KZN Champion trainer Duncan Howells believes his star filly, Same Jurisdiction, only has the draw to beat in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July day. He has other fair chances on the day too, despite having generally enjoyed no luck with barrier positions.

Same Jurisdiction ran on strongly in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at Greyville last time out, also from a wide draw, to be beaten 0,5 lengths by Garden Province contender Hammie’s Hooker. However, she was carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty compared to Hammie’s 1kg Gr 2 penalty, so she will effectively be 1kg better off on Saturday in this weight for age race. Furthermore, Howells said she had needed that run and had “improved tenfold” since.

He said, “Her workouts have been exceptional and if she overcomes the draw she will win.”

Anton Marcus retains the ride and they jump from draw 14 in a classy field of 15.

Howells’ other Gr 1 contender on the day is the Elusive Fort filly Lauderdale who runs in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m. Last time out over the course and distance she ran one wide in a handy position and found another gear halfway down the straight to fly home and be beaten just 0,35 lengths in the Listed Devon Air Stakes. However, the form of that race is not looking too good at present.

Howells said, “We fancied her to just about win last time (despite 12/1 odds). She is above average and is well in herself but has the draw to overcome.”

Howells has three runners in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m. Crime Victim comes off a facile win over 1950m in a Winter Challenge final at Scottsville. However, he is 0,5kg worse off with Solid Speed from a Greyville 2400m race in which the latter beat him by 2,25 lengths. He was slightly baulked in that race, before staying on strongly so should stay the trip despite his pedigree, suggesting he is not a certainty too. He has the advantage of a pole position draw and S’Manga Khumalo aboard so this resolute galloper could be a big runner.

Howells said, “All three of the runners will see out the trip. Crime Victim is exceptionally well and has improved a lot since his last outing. Beewithmee (drawn 6 Donovan Dillon rides) was a bit disappointing last time but stays well so we are taking our chances and he has improved in his workouts in the last couple of weeks. Roc N’ Rose (draw 13 Warren Kennedy rides) has a nice galloping weight and I think her last couple of races can be ignored due to the very slow pace in both. I think she is crying for this extra distance.”

Howells runs Right Approach three-year-old gelding Easy Lover from draw 11 out of 16 in the Listed Canon Business centre Handicap over 1600m and confirmed that as a horse who likes to find cover he is not the type that is suited to wide draws. He added, “He is well in himself and consistent, so as he is quite well weighted we are taking a chance. He is capable of running in the first four, but the draw could be his undoing. I think he is looking for a bit further now, but he is coming off a break and running fresh so should enjoy the 1600m.”

The yard run the Lateral filly Trini’s Colateral in the Non-Black Type KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m and Howells said, “She’s a nice filly but it’s difficult from the draw. It’s a once off race so we have to take our chances. She will enjoy the extra 100m and if she overcomes the draw she is set to run in the first four.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: Pick 6 starts in Race 4 – estimated pool R12million.

The Tony Rivalland-trained four-year-old More Than Ready gelding Diamond King has always been a classy sort but has had “mechanical problems” chiefly related to muscles. However, according to the yard he has come back a different horse since a two-and-a-half month break on the farm.

He proved this when staying on for a decent 3,1 length sixth in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m last time out, despite being 3,5kg under sufferance with the winner. The yard said he had come out of the race exceptionally well. He is now 1,5kg better off for a 2,25 length beating by Fourth Estate in the Christmas Handicap over course and distance and has the same draw of three from that race.

His best win was over course and distance in the KZN Guineas Trial as a three-year-old and big things were expected of him at that stage. Rivalland’s assistant Terry Fripp said, “He just has to repeat his Christmas Handicap win to be a live runner.” He appeared confident that he would at least reproduce that performance.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Diamond King (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: Pick 6 starts in Race 4 – estimated pool R12million.

The Mike de Kock-trained Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner and Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 runner up Pine Princess appeared to be one of the most backed horses for the July over the weekend.

One on course bookmaker at Greyville commented, “They haven’t stopped coming for her”, although others said they had not been affected by the move.

The filly has shortened with Betting World from 22/1 into 18/1.

The Mike Bass-trained Helderberg Blue and the Sean Tarry-trained Tamaanee also enjoyed support at long odds and both shortened from 50/1 into 40/1.

Joint-second favourites Majmu and Futura both drifted slightly from 4/1 to 9/2.

The Conglomerate, who was a single figure price after his impressive Gr 2 KRA Guineas win, has drifted continuously since then due to support for the like of Legal Eagle and French Navy, and he then landed the widest draw of 20 on Tuesday. He put in one of the most eyecatching gallops at Greyvillle on Thursday, but this didn’t stop him drifting again from 16/1 to 18/1.

Dynastic Power drifted out from 55/1 to 66/1 and Gold Onyx is now the biggest outsider, drifting from 66/1 to 75/1.

The favourite Legal Eagle remains firm at 5/2.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Pine Princess (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: Pick 6 starts in Race 4 – estimated pool R12million.

Tote Betting for the Vodacom Durban July opens today (June 29) and not only are huge pools predicted for all bet types, but the July place bet which pays out on the first six finishers is also a most popular wager.

The predicted pool for the Pick 6 will be R12 million. This is almost matched by the predicted July Quartet pool of R11,5 million, which includes a R1 million carry over.

The Place Accumulator has a predicted pool of R3,6 million.

The first Jackpot has a predicted pool of R2,1 million and the second Jackpot, which has a carry over of R125,000, is expected to have a pool of R1,5 million.

The expected Bipot pool is R700,000.

There are quartet carry overs in both the first and 12^th races and the predicted pools are R1 million and R1,5 million respectively.

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: Pick 6 starts in Race 4 – estimated pool R12million.