We caught up with our big stable of sponsored trainers earlier on in the week to find out their fancies for the Vodacom Durban July as well as the chances of their respective runners on the day. Trainers include Alyson Wright, Clinton Binda, Kumaran Naidoo, Tobie Spies and more.
Hollywoodbets sponsored conditioner Kumaran Naidoo has a strong preference for the ruling favourite African Night Sky whilst he makes the former Triple Crown winner Abashiri the biggest danger. He was kind enough to let us have some inside information on his runners on the day, “Diamond In The Sky prefers the grass but she is well. Tweed Valley is a reserve runner and I am hoping she gets a run. Awesomely Tuned is doing very well but in a strong field, hoping to run a place. Palace Rose and Thay Thay are reserve runners and I am hoping they get in the race.”
Tobie Spies fancies the Gauteng visitor Coral Fever in the main event whilst he stunned us with the following comment on his Grade 2 entrant Mazari, “She is a very gutsy filly and should finish in the first three.” He had even stronger words for the 7/1 shot Miss Khalifa, “She is a top filly and should go very close.” On his other runners, Tobie commented, “Eastern Pearl is coming up from Port Elizabeth, true stayer, with a small place chance in very strong company. Basilius is very talented, we are expecting a good run but he has to overcome the draw. Cyber Special is distance suited with a place chance if we get a run. Rule The Night is very well on his work at home and should be included in all exotics. Laurent Du Var, we are taking a chance against opposition that should beat him.”
Winning Form sponsored trainer Craig Eudey has a preference for African Night Sky and he feels top conditioner Justin Snaith can have two or three of his five entrants run into the quartet spots. He gives Do It Again a big chance as well and is sentimentally hoping for a good pace that will suit Jeff Lloyd’s mount Made To Conquer.
Alyson Wright is another African Night Sky fan. With regards to her two entrants on the day, she feels that her three-year old Flichity By Farr could have a decent chance in the Grade 3 Gold Vase over the marathon distance. Her other charge Mumsy’s Jet is a polytrack specialist who has unfortunately lost his way but she hopes that he can run a place.
Vaal based conditioner Heather Adamson fancies Coral Fever but freely admits that all the Snaith horses have sound chances to land the big event.
Gary Rich also sides with a Snaith inmate in the form of Do it Again with arguably a sentimental preference for the three-year old KZN based filly Fiorella and he also fancies a bit of Yakeen.
Garth Puller’s selections in order of preference is as follows: African Night Sky, Do it Again, Abashiri and White River.
Grant Paddock spoke like a true punter when saying African Night Sky “Can’t lose.”
Kimberley based trainer Jarret Rugg is an Abashiri supporter whilst he surprisingly selected KZN’s second hopeful Dark Moon Rising as his ‘dark horse’.
The other Northern Cape representative Cliffie Miller sides with Majestic Mambo ahead of the favourite African Night Sky.
Clinton Binda kept it short and sweet when siding with the favourite African Night Sky.
