The three Ashburton-based runners for Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July were all in good order on Tuesday.
Ten Gun Salute
Ten Gun Salute, his every move stalked by his private security, stretched nicely over 800m on the sand with big race rider Muzi Yeni aboard.
“He’s spot on,” said Yeni. “His gallop at Greyville was excellent. He’s much better on the grass than the sand but has been working well. I was not on the horse for his last three runs but he seems to have calmed down a lot. He’s still a colt and was very difficult when he first started.”
“2200m will be right up his alley,” said Duncan Howells.
Saratoga Dancer did similar work under work rider Debbie Dick. “He went very well. I think Duncan’s got him at his best for Saturday.”
Saratoga Dancer
However, Howells cautioned, “I’m stretching him a bit but given some luck in running he will be right there.”
Mac de Lago had an easy morning, doing a couple of laps of the trotting ring under the watchful eye of Weiho Marwing and assistant Amy McMullen. Marwing, at first fearful that a slow-run July would be detrimental to the chances of Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner has had a change of tune.
“I first thought a slow pace wouldn’t suit us but I think I may be wrong,” he said.
Mac De Lago
“If we can be 10 lengths off the pace turning for home Bernie (Fayd’Herbe) can see what’s in front of him. I think we will have a chance; he can turn it on,” Marwing said of ‘Big Mac’. “The big thing is not to break his stride.”
Mac De Lago got a seven-pound penalty for his Rising Sun win which will not have done his July chances any favours but Marwing pointed out that the filly Dancer’s Daughter won the Challenge and followed up in the July.
“He’s one of five runners not under sufferance in the race and he has been placed behind top horses over the Turffontein 2000m before. Any horse that gets the Turffontein 2000m should see out the 2200m at Greyville,” Marwing added.
