Dean Kannemeyer has a competitive string of seven for Vodacom Durban July on Saturday at Greyville, including Hot Ticket and Power King who run in the big one.

He said, “Hot Ticket just worked over 400m at the July gallops because it’s a condition of entry, he had run a few days earlier in the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville. I don’t think the Derby was really a true race, because the first five horses varying from an 81 merit rating to 112 went to the line together. He ran a good race in the J&B Met last year finishing very strongly over 2000m and he loves Greyville, he quickens up well at Greyville. He’s doing well, but it’s a tough race, the weights are quite close up at the top.”

Hot Ticket (Liesl King)

“I think Power King has had a very good prep. In his first run in the Champion Season he beat Ice Machine exceptionally well over 1400m, which is too sharp for him, and then he ran a very good race in the Betting World 1900. He looked like an unraced two-year-old under the lights, he didn’t know where he was and I thought the saddle had slipped. But he made up at least 12 lengths up the straight and got beat a neck.

“He’s nicely drawn and if all goes well in the running and it’s a clean run race and there’s a genuine pace, then with 53kg as a four-year-old you suddenly come into the race. He’s earned his stripes, it’s never an easy task but he’s doing well. Sometimes he enjoys gaps between his races and enjoys coming out fresh so I didn’t run him again after the 1900. He’s not a great worker but he’s been moving exceptionally well.”

Power King, who will be ridden by Stuart Randolph from draw seven, certainly caught the eye striding out superbly on the beach in his pacework at Summerveld yesterday (Monday). Hot Ticket, who will be ridden by Karl Neisius from draw 9, is a character who sometimes chucks it in halfway through his work and he was only mildy interested yesterday, but was striding out nicely.

Kannemeyer runs Western Winter colt Never Settle in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m from draw eight under Neisius and he said, “I think he’s a horse with lots of potential, I fancied him first time out but he missed the break and got into the kick back, so we were terribly disappointed. But we put a line through that and in his next run he still jumped slowly, it wasn’t an exceptionally strong race, but he still won exceptionally well.

Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

“I think he’s come on, but it’s only his third run and he may just lack the experience as some of those two-year-olds are really tuned up and I don’t push my two-year-olds. But I think he has the potential to be up there with the top horses on what he shows me back home. He has galloped on the grass and used himself exceptionally well.”

Solid Speed is topweight in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m, where he jumps from draw nine under Neisius and Kannemeyer said, “He had issues so I rested him in the summer but I always thought he had great potential. He hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s gone up in the weights but he’s an improving horse. I think he will go 3000m, but the race will tell. He’s high up already and I have to take whatever I can with him, so we’re going for the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup. He is doing very well.”

Balance Sheet runs in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 from draw three under Randolph and Kannemeyer said, “It was all wrong last time, it was a slow run race and they sprinted and he was caught wide. He’s won three over 1600m, but on pedigree he is bred to go 2400m. He’s nicely drawn, it’s a tough race, but he has bottom weight. Greyville doesn’t suit him when they go slow and sprint, but if they go a good gallop he will be competitive.”

Classy Fighter runs from draw two in race 1 over 1400m on the polytrack under Luyola Mxothwa and Kannemeyer said, “He was badly drawn last time and ran into a bit of trouble up the straight. It’s a tough race but he is nicely drawn and is always there. This is his maximum trip.

It Is Written won on Sunday and is still carded for the tabGold 2200, where he will have a chance as one that finished quite close up in both the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.

Alyson Wright has a fair chance of success with her small string on Vodacom Durban July day.

Western Winter colt Mr Roy runs in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m from draw 10 under Johnny Geroudis, Kochka runs in the Listed Canon Business Centre Handicap over 1600m from draw 15 under Athandiwe Mgudlwa and Mumsy’s Jet runs in the first race, a MR 83 Handicap over 1400m on the poly, from draw six under Anthony Delpech.

Mr Roy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kevin Wright said, “Mr Roy is up against it. He’s a horse I’m really fond of and I think the 1400m will suit him, I feel that maybe we’re looking at the back end of quartets but it’s hard to get into these races and we would rather have a ticket than not have one. He certainly has ability but the race will tell whether he’s just short of those top three horses.

“Kochka has a wide draw, which is unfortunate. Everybody points to him winning his Gr 1 over this distance from a wide draw but it’s not in his favour. I’ve put Athandiwe back on him, he knows him better and rides him work every morning. He came out of the last race very well, although I just think he doesn’t have the condition yet and we’re still three months away from getting him back in the shape he was as a two-year-old. But he undoubtedly still has a shout and if he was well drawn he would be the horse to beat. Last time was over 1800m and he hit the front 200m out, so the mile is right but it’s a question of how quickly he will get through them from the back and he will need a lot of luck from the back.”

“Mumsy’s Jet is so consistent. He’s working very well, we gave him a nice break, he’s being prepped for this race from six weeks ago, he’s had a nice rest, he’s fresh, he’s well and I’m sure he’s going to run a very big race.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.

Jockey legend and now Summerveld trainer Michael Roberts has four runners and a reserve on Vodacom Durban July day, including one Gr 1 contestant.

He said about Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe runner Vous Et Var, “Unfortunately he kept on drawing wide in the races winners can run in and I think he’s going to make into a nice three-year-old, so I didn’t want run him and mess him up. He has finally cracked a good draw but it’s a tough one and if he ran in the first half I would be over the moon.”

Vous Et Var (Nkosi Hlophe)

He runs Natal and Durban Blues in the KZN Yearling Sale Million and said, “Natal won very impressively and is a smart horse. Durban Blues has been a nice filly. I would like both of them to get a slice of the cake but I would think Natal is the preference.”

