The brilliant winner of the R1-million, Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on Saturday, Captain America, was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July late yesterday by his trainer Brett Crawford.
After his facile win in the 1 600m clash on Saturday his odds for the big race on the first Saturday in July were cut considerably but the 1kg penalty in the weight which he has been given for the win has contributed somewhat to the decision to pull him out of the race.
Captain America was already the highest rated horse in the Vodacom Durban July on a 116 which meant the additional 1kg penalty would push the weights for the opposition further down and Crawford said yesterday evening “that would not be fair to the horse.”
Crawford said he had never felt that the six-year-old Captain Al gelding – a star miler – had ever been just as effective over the July distance of 2 200m and that together with the weight penalty, he has decided to aim him instead of the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1 800m at Greyville at the end of July instead.
Crawford will have his three-year-old star Edict Of Nantes, current favourite for the Vodacom Durban July, carrying his hopes of a fourth Grade 1 victory of the season in Africa’s Greatest Horserace.
– Journalist: Richard McMillan – Gold Circle Publishing Department
Vodacom Durban July – Bet Now
Vodacom Durban July – Final Field & Betting
Vodacom Durban July – Important Information
Vodacom Durban July – News
Vodacom Durban July – Race Log
Vodacom Durban July – Betting Basics
Vodacom Durban July – Theme
Vodacom Durban July – Tickets
