Snaith sends out stern challenge to opposing three-year-olds
At the weights the only older horses “who can give the threeyear-olds a go” in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July are “my horses”, says trainer Justin Snaith.
“The three-year-olds are slung in this year,” he said. “It’s like the handicappers forgot to give them weight. They are rated as if they aren’t remarkable.
“Luckily I’ve brought a couple of four-year-olds who are well weighted. If they weren’t they wouldn’t have a chance.”
Of course, he said, the outcome will “depend on the running of the race because it’s impossible to predict in a roughrun race. Luck in running will count for lots”.
Snaith had five horses carded, but had to pull Elusive Silva out after the official gallops at Greyville last Thursday because he injured a tendon in the workout. Of the four remaining, he said: “I couldn’t be happier, although two will have to overcome bad draws.”
He has talked up a storm about Black Arthur since the horse first made his debut in 2015. The Silvano gelding ran in this race as a three-year-old last year, carrying 55.5kg (having done very little at Grade 1 level), but got hampered late and finished seventh behind The Conglomerate. He had his problems during the Cape summer season and had to be gelded but seems to be coming well at just the right time.
He was badly drawn and needed the run when a close-up 10th behind Marinaresco in the Drill Hall Stakes in May and was then beaten only 0.55 lengths from a wide draw by Elusive Silva in the Cup Trial in June.
“He’s had a perfect preparation and out of all my horses, came out of the July gallops the best. He’s got a good draw, a nice weight – giving Edict Of Nantes 0.5kg – and a good big-race rider. He’s stronger than last year and better physically prepared for the rough and tumble of a July. So he’s got a lot going for him.”
Snaith said he had schemed and planned to get last year’s Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn into the July with a reasonable weight. This son of Dynasty will carry 55.5kg, the same as he had last year when fourth.
He has had one run since running in the Sun Met and that was a staying-on third behind Ten Gun Salute in the Betting World 1900, one of the more important trials for the July.
“I didn’t want the penalties, so he’s been carefully placed,” said Snaith. “He doesn’t take a lot of racing and he’s coming well at the right time. He’s spot on.
“He’s also got a master July jockey in Piere Strydom. He equals two lengths in the July. And I’m not concerned about his wide draw. The only draws that are problematic in the July are inside draws. They are very difficult to negotiate at Greyville.”
Snaith’s two older horses are long shots in the betting, with dual SANSUI Summer Cup winner Master Sabina on offer at 33-1 and Krambambuli a 50-1 chance.
“For a horse who’s won two Summer Cups, I think 57.5kg is not a bad weight for Master Sabina,” commented Snaith. “He’s a fantastic horse, a big-race type of horse who needed his last run (his debut for the stable). I wouldn’t be surprised to see him firing up late.
“As for Krambambuli, he’s in very good form at the moment and he looks amazing. He stays all day, loves Greyville and with a hard-run race, will be in the firing line.”