TRAVELLING WELL TO THE “JULY”

TRAVELLING WELL TO THE “JULY”

Richard McMillan



For many years owner-breeder Mike Rattray has dreamed of winning the Vodacom Durban July and was convinced he would need a top three-year-old to do it.



He has had his chances in the past but at last his dream is beginning to show strong signs of becoming reality. For one of the stalwarts of South African racing and former chairman of the Durban Turf Club who has invested millions of rands in the sport of kings, his Lammerskraal Stud-bred Western Winter gelding Solo Traveller has given notice that he is a true contender for the country’s premier event.



Solo Traveller, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden superbly by Bernard Fayd’Herbe who was specifically flown out from Hong Kong by Mr Rattray for the race, stormed to a comfortable victory in the R500 000, Grade 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville Racecourse on Friday night. This was his second Guineas win of the season having won the Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas at Kenilworth in December beating stable companion Run For It by a quarter of a length.



But as emphatic as his victory was, there will be doubts in the hearts of many after his two main rivals, his stable companion Run For It and the Mike de Kock-trained Link Man, were bundled out of contention at about the 300m mark when both were mounting their challenges from behind. They were nearly brought down when the Australian-bred gelding from the Joey Ramsden stable Ridethebreeze suddenly ducked sharply outwards colliding with them and other horses.



Snaith commented in the post-race interview that it was a miracle that no jockeys were brought down in the incident but said that even without it, he doubted whether either would have beaten Solo Traveller on the night. He said the gelding would be aimed at either the Daily News 2000 or the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on his way into the Vodacom Durban July.



Second home was the Australian-import Elusive River from the Charles Laird stable who tried the mile for the first time and ran on strongly ahead of the Dennis Drier-trained Phantom Fighter and the Dingaans winner The Apache who was having his first race since winning the big Gauteng feature.

Still 25/1 with WSB.

won`t stay

The price or the horse....................lol

his other horse in the race got a better chance of winning

Castlethorpe (AUS) after the Winter Guineas at Kenilworth
Trainer Mike Bass remained confident that his charge would come into his own once gelded and that is exactly
what has transpired, with the Australian-bred having now recorded two consecutive wins since the operation.

Castlethorpe for the July

Still remember how S Comack misjudged the winning post a few years ago in those colours 2 finish close 3rd!