2012 Vodacom Durban July

Saksy,

I think JACKSON is as close to a good thing as you can get in a July. He should carry 59kgs, but in terms of the race conditions can only get 57kgs. Obviously this is on the assumption that Pierre Jourdan will stand his ground and will therefore shoulder top weight of 60 kgs.

JACKSON is accordingly 2kgs better off with every other runner who is not under sufferance and I have no doubt that he will start odds-on for the big race.

To me, ENGLISH GARDEN is the biggest danger if something untoward happens with the favourite.

ROBERT BLOOMBERG Wrote:

---

> Hi Justin
>
> Am I correct in saying that you are the same guy
> who spent a short time as a handicapper with the
> NHA?
>
> If you are – and even if you not – I’m
> astounded at your comment that “Castlethorpe
> done nothing to qualify for a race over 2200m.”
>
> Let’s look at a few facts:
>
> 1. Since when is it a rule that you have to
> “qualify” for races over that distance? This
> is not the Olympics!
> 2. How many milers have won the July? Many I will
> tell you and as we dealing with a horse here that
> I have an interest in, how about Dunford that I
> also had a share in who had never raced over the
> trip prior to the July and whom the majority
> thought wouldn’t stay?
> 3. The real question you should be asking is, is
> whether the horse justifies a place in the line-up
> should we choose to run him? It’s not for any
> panel to act as judge and jury and decide whether
> a horse will stay or not?
> 4. With that in mind, let’s take a close look at
> his 2nd place in the Gold Challenge a race that he
> also ran 4th in as a 3yo when forced to make the
> running. I’m sure that even you must agree that
> the true test of a horses’ ability lies in WFA
> races and not in handicaps?
> 5. Yesterday, Variety Club ran off a net rating of
> 113 (MR116 – WFA 3lbs). Castlethorpe gave VC
> 3lbs and was beaten 1,25L which equates to 3lbs.
> Therefore, Castlethorpe ran to a rating of 113.
> This is confirmed by the 3rd horse Pierre Jourdan
> (MR114 beaten 2,25L ) and 4th horse Tales of
> Bravery (MR113 beaten 3L). The chances are
> therefore (unfortunately!) that Castlethorpe will
> be raised 4lb to a MR113.
> 6. This would make Castlethrope the joint 2nd
> highest rated horse in the July and considering
> that Tales of Bravery and Pierre Jourdan were 3rd
> and 4th on the official Vodacom Log before the
> Gold Challenge and that Castlethorpe has beaten
> them both at level weights, how can you honestly
> attempt to justify his exclusion as you appear to
> do?
> 7. The “hot” favourite Jackson is racing off a
> net rating of 112 in the July (MR116 – 4lb WFA
> allowance) so should a 113 not get a run?
> 8. As a point of interest, it is well documented
> that Castlethrope was severely interfered with and
> nearly brought down in last years July finishing
> lame and coughing. Despite this, he produced the
> second fasted 400m to finish and was only beaten
> 5L by Igugu. We battled with his soundness
> thereafter which caused him to miss the entire
> Cape season.
>
> Do I believe that Castlethorpe will stay – yes I
> do – but I could well be wrong. Do I believe
> that he can win – probably not at the weights
> – but either way you cannot tell me that he
> doesn’t deserve a place in the big race. What
> are merit ratings for then?


hi...the horse may stay or it may not...all i said was the horse has done nothing to qualify for a race over 2200...which is fact looking at the form of the horse..if running 2nd in a mile is enough then so be it.

1)i bring the distance factor up only because i seem to remember a horse in the last year or two missing out because of distance questions?? im sure its not a stone cold rule that the horse must be effective over the distance but would shea shea get a run just because his of his MR?

2) dunford never raced over a trip before the july?? didnt dunford run in the PE derby over 2400 as a 3yo? behind central pacific?

3) yes i do think it deserves a place in the final field

4) agreed..his run over the 1600m was top draw

5) we both know ratings can be argued both ways..did VC run to his 116 at a half pace like he did?? maybe so considering that the others ran in order..you yourself on met day said that the 118 the handicappers gave VC ( then net 108) was ludicrous..considering dynasty was only a mr 110 after the july(the population has been raised 3 p since) but now you seem to think a net 113 for VC is correct?? i agree..if not higher he is a top horse..i definately have no objections to castlethorpe being a 113 after that race and he therefore will be the 2nd highest rated in the field..my point is just that its a MR achieved over 1600m and his trips over further didnt warrant anything..i certainly hope for you that he does stay well and runs well in the july..

