Many jockeys will have breathed a sigh of relief when the worst kept secret in racing was confirmed early yesterday morning with the news that Legal Eagle was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July. His scratching means that all the weights will be increased by 2,5kg.

Sean Tarry had indicated as early as April, after Legal Eagle had won the Premier’s Champions Challenge, that the July was not on the gelding’s agenda. But Tarry played a smart tactical game by leaving Legal Eagle in the mix until after the weights had been published on Tuesday and it was only a matter of when he played his trump card.

If Tarry had scratched Legal Eagle before publication of the weights his other runner, French Navy, would have been allotted top weight of 60kg but all the three-year-olds, barring Abashiri would have been set to carry 53kg.

By leaving Legal Eagle in until after publication of the weights, French Navy still goes up to 60kg but the three-year-olds copped another 2,5kg and this means that all of the three-year-old males with the exception of Abashiri will carry 55,5kg including ruling favourite Black Arthur giving those runners who match their handicap rating a big advantage over their younger rivals.

The bottom weight horses will carry 54,5kg and this includes three-year-old filly Bela-Bela.

However, even though the weights have been bumped up, of the three-year-olds only Abashiri is not under sufferance.

What the increase in weights does do is open the field for the jockeys as most of the senior riders were unlikely to make 53kg.

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

One jockey who will be particularly relieved is Anton Marcus although he was likely privy to what was on the cards. With Legal Eagle out and the weights increased, he now has the option on six Markus and Ingrid Jooste owned horses in Rabada, Deo Juvente, The Conglomerate, Disco Al, St Tropez and Rainy Day Blues, not all certain to get a run however, but St Tropez his most likely choice.

Also scratched yesterday were the Tarry-trained Prospect Strike and Jubilee Line, leaving Mike de Kock in the unfamiliar position of having only a single entry, namely the filly The Centenary, whose chances of making the July will hang on her winning the G3 Gold Circle Oaks at Scottsville on Sunday and even that may not be enough.

With bookmakers probably already having already factored in the likely withdrawal of Legal Eagle, there were only marginal changes to the betting with Black Arthur shortening half-a-point to 7-2 and French Navy steady at 7-1.

Latest ante-post betting for the R4.5million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July to be run at Greyville on Saturday, July 2:

7-2 Black Arthur, 6-1 Marinaresco, 7-1 French Navy, 15-2 Bela-Bela, 11-1 Abashiri, It’s My Turn, 13-1 Solid Speed, St Tropez, 14-1 Mambo Mime, Rabada, 25-1 Deo Juvente, Dynamic, 28-1 Rocketball, Master Sabina, 30-1 Ten Gun Salute, The Conglomerate, Trophy Wife, 35-1 Negroamaro, 50-1 Samurai Blade, 66-1 Balance Sheet, Saratoga Dancer, Judicial, 80-1 New Predator, 100-1 and upwards others.

Andrew Harrison

Mike Bass’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain is to stay on in Durban for the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province on Vodacom July day following her return to form in last Saturday’s Tibouchina Stakes.

Candice Robinson said yesterday: “Silver Mountain was unlucky not to win the Tibouchina. She was badly squeezed shortly after the start and nearly fell. She ended up at the back and chasing wide before the turn.”

Silver Mountain, who would have returned to Cape Town had she not run well, was beaten little more than a head by Alexis. Mrs Robinson confirmed that fourth-placed Inara will also be in the Garden Province line-up.

The stable’s July second favourite Marinaresco joined the rest of the Bass KZN string on Sunday after a 24-hour journey from Cape Town.

Michael Clower

“Uncle George” Scott died on Tuesday night after a short illness.

The 84-year-old was still training at the time of his death having first sent out runners 43 years ago.

The Highveld-based trainer was admired not only as a fine horseman, but also as a colourful individual.

His winner’s enclosure interviews not only gave a clue to his determination and professionalism, but were also laced with humorous innuendo.

He passed his love of the game on to others including his nephews Colin, who trains successfully out of Summerveld, and Rob, current CEO of TellyTrack.

