Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock will saddle two runners in next week’s
2024 HWB Durban July at Greyville. Both Shoemaker (6) and Aragosta (7) received good positions when the stall gates were drawn at a ceremony in Durban earlier this week.
They’re longshots for the race – Betway is offering as much as 51-1 on both – but Mike believes both runners have a money chance. He said: “At long odds you can’t get hurt backing them for the places. Both have come through their preparations well and have some fair form at this high level. It’s an open race at the weights, many with chances.” (More on the July pair and others entered for the July meeting, next week).
Mike has only two runners this weekend, both at Turffontein’s standside meeting on Sunday afternoon.
Wolf Mountain, who won his Maiden in good style a fortnight ago, faces well-performed Graded runner Pistol Pete and another recent winner Bjorn Ironside in Race 3 over 1160m. The trainer said: “Pistol Pete has faced stronger and Bjorn Ironside won well. But if they fluff their lines, our Wolf Mountain will pick up the pieces. He’s in with a shout, a nice type of horse.”
Festival Of Fire broke the ice with his own Maiden win over 1600m last time when he ran on strongly. He returns in Race 6 over 1800, facing stronger, but Mike advised his inclusion in all bets. He said: “I like this horse, his Maiden win was overdue. He had one bad run when he was coughing, that can be excused. He has no breathing problems. He is nicely drawn and has a money chance.”
With a spread of only 4kg from the top to the bottom of the handicap and a rating of 112, Grade 1 winner Mrs Geriatrix could be too good for her male rivals in Race 7, the R600,000 KZN Breeders Mile on turf at HWB Greyville on Saturday. Last season’s Equus Champion Two-Year-Old has not won since last October, but has raced competitively in significantly stronger company. Her places in two Grade 1 classics over 1600m suggest she is capable of winning over this trip. She prepped well over 1450m this month and should get back in the winner’s circle.
There are two supporting features on the card. Sean Tarry’s Magic Tattoo seeks a repeat success in Race 4, the Bloomhill Stud KZN Breeders 1200 on the Polytrack, a race he won last year and for which a field of similar strength has been assembled. He has a chunk more weight to shoulder, however, and runners like course and distance specialist Russian Doll, and multiple winner Convocation come into the reckoning too.
In-form trainer Alyson Wright can win the Macrath Stud KZN Breeders 1900m (Race 5) with four-year-old Pirate Prince, who has good course and distance form and has been threatening to win a race of this nature for some time. He has a wide draw to contend with, but has the gate speed to overcome this.
There is top Group racing at The Curragh in Ireland this weekend and Betway will be offering the best available odds.
Saturday sees the running of the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 2000m, the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes over 1200m and the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes over 2000m. Star filly Emily Upjohn was just short of her best when fourth to Luxembourg in last month’s Group 1 Coronation Cup. She’ll be better off for the run and looks hard to beat in the Pretty Polly.
Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles, second and third respectively in the Group 1 Betfred Derby to City Of Troy at Epsom, renew rivalry in Sunday’s Group 1 Irish Derby over 2400m.
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