VODACOM DURBAN JULY LOG @ 6 JUNE 2011

run for it's rating has been dropped by 2 , he and the apacge will carry the same weght as igugu!

I see Vertical Takeoff has been supplemented. I don't see him repeating that run again especially with an 8 pound penalty. The top 3 year olds all look to be carrying around 55 kg's. Galileo's Destiny could come in to the race with a very handy 53 kg's.

VODACOM DURBAN JULY (VDJ) 3,000,000
(Grade 1)
It is an express condition of this race that the Company reserves the right to exclude any horse, which, in its
opinion, does not warrant inclusion in the race. In addition, the Company shall have the right to exclude any
horse at Final Declaration Stage, and to decide on the final field for the race.
Weights shall be framed by the handicapper in his sole discretion and without necessarily having regard for
horses’ merit ratings, but subject to the following:
1. The weights to be carried shall not exceed 60kg and shall not be less than 52kg.
2. Minimum weight for 4-year-olds and older: Colts and Geldings 53kg Fillies and Mares 52kg
Maximum weight for 4-year and older
at publication of weights: Colts and Geldings 60kg Fillies and Mares 59kg
3. Minimum weight for 3-year-olds: Colts and Geldings 53kg Fillies 52kg
Maximum weight for 3-year-olds
at publication of weights: Colts and Geldings 57kg Fillies and Mares 56kg
4. No penalties shall be incurred after the publication of weights.
5. Notwithstanding 2 and 3 above, the handicapper will raise all weights proportionately to 60kg. should the top
weight originally allotted be less than 60kg at final declaration.
VDJ LOG: Handicappers in consultation with the Company will publish a log of the entries. The log will reflect all the
horses, in order of preference, as to the make up of the final field at the time of publication. Factors used will include
the horses current MeritRating, its current racing form and competitiveness in the Graded and Listed stakes
programme over the past year
Entries: Entries, which must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of R6840 for each horse
entered, close at 11:00 on Wednesday, 13 April.
First Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 10 May – R11 970 (R9 576 non-refundable)
Final Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Monday, 6 June – R23 940 (R19 152 non-refundable)
Weights Published: Tuesday, 7 June
First Declaration: 11:00 Thursday, 9 June – R13 680 (of which R4 788 is non-refundable).
Final Declaration: Final Declarations closes 11:00 Tuesday, 14 June – R13 680
(Refunded if not selected to run).
Final Field And Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws for the Field of 20 horses will take
place on Wednesday, 15 June
Elimination: 20 horses will be carded for this event. Elimination will be at the sole and unfettered
discretion of the Company.
No sponsorship or branding of any sort other than that of raceday sponsors as
agreed by the Company in terms of Racing Operators Conditions 18.2, 18.3 & 18.4
will be permitted. It shall be a condition of acceptance that all riders engaged in the VDJ,
wear sponsor's branding on their breeches.
Public Gallops: It shall be a condition of acceptance that all runners participate in public gallops
scheduled for Thursday, 23 June, failing which, the horse may be declared ineligible
to run in the VDJ. In the event of exceptional unforseen circumstances, the Company
may in its sole discretion preclude a horse/s from this condition. Further, the Company
reserves the right in its sole discretion to allow a horse stabled out of province on the day
of the gallops to work out at a race meeting in the province where stabled prior to 23 June

I'm glad I do not have to select the final field - some people are going to be very unhappy come 15 June; it seems that the panel putting together the log, is trying to ensure that horses that stay have higher positions on the log than others with higher ratings who seem unlikely to stay or have not yet proved that they stay, I think that's the right way to go - but I'm sure the connections of Solo Traveller will have a different view.

Nobody will agree 100% on the log positions and for me the questionable ones are Dancewiththedevil - she was hammered by both Happy Landing and Captain's Wild over the Turffontein 2000, so it's hard for me to understand why she is higher on the log than both of those, and then I think Pierre Jourdan should be higher - yes he was slammed in the SA Derby last year by Irish Flame but he had some classy horses behind him that day and then ran a fair race in the Summer Cup last year with top weight and has the same MR (110) as Bravura who is 2nd on the list?

I think it's going to be a fantastic race this year(tu)

Safwan in Solotraveller not in yet????????

I always find this update as "gripping stuff"

whoever put this log together i hope do not choose the final field

Castlethorpe must make the field with a decent run tomorrow

Does anyone know what time the final field will be announced today?

Hong Kong champion jockey Dougie Whyte to partner Pierre Jourdan

Hong Kong champion jockey Dougie Whyte is to fly to South Africa to partner star Gauteng runner Pierre Jourdan in the R3-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July at Greyville in Durban on July 2.

This was revealed today when final declarations for the country’s premier event were made and Whyte was declared by the Gary Alexander stable as the rider of their star performer.

Dean Alexander confirmed on 14 June 2011 that negotiations with Whyte had been ongoing for some time and after two exploratory visits to the Alexander stable to assess the ability of Pierre Jourdan, Whyte had agreed to take the ride.

“Our association with Dougie goes back a long way as he was apprenticed with the yard. He came out about eight weeks ago and again more recently and rode Pierre Jourdan in a gallop. He was happy with the horse and accepted the ride.

“Pierre Jourdan is a good horse and we wanted to give him the best possible chance in the race. We will cover all Dougie’s expenses but do not yet know when he will arrive. Dougie has to arrange this with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.”

Pierre Jourdan is one of the highest-rated runners in the Vodacom Durban July field and is certain to be one of the 20 when the final field is announced at a function at Greyville on 15 June 2011.

Will have official press release soon, but early post from TV final field and draw

PAST MASTER 7
BIG CITY LIFE 2
BRAVURA 11
PIERRE JOURDAN 4
CAPTAINS WILD 18
LION IN WINTER 16
HAPPY LANDING 17
VERTICAL TAKEOFF 15
IGUGU 10
RUN FOR IT 14
THE APACHE 6
BULSARA 1
ENGLISH GARDEN 5
FLIRTATION 20
BLACK WING 12
SAFWAN 19
CASTLETHORPE 3
EMERALD COVE 13
GALILEOS DESTINY 8
SUPER STORM 9