WHATS YOUR FANCY FOR THE JULY

Is it Mr Bones Al?

No his sister (lol)

If you believe in omens then you have to try this one for size.

04 July American day of independence. The nearest we can get colour and style wise on the silks has to be Thandolwami. Almost an American flag for silks.

I'm off to a funeral - will continue the banter later on.

Wet saturday predicted....... Should throw up some surprises!!!!

dev2.weathersa.co.za/Weather.asp?Dte=Tod...pe=5&fpgid=7day68588

Only predicting 1mm on Friday and 6mm on Saturday. Not exactly swimming

For a South African jockey, a ride in the Vodacom Durban July is akin to running out at Wembley in an FA Cup final or walking on to centre court on the final day of Wimbledon - it’s an opportunity to win one of the greatest prizes your sport offers in an arena that makes dreams come true.



Greyville Racecourse is their arena and Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July is the greatest prize in their trade.



It took the great Michael Roberts sixteen tries before his dream came true and there are many champion jockeys of past and present that have yet to win a July, most notably Jeff Lloyd. Once they do win the big one, it’s often their first July ride that they reflect upon with great fondness.



This year’s July sees four of the twenty jockeys getting their first opportunities in the big one.



Derryl Daniels, Karis Teetan, Muzi Yeni and Brian Nyawo all get their first crack at the dream win on Saturday.



Daniels, who rides 66-1 shot London Guest, gets his first chance after 16 years of riding and it represents a pinnacle in his career for his proud parents. “For my mother and father, all they ever wanted was to see me riding in a July. They’ve always been supportive of my career choice,” said the Jo’burg boy who moved to Durban five years ago.



The journeyman Daniels has ridden at big racing arenas in several other countries but is looking forward in particular to July day. “There’s no pressure from the yard or the owners so I’m relaxed so far. But I’m looking forward to the excitement of the day.”



“I’ve talked to other jockeys like Johnny (Geroudis) and Anton (Marcus) to get a better idea of what to expect in the race. I can’t wait.”



London Guest was shortened into 66-1 from 100-1 soon after the July final field was announced.



On the other end of the spectrum is the young apprentice Karis Teetan who gets his first July ride, aboard 66-1 shot Cape Town, in just his third year of competitive riding.



Teetan, a native of Mauritius, is currently leading the apprentice title race. The relaxed islander does not seem phased by the big occasion although he did say that he “expects the nerves to kick in on the day.”



Teetan did point out though that being stable jockey to ex-rider Gavin van Zyl’s yard had it’s benefits on these big occasions.



“I’ll be listening closely to Van Zyl’s advice at race time,” he said.



Teetan’s father is flying in from Mauritius to watch him ride in the big race.



Then there are two buddies who make their July debuts on Saturday. Muzi Yeni and Brian Nyawo have been friends for several years now and often stay over at each others places when taking rides away from home.



Yeni rides 100-1 long shot Thundering Jet and Nyawo will be aboard the Champions Challenge winner and 16-1 shot, Smart Banker.



Yeni was a year ahead in the academy and although he has only been riding competitively for five years, he projects the confidence of a seasoned veteran. “This is where I should be, where I belong – I’m looking forward to it.



“I don’t feel much pressure as I’m not on a fancied runner. If anything, I’ll be looking to exceed expectations.”



“Thundering Jet put up a good gallop and ran a good race at the weights last time out. I’m hoping he can improve on that in the big one.”



Yeni, a Durban boy through-and-through, says that his family and friends are excited about his first ride in the July and that several of them will be there on the day to urge him on.



His close friend Brian Nyawo is just completing his third year out of his apprenticeship yet trainer Charles Laird has felt comfortable affording the youngster the responsibility of riding one of the stables most prized performers this season, Champions Challenge winner Smart Banker.



Nyawo pointed out though that he is “two-for-two on Smart Banker” and knows the four-year-old multiple grade one winner very well. He jumped off the gelding on Tuesday after a gallop with great enthusiasm and said, “He is very fit, as ready as he was for his last two Grade I wins. His pipe-opener at Greyville has brought him on and he’s put up two strong gallops since. He’ll have his final sprint up on Thursday.”



