South Africa / Phumelela / 01 July 2011 /

Nineteen horses are set to go to post for the Vodacom Durban July, Phumelela have the lowdown on all those runners here

1 - Past Master
Trainer Darryl Hodgson's Met hero won the recent 1400m Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville, where Super Storm (7kg better off) was beaten 3.35 lengths with Big City Life (0.5kg better off) 10th. Then never got a blow in behind Dancewiththedevil in the Gold Challenge, but apparently lost his footing on the bend. Ready and well drawn, but big weight and might find 2200m in a true-run race beyond him.
Record: 12 runs; 6 wins; 3 places.

2 - Big City Life
Trainer Glen Kotzen's 2009 Durban July winner has only scored again once since, taking last year's Gold Challenge. Then rested, he has done nothing in three races since his comeback to suggest that he can score a July double and is held by Bravura (2kg better off) on the form of a 1500m race in May. Best to ignore his downfield finish in the Gold Challenge after that, but will need big improvement to shape.
Record: 20 runs; 8 wins; 6 places.

3 - Bravura
Joey Ramsden's gelding won his first five starts, including the Cape Derby, but was later injured and was sidelined for a long time. Has taken time to recover his best form since his return, but has come on the right way in Durban this winter, winning his pipe opener and then going down a long head to Dancewiththedevil in the 1600m Gold Challenge, in which he had several July rivals behind him. Strong chance.
Record: 10 runs; 6 wins; 2 places.

4 - Pierre Jourdan
Hong Kong' s perennial champion Doug Whyte is making a special trip to SA to ride trainer Gary Alexander's star gelding, who has run two promising races in defeat recently, including finishing second to Candy Singer under a big weight in the 1800m Jubilee Handicap recently (Happy Landing was ninth). Yet to win beyond 1800m and has his first run at Greyville, but well drawn and holds a clear chance.
Record: 13 runs; 7 wins; 5 places.

5 - Captain's Wild
One of five runners from the mighty Mike de Kock stable, he was beaten only a neck by Happy Landing (0.5kg worse off) in the 2000m Champions Challenge at Turffontein in April. Failed in the 1600m Gold Challenge after that, but may not have enjoyed the left-hand turn and will much prefer this more testing distance. First run at Greyville and is drawn wide, but could easily run on into a place.
Record: 10 runs; 5 wins; 3 places.

6 - Lion In Winter
Bravura's stable companion, he got into this race on the strength of a fifth behind Past Master (3.5kg worse off) in the J&B Met at Kenilworth in January. Is not well drawn and looks well held by several runners on his two runs in Durban this winter, which include a 4.30-length fifth behind Bravura (1kg worse off) over 1500m at Clairwood. Not ready in either of those races and could improve.
Record: 23 runs; 5 wins; 8 places.

7 - Happy Landing
Joey Soma's runner scored a shock win in the Champions Challenge under a good ride by Muzi Yeni, beating Captain's Wild (0.5kg better off) by a neck with Flirtation (1.5kg better off) third and Bulsara (1kg better off) fifth. Then made no impact when only ninth behind Candy Singer and Pierre Jourdan in the Jubilee Handicap in his next run. Did not shape in his only run at Greyville and is badly drawn. Unlikely.
Record: 20 runs; 5 wins; 8 places.

8 - Vertical Takeoff - Scratched

9 - Igugu (Aus)
Hugely talented, tough three-year-old filly, the general of De Kock's July army. Made history when taking the 2450m SA Oaks in April to become the first winner of the SA Triple Tiara and went on to beat Emerald Cove (2kg better off) by 2.75 lengths in the Woolavington 2000. Up against males for the first time, has a big weight and has had an arduous season, but she's a champion and is a worthy favourite for a master trainer.
Record: 9 runs; 7 wins; 2 places.

10 - Run For It
The preferred Justin Snaith runner, this three-year-old has been campaigning at the highest level and is rarely far back. Third behind Past Master (0.5kg better off) in the Met earlier this year and three fair runs since, including going down a head to contemporary The Apache in the Daily News 2000 early in June. Not well drawn and travels further now, but has a good chance of being in at the finish.
Record: 13 runs; 3 wins; 7 places.

