Futura top of July log
THREE-YEAR-OLDS: FIVE COLTS, SIX FILLIES COULD MAKE FIELD
Met winner Futura holds No 1 spot.
The first Vodacom Durban July log was released on Tuesday and as usual it is sure to draw a lot of discussion. The recent Grade 1 winners are packed at the top of the log, headed by Majmu, Futura and Wylie Hall.
Legal Eagle will attempt to become the third SA Derby winner this century to win the July and is the highest placed three-year-old male on the log in fifth, one behind the highest placed three-year-old filly, Majmu. There are six threeyear-old fillies in the top 20 on the log, which must be a record.
Three-year-old The Conglomerate was an impressive winner of the KRA Guineas last Saturday and not only was his merit rating raised to 108, but he is now quoted at 8-1 alongside last year’s July winner, Legislate. He is one of five three-year-old males in the top 20 and finds himself in position No 13, one behind the oldest horse in the top 20, the seven-year-old gelding Gold Onyx, who is known as a Greyville specialist.
The Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge was the only race in South Africa to make it onto the IFHA’s recent top 100 races in the world list, but the winner of this race last year, the 113 merit rated King Of Pain, finds himself outside of the top 20 too. He finished a 1.75 length second to Futura in last season’s Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m, despite carrying joint top weight. The grounds for his omission from the top 20 can only have to do with his relative inactivity since then, having had only two more runs, including a lacklustre performance in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over1400m on Saturday.
Another possible surprise is the omission of the Joey Somatrained Athina from the top 20 as she flew up for a head second in the prestigious Grade 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m. The reason might be her only against the boys in a Grade 1 saw her well beaten in the Sansui Summer Cup.
The twice-placed Triple Tiara bridesmaid Trophy Wife, who also finished runner up to Majmu in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes, is not in the top 25, which could be counted as another surprise considering she comes from a vintage crop, whereas Deputy Jud, coming from a relatively disappointing crop of male three-year-olds, finds himself in position No 15 on the log after Triple Crown third and second-place finishes.
The reason could be that Deputy Jud has proved his stamina reserves by finishing runner up in the SA Derby.
The maximum field size has been increased this year from 16 to 18 runners. The panel has also selected two reserve runners in order of preference and the next five favoured horses in alphabetical order.
The next log will be issued on 2 June. –