Nyawo has just the one ride on July day and said that he will have plenty of time to ponder what he describes as “a dream come true for me.”



Nyawo said, “I’ve always dreamt of this opportunity. Seeing Robbie Fradd bring home Dynasty from the widest of draws inspired me then and continues to replay in my mind. I hope that I can emulate the ride on Saturday.”



Nyawo has advice from the likes of Geroudis, Marcus, Laird and his riding master Robert Moore at his disposal in the build-up to the big one and says that he will continue to tune in as the big day draws closer. Nyawo will also have his proud Mum on hand for the big occasion.



Like his fellow debutantes, Nyawo expects the nerves to kick in on the day. But between the expert advice from more experienced colleagues, the Dynasty ride replaying in his mind, a smart horse under him and his Mum shouting him home, Nyawo appears to have all the bases covered and should make the best of his dream ride.









Gill Simpkins
Public Relations Manager

Mike de Kock believes that the Vodacom Durban July will be fought out by the top six in the betting and reckoned “the rest will live hoping and probably die hoping.”



De Kock has three three-year-olds in the race and none of them are in the top six in the betting.



De Kock said all three of them were very well but lamented his bad luck with the draws.



Zirconeum, a Jallad filly, is drawn 19 and will be ridden by Anthony Delpech.



Bouquet-Garni, a Strike Smartly gelding out of a Fort Wood mare, is drawn 14 and will be ridden by MJ Byleveld.



Forest Path, a Fort Wood gelding, is drawn 20 and will be ridden by Warren Kennedy.



Interestingly, all three of De Kock’s charges are Grade 1 winners.



There are only six other Grade 1 winners in the field of 20, Pocket Power, Our Giant, Buy And Sell, Smart Banker, Big City Life and Outcome.



His charges’ Grade 1 status would normally be enough for them to be in with a good chance but all three, even without their draws, have question marks over their heads and are consequently 40-1, 40-1 and 50-1 in the betting respectively.



De Kock rated Zirconeum as probably his best chance.



The question marks about her are that she is firstly 1kg under sufferance on merit rated terms and secondly has a stamina doubt over her head.
She quickened very well in the Champions Challenge but was run out of the placings late on to finish fifth, two lengths behind Smart Banker. The run suggested she hadn’t stayed the tough Turffontein 2000m.



She meets Smart Banker on 4kg worse terms in the July, although the weight for age scale has risen 2kg for three-year-olds since then, effectively making her only 2kg worse off.



She recently won the Grade 1 Woolavington at Greyville easily over just 200m shorter than the July, but that was against her own age and sex.



Kevin Shea was asked immediately after the race whether she would stay the July trip and replied, “You can never tell but being trained by Mike de Kock there is a good chance she will.”



The last filly to win the July was the world class de Kock-trained three-year-old, Ipi Tombe. She was a class above Zirconeum and didn’t have as difficult a draw to contend with. She did face a probable stronger overall field though.



Bouquet-Garni won this season’s Grade 1 SA Derby over 2400m.



De Kock felt there would have to be a fast pace for him to feature. He is a big galloping type and might not have the immediate turn of foot that is an advantage at Greyville.



Forest Path won a Grade 1 over 1400m as a juvenile at Greyville and won the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein this year.



However, the Johannesburg three-year-old’s form is much maligned this season and this horse is also a highly strung type who often wastes energy with his pre-race antics.



De Kock felt that the top three-year-old in the country, the Glen Kotzen-trained Big City Life, had a chance on Saturday.



“He proved himself by finishing just two lengths behind Pocket Power at weight for age terms and with the weight turnaround since he must have a chance.”



He said that all four of his runners in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe for two-year-olds over 1400m, Solid Choice, Musir, Mr. Crazy Boy and Storm Vanadiso were very talented.



If he had to side with one it would be Musir.



