Will Hollywoodbets ante-post favourite Hawwaam run in the Vodacom Durban July or won’t he?
Saturday’s HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes winner showed that he could be returning to his lethal best with a polished performance to register his fourth Gr1 success.
Will he run? July favourite Hawwaam (Pic – JC Photos)
The real question with Hawwaam, who was dramatically scratched at the start of last year’s Vodacom Durban July, is, however, not whether he will be a big runner on 25 July – but whether he will be a runner at all!
Trainer Mike de Kock indicated after his win on Saturday that his owner Sheikh Hamdan was very keen to have the son of Silvano competing on the world stage.
The temperamental champion turns 5 on 1 August, so it’s now or never, really.
As Gold Circle report, if the European Union protocols are approved, Hawwaam will take his place – but if the colt is to be exported via Mauritius he will need to be in quarantine before the race.
As has been the case for seemingly ever, there are the export issues to navigate before the July and his participation cannot be assured.
And a betting man who has followed the ongoing tale of industry efforts to normalise matters on the exports front would understand the chances as they look right now.
In November last year we got the news that despite an impasse that had occurred because of a trade dispute between the EU and South Africa over poultry, they would do an audit.
In January we had confirmation that the audit would happen between 20 April and 1 May 2020.
Then Covid-19 arrived.
On Monday South African Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP) Managing Director Adrian Todd told Turf Talk that the Covid-19 pandemic had naturally been a setback to the long hoped for next step in gaining some normality.
“It has obviously been a setback, Without Covid-19 the EU audit would have been conducted in late April and we would currently be eagerly awaiting the audit results and the resumption of normalised trade. But the world is in ‘reset’ mode and we’re having to plan afresh. The last couple of months have meant that the world was basically in a total shutdown. From a Government perspective, Ministers and Departmental heads were focused on COVID-19 worldwide. While the pandemic is of course still a very major focus, the world economy is also ramping back up,” suggested Todd.
He said that the EU have confirmed their intention to conduct the audit as soon as it is possible to travel.
“However with all the changes taking place in the world right now, many of the old ways of doing things have had to change. Even more will have to change as we move forward, and not just from a health perspective. To that end we are continuing to explore the virtual audit. I believe this concept will gain traction as a viable option going forward. This concept is in the early stages of discussion, these sorts of decisions are not something that one person can make. While I am very well aware of the frustrations the process of governmental decision-making bring to the commercial world, there is a process and it is taking place. I am confident that the delay will not be long,” concluded Todd.
So if Hawwaam looks unlikely and Justin Snaith is urging fans to watch Do It Again’s run in the Gold Challenge first, maybe we should be looking for other value in the current fifty strong entrant betting chain?
Do It Again -bids for a third July (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Do It Again would become the first horse in the 123-year history of South African’s most famous race to achieve the treble. So one could argue he is up against it and he has not been out since a disappointing effort in the Sun Met at Kenilworth – but put in a pleasing gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday.
A somewhat surprising omission from the July entries was Sunday’s Gr2 World Sport’s Betting Guineas winner, Wild Coast, but with two further entry dates, Snaith still has opportunity.
Rainbow Bridge, second last year, and second in the Sun Met, has not been seen out since the Met but will be out for revenge and bids to give stalwart owner Mike Rattray the victory in a race he so desperately wants to win.
Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Stable companion to Rainbow Bridge and Gr1 Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat, was an eye-catching third in last Sunday’s World Sport’s Betting Guineas and has also been nominated by trainer Eric Sands.
Vardy, a touch disappointing when third in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes last Sunday, was a cracking winner of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and will surely come on from that race after a four-month break from the track.
Marcus has also entered Twist Of Fate, third last year for Joey Ramsden. Twist Of Fate is carded to run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.
An interesting nomination by Dean Kannemeyer who has won this race twice, is KZN Derby winner It’s My Turn, off the track with injury for over a year.
Other notable entries are impressive Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes winner Bunker Hunt and Soqrat.
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