11 - The Apache
Trainer Gavin van Zyl's charge won the Dingaans at Turffontein last year and was then due to go to Hong Kong. But those plans had to be shelved and he has run two good races since returning to action, winning the Daily News 2000 last time out with Run For It close up in second and just ahead of English Garden (third - 0.5kg better off) and Black Wing (fourth - 1kg better off). Handily weighted. Make his presence felt.
Record: 8 runs; 4 wins; 3 places.

12 - Bulsara
The second Van Zyl runner. Has limitations at the highest level, but is handily weighted and has the advantage of No 1 draw. Was not beaten far in either the Champions Challenge (won by Happy Landing who is 1kg worse off) or the Gold Challenge in which Bravura (2.5kg worse off) finished three lengths ahead of him in second. Yet to prove that he is effective at 2000m and beyond and others make more appeal.
Record: 21 runs; 4 wins; 8 places.

13 - English Garden
One of three runners from the powerful Mike Bass stable, he beat Top Seller and Galileo's Destiny (1.5kg better off) to win the 1800m SA Classic at Turffontein in March and ran a good race when a close third behind The Apache (0.5kg worse off) and Run For It (0.5kg worse off) in the Daily News 2000. Better drawn this time and Karl Neisius will be hungry to repeat his win on Flaming Rock in the 1991 July.
Record: 10 runs; 3 wins; 4 places.

14 - Flirtation
Another De Kock runner, she won the Summer Cup last November, beating Mother Russia with Pierre Jourdan (sixth - 3kg better off) and Bulsara (seventh - 2.5kg better off) further back. Has not run since finishing fast for third behind Happy Landing (1.5kg worse off) and stablemate Captain's Wild (1kg worse off) in the Champions Challenge in April and is drawn widest of all. Could place.
Record: 12 runs; 4 wins; 5 places.

15 - Black Wing
Paul Gadsby's runner reeled off four wins in a row from February, the last when beating Lonsdale Stirrup Cup runner-up Esteco over 2000m in April. Then beaten less than a length into fourth place behind The Apache (1kg worse off) in the Daily News 2000, in which Run For It (1kg worse off) and English Garden (0.5kg worse off) were just ahead of him. Toughest test to date but has a touch of class.
Record: 8 runs; 4 wins; 2 places.

16 - Safwan (Aus)
Another De Kock runner, he posted the biggest success of his career to date in May when getting up to share the honours with Golden Chariot in the Greyville 1900, a race that has produced several July winners in the past including Bold Silvano last year. But the field for this year's race seemed substandard plus he has a wide draw and has done little to suggest he can mix it with this class of opposition.
Record: 17 runs; 4 wins; 7 places.

17 - Castlethorpe (Aus)
Bass' three-year-old is arguably the best outsider. This progressive three-year-old was gelded after finishing downfield in the Cape Derby and has run four sound races since, including winning the Winter Guineas in April. Only weakened late to fourth in the Gold Challenge and is 3kg better off with runner-up Bravura and 0.5kg better off with Bulsara (third). Well weighted and well drawn; could shape.
Record: 13 runs; 5 wins; 4 places.

18 - Emerald Cove
The second runner from the Snaith stable, this classy three-year-old beat Flirtation (4kg better off) by 0.75 lengths in the Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth in January and is progressing well this winter. However, she found Igugg 2.75 lengths too good in the recent Woolavington 2000 at Greyville and should again finish behind the favourite from No 13 draw, in spite of being 2kg better off.
Record: 15 runs; 5 wins; 8 places.

19 - Galileo's Destiny (NZ)
De Kock's new acquisition is the best drawn of the stable's runners and has shown he is competitive at the highest level, both against his own age and older horses. Made a promising debut for the stable when staying on to finish a 1.50-length third behind Super Storm (0.5kg better off) in the Cup Trial over 1800m at Clairwood recently and has masses of scope for improvement. Give utmost respect.
Record: 8 runs; 2 wins; 6 places.

20 - Super Storm
Bass' third runner is weighted to beat Past Master (7kg worse off) on the form of the Drill Hall Stakes (his second run after a layoff) and he went on to win the 1800m Cup Trial at Clairwood recently. Showed he is suited to this distance when finishing second in the July Consolation last year and this improving four-year-old could make his presence felt under a light weight from a fair draw.
Record: 20 runs; 5 wins; 7 places.

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