No. 2056 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 30th JUNE - THURSDAY 3rd JULY 2014
Geoff Woodruff's 3yo pair of Rake's Chestnut and Louis The King pace it out at the July gallops on Thursday
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.5
VAAL 12:10pm (Tuesday) p.13
DURBANVILLE 1:05pm (Wednesday) p.26
VAAL SAND 12:40pm (Thursday) p.32
DURBAN JULY GALLOPS at Greyville on Thursday
T
Trainer Sean Tarry and owner Chris Van Niekerk are set for a record-breaking hat-trick of Vodacom Durban July victories on Saturday but the top conditioner’s caustic comment at Thursday’s public gallops may have put the historic bid into perspective. “The last two years I was fortunate enough to have my first choice in the race. This year that one is a reserve runner,” he quipped. arry, who was speaking at the July gallops at Greyville on Thursday morning was referring to the 2012 winner Pomodoro, who could only qualify
as a second reserve runner this time round. The yard have excellent back-up though with their two 5yo Right Approach geldings, Whiteline Fever and Halve The Deficit, carrying the flag. Both of the Tarry charges
would not be winning out of turn.
Not Concerned
Trainer Mike De Kock, who saddles the Wilgerbosdrift Stud-owned Dansili filly Espumanti, said that his charge had
enjoyed a very good prep and while she was trying the trip for the first time, he felt that she would get it on breeding. She won the Betting World 1900 on 16 May when beating Punta Arenas. De Kock put a damper on the pot of gold anticipated by the 3yo favourite backers when, in typical straightshooter fashion, he said he was unconvinced about the threat of the 3yo’s: “Very few of them are exposed at handicap level and the ones that have tried failed miserably. I believe they have a race on their hands with the older horses,” he said.
Top Panel
With the hard yards now behind them after the official Vodacom Durban July public gallops, the final week countdown to the big race has commenced in earnest and most of the gallopers earned a thumbs-up. An illustrious panel of former champion jockeys Michael Roberts and Garth Puller, and veteran Kevin Shea, who rides Louis The King, analysed the show. And like so many big races, it is often in elimination that we narrow down the winner selection.
Weiho Marwing’s Wylie Hall enjoyed the dubious distinction of eliciting the most negative reaction of the morning with the astute Michael Roberts saying that he ‘did not like this fellow’s gallop.’ Cont. p.2