Over The Rainbow… Pots Of Gold!

It’s another bumper star-studded weekend of local racing that lies ahead, with the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge headlining an appealing feature programme at Greyville on Saturday.

UNDERCOVER AGENT won the weight-for-age mile in 2018 to give the uber-talented Lyle Hewitson a career first Gr1 win and the big son of Captain Al is back to defend his title on Saturday in one of the classiest renewals of the race in years. Stable rider Corne Orffer, who was aboard in the Drill Hall Stakes celebration last month takes the reins.

Sun Met winner RAINBOW BRIDGE and last year’s July hero DO IT AGAIN look the pair most likely to be in the mix and to spoil the UNDERCOVER AGENT party.

Fitness and current form suggest RAINBOW BRIDGE is the real deal this time – and the horse to beat. He made his SA Champions Season debut on 3 May and, out of his ground late, he flew late to get within a neck of UNDERCOVER AGENT. Over the extra 200m on Saturday, he is bound to be a lot more comfortable.

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner DO IT AGAIN has had one public gallop since arriving in Durban and has not seen action in 19 weeks – since chasing RAINBOW BRIDGE home in the Sun Met. The son of Twice Over lacks match fitness but is all class and the Snaith-Fourie combination are red hot at the moment.

They also join forces in the support feature, the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes, where their star 4yo OH SUSANNA faces a quality field from an awkward draw over the 1400m. Her chief opponent looks to be the Ashburton-based NEPTUNE’S RAIN, who has not won in a year but caught the eye in the recent SA Fillies Sprint.

Kenilworth runs alongside the Greyville Saturday action and the 2yo crop hog the limelight with the individual sexes showing their paces in the respective nurseries.

The fairer sex contest looks the more competitive with Captain Al debut winner MIRAGE taking on the Perfect Promise Sprint winner – and another grey daughter of the deceased champion sire – AMY JOHNSON. There are others with claims in a tricky race.

Unbeaten ARMANDO won the Somerset 1200 at his second start and will be a popular choice in the boys race. The son of What A Winter takes on CAPTAIN TATTERS and FEARLESS WARRIOR in a bid to register a notable hat-trick.

The weekend gets underway as usual with a well-subscribed nine-race turf programme at Fairview on Friday.

A Bipot banker and our best bet of the afternoon comes up in the second where recent dual third-placed CALANDRA has a serious chance to shed her maiden at her third career start. The daughter of Irish Flame will be partnered by Greg Cheyne and looks the right one in a moderate line-up.

The sun sets on the weekend on Sunday where the Turffontein Standside hosts eight races – headed by the traditional Vodacom Durban July ‘last chance saloon’, the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap.

Only three big race contenders – BARAHIN, HERO’S HONOUR and THE DAZZLER – line up in the 1800m contest. De Kock’s BARAHIN was touted early as a possible July dark horse and the lightly-raced 3yo could make his presence felt under Anton Marcus.

HERO’S HONOUR won the SA Derby in 2018 and has proven his versatility with successes down to a mile. The son of Await The Dawn needs to be included.

THE DAZZLER has been very consistent and probably needs to win this to bring himself in from the fringes on to the July log top 20.

An appearance by another July entrant on the undercard is bound to ignite plenty of interest.

Dual former SA Horse Of The Year LEGAL EAGLE steps out in the seventh – a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m – from a 15 draw. He takes on another July hopeful in the recently consistent DIVINE ODYSSEY, in what should be a fascinating race.

Another puzzle piece or three in the unfolding Vodacom Durban July jigsaw could be ready for placement after the weekend.

There has been plenty of debate and interest in the ante-post market and there is still an opportunity to nail your flag to the mast and pick up a value price.

See our Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting here.

Have a big one!

Till next time.