Tarry’s charges to earn their keep
NATIONAL champion trainer Sean Tarry, bidding to win a third Vodacom Durban July, is happy with his three charges but said all of them, Liege, Matador Man and Tilbury Fort, had a single question mark hanging over their heads respectively.
Matador Man has been scratched from the KZN Breeder’s Million Mile, where he was to defend his title, as the owners want to give the July “a serious shot.”
In the case of Liege, Tarry had to change his original preparation plan. He had intended to run him in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1 600m and then do the rest of his July conditioning from his Summerveld satellite yard.
However, a local KZN racing rule relating to horses returning from rests prevented him from running in that race. In his previous run at the end of November, he had won the Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup over 2 000m. However, in the end he was forced to have his July preparation in a 1400m event at Turffontein, in which he finished a 12,4 length 9th.
Tarry said, “We were mindful of the fact he was drawn poorly and we didn’t want to use him up so we dropped him out and weren’t going to give him a hard time.
“He is a staying type who can lead over 2 000m, so I am not concerned about it. He has put up pleasing gallops since, the reports from the jockeys have been very good and he is looking good.”
Ironically, Liege ran a below par race in the Victory Moon Stakes before winning the Summer Cup and Tarry confirmed, “Yes he can do that, so on paper that last run looks lacklustre but I am not too phased.”
Raymond Danielson won the Summer Cup aboard Liege so has been given the July ride.
There is no concern about Liege staying the trip. The five-year-old gelding is one of three horses in the race who will attempt to give former July winner Dynasty a second July winner as a sire.
Tarry opted to keep Liege at Randjesfontein to prepare him after the Gold Challenge option fell through.
Matador Man
Stamina is the one concern about Matador Man.However, Tarry said, “He was running on strongly in the 1900 so that gives confidence he can go a bit further. If he does get the trip he will be finishing strongly.”
This four-year-old Toreador gelding loves Greyville and followed hi s Million Mile win with a strong-finishing third place finish in last season's Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m.
Tarry is not concerned by the wide draws of Liege (18) and Matador Man (15), but is concerned by Tilbury Fort’s wide draw (20).
He said, “Tilbury Fort has had the best preparation, he hasn’t put a foot wrong. He has certainly been on the up since gelding and I hope he can improve a bit more. But he is the one about whom I’m most worried about the draw. He can come from off them, but not from last. We will see how it pans out, but he is not the sort you can bustle or hunt for a position. You have to let it unfold smoothly with him.” This four-year-old by Horse Chestnut ran in last year's July and finished a six length 14th.
S’Manga Khumalo was aboard Matador Man when he won his penultimate start over 1600m at Turffontein so Tarry has put him back on. National Champion Jockey elect Lyle Hewitson will stay aboard Tilbury Fort.
Tarry concluded by saying it would have been perfect if Social Order had also got in but he was nevertheless happy with his team of three.