What the Trainers say

JUSTIN SNAITH

It’s all good with African Night Sky. He is doing exceptionally well, and looks amazing. He is very fresh, and the race can’t come soon enough. The most important thing about Elusive Silva is that he is very sound. He has had the prep he should have had last year, where he had to fit in an extra race to make sure he qualified. He has the same chance he would have had if he had run last year, and I fancied him then. Made To Conquer is also very fresh. A very easy and simple horse to train. He can be placed and then switch off. He is still on the upgrade, and having 53kg and the legendary Jeff Lloyd brings him right into it. Do It Again impressed me today. He is going to be a top, top horse. He had a flat second run after a rest in the Daily News but his July gallop was one of the best. With 54kg and Anton Marcus up you just can’t overlook him. Another for whom the race can’t come soon enough. Star Express is very gutsy and hasn’t put a foot wrong in KZN this year. The distance is a question mark, but she is doing well. It will be tough but she has a chance.

BRETT CRAWFORD

White River is fine and he is doing very well. The gelding definitely improved him. It’s very hard, how do you make a comparison between him and Whisky Baron. Whisky Baron never ran in the July, and never got trained in Durban, so how can I compare it. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t finish in the first four.

PAUL PETER

The real Majestic Mambo is back. We’re all very excited, and I can safely say that he has improved immensely on his Daily News run. The crowd will not faze him. He has matured and developed so, so much. I promise you that doesn’t worry me. I’m not perturbed by his wide draw to be honest. I strongly believe he is the best horse in the field and I have no doubts about that, not at all! This horse is working very, very well at home. In fact, Callan (Murray) works him 2-3 times a week. This young man is such a horseman. The only thing Majestic Mambo has to beat is Greyville racecourse. I’m very confident in him and I believe he’ll run a big race.

DUNCAN HOWELLS

I’m happy with Fiorella and hopeful of a good run. She’s done little wrong, always gives 100% and continues to improve. She was competing at C-Division level earlier this season but has come into her own since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at Turffontein in April. She must have a lively chance under 53kg on that form but it’s a tough ask of a three-year-old filly. The July is a rough race and she’ll need luck in running against older and male rivals to have a say, but she is on the up. Of course, I have healthy respect for the opposition but my filly is smart and she goes in with a fighting chance. Anton (Marcus) was committed to ride for the (Justin) Snaith stable and Muzi (Yeni) was sticking with Coral Fever so I went through the possibilities with the owner and in Mark Khan we’ve found an experienced rider with proven success at Grade 1 level.

MIKE AZZIE

Abashiri has the necessary early speed to hold his position on the fence. Piere rode him in his last race which was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m. The problem is that they loaded him first which is a disaster. He started kicking the back of the gates. If they load him later and he is not left standing for ages he will jump on terms. He will have no problem with Greyville. He made his debut at the course as a two-year-old over 1600m and he won that easily. His second start was in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, again over 1600m, and he ran a 0.30-length third behind Rabada. He has no problem with the track and he has no problem with gate speed either. Everybody knows I didn’t want to run him in the 2016 July because he had won the Triple Crown and had a hard season. Everything was against him and he was only beaten 4.70 lengths. He also pulled up with an injury. He is now two years older and will carry 1kg less. I’ve never had this horse so well and he is in a good space right now. You could say I’m a very happy man.

GLEN KOTZEN

I promise you Gold Standard has never been better. I’ve not quite had him back to his three-yearold form before but now he is back. He is moving like a dream. I think the three-year-olds are the main dangers this year as they are a strong group. Unfortunately it does not look as if Pack Leader will get in which is unfortunate as he had a very nice weight. He will run in the Betting World 2200 but as a three-year-old he is not well in at the weights.

ROBBIE SAGE

Coral Fever hasn’t run since winning the Champions Challenge but we’ve just kept him ticking over. We put the blinkers on to help him concentrate better but he is maturing well. He is comparatively lightly raced because he missed almost a year owing to a knee injury. I wouldn’t say he deserves top weight but that’s what we’ve been given and we just have to accept it.

