Challenge on for Durban July places
The fight for a place in the R4.25million Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1) is reaching fever pitch and a large group of candidates will make their final bids for an invitation to participate by featuring strongly in one of three qualifying events that sees the running of the R1-million Rising Sun Gold Challenge (Grade 1) at Greyville on Saturday, 9 June.
In the case of the Irish-bred filly Cascapedia, trainer Mike de Kock has nominated the four-year-old for all three races – the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and Cup Trial at Greyville as well as the Jubilee Handicap at Turffontein.
De Kock has also nominated his three-year-old Australian-bred colt, Yakeen, for the Cup Trial and the Jubilee Handicap as has Johan Janse van Vuuren with his Captain Al colt, Crowd Pleaser.
The top 1600m weight-for-age clash heads the Greyville card that also features the R300,000, Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m which, together with the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, are the last major July qualifying races in KwaZulu-Natal for the premier event a month later.
Nominated for the Rising Sun Gold Challenge alone is the top filly Snowdance from the Justin Snaith stable, with former July winner Legislate who will be out to prove that his ninth position on the current July Log is justified.
Among the entries for the Rising Sun Gold Challenge , Captain America from the Brett Crawford yard, along with stable companion Undercover Agent and Sean Tarry has entered Liege and Trip To Heaven.
The Cup Trial over 1800m has drawn the bulk of the July nominees including the Vodacom Durban July favourite, African Night Sky from the Justin Snaith yard. Snaith has also nominated Star Express and Platinum Prince and Dean Kannemeyer has seven nominations including his two July entries The Slade and Mambo Mime.
The Rising Sun Gold Challenge day also includes the R400,000 Tibouchina Stakes (Grade 2), the weight-for-age clash for fillies and mares over 1400m along with the three finals of the KZN Winter Challenge Series that make it one of the biggest and most important meetings of Champions Season.
Entries for the R1-million Rising Sun Gold Challenge (Grade 1) over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday 9 June.
6 CAPTAIN AMERICA (B Crawford) 60.0
8 CELTIC CAPTAIN (M Dixon) 60.0
15 COPPER FORCE (S J Snaith) 60.0
12 GOLD STANDARD (G S Kotzen) 60.0 5 LEGISLATE (S J Snaith) 60.0 9 LIEGE (S G Tarry) 60.0 14 PEROVSKIA (H W Crawford) 60.0
2 SAIL SOUTH (B Crawford) 60.0
11 TRIP TO HEAVEN (S G Tarry) 60.0 1 NAAFER (M F de Kock) 58.5 7 ROY HAD ENOUGH (F Robinson) 58.5
3 UNDERCOVER AGENT (B Crawford) 58.5
10 CASCAPEDIA (M F de Kock) 57.5
13 STAR EXPRESS (S J Snaith) 57.5
4 SNOWDANCE (S J Snaith) 56.0