The Conglomerate a July contender?

A lively Vodacom Durban July contender for the powerful Markus and Ingrid Jooste stable emerged at Greyville in Durban on Saturday when the three-year-old Australian-bred colt The Conglomerate ran out a comfortable winner of the R600 000, Grade 2 KRA Guineas.



The Conglomerate


Trained by Joey Ramsden and ridden superbly by Anton Marcus, the son of Australian stallion Lonhro powered home over a trip short of his best displaying a level of class that will certainly have the pundits taking a closer look at him. He was the lesser fancied of the Ramsden stable with Kingvoldt considered one of the runners to beat after the scratching of Harry’s Son, but the Western Winter colt threw in the towel early in the straight after racing quite handy early.



Riff Raff and Amazing Strike set a cracking gallop at the head of the field but were quickly overtaken in the straight by Mac De Lago, that made his run down the inside, and The Conglomerate with the latter coming into his own after the strong early pace and storming through to win by two lengths. Anjaal, that had started favourite, kept on for fourth place behind Light The Lights from the Glen Kotzen stable.



Marcus completed the feature double when he steered the six-year-old Silvano gelding Ice Machine to a comfortable victory in the R350 000, Grade 2 The Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1 400m. Having his second run after a break of nearly a year, Ice Machine was produced in tip-top condition by trainer Charles Laird to produce the sort of ability it had always been known that he had and which he showed when winning the Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth more than a year ago.



The gelding had suffered with soundness problems throughout his career and if staying sound could be aimed at the Rising Sun Gold Challenge.



Ice Machine

The favourite for the race, last year’s Daily News 2000 and Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate, was withdrawn at the start after getting his hind leg caught in the rear gate of the starting stalls. He had kicked out in the pens and his leg burst through the gates where it was trapped for a while before being released. The colt was examined by the vet who found some abrasions on the leg and felt that as the champion appeared a little gingery on the leg and was withdrawn from the race as a matter of precaution.



However, as trainer Justin Snaith had warned in pre-race interviews that the colt was not fully fit, it is debateable whether he could have matched the finishing burst produced by Ice Machine.



The Alec Laird coupling of Chekilli and Bouclette Top set the early pace with Ice Machine and the fancied Ashton Park at the back of the field. The Laird coupling fought on gamely in the straight but Ice Machine produced a tremendous finishing burst to collar Bouclette Top that had looked on course for victory.



Ashton Park ran on well from the back as well to snatch third place from Chekilli.



Champion stallion Dynasty continues to produce outstanding progeny and his three-year-old daughter Alexis from the Brett Crawford stable beat the Cape champion Inara by a comfortable two lengths to win the R300 000, Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas. She had been relatively easy to back at 13-2 but under a perfect ride by stable jockey Corne Orffer she produced an effort considerably better than her rating and gave notice that in spite of her size, she could have an even brighter future.



Alexis

The Mike de Kock-trained Araab had set the pace ahead of Cathay Pacific and Zante with the fancied runners Inara and Trophy Wife at the back of the field and Alexis settled nicely midfield. Inara and Alexis made their move together at the top of the straight but as Inara appeared a little one-paced, Alexis unleashed a strong finish that took her clear to win by two lengths. Ataab stayed on for third ahead of her stable companion One Fine Day with the highly-rated Trophy Wife never a factor in the race.

all pictures supplied by John Lewis/goldcircle
Article by Richard McMillian goldcircle

I read that the speculation is that Marcus will choose to ride The Conglomerate.......................won't please Legal Eagle's followers

Rob the reason i thought Legal Eagle was worth a risk was because of the fitness doubt and participation probabilites of the top ten in the antepost..

The July trip is probably too sharp for the Eagle, but least we know he gets the trip?

Bob Brogan wrote: Rob the reason i thought Legal Eagle was worth a risk was because of the fitness doubt and participation probabilites of the top ten in the antepost..

The July trip is probably too sharp for the Eagle, but least we know he gets the trip?

I think both are distance suited,but I would also guess that The C gave him a better feel than the Eagle!............which surprises me ..................as an observer ,I perceived the Eagle to be more impressive!

I'm going to say that if I had to back a 3yr old colt it would be Ertijaal or Deputy Jud who are both 106 - If one of the top fillies run then they could well beat any of the colts

mr hawaii wrote: I'm going to say that if I had to back a 3yr old colt it would be Ertijaal or Deputy Jud who are both 106 - If one of the top fillies run then they could well beat any of the colts

Agree ,and wouldn't look past Ertijaal in good going ,unless it was for the filly (Majmu)

Will wait to see 3yr old weights though ..................I think they may be overrated in the July???!!

rob faux wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Rob the reason i thought Legal Eagle was worth a risk was because of the fitness doubt and participation probabilites of the top ten in the antepost..

The July trip is probably too sharp for the Eagle, but least we know he gets the trip?

I think both are distance suited,but I would also guess that The C gave him a better feel than the Eagle!............which surprises me ..................as an observer ,I perceived the Eagle to be more impressive!

Do we assume Anton has also chosen The Connglomerate over Act Of War? Talk about the Jooste July...

Mac wrote:

rob faux wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Rob the reason i thought Legal Eagle was worth a risk was because of the fitness doubt and participation probabilites of the top ten in the antepost..

The July trip is probably too sharp for the Eagle, but least we know he gets the trip?

I think both are distance suited,but I would also guess that The C gave him a better feel than the Eagle!............which surprises me ..................as an observer ,I perceived the Eagle to be more impressive!

Do we assume Anton has also chosen The Connglomerate over Act Of War? Talk about the Jooste July...

Ha, not nominated.

As Rob says, the weights will be interesting - for now I make Legal Eagle the 'better' horse - will be interesting to see if Alexis gets supplemented - as far as I can see Brett Crawford only has de Kock nominated - and he must be doubtful to get in ?

Alexis ? i always thought of her as a sprint/miler

All of the above horses will not get close to the likes of futrura wyliehall or legislate if he runs.

mr p wrote: All of the above horses will not get close to the likes of futrura wyliehall or legislate if he runs.

It's a handicap remember