JOCKEY MUZI YENI

It’s the July, it’s always very competitive and you need some luck in running but I wouldn’t want to be on anything else. Coral Fever has been good to me. He won a Grade 1 last time and over R3 million in stakes, so he’s proven himself. I spoke to Mr Sage about adding blinkers after the Sun Met. I felt he wasn’t putting it all in. They’ve made the difference and his mind is on the job now. I know he hasn’t raced at Greyville but I don’t see why he shouldn’t run a good race. There are horses drawn wide who will be looking to get over into a nice position, so that should inject some early speed into the race. I don’t think it will be a fast-run race but they should go an even tempo, which will suit my horse. I’m confident, I have to be. Yes, my horse carries top weight but he’s earned it. He has the form to be competitive and I’m expecting a big run. Obviously I have to respect horses like African Night Sky, Made To Conquer and Abashiri but I’ll be disappointed were I not to finish in the first three.

MATHEW DE KOCK (assistant to Mike de Kock)

Yakeen is very well and his prep has gone well. He has improved a lot since winning the Jubilee Handicap. He has a good draw but the distance is a question mark. However, in the Jubilee he pulled and still saw out 1800m at Turffontein so that makes us believe he will stay 2200m at Greyville. His ability will be tested in this race.

CANDICE BASS-ROBINSON

We must not forget Rocket Countdown won a Group 2 – he won the Selangor. He’s a nice horse coming into the race in good shape and in good form. Obviously, the first time he is going over the trip, but I don’t see this trip being a problem. I think pedigree-wise, he’s bred to go that trip. He certainly shows at home that he will see out the trip. He travelled up well and he put up a very good July gallop. He is drawn well, and he is pretty much an outsider in the field, but I’m quietly confident that he will run a good race. It’s a very open July this year. I think without Justin Snaith’s favourite, African Night Sky, whatever beats that horse will win the July. Among the rest of the horses, there is not much between them, and I think whoever is in the right place at the right time and who is faster on the day – it’s that type of race this year. I think the Greyville track will suit my horse. He’s got a good turn of foot. Yes, we are hoping for him to run into the money.

GEOFF WOODRUFF

Secret Potion is a talented young filly who stays well and is only just now coming into her own. I thought her last run was very satisfactory, finishing three lengths off a good quality open field in a Pinnacle Stakes over a distance well short of her best. She is doing all the right things at home. Her previous run in the Oaks was a super win, but I’m very happy with her last run – that was over 1400m.

PAUL LAFFERTY

I think Dark Moon Rising is going over the right trip. Anthony Delpech and Anton Marcus both said I will never train a better staying horse. He is very well, with 53kg, good draw, top jockey at the moment. I think he will definitely be a factor. It doesn’t look like there will be much pace, but the more pace the better.

JOCKEY WARREN KENNEDY

I’m confident Dark Moon Rising will run a big race. His final workout was very light and he is doing extremely well. He’s a very good-paced horse and he’s ready to go. He will see out the distance without a problem. I have got no doubt that he will do the 2200 and he will actually enjoy it. He will be running on strongly at the finish – but I also feel that African Night Sky is probably the horse they all have to beat. But our horse is doing very well and I’m expecting a big run from him. You need a bit of luck in the July and a bit of a clear run and that sort of thing. With a little bit of luck he should be there in the firing line. I definitely think he is going to run into the first four.

JOCKEY S'MANGA KHUMALO

We're in it to win it and I’ll be giving my all on Matador Man. At the end of the day in a race like this you need things to go your way, and I'm hoping it all does. He has a very good turn of foot, that’s his biggest advantage. His previous form speaks for itself but I think he still needs to prove himself over further. His last run was the furthest he’s ever gone so there’s a question mark there. His last run suggests he could stay but his No 15 draw won’t help him. He simply doesn’t jump. He’s always been very, very slow and trying to run on from the back in an 18-horse field isn't easy. You need the right gaps to open and that’s not guaranteed.