6) i wouldnt justify his exclusion neccessarily..but i might not feel comfortable leaving him in over a good performer with similar attributes to him in a race over 2200m..for example would i let him run instead of a horse proven over the distance yet under sufferance?? no...would i let him run over a good staying campaigner in form?? probably not..but that is an unlikely situation due to the july field this year..the lack of older horse depth etc etc

7) once again shea shea is higher than jackson that doesnt grant him a run

yes i remember his interference it was unfortunate..he was only 5 lengths behind igugu but the whole field bar the tailed off runners were only 9 lengths apart and he did finish 12th..none the less that run should probably have a line through it..

i dont know what you know regarding the horse..all i as a spectator can use is form etc...and looking at this form he ran past 1600m four times and didnt place once..hopefully all goes well in the race and he stays(being a year older could help) and you get a good run..i wont be swinging on its tail..for me the race is at jackson's mercy..the conditions of the july have bastardised the july as a handicap and has firmly put jackson in the driving seat...from your side of things it would have been better the weights story of the past..he wouldve qualified on the last run and not got the weight penalty!
regards

sorry pirates excuse my inexperience

@robert i see castlethorpe is a Race-7(Turf) R 3,000,000 2200m 0


VODACOM DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
Open to all Horses
WFA: 3yrs-2.0kgs 0 PIERRE JOURDAN (5G) 60.0 114 BA Gary Alexander
0 TALES OF BRAVERY (5G) 59.5 113 A Vaughan Marshall
0 CASTLETHORPE (AUS) (4G) 59.0 112 A Mike Bass
0 BEACH BEAUTY (4F) 58.0 110 A Dennis Drier
0 CHESALON (4G) 58.0 110 A Mike Bass
0 ILSANPIETRO (BRZ) (5G) 57.5 109 CA Mike de Kock
0 SEAL (4G) 57.5 109 BA Gavin van Zyl
0 JACKSON (3C) 57.0 116 A Brett Crawford
0 POLAR BOUND (4G) 57.0 108 A Brett Crawford
0 SMANJEMANJE (5G) 57.0 108 BS Tyrone Zackey
0 ENGLISH GARDEN (4G) 56.5 107 A Mike Bass
0 TOP SELLER (4C) 56.5 107 BA Vaughan Marshall
0 GALANTHUS (5G) 56.0 106 ST Tyrone Zackey
0 GOLD ONYX (NZ) (4G) 56.0 106 AT Sean Tarry
0 LION IN WINTER (5G) 56.0 106 A Joey Ramsden
0 SOLO TRAVELLER (4G) 56.0 106 A Mike de Kock
0 BULSARA (5G) 55.5 105 BA Gavin van Zyl
0 EMPENOSO HENN (ARG (4G) 55.5 105 A Mike de Kock
0 SAGE THRONE (4G) 55.5 105 AT Colin Scott
0 POMODORO (3C) 55.0 108 A Sean Tarry
0 ROYAL BENCHER (3G) 55.0 108 A Alec Laird
0 GALILEO'S DESTINY (4C) 55.0 104 A Mike de Kock
0 JET JAMBOREE (4C) 55.0 104 A Dominic Zaki
0 FLIRTATION (5M) 54.5 103 A Mike de Kock
0 SAFWAN (AUS) (5G) 54.5 103 A Mike de Kock
0 BERRY BLAZE (IRE) (4F) 54.0 102 A Mike de Kock
0 CAPTAIN'S WILD (5G) 54.0 102 S Mike de Kock
0 HOUSE OF WAX (4G) 54.0 102 BA Geoff Woodruff
0 TRIBAL DANCE (3C) 53.5 105 A Vaughan Marshall
0 VETTEL (ARG) (3C) 53.5 105 A Mike de Kock
0 VIVA MARIA (3F) 53.5 105 A Mike de Kock
0 GORONGOSA (IRE) (5M) 53.5 101 BA Mike de Kock
0 ILHA BELA (3F) 53.0 104 A Mike de Kock
0 ZAMBUCCA (3C) 53.0 104 A Saeed Mohideen
0 WHITELINE FEVER (3G) 53.0 103 A Sean Tarry
0 ASTRO NEWS (3G) 53.0 102 A Greg Ennion
0 GOLDEN CHATEAU (AU (3C) 53.0 102 BA Mike de Kock
0 ETON SQUARE (3G) 53.0 101 A Gavin van Zyl
0 BAY ROUTE (5G) 53.0 100 AT Deon Visser
0 PRINCESS OF LIGHT (4F) 53.0 100 A Geoff Woodruff
0 SOUL MASTER (4G) 53.0 100 AT Geoff Woodruff
0 MASTER PLAN (3G) 53.0 99 A Greg Ennion
0 BUY AND SELL (8G) 53.0 97 AT Sean Tarry
0 TAIPAN (3C) 53.0 97 A Dean Kannemeyer
0 RED BARREL (3G) 53.0 96 A Mike de Kock
0 RIGHT BEAUTY (3G) 53.0 94 A Mike de Kock
0 ICE DIAMOND (5G) 53.0 91 A Glen Puller
0 EXTRA COVER (5G) 53.0 87 AT Alec Laird
0 GREY COSSACK (5G) 53.0 84 A Herman Brown/Frank
0 MAIN DANE (AUS) (3G) 53.0 83 A Mike de Kock
112

