Capetown Noir, fifth on the Vodacom Durban July log, is far from certain to run in the great race and he may be sent overseas instead of being retired to stud at the end of the season.
Michael Clower writes on www,goldcircle.co.za that Dean Kannemeyer, who won the July with Dynasty 11 years ago and again with Eyeofthetiger three years later, has indicated reservations in the build up to the bi race.
“There is a big question mark about the race as we are concerned about the 2 200m and so there is a possibility that Capetown Noir may not run. We will see how things go in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Clairwood on June 7 and I will discuss it with the owners.” It had been widely assumed that the dual classic and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner would be retired to cash in on his stud value after contesting the Champions Cup on July 26. But not so.
The Milnerton trainer explained: “I have been speaking to Khaya Stables [the official owners] and Jehan Malherbe about this and we are considering the possibility of sending him on an overseas campaign.
“He was going to go last year but we decided to keep him here for another season after he was narrowly beaten by Vercingetorix in the KRA Guineas and the Daily News. As things turned out that was pretty good form. We will make a decision after the Gold Challenge.”
Kannemeyer added that he was quite satisfied with the four-year-old’s third in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes. He said: “It was not really his game because the 1 400m at Greyville is too sharp for him but he came through it well and the Gold Challenge will be his next race.”
Capetown Noir is a 20-1 chance for the July and most of the money in recent days has been for Legislate who has been cut from 9-2 to 7-2 clear favourite while Triple Crown winner Louis The King has eased from 9-2 to 5-1.
Seemingly the Snaith’s KRA Guineas winner’s support is matched by his improvement since winning the Investec Cape Derby.
Justin Snaith said: “He was always going to improve as he is a son of Dynasty. He took the KRA Guineas well and indeed he is doing well in Durban. He appreciates the light tracks there.”
Gold Circle recently reported that the Snaith yard have emphasised that the ruling Vodacom Durban July favourite Legislate (7-2) is not a certainty to run in the big race on the first Saturday of July. The three-year-old Dynasty colt’s long term aim is the Dubai Carnival. However, his priorities before he leaves will be the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the Gr 1 J&B Met.
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