July day

The Bass table enjoy the "cousin"

Yeah, Dave. The winters in Durban are horrific. Worse than Moscow's. Lol.

Irish Flame tops De Kock seven in Durban July
Preview: South Africa, Saturday 3.20pm BST

Greyville: Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1 hcap) 1m3f, turf, 3yo+

MIKE DE KOCK and Mike Bass dominate the Vodacom Durban July at Greyville on Saturday, when they are responsible for 11 of the 20 runners in South Africa's greatest race, including the first five in the market.

Victor Chandler, betting from South Africa for the first time, goes 9-10 de Kock's stable, 2-1 Bass - and 7-2 any other trainer for the Grade 1 event, highlight of a fantastic card at Greyville on the final day of the South African 2009-10 season.

De Kock's septet are headed by South African Derby winner Irish Flame (Kevin Shea) and Bold Silvano (Anthony Delpech).

This pair are closely handicapped on Daily News form but de Kock, bidding for his third July win, reckons all but one of the seven have chances.

He said: "They have all done what I wanted them to do. Irish Flame has had a great prep although he has a huge task at the weights. With a fresh strip of ground for the race, things could be in favour of a lowly drawn horse like Bold Silvano.

"Ancestral Fore (Karl Neisius) has a lot of speed and, if there is a good clip, he is going to be all over them at the end. The outside draw is a hindrance for Lizarre (Piere Strydom) but he is a huge runner at the weights.

"Happy Valley (Muzi Yeni) is not without a chance," he added. "Red Rake (Ian Sturgeon) is a horse with a hell of a lot of ability although going right-handed is probably not in his favour but Rudra (Johnny Geroudis) has been buried by the handicapper."

Top weight Pocket Power (Bernard Fayd'herbe) and J & B Met winner River Jetez (Jeff Lloyd) head the Bass team.

Bass, who has won three of the last nine runnings, said: "Pocket Power is drawn badly but he did an awesome gallop last week and is back to his best.

"Love Is In The Air (Gavin Lerena) has come good at the right time. Fort Vogue (Anton Marcus) is laidback and lazy so we are putting blinkers on. If things go River Jetez's way, she is in with a shout."

Also on Saturday

Greyville: Durban Thekwini Stakes (Grade 1) 1m, turf, 2yo fillies (1.35pm BST)

The ante-post market points to Happy Archer (Sean Tarry/Anton Marcus), who has won her last two in good style, but Fragrant Al (Justin Snaith/Felix Coetzee) has the graded-race form, beating all except the potentially high class Mahbooba in the Golden Slipper last time.

However, Paul Lafferty believes he has a great chance of recording his first Grade 1 win with Legal Account (Piere Strydom) who has a length and three-quarters to find with Fragrant Al.

He said: "Last time she had a shocking draw, the trip will be right up her street and I think she is the one they all have to beat."

Greyville: Premier's Champion Stakes (Grade 1) 1m, turf, 2yo (2.20pm BST)

This could develop into a rematch between Kavanagh (Mike de Kock/Kevin Shea) and Copper Parade (Joey Ramsden/Piere Strydom).

The pair were separated by only a short head over nearly a furlong less in the Golden Horseshoe last time with Copper Parade getting the race in the stewards' room.

The bookmakers seem to think Kavanagh will come out on top - he is marginally odds-on with some of them - but he has proved expensive to follow and Copper Parade showed significant improvement in his last run.

De Kock's other runners include Perana (Anthony Delpech), who romped home seven lengths clear over this trip at Clairwood last month.

Greyville: Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) 1m, turf, 3yo+ f/m (5.35pm BST)

Lady Windermere (Glen Kotzen/Greg Cheyne) caught Sparkling Gem (Justin Snaith/Richard Fourie) almost on the line a year ago but neither filly looks as good this term.

The consistent Prestic (Gavin van Zyl/Aldo Domeyer), a close-up third in last year's race, has better recent form as does Captain's Gal (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom), although the latter's 15 draw is causing her trainer some concern.

Tarry said: "If she was drawn one I would say ‘race over' but I'm very worried about her wide draw. We have to decide whether tojump and go, or drop her out and come with a run."

southpaw Wrote:

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> that Fourie's place looks brilliant, compare that
> to the local Ladbrokes and Billy Hills here! :


If your ever in Edinburgh,pop in to our place and i will stick a hotdog in the Micro for you Alan...

oops, wrong list

Well am up all excited(

JAMES GOODMAN PODCAST

Good morning all and the big day has arrived the weather great and the place is buzzing have a superb July (tu)

Good Morning All

Yes Scotia, looking out my window and into the ocean, the weather is "Brucking Filliant". Its going to be a fantastic day. All the best to everyone and wherever you are, break a leg...................-D.

Going to be one hell of a party........ GO FORT VOGUE

Looking foreward to the post mortem post......

BTW....... TIMEOFRECKONING scratched in the first race.... Sport Coach must now be a sitter....

Cheers
Anthony G

gooooood morning all ..... I is envious of all who are going to be at the course today... 26 degrees balmy Durban day ( ....

scotia Wrote:

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> He'll mrs s driving it says ngong 5 klms


She must have taken a sho't left

Morning everyone,
I see the pools are growing nicely already!
I have a few multiple bets on today, include sports coach. I see this morning Sports Coach is scratched!!
What happens to those bets now? Will that leg of the bet just be excluded??