It has been four long years since trainer Tyrone Zackey came within a heartbeat of winning the Vodacom Durban July. The charismatic Gauteng based horseman gets another big opportunity when he saddles Judicial in today’s R250 000 Gr3 Jubilee Handicap at Turffontein. This race is the literal last chance saloon for July hopefuls.
Remember? Tyrone Zackey will! Pomodoro holds off Smanjemanje
There are few that will ever forget those heart stopping final strides of the 2012 Vodacom Durban July when a very young and inexperienced Grant Van Niekerk threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the gallant Kahal gelding Smanjemanje, as he failed by a nostril to collar a flying Pomodoro with Piere Strydom in the saddle.
Trainer Tyrone Zackey
Tyrone would have long gotten over that disappointment and he will have high hopes that Andrew Fortune can wave his magic wand and get Judicial into the winners box on Sunday.
The son of Miesque’s Approval showed courage winning his last start in a four horse field and has run some cracking races in strong company.
Top weighted Summer Cup runner up, Deo Juvente, has his first run after a 22 week absence since running 3rd 1.15 lengths off the since exported Light The Lights in the Peninsula Handicap.
He was scratched from the Met after an accident at Milnerton and is likely to need it.
Sean Tarry has a pair of runners headed by the Gr3 Algoa Cup winner, Stonehenge.
The powerful front running son of Seventh Rock lost the Colorado King in the boardroom and was then outclassed when downfield in the Premier’s Champion Challenge.
The game Stonehenge wins the Algoa Cup
He is no star and his regular reports of respiratory noise are of concern. He looks the likely pacesetter.
S’Manga Khumalo takes the ride on stablemate Liege who may be the stable elect. The son of Dynasty was well beaten in the SA Classic and showed some pace before running off Rabada in the Daily News.
Reverting to handicap competition here, he may be a fair consideration off a handy galloping weight of 52kgs.
Ormond Ferraris – saddles Romany Prince
Ormond Ferraris’ Romany Prince has the dubious distinction of sweeping the floor on the July log – holding position 25 and appearing to need every ounce of luck to scrape in.
He has beaten Judicial but looks held by the Zackey galloper on the weight turnaround.
Errico Verdonese’s Diesel Jet is another optimistic July entrant who has run the odd decent race without putting it all together.
He was beaten just under a length by Greek Legend last time and that one failed to produce the fireworks in the Betting World 1900.
Mike Azzie’s Easy Lover has failed to produce the goods for his new owners but did show a flicker of improvement last time when 3rd 3.25 lengths behind Pivotal Pursuit. He should battle here.
Mike De Kock – Jubilee Line could improve
Mike De Kock’s R3 Million Dynasty gelding Jubilee Line has not quite set the world alight to date and meets Judicial on a 0.5 kg worst terms than when beaten by the older Zackey galloper a length last time out.
Jubilee Line would have to show substantially more to gain July recognition.
Joey Soma’s talented Western Winter gelding Rainy Day Blues steps up in class and looks to be a very optimistic July entrant at this stage of the game. That said, the 4yo has won four of his eleven starts and is on the up.
All told the nine horse field represents a tightly contested puzzle for the punter and with the increased carrot of the July in the background, there will be no love lost.
Judicial – big effort expected at best
Tyrone Zackey’s Judicial could prove to be the right one in the hands of Andrew Fortune at decent pace and he is the selection to beat Rainy Day Blues and Stonehenge.
Important Vodacom Durban July dates to diarise:
Weights Published: Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 20 June 2016
Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Public Gallops: 7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 23 June 2016
