Durban July log

Replay of Futura's win

Thanks Bob

Was on course. Horse looks a million bucks! Noticed turf bias on the outside last 200/300. Many have flown up late. Futura given confident ride, did enough to win. Dont think Cormack saw Marcus flying up late. my eyes horse won easy (hands and heels) 4/1 for July still looks value.

Oh and they went a crawl again. Don't think they could of gone any slower. hopefully the DN 2000 & wool will be a true run race

I agree it was an excellent prep - and put my money where my mouth is taking 4/1 this morning - surely will start much shorter. Also I am not keen on Majmu - beaten easily by Wyllie Hall (unless there were excuses that I am not aware of) and will be worse off at the weights with WH (if going strictly on the weights and not taking into account the difference in WFA allowance) in the July

Only worry is why the bookies seem so generous ?

On the MDK website, interview with Angus Gold, he said the end goal for Sheikh Hamdan's horses are Dubai, I think Majmu is on her way, I don't think they'll wait as long as they did with Igugu..

Gilz17 wrote: On the MDK website, interview with Angus Gold, he said the end goal for Sheikh Hamdan's horses are Dubai, I think Majmu is on her way, I don't think they'll wait as long as they did with Igugu..

They never the last 2 years, horses went into quarantine a few weeks before

But I'm hearing stories MDK hating sending them to Dubai this way more and more

After watching Futura I'm leaning more and more towards finding a high priced place horse as I'm not sure what will beat him - If WH holds form then that's two out of the 4 places potentially gone - If Legislate runs then possibly 3 so hoping for the best from French Navy but not too confident

Most years I try and remind myself that the July is just another MR handicap to prevent silly bets :lol:

Just looking through the entries,I have filtered out a number of runners (although plenty will disagree!)

a) one of the keys for me is Legislate.I think that one yr older and more mature he would beat everything he beat last year, IF he runs and is at best ???
b) Majmu ,if she runs takes any other filly out the race at the compressed wghts ,IMO
c) The rest of my shortlist depends on trying to solve the 3 yr old colt puzzle. If Ertijaal had not "disappointed" in its 2 runs back from Cape Town ,it would be the shortest in the betting. For my own reasons I am ignoring those runs ,but will add Legal Eagle to that list, "just in case".

So,if Legislate runs well in the Gold Challenge I think he will run and at least I have reduced my dilemma to 4 :woohoo:

My one headscratcher is The Conglomerate ..................with nothing to go on other than gut feel ,I have been more impressed by Legal Eagle ,but if ,as has been suggested ,Anton elects TC then that has to get huge respect!

Only worry is distance for legal eagle imo. I think he's going to be mowing them all down late and if he draws well who knows how good he really is.

rob faux wrote: Most years I try and remind myself that the July is just another MR handicap to prevent silly bets :lol:

Just looking through the entries,I have filtered out a number of runners (although plenty will disagree!)

a) one of the keys for me is Legislate.I think that one yr older and more mature he would beat everything he beat last year, IF he runs and is at best ???
b) Majmu ,if she runs takes any other filly out the race at the compressed wghts ,IMO
c) The rest of my shortlist depends on trying to solve the 3 yr old colt puzzle. If Ertijaal had not "disappointed" in its 2 runs back from Cape Town ,it would be the shortest in the betting. For my own reasons I am ignoring those runs ,but will add Legal Eagle to that list, "just in case".

So,if Legislate runs well in the Gold Challenge I think he will run and at least I have reduced my dilemma to 4 :woohoo:

My one headscratcher is The Conglomerate ..................with nothing to go on other than gut feel ,I have been more impressed by Legal Eagle ,but if ,as has been suggested ,Anton elects TC then that has to get huge respect!

I mostly agree ......

Legislate - who knows - but if you believe that he will run 'well' in the Gold Challenge and then go on to run in the July, then (as I'm sure you have already done), the time to back him is now - or at least before the Gold Challenge; myself I'm not so sure - the fact that the trainer indicated that he is not 'certain to run' in the July (as opposed to him saying that 'they' should start shortening Futura for the July) makes me take a 'look and see approach' with Legislate

Majmu - For me, more or less the same applies as with Legislate - there must be doubts on whether she will still be in the country come the July, and anyway I'm not so sure she could beat Wyllie Hall on their last meeting - so basically a 'double doubtful'

Pine Princess / Siren's Call - I don't think either of them will be suited by Greyville - so not for me; still interested to see if Alexis get supplemented should she manage to win the Woolavington

Legal Eagle / The Conglomerate / French Navy / Ertijaal - the 3yr old males really confuse me - why is Legal Eagle not nominated for the Daily News (but French Navy is) - is it because the owners believe (influenced by Superman) that The Conglomerate is the better horse, or does the trainer have other plans with LE I have already backed LE, as I believe (like you without any real reason) that LE is better than The Conglomerate. For me, Ertijaal has had his chances and was solidly beaten by LE and French Navy (maybe a little suspect over more than 1800?) in the Derby - Ertij not for me

Then there are a few of the older brigade who could strictly at the weights trouble Futura (it as a handicap after all, as you say); Tellina (last run probably best ignored due to the 'virus' issues in the stable), but I suspect he may have to run well somewhere to make the final field; Cagiva - would be a little out at the weights (and he really needs to impress the selection panel somewhere as he is not in the top 25 at present), but if he does get in by some miracle, he should be weighted to turn the tables on Wyllie Hall; finally Gold Onyx - in his favor is that the is currently in the Top 20 (12th I think) on the log, and he likes Greyville - not sure what the plans are with him - at current odds I am still undecided if I should stick something on him for a place at least :dry:

@ Rob, the problem with the visiting horses being aimed at the July, if they miss a prep run, it puts so much pressure on the horse to be at it's optimum come the July. I am not saying Legislate cannot win the July after the set back in the Drill Hall (that would be extremely foolish), but we have seen over the years, two that spring to mind, Pocket Power, I think missed a prep race due to a hoof problem, and last year, Futura, the prep race may have been abandoned due to the weather (open to correction on this though). Admittedly a horse like Wylie Hall has proven he does not need prep runs, just gets on with it as if he was never away from the track, not my fancy to win the July.

Going to agree with the Futura camp, if his prep goes as planned, he is the one they all have to beat.

Someone posted the top 6 or 10 rated horses worldwide, and Futura made the list, that's good enough for me.