The game is on with a host of Vodacom Durban July contenders making an early bid for a big race invite by throwing their hats into the ring for a place in the R500 000, Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900, the traditional July campaign opener that takes place at Greyville on Saturday, May 19.
Of the 25 entries for this very important event that has seen winners go on to capture Africa’s greatest racing honour, 19 are among the 69 early nominations for the big one on the first Saturday in July.
Visiting yards are strongly represented and Justin Snaith has nominated his four-year-old Silvano gelding Strathdon that has won his last three starts including the Woolavington at Durbanville and the Cape Summer Stayers at Kenilworth. Also from the yard is another son of Silvano, the four-year-old Platinum Prince that was narrowly beaten in the Kings Cup at Greyville in his Durban opener.
Glen Kotzen has entered his three-year-old Philanthropist colt Pack Leader that also made a very impressive Durban debut when just touched off by Head Honcho in the Sledgehammer. He had finished third in the Investec Cape Derby before that and looks an exciting prospect for honours during the season.
Dean Kammemeyer is another Western Cape conditioner with a number of entries, nominating the much talked about Silva’s Bullet along with Mr Winsome, It’s My Turn, Cape Speed, The Slade and Mambo Mime. The Slade finished fourth in the Sledgehammer last time out and second to Eyes Wide Open in the Peninsula Handicap before that.
The Irish-bred High Chaparral filly Cascapedia has been nominated by Mike de Kock along with the talented Orchid Island while champion trainer Sean Tarry has nominated a trio of runners including Social Order that won the Kings Cup at Greyville on a raid to Durban.
From the local stables, Frank Robinson has entered two runners for Roy Moodley, Roy Had Enough that won the Christmas Handicap and Roy’s Riviera that finished third in the Flamboyant Stakes.
Paul Lafferty has nominated his four-year-old Ideal World gelding Dark Moon Rising that was third in the Sledgehammer last time out and won his two previous starts at Greyville.
Written by Richard McMillan – Gold Circle
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | MR |
| African Night Sky | 4/1 | Justin Snaith | 108 |
| Brazuca (AUS) | SP | J A Janse van Vuuren | 104 |
| Cape Speed | 33/1 | Dean Kannemeyer | 98 |
| Captain Splendid | 40/1 | Justin Snaith | 101 |
| Cascapedia (IRE) | 7/1 | Mike de Kock | 109 |
| Crowd Pleaser | 16/1 | J A Janse van Vuuren | 105 |
| Dark Moon Rising | 20/1 | Paul Lafferty | 95 |
| Elusive Silva | 16/1 | Justin Snaith | 107 |
| Fort Ember | 16/1 | Paul Peter | 108 |
| Heaps Of Fun | 50/1 | Sean Tarry | 101 |
| It’s My Turn | 8/1 | Dean Kannemeyer | 108 |
| Kampala Campari | 25/1 | Andre Nel | 100 |
| Mambo Mime | 20/1 | Dean Kannemeyer | 104 |
| Matador Man | 17/2 | Sean Tarry | 105 |
| Mr Winsome | 40/1 | Dean Kannemeyer | 100 |
| Ollivander | 33/1 | Candice Bass-Robinson | 99 |
| Orchid Island | 40/1 | Mike de Kock | 107 |
| Pack Leader | 7/1 | Glen Kotzen | 107 |
| Parabola | 25/1 | Brett Crawford | 91 |
| Platinum Prince | 16/1 | Justin Snaith | 101 |
| Roy Had Enough (AUS) |
33/1 | Frank Robinson | 110 |
| Roy’s Riviera (AUS) |
75/1 | Frank Robinson | 96 |
| Silva’s Bullet | 16/1 | Dean Kannemeyer | 91 |
| Social Order | 16/1 | Sean Tarry | 106 |
| Strathdon | 50/1 | Justin Snaith | 97 |
| The Slade | 20/1 | Dean Kannemeyer | 105 |
| Tilbury Fort | 16/1 | Sean Tarry | 100 |
Ante-post betting rules apply. Betting is subject to change. E&OE.
