Heavy Metal – shades of 2013?
A victory in today’s R250 000 Gr3 Jubilee Handicap run on the Turffontein standside 1800m won’t guarantee a magical golden backdoor ticket into the Vodacom Durban July. But a forward showing must surely force the big race selection committee to stand up and take notice as they perform their thankless task. And with three of his seven July entries lining up, Sean Tarry will be watching matters very closely.
Last year the July selection panel nominated ten Gr1 race winner golden tickets and four ‘preferential consideration’ races. The latter were the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup, the Gr2 Betting World 1900, the Gr3 Cup Trial and the Gr3 Betting World Jubilee Handicap.
We have seen no such formal commitment this year and with eight of Sunday’s nine Jubilee runners on the 40 strong July entry list, many of the connections will obviously be hoping for a decent performance from their four-legged dream merchants to claw their way into the reckoning.
Only Legal Eagle is safe.
With the Post Merchants sprint run at Greyville on Friday 19 June and the testing Track And Ball Derby run at Scottsville just a day prior to July final declarations on 22 June, the Jubilee is practically a last chance saloon for the majority -bar one or two exceptions.
Dream Run
Sean Tarry – philosophocal
Our SA champion trainer elect Sean Tarry has enjoyed a dream season and is looking for positive performances from his trio on Sunday.
He took a philosophical approach to this year’s big race, deciding not to embroil himself in energy sapping politics.
“My job is to prepare my horses for the July and ensure that they are in peak trim come the big day. I am confident that the selection committee will apply their minds and produce the best field on the facts at their disposal. However, I must say that I am surprised that Cagiva and past winner Heavy Metal are not at least in the top twenty-five. Cagiva had a long break and his return run was over a too short 1160m. He then ran third behind the in-form in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes. His form is very respectable. Heavy Metal returned from overseas and he is a class act. They take some time to settle back in and attain their peak performance levels. I’d like to see all three running on well and showing their well-being on Sunday,” he said.
Interestingly, the lightly raced Cagiva has course and distance victories over both Wylie Hall and Killua Castle to his credit. With regular pilot Piere Strydom up he must have major claims.
Heavy Metal ran second in this race in 2013, before going on to win the 2013 Vodacom Durban July when he downed Run For It.
Can he repeat those steps two years later?
Too Short?
Legal Eagle – may prefer it further
Of his SA Derby winner Legal Eagle, Sean said that the 3yo son of Greys Inn was definitely already a July runner (he is at sixth position on the log published on 2 June), and confirmed that he just wants to see him running on and finishing his race well.
“Legal Eagle is a young horse carrying topweight. I feel that the 1800m may just be a touch on the sharp side for him. He won over 2000m on soft going with a light weight and then the 2450m of the Derby also on the soft. He takes a little while to get going and I’m running him here as part of his prep. The race will bring him on and I while I would love him to win it, I am looking for signs of wellbeing. I am confident that all three of my runners are on the right track and will be competitive and out to do their best,” he concluded.
Geoff Woodruff’s Killua Castle won this race last year and he returns from KZN where he finished tenth and 4 lengths behind Dynastic Power in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 at his last outing three weeks back.
While he was finishing his race, that was his fourth dull run on the trot and he needs to find his original enthusiasm for racing.
Nicely In
Trainer Tyrone Zackey – will be hoping Judicial raises his game
Tyrone Zackey’s Judicial finished 9,25 lengths behind Wylie in the Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge on Champions Day.
His best recent effort was his 2,60 length behind Killua Castle in the Gr3 London News Stakes. He meets the Woodruff galloper on 2,5 kgs better terms – but needs to raise his game again.
Joey Soma’s Rushmore River looks nicely in on the 52 kg mark and could produce a big run.
He beat Heavy Metal by 2,30 lengths last time behind Halve The Deficit, with Meissa (7,10 lengths) and Eurakilon (9,15 lengths) further back. Rusmore River is 2kgs better off with both Heavy Metal and Meissa.
The Ormond Ferraris-trained Eurakilon is the only non – July entrant and he ran 10,25 lengths off Halve The Deficit last time.
He is better off with both Heavy Metal and Meissa and will enjoy the 200m extra.
Tarry Trio
Sean Tarry holds the trumpcard with his trio.
It may be on the short side for Legal Eagle, while Gagiva and Heavy Metal should go close at best as they attain peak fitness.
The lightly weighted Rushmore River could burgle it if he is allowed to dictate matters.
The July countdown continues.