“He ran off the course last time and might otherwise have beaten Solid Choice.”



However, he warned that he was not discounting Solid Choice.



“If he can overcome his wide draw and get a good position he will be a big runner too.”



He felt that 1400m might still be a touch sharp for Mr. Crazy Boy.



He lamented the wide draw for Gilded Minaret in the Grade 1 Garden Province but said she was very well.



“Equal Image always runs well on July day,” he added before saying that the day’s racing was very competitive and the yard was hoping for good runs with all their charges.



De Kock was pleased with J J The Jet Plane’s recent run at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs.



“We should have attacked in the lead as the pace was slow and he was then out-sprinted before staying on. I have no doubt he will stay further, but we are giving the July Cup a go over six furlongs next Friday. It is at our home course (Newmarket) and the tough uphill finish will suit him.”



De Kock has Archipenko engaged at Sandown in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse on Saturday, to be run just 15 minutes before the July, and sounded bullish about his chances.



He said the horse was over the respiratory problems most of his string had experienced in Dubai and believed he was back to his best.



Archipenko is also engaged to run in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes on July 29 at the Glorious Goodwood meeting. Diana’s Choice might run at Glorious Goodwood too.



De Kock landed a Group 3 over seven furlongs with the Summerhill-bred Imbongi at Newmarket last Saturday.







Gill Simpkins
Public Relations Manager

Duncan Howells said on Wednesday that he didn’t believe he would know half what he knew about racehorses if it wasn’t for the influence of David Payne, now a leading trainer in Sydney , Australia .



Howells, who has his first runner in the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday in the form of Tropical Empire, spent many years as Payne’s assistant.



“David was exceptional at preparing horses for big races,” said Howells. “One of the things he taught me was not to push the horse over the edge.”



Howell’s two Group 1 winners to date had similar betting odds when winning their respective big races as Tropical Empire’s current July price of 13-1.



In May’s Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m Tropical Empire finished second, beating July second favourite River Jetez by a head. He will face her on 3kg better terms on Saturday.



In his last start he easily won the Betting World Greyville 1900.



Howells said yesterday, “He’s fit and his blood picture is perfect. We have done everything we can.”



Howells said of Tropical Empire’s pole position draw, “He’s a slight horse and from this draw won’t be knocked around. I’ve watched video replays of past Julys and the horses on the rail never turn for home more than five lengths back. There are no horses going backwards at that stage and he has a helluva turn of foot.”



He added that luck in running always played a part in the July.



Of the dangers Howells said, “I can’t have Kapil and I can’t have River Jetez from that draw. I think we’ve only got Pocket Power to beat.”



Tropical Empire, if he wins, will be the first KZN-trained victor since the Pat Shaw-trained Teal in 1995.



Howells said Tropical Empire is not feisty, despite still being an entire, and is easy to work with.



“He likes to lead the string out in the mornings and gets quite upset if he isn’t in front.”



The wait after the hard work is a tense time for July connections.



“I wish Saturday would arrive,” said Howells.



Tropical Empire is an Australian-bred bay horse by Second Empire and is owned by “Chips” Pennels and his wife Elma, together with Gary Westwater and Johan Meyer.



Pennels’ only previous July runner was Tandaga, who finished eleventh in 1980.







Gill Simpkins
Public Relations Manager

Morning before July no change from me, Pocket hard to beat, but Kapil is my selection and hope for a big run from Thandolwami for connections

good punting!

scotia

Definately Pocket Power

Kapil's fast finishing 4th in the Met convinced me that he stays. When i realised he would have 52,5kg here I began to fancy his chances strongly. Two 2 excellent preps have only strengthened my view.

Pocket Power remains the one to beat and most likely to win the race. However i am very happy with my 25/1 e/way on Kapil.

Take the field for 3rd - thats always the position that makes the July quartet pay.

Weather man may have got it wrong so far. SW winds at up to 30km/h should already be blowing but this has not happened yet. SW brings the rain. Lets hope the forecast is a day late. Nice tail wind for Kapil up the straight