Snaith to do it again?

DURBAN JULY: FORMER CHAMPION TRAINER HOLDS STRONG HAND

Five-year-old gelding Do It Again will attempt unprecedented three victories next month.

Justin Snaith, who already has four Vodacom Durban July titles to his name, trains nearly one fifth of the 52 horses entered for the 2020 big race. The former champion conditioner had Do It Again at the top of his list at the first entry stage on Monday.

If he stands his ground, this five-year-old gelding will be attempting an unprecedented three July victories.

The country’s most famous horse race is due to be contested over 2 200m behind closed doors at Greyville on the later-than-usual slot of 25 July – having been postponed due to coronavirus lockdown disruptions to the racing calendar.

All the well-backed horses in the ante-post betting are among the entries, including the Mike de Kock-trained star Hawwaam, who showed much of his earlier brilliance in winning the Grade of entries is Bunker Hunt, who was full of running in landing the 1 400m Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on Sunday. Bookmakers trimmed him to 13-1 after that impressive showing.

A little surprisingly, Snaith’s other feature winner on Sunday, Wild Coast, who got up in the final stride to take out the Grade 2 WSB Guineas, is not among his July fleet.

Sachdev, the Snaith stable choice in the 1 600m Guineas who finished a close-up fourth, is among the entries, along with this year’s July “talking horse” Belgarion, who bookies are taking no chances with by posting him at 8-1. –