July entries raring to go

THERE were some fine Vodacom Durban July trials over the weekend and as seems to happen every year in this great race it was two relatively lowly merit rated horses, Elusive Silva and Nother Russia, who burst into prominence as potential winners.

However, they were not the only pair to catch the eye.

The Justin Snaith (pictured) - trained Elusive Silva is a four-year-old gelding by the former champion sire Silvano, who set a record a couple of years ago when his progeny ran one-two-three in the July.

The winner that year, Power King, did not possess the class that Elusive Silva if Sunday’s running of the Listed Sledgehammer over 1 800m at Greyville is anything to go by. The gelding’s last run had been when winning the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2 400m in effortless fashion in June last year.

Delpech

On Sunday he turned for home in midfield under Anthony Delpech and accelerated effortlessly.

He was admittedly receiving 4,5kg from the 1,75 length runner up Helderberg Blue, but won with more than a ton in hand.

Betting World reacted by shortening him from 25-1 into 14-1 fourth favourite.

Snaith was cautious in his comments and said Elusive Silva would still need to make a considerable step up.

However, under the conditions of the race he can only be raised a maximum six merit rated points to 99.

Snaith said he would give him one more run in either the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 on May 19 or the Gr 3 Cup Trial on June 10.

The former might be the better option, considering he has proven he runs well fresh and that race also carries a condition that the winner cannot be raised more than six merit rated points.

A ten-point raise is possible for the Cup Trial winner.

If he does run in and win the 1900, he will go into the July with a 105 merit rating and as things stand will carry just 54,5kg. Furthermore, Snaith said he could not have come out of Sunday’s race in better shape. It is too early for Delpech, a record-equalling four-time July-winning jockey, to make a commitment, but Elusive Silva is sure to be on his shortlist.

Prince Of Wales

Elusive Silver’s stablemate, the four-yearold Dynasty gelding Prince Of Wales, ran on from last to finish a good two length third in the Sledgehammer, despite needing the run. He was giving the winner 3kg and will relish the step up to 2 200m in the July. Betting World shortened him from 50-1 to 25-1 for the July.

Placed horses were not allowed to be given any merit rated raise under the Sledgehammer conditions, so he will remain on 100.

Snaith said Prince Of Wales had come out of the race perfectly, and would come on from the run tremendously.

The expensively purchased Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Horizon also caught the eye at Greyville on Sunday when winning an Allowance Plate over 1 400m under Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

The R5,2 million three-year-old Dynasty colt is out of a full-sister to Silvano.

He ran on strongly to beat Zodiac Ruler by a head with Palladium a further two lengths behind.

Both Zodiac Ruler and Palladium were having their first runs as geldings.

Zodiac Ruler

Zodiac Ruler finished runner up in the Cape Derby and Horizon only managed fifth, but it still remains to be seen whether the form of the Cape Derby will turn out to be as strong as it was last year.

Betting World reacted to Horizon’s win by shortening him from 18-1 into 16-1, the same price as Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes. Zodiac Ruler drifted from 20-1 to 25-1.

The four-year-old Tiger Ridge filly Nother Russia looks to be a chip off the old block as, just like her famous dam Mother Russia, she is a smallish chestnut with a massive heart and a beautiful action which covers a lot of ground.

On Saturday she joined her mother as a winner of the Turffontein weight for age mile event, the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes, which was this year sponsored by HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco. She ran on fluently under Craig Zackey to win by 1,4 lengths from Bella Sonata.

July entries Safe Harbour and Trophy Wife were a 3.05 and 3,3 length fourth and fifth, while other July entries Heaps Of Fun, Fort Ember, Juxtapose and Star Express were all unplaced.

Nother Russia

Nother Russia possesses the exceptional turn of foot of her mother, so will love Greyville and her odds have been slashed by Betting World to 22-1.

However, the Gr 1 win mean the handicappers did not have to cap her merit rating and they have raised her to a 106.

This means she will, as things stand, carry 53kg in the July.