Elusive Silva first to the post
THE Justin Snaith-trained Elusive Silva put himself in the Vodacom Durban July picture when producing a fine finishing burst to win the Grade 2 WSB 1900 at Greyville yesterday under Bernard Fayd'herbe.
Last year the five-year-old Silvano gelding strained a tendon at the July gallops and had to be scratched from the big race.
Snaith revealed after yesterday’s win the robust chestnut was one of his favourite horses due to his big heart.
The yard put in a lot of work to get him back to his best.
The Paul Lafferty-trained Dark Moon Rising confirmed himself to be a typically improving four-year-old son of Ideal World by running on for a 0,5 length second.
Fort Ember
He was officially the worst weighted horse in the race, being 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Fort Ember, so that will aid his July cause as he proved himself better than his relatively low 95 merit rating.
Matador Man was the unlucky horse in the race as he was baulked from the 350m mark to the 200m mark as with no false rail the jockeys stuck to the inside strip.
Upon seeing daylight he ran on well for third.
He once again proved he loves Greyville and is down at the coast.
He is considered one with stamina limitations, but had little problem in last year’s Champions Cup over 1800m and in yesterday’s race.
None of the first three even appeared among the reserves in the first July log, so they have caused the need for a big reshuffle.
Platinum Prince was a short-head fourth and Ollivander was nest best.
It’s My Turn
a different horse
They were unsighted on the first July log and would have needed to do better. It’s My Turn in sixth was a borderline horse on the log, but ran disappointingly.
The original 1900 favourite Pack Leader was scratched after showing slight signs of colic on course.
The Glen Kotzen yard said there had been a lot of money for the horse and decided not to risk it.
However, he is sound and back.
Kampala Kampari set a steady pace. Elusive Silva came from some way back and not for the first time showed an exceptional turn of foot.
Silvano’s progeny love Greyville and he will now no doubt be prominent in the July betting.
Snaith, Fayd’herbe and Silvano made it a quick double when the filly Star Express won a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m from an unlucky African Night Sky.
Star Express was 16th on the first will be July log and would have solidified her place.
However, Dynasty gelding African Night Sky showed why he is the joint July favourite with Betting World as he was hampered while running on powerfully and finished with long strides for second.
The
Botha
Rose.
He walked away but was taken to hospital to be observed for concussion.
Earlier, the Andre Nel-trained Australian-bred daughter of Fastnet incident caused jockey Piet to fall off the slowing Steel Rock, Ngaga, was an impressive winner of the Listed East Coast Cup over 2000m.
She was merit rated 99 going into the race and also put her hand up for a place in the July, having not appeared on the first log.