The last winner he trained was the Bosworth Stud-bred Global One filly Samarra who won a maiden over 1160m at Turffontein on Christmas Eve under S’Manga Khumalo.

His best horse in recent times was the sprinter Fair Brutus, a gelding who won eight races and did the Gr 2 Senor Santa Sprint and Listed Man O’ War Sprint double within two weeks at Newmarket in 2007.

Scott began his training career in Bloemfontein and became the competitive centre’s leading trainer. At the time of his death he was based at Turffontein where he had 25 boxes.

His daughter is overseas at present so funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Sean Tarry regarded Buckland as his first choice for the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, only to see him eliminated by the selection panel, but the three-year-old Western Winter colt now gets a chance to prove his class in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville on Friday night.

Tarry said his other contender, Trip To Heaven, who crossed the line first in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday before being demoted to second in the boardroom, was a “doubtful starter” due to the proximity of that previous run, although he would be monitored over the next couple of days before a final decision was made.

Trip To Heaven (JC Photo)

Tarry was also hopeful of a good run from Witchcraft on Sunday at Scottsville in the Gr 2 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m.

The 103 merit rated Buckland will be near the bottom of the 100 to 104 merit rated band under the conditions of the race, as his net merit rating is 101, and this means he will be 2,5kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horses in the race, the mare Fly By Night.

Tarry would still have preferred him to have taken his place in the Tsogo Sun, despite the Post Merchants being an overall weaker race, as he preferred him “down the straight.”

Buckland has gone around the turn twice before at Turffontein, but those races were over 1400m and 1600m respectively. Tarry said the colt was “well.”

He jumps from a fair draw of eight with first call jockey S’Manga Khumalo up.

Tarry is a bit annoyed the racing fraternity have taken it upon themselves to describe the few cases he has had of “bacterial infections” in his yard as a “virus”, which it is not.

The runs of Trip To Heaven, French Navy and Liege over the weekend proved the yard’s runners are arriving at the course in good shape.

Trip To Heaven will only be 0,5kg under sufferance with Fly By Night if taking his place in the Post Merchants, although he will have to lug 60kg. This sprint miler’s two Gr 2 victories have been over 1160m and 1450m respectively, so he has plenty of speed. He tends to miss the  break, so will likely be dropped out from his draw of ten. He proved on Saturday what a fine turn of foot he has, as he made up ground effortlessly and quickly from last in the running.

If Trip To Heaven is scratched his stablemate Old Em will come in as the reserve runner. This speedily-bred three-year-old Trippi filly beat the previously unbeaten Hollie Point over this trip at the Vaal last time out by a length. However, she was given a seven point raise for that effort so, despite her being officially only 0,5kg under sufferance with Fly By Night and carrying a featherweight 51,5kg, she will not have it easy in her first run in open Graded company. Her draw of six is suitable as one with plenty of natural speed.

Tarry felt Witchcraft was unlucky in the Gr 1 SA Oaks as she was caught wide without cover the whole way from a wide draw. She had then found the Greyville 2000m of the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 too sharp. He gives her a shout in the Gr 3 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville on Sunday if she is able to overcome her wide draw. Khumalo will have learnt a bit more about her from the SA Oaks run and is back aboard.

Meanwhile, French Navy has pulled up well out of his eye catching third in the Gold Challenge. The remainder of his preparation for the Vodacom Durban July will be done out of Summerveld.

By David Thiselton

Topweight Legal Eagle has been scratched from the Vodacom Durban July the day after the publishing of the weights.

French Navy, who was originally set to carry 57,5kg, will become the new topweight carrying 60kg and all of the other weights will be dragged up accordingly by 2,5kg.

SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri will now carry 59kg.

However, his weight relative to other horses will not have changed and he will in fact still be the only three-year-old in the race who is not under sufferance.

The bottom weight horses will carry 54,5kg and this includes the fancied three-year-old filly Bela-Bela.

All of the three-year-old males with the exception of Abashiri will carry 55,5kg and this includes the ruling favourite Black Arthur.

David Thiselton