Snaith’s twin attack

JUSTIN Snaith has two Dynasty four-year-olds in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1 200m at Greyville tomorrow, the Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate and the Gr 2 Post Merchants winner over course and distance Daring Dave.

He said about Legislate: “He was injured in the Drill Hall due to the faulty starting gates and going into the July with only one run after six months would have been a big ask.”

Legislate had also apparently been a little difficult in the stalls after being loaded late before his victory in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge. Snaith said he had later been led to believe by the starter that whatever had been done to help him on the day might not be possible in the Vodacom Durban July (which had a much bigger field). This made the decision to not run him in the July slightly easier.

“With the lack of a proper preparation you can’t take chances, not over 2 200m, so my I proposed to the owners an easier route and look after him for the Cape Summer.”

Legislate is unbeaten in four starts at Greyville, all of them Gr 1s from 1600m-2200m. Snaith said it was hard to say whether he had the speed to win the Mercury but had decided upon this option because there was nothing else left for him in the KZN season.

“We’re taking our chances over a sprint, to sharpen him up a bit for the Cape Summer Season. We have him in the Champions Cup too just in case.”

He said about the gelding Daring Dave: “Very fast, loves Greyville, he should run his race. I said before the Merchants that you wouldn’t have to worry about his Scottsville run and it was exactly that. I expect a good run and just because he’s course suited, distance suited, has a nice draw and a top jockey, he’s got to be in with a chance. But it’s a strong field and at level weights I don’t know whether he might be a little outgunned. But off a 107 merit rating there are no other races so you have to take your chances.”

Snaith runs Buckinghampshire in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1 200m, where he is drawn 10 with Richard Fourie up. He said: “He’s very well, he will run a big race.”

Snaith said he was not concerned about the trip being too far for the Lonhro colt, and felt at Greyville a horse could get away with it anyway.

“He’s drawn a bit wide but he has a lot of speed and I think the fact that he will like Greyville is more important than anything else.

“I’m quietly expecting a big run from this horse. If things go his way he could win it.”