Nobody ever complains about the tasty sticky buns and piping hot coffee that once again muzzled the bite of the crisp early morning air at the official public gallops held today.
But the Vodacom Durban July final field composition has once again fired the public debate with the inevitable question marks over marginal inclusions, and a glaring exclusion, or two.
Not good enough – It’s My Turn wins the Derby on Saturday
It’s the super c’s that have again been found wanting as we move into the July build-up home straight.
Clarity on qualification criteria, and a bit of old-fashioned communication. If we had any, or even some, of them, we wouldn’t be scratching our heads and the focus would be on finding a winner – rather than a whinger.
The July race conditions are printed and clear. It is an express condition that Gold Circle reserves the right to exclude any horse, which, in its opinion, does not warrant inclusion in the race.
In addition, they have the right to exclude any horse at Declaration Stage, and to decide on the final field for the race. So Gr1 or not – it is their race to populate as they choose with what they deem fit. End of the discussion? Not quite.
Nobody is playing down the thankless task facing the panel who sat down to cram 32 hopes and dreams into 20 slots.
But with that sweeping right of rule vested in them by the race condition, and no specific criteria published, are they – whoever they may be – simply not on a self-inflicted hiding to nothing and reinforcing the notion of the old boy’s club subjectivity that has clouded the race every year – and if one thinks about it, the industry at large, for decades? It is criticism simply waiting to happen.
It somehow doesn’t happen with the Met – and is probably less likely to happen now that the Cape flagship is a weight-for-age contest.
The general consensus of puzzlement around this year’s July field lies in the omission of the Dynasty gelding, It’s My Turn.
Fred Crabbia – disappointed
The Fred Crabbia-owned 5yo, a winner of the prestigious Gr1 Investec Cape Derby, has not had the best of luck but bounced back to form with a smart win – his first in over two years – in last Saturday’s Gr3 Track & Ball Derby.
Fair enough, he was weighted to win and beat little of note beyond his stablemate and 2017 Derby winner Mr Winsome and the East Cape Derby runaway winner, American Landing. But his success was a training feat of note and a serious shout of a return to form.
So let’s tick some imaginary boxes – he is a Gr1 winner; distance proven and rated 108, with fitness and current form. He hails from a yard that has trained three July winners – that’s a soft issue, so who really cares? But he ticks a good few of the boxes, surely?
Interestingly, 80% of the final field have never won a Gr1.
Eleven of them are rated below It’s My Turn on their official ratings.
Exactly sixteen did not win a Group race at their last start.
The July is run over 2200 – fully 75% of the field have not won past 2000m.
There are two horses in the field that have never won a feature race.
Brett Crawford’s 3yo White River (108) was runner-up in the Gr1 Cape Guineas and the Gr2 Selangor Cup. He hasn’t won since October 2017. He was on the fringes in the Gr1 Daily News and under two lengths off Surcharge.
Paul Lafferty – Dark Moon Rising gets in
Gold Circle Director Paul Lafferty’s Dark Moon Rising, the lowest rated horse in the field, has also never won a feature. He caught the eye when runner-up to Elusive Silva in the Gr2 Betting World 1900.
Then what about Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg winner, Sabina’s Dynasty (106). Her connections were very hopeful – they won a Gr2 – they really thought they had done enough. But there’s no checklist, remember.
Despite the lack of understanding, there is unlikely to be any major public backlash or sensational court action over It’s My Turn’s exclusion.
Owner Fred Crabbia and trainer Dean Kannemeyer are gentlemen sportsmen.
Dean Kannemeyer – ‘we have to accept the decision’
“Disappointing but we have to live with the decision and move on,”said Kannemeyer.
“I can’t work this one out. I think they owe me an explanation – just as a matter of principle,”said Fred Crabbia, who has been a major owner for many years. He also owns race favourite African Night Sky – maybe the panel thought he wouldn’t notice It’s My Turn?
Ironically a similar fate befell Fred Crabbia in 2013 with Champions Cup winner Master Plan. The Gr1 winning Varsfontein-bred son of Jet Master was a surprise July reject and came out and won the Schweppes 2200 (the Consolation) on the day.
It’s still Africa’s Greatest – but they need to sort the housekeeping out and not risk this negative publicity – and the likelihood of chasing good people away.
Ed – Gold Circle and the NHA have not responded to our request on Tuesday for a reponse to Mr Fred Crabbia