" They" failed to give Senor Santa a run in the Germiston November Handicap b'cos he never showed that he was a miler.
He egged them in the face when he won at Turffontein over 1600mts, considered toughest mile in the country.
Just for the record!

Terence Millard always said you need a good miler to win the july

Just for the record I make Castlethorpe a serious contender for top honours. He is very good as he has shown quality by being able to sprint and win over ground. I don't believe that there will be a strong pace in the July. Castlethorpe a definite contender.

If vettel and or viva maria make it into the main race, I think the pace will be on, if I am correct both are strong front runners.

Just info on all July winners to date

Year Horse Jockey Trainer

2011 Igugu A. Delpech Mike de Kock
2010 Bold Silvano A. Delpech Mike de Kock
2009 Big City Life G Cheyne Glen Kotzen
2008 Pocket Power/ Dancers Daughter Bernard Fayd'herbe/ Kevin Shea Mike W. Bass/J S. Snaith
2007 Hunting Tower Anton Marcus Charles S. Laird
2006 Eye Of The Tiger(BRZ) G Schlechter Dean Kannemeyer
2005 Dunford A.Marcus M.Bass
2004 Greys Inn A. Delpech M de Kock
2003 Dynasty R Fradd D Kannemeyer
2002 Ipi Tombe K Shea M de Kock
2001 Trademark P Strydom M Bass
2000 El Picha A Marcus GV Woodruff
1999 El Picha R Hill GV Woodruff
1998 Classic Flag A Delpech DE Ferraris
1997 Super Quality M Roberts DE Ferraris
1996 London News P Strydom AG Laird
1995 Teal J Geroudis PB Shaw
1994 Space Walk R Fradd MH Maingard
1993 Dancing Duel A Marcus AT Millard
1992 Spanish Galliard R Sham DR Drier
1991 Flaming Rock K Niesius RC Snaith
1990 ILustrador F Coetzee TM Millard
1989 Right Prerogative M Sutherland TM Millard
1988 Royal Chalice F Coetzee TM Millard
1987 Bush Telegraph G Puller B Abercrombie
1986 Occult B Leisher TM Millard
1985 Gondolier W Harvey MP Antelme
1984 Devon Air F Coetzee TM Millard
1983 Tecla Bluff M Sutherland TM Millard
1982 Jamaican Rumba P Wynne G Thompson
1981 Big Charles J Anderson LF Naude
1980 Beau Art F Macaskill J Nicholson
1979 Over The Air G Puller P Kannemeyer
1978 Politician B Hayden SC Laird

I have heard from a very good source that Diane de Kock thinks IB has the beating of Jackson

i've also heard the mary slack has told de kock that she is not keen on her horses running in the july...and even if it had a 1/2 chanceit must be scratched...so i guess it has a full chance...'cos its still there

Do I understand correctly from the other clansmen that Jackson would not be weighted more than 57kg if only at least one runner mentioned below stands his ground?

Or, conversely, if all seven runners mentioned below were to be withdrawn, only then would Jackson be weighted 60kg?

VODACOM DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)

0 PIERRE JOURDAN (5G) 60.0 114 BA Gary Alexander
0 TALES OF BRAVERY (5G) 59.5 113 A Vaughan Marshall
0 CASTLETHORPE (AUS) (4G) 59.0 112 A Mike Bass
0 BEACH BEAUTY (4F) 58.0 110 A Dennis Drier
0 CHESALON (4G) 58.0 110 A Mike Bass
0 ILSANPIETRO (BRZ) (5G) 57.5 109 CA Mike de Kock
0 SEAL (4G) 57.5 109 BA Gavin van Zyl
0 JACKSON (3C) 57.0 116 A Brett Crawford