Ten Gun Salute – won the 1900 last year
Run at Greyville on Saturday, the Gr2 WSB 1900 is an important stepping stone to the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July and serves as one of four ‘preferential consideration’ races for the big one.
Liege won the Summer Cup
The race will be previewed in full and should be a competitive affair with eleven of the thirteen starters carrying a ‘July hopeful’ tag.
Sean Tarry’s July hopeful Liege won the first preferential consideration race, the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup.
The Gr3 Cup Trial and the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap – the latter known traditionally as the July last chance saloon – are the remaining two preferential consideration races still to be run after the 1900.
There are also ten automatic qualifier race – or golden tickets – for the July.
But sadly five horses already in possession of those passes won’t be taking up the VIP admission.
Dual SA Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle won the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate and, as usual, won’t be racing in KZN this season.
Joey Soma’s SA Classic winner Lobo’s Legend has been exported. The SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace was scratched by Mike de Kock from the July last week.
Hero”s Honour – rested
Gary Alexander’s SA Derby shock winner Hero’s Honour is not taking on the big guns and will be rested in advance of next season.
The Investec Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open is giving the July a miss as trainer Glen Kotzen is worried about the weight albatross for his top-rated 3yo.
That leaves two golden ticket entries in the balance:
Gr1 Sun Met winner Oh Susanna is only a ‘50/50 chance’ to run in the July – that in the words of Jono Snaith.
Coral Fever – suitability to Greyville in question
Even the Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Coral Fever is no certainty. Trainer Robbie Sage told the Sporting Post that the Greyville track suitability was a serious consideration in determining whether the talented son of Judpot would make the trip to the coast.
Three golden ticket races still to be run are the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 on 2 June, and then finally the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, which is run on 9 June.
The final July field is capped at twenty, with two reserve runners to be carded. Thus only eighteen can start