He runs Spectrum mare Alina in the second, a 1400m fillies and mares handicap on the polytrack, and this is her favourite course and distance. He said, “She loves the poly and has been very consistent on it. She likes running fresh so I expect a good run from her. Unfortunately she’s not drawn the greatest but she has a lot of gate speed.”

Theseus is first reserve in the eThekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly and he said, “He’s a decent animal and is seven to ten pounds off the top sprinters. He won well and then went a bit off but I was happy with his last run. If he gets in I will think of putting blinkers on and he will have a squeak.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.

Gavin van Zyl has a string of seven and one reserve for Vodacom Durban July day on Saturday, including the Gr 1 contender Redcarpet Captain.

Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain was still below his best when finishing a 2,5 length second to Seventh Plain in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville last time and now jumps from a tough draw of 17 under regular rider S’Manga Khumalo in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. Van Zyl said, “He had a setback before his run in the SA Nursery and didn’t have a lot of time to recover from that, so in the Gold Medallion he wasn’t in the space that he is now. We expect him to be better on Saturday than he has been in any of his runs so far. He has a bad draw, so we need a bit of luck in running, but as far as his physical well-being goes we couldn’t ask for better, we are really upbeat about him.”

Redcarpet Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

The yard runs the talented Jet Master gelding MLJet in the Listed Canon centre Handicap over 1600m from draw eight under Warren Kennedy. He was looking a picture at Summerveld yesterday and Van Zyl said, “In the Daily News he moved right up into contention, but didn’t go through with it. It was a good run in the blinkers and the 1600m will be right down his alley. He’s got a decent draw and on his best form he will be one of the horses to beat. We’re very happy with his preparation.”

Heart Of A Lion runs in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m and Van Zyl said, “He’s run third in his last three stakes races and they were good thirds particularly in his last run in the Lonsdale (2400m) where he flew up from last and was not beaten far. He’s got eleven draw to overcome but Muzi (Yeni) does know him quite well and we expect him to be in the hunt. He is very well in himself and he stays all day.”

MLJet (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sun On Africa runs in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 from draw four under Kennedy and Van Zyl said, “He beat St. Tropez last time and on that form, and on his second to Bezanova, he has the ability. When he picks up his game he can run with the best. He only ran seven lengths back in the Lonsdale (2400m) but went far too fast and Warren Kennedy learnt a lot about him that day. He beat St Tropez next time based on a better pace. If he rides him well he definitely has a chance with a good draw and a light weight.”

In race one over 1400m on the poly the yard run the progressive Fort Wood gelding Down Under as well as Just Ask Me. Van Zyl said, “Down Under is very consistent and has been working very well. He went to Greyville and galloped next to Redcarpet Captain and did very, very nicely. On his best form from draw one he comes into the race with a very good chance. He’s getting better and better. Just Ask me is always thereabouts, we also targeted this race. He had had a break before his last start at Scottsville and seemed to tire. He is better on the poly at Greyville and on his best form he certainly has a quartet chance.”

Se Agabor runs in the second over 1400m on the poly and has also landed a pole position draw. Van Zyl said, “She has been running n some tough company in Johannesburg and has run in two Listed races, one in PE and one on the sand. Then against the colts last time she didn’t appreciate the going, it’s getting a bit firm for her. So it’s a tough field but she’s won on the poly and back on the poly we can expect an improved run.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.

Paul Peter’s comments are always worth listening carefully to as he is one of the most transparent trainers in the country and of his team of five runners on Vodacom Durban July day he regards Miracle Rising as his best.

Judpot filly Miracle Rising ran in a few features while still a maiden, including the Gr 1 Alan Robertson over 1200m, and when stepped up to the 1400m last time at Scottsville she beat a well regarded sort in the Mike de Kock-trained Gain Ground. The latter then franked the form. She is now drawn five in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m. Ian Sturgeon rides. Peter said, “She’s come on so much in work. She had a small niggle when she ran in the Allan Robertson, but she’s improved a lot since she won her maiden and I think at that price she’s definitely worth including in all exotics.”

Mogok Master (Nkosi Hlophe)

Peter’s Mogok colt Mogok Master was most unlucky in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m last time out when his running was taken up when travelling well at the top of the straight, so he is better than his six length fifth suggests. He runs in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m from draw 18 with Sturgeon up and Peter said, “He’s a very nice horse. He is looking for a bit further. He’s come on a lot from that last run and is working exceptionally well, but with that bad draw he can end up in the back end of quartets.”

He runs Mod Barley in the tenth, a Compendium Insurance Brokers MR 104 Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack, and said, “He loves the poly even at work. He’s up in class but he’s a nice horse, he’s quite honest and I think he will run in the placings. Keagan de Melo knows him, he’s worked him, and he’s confident he will be right there.” He is drawn well and Peter confirmed that not only does he have plenty of early speed, but he should stay all the way to the line too as the Vaal 1200m course record holder.

He runs the talented three-year-old Dupont gelding Forest Fox in the Non-Black Type eThekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly from a nice draw and said, “I just feel he doesn’t stay,  he just doesn’t finish his races, over a mile he moves up like a winner and then starts plodding. If he can produce his homework that field will never beat him, but he comes to the races and is a bit of a thief, he tries to get out of it. He was squeezed on the fence last time, but being Forest Fox he looks for any excuse and that was one of them.”

He runs the Just As Well gelding Just Africa in the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m from draw eight and said, “He’s been working exceptionally well since we gelded him, he needed gelding, so put a line through his last run. If he gets the 1300m he will be a big runner, but it’s a 50/50 call whether he will. If it was a 1000m you could have your maximum on him, but I’m worried about 1300. He eats well and we have been able to put the work into him after his gelding. He’s fit.”

By David Thiselton

Lead Picture: Miracle Rising (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.