July : gavin van Zyl

Cape town big runner in my book

Definitely could be the improver of the race but I cant see him bowling over the big boys with the big MR's. If he does then MR is really a crock of shite

socks smoking. But thanks for info.

Only thing that can beat PP is Kapil imvho

I see buy and sell as the one to watch!

Agree with Scotia- Kapil with a motivated Striker is a huge runner - remember his KZN Guineas win on the wide outside at Greyville under GP on a stormy day in 2007?

Not seriously Buy and Sell again!! He should be with Peter Miller in Kimberley.

Lurker must be Tropical Empire- loves the course.
Nice to see a KZN trainer win it - when was last ?? Spanish Galliard?

PP/River Jetez/Tropical Empire/BCL in that order.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl gave an excellent rendition of James Brown’s hit, “I Feel Good”, out on the Summerveld training tracks on Tuesday morning when asked how he felt to have his first Vodacom Durban July runner.



The former jockey, who rode in eight July’s, sends out the four-year-old Silvano gelding, Cape Town , who will also provide the apprentice ranks’ champion elect, Karis Teetan, with his first ride in Africa ’s Greatest Horseracing Event.



It will also be the first runner for former South African schools cricketer and Natal hockey player, Alan Mellor, who has owned horses for some thirty years.



Joint-owner, Naughty Govender, also has his first runner and it is a first too for breeders Koos and Lorraine De Klerk of Yellow Star Stud.



Cape Town failed to reach his reserve at the National Yearling Sales and was later bought by Glen Kotzen at a two-year-old sale. The horse changed ownership and trainers before running.



Van Zyl was delighted with the draw for Cape Town , who loves Greyville and finished runner up in the recent Betting World 1900, just two lengths behind current fifth favourite for the race, Tropical Empire.



He ran on from last in that race, as he likes to do, and from his July draw he should be able to relax from early on close to the rail.



In the July, Cape Town will face Tropical Empire on 2,5kg worse terms than in the Greyville 1900 and Van Zyl is realistic about his chances.



He rates Pocket Power as the one to beat, but makes Big City Life and River Jetez big runners too.



“You have to see the July as it is. You can’t start making up things just because you need an outsider. Pocket Power, Big City Life, River Jetez, Kapil, Smart Banker and Our Giant are the proven class horses of the race. The rest of us are trying to upstage the party. If you took those six out of the race, then anybody could win although Tropical Empire would then be favourite. Pocket Power is a champion and Mike Bass is a master trainer. You don’t win three J&B Mets and then come to the July and suddenly run below form. Big City Life has done nothing wrong and is a top horse. River Jetez is improving all the time and getting bigger and stronger. She would have been a good back up for the Bass yard if Pocket Power had started feeling his age this season. But Pocket Power has proved he’s as good as ever and River Jetez also has a tough draw.”



Van Zyl’s best finish in the July as a rider was when finishing third behind Trademark on the David Payne-trained Double Reef, although on another occasion he hit the front on the Jean Heming-trained filly Roland’s Song from a handy position before she ran out of stamina reserves.



Robbie Hill was riding work for the Van Zyl string on Tuesday.



The veteran rider, who rode El Picha to victory in 1999, lost out on a ride this year as Pocket Power’s merit rating led to virtually the entire remainder of the field carrying light weights.



Asked whom he thought would win, he replied, ‘Pocket Power, Pocket Power, Pocket Power.”



He felt River Jetez would run third or fourth.



Asked on the chances of a horse he knows well, Outcome, on whom he won last year’s Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes on July day, he said, “They are changing the false rail from 14m to 10m for the July and that might affect her chances. Coming from behind, she will find it a bit tougher to get a run.”






Gill Simpkins
Public Relations Manager

Oscar big guy I think put some cash on your own horses' before you back Cape Town - he is a nice handicapper but really may lack the class for the July - I fancy Bouqui garni to run a place but even that is risky - But as it's flu season business must be good for u so I expect to see the price shorten!!

Tnx have you given your man the horses you like for the sales.. been looking forward to this since you told me bout it last yr

I think Tropical Empire a big runner this year.... fairlytale story, horse changes stables from Muis Roberts to Duncan Howell... his first ever JULY RUNNER & maybe..... winner ! Horse is coming on the right way. Deffinite E/W chance.

It kills me to say this but I have to agree here. The fact that I' making a horse like Tropical Empire a runner shows in my books how weak this field is this year!!!