Sean Tarry – professional approach
SA champion trainer elect Sean Tarry has scratched his fillies Siren’s Call and Trophy Wife from the Vodacom Durban July after both had not pulled up as well as he would have liked following Saturday’s Daily News meeting.
This still leaves the powerful Tarry attack with nine entries amongst the 44 still in the big race, which will be run on 4 July.
Despite running the worst race of her illustrious career to date, when finishing one from last and some eighteen lengths back in Saturday’s Gr1 Daily News 2000, Tarry is not entirely convinced that the gutsy Elusive Fort filly Siren’s Call does not perform at Greyville.
Tarry, who continued his very best season to date and is well on track to celebrating his first SA champion trainer title, saddled French Navy to win the prestige July pointer for high-class 3yo’s.
“Siren’s Call eat up on Sunday morning but after consulting with her owner and our Vet, we decided to rest her with a possible Cape summer campaign in mind,” he said.
Siren’s Call – to be rested
He said that the Daily News run was obviously disappointing for owner Peter De Beyer and his team.
Siren’s Call’s regular pilot Piere Strydom had openly expressed reservations about her being suited to Greyville.
“She battles to get going at Turffontein. So that suggests she will battle at Greyville,” said Strydom prior to Saturday’s thriller.
Tarry responded today,saying that Strydom was a top jockey and that he had every respect for his opinion.
“She is a temperamental filly and there is every likelihood that she would have found the Greyville track strange. Saturday was the first time she had been there. And yes, she may well not have enjoyed the track – but then if she was strange, she could also possibly not have enjoyed the ride and being pushed early,” he said in a reference to Strydom’s urgings to get his mount going earlier, in view of the short straight.
“Maybe the combination counted against her. She should possibly have just been left to her own devices and allowed to kick on when she was ready. Like French Navy. The thing is, nobody can be blamed. It is a discovery in process and we have various theories – and these can only be put to the test in the heat of battle. And the Daily News is a great race and something of a baptism of fire on any day.”
French Navy – back at home
Chris Van Niekerk owned Trophy Wife had run a great race in the Gr1 Woolavington, when chasing Smart Call and Pine Princess home. She has also earned a break.
Daily News 2000 winner French Navy was also back at his Gauteng home base and would be prepped for the July from there.
“I feel that the Summerveld polytrack is a bit firm for him and he has done well from home. I obviously would not have travelled twice to KZN if I felt that the track was suitable for him,” confirmed Tarry.
He said that he had also put a line through the run of his Teofilo filly Tamaanee in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 after she had pulled up with a bent shoe, which was pointing into her hoof.
“That must have caused her some discomfort and that wasn’t her run at all,” he cautioned.
The latest July log will be published on Tuesday afternoon.
