better of it.

Kennedy said Celtic Captain would be alright returning to the mile in the Listed Daisy Business Solutions Handicap on the turf and did not expect him to repeat his antic of looking at the big TV screen,   which had proved costly after he had quickened into the lead in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas. He added the horse’s run in the Daily News 2000 had not panned out well, so it was not necessarily due to him not staying the trip. Gavin Lerena will be aboard Celtic Captain from draw eight, while Kennedy will ride the honest Silver Spring from draw five. The latter has dropped back to the 90 merit rated mark off which he finished a narrow second in the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap, although he is known to have a few soundness issues.

By David Thiselton