‘Girl’ needs to win
With the final field for the Vodacom Durban July to be decided tomorrow, there is much at stake for some runners in the Track & Ball Oaks and Track & Ball Derby at Scottsville today, both Gr3 over 2 400m.
With the inside track still recovering from the pounding of 40 000 Comrades Marathon takkies the outside track will be in use so anything that does not genuinely stay the trip will be found out coming up the hill over the final 400m.
In the Oaks, either of Witchcraft or Girl On The Run will need a win if they are to be considered for the July.
Witchcraft, meanwhile, won this race last year but has only had two outings since, the latest coming nearly a year after her penultimate start, so this may be a tall order for Sean Tarry’s filly.
Yellow Wood Handicap winner Girl On The Run has finished runner-up in two starts since returning from a break and should strip at her peak.
Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly certainly looks the likely candidate but of some concern is that she does like to race handy and goes this trip for the first time. There seems to be little between Highveld visitors Zafira and Patchit Up Baby although the latter has the better recent form.
Of the balance Silver Stripe stays well but has it all to do at the weights.
Ironically this is a tough race for three-year-olds but Epona, a half-sister to star galloper Jay Peg, can do better than her Woolavington effort and comes from a stable that excels with staying horses.
Mr Winsome, supplemented for the July by Dean Kannemeyer, is in a similar position in the Derby half an hour later.
He was running on strongly from last when third in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 behind Ten Gun Salute, the performance that probably encouraged his connections to supplement him for the July.
But although his recent form is solid, he will need victory tomorrow if he is to come into the final reckoning.
His last two wins have come at Scottsville, the last an exercise canter over the distance, and although he takes on much stronger, he does look the part.
Helderberg Blue
The presence of veteran gallopers Helderberg Blue and Ovidio are something of an anomaly in a ‘Derby’ field but are confirmed stayers and come into this race nicely weighted.
Helderberg Blue is one of the unluckiest horses in racing and is due a decent win.
His tendency to boil over in the preliminaries has cost him on many an occasion but he now appears to be more settled and he warmed up nicely when second to July hopeful Elusive Silva the Sledgehammer last time out.
Ovidio is also well in at these weights and can do much better than his run behind stable companion Krambambuli after his saddle slipped.
Captain Splendid came good at his last start when winning the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and although not well in at these weights he does stay the trip well.