The Vodacom Durban July post-mortems have been filed.
The 2018 running of Africa’s greatest will go down as something of a bizarre extended 1200m sprint – and that is without detracting in any way from the historic recordbreaking achievements of Anton Marcus and the Snaith Racing Team on the back of a very classy 3yo.
Top jockeys Garth Puller and Jeff Lloyd were unequivocal in their belief that there would be some kind of a pace on when we chatted to them a few days before the race last week.
Little did Lloyd realise that the topic of our conversation would contribute as materially as it did to him flying out of South Africa this week, a disappointed man and with the July never to be included on his dazzling CV.
Never a personality to mince his words, Puller said that the great race was probably the victim of a cocktail of realities – ‘some avoidable, some not’.
“The condition that it is an invitation race needs to be thrown out of the window. We are not going to retain the status or race credibility forever by not including the best horses. Or just acting on a whim of emotion or gut feel – call it what you like. Irrespective of the pace, the marginal inclusions ended up confirming their status and the likes of last year’s July Consolation winner Crowd Pleaser, who ran a great second in the same race on Saturday, and Dean Kannemeyer’s Gold Vase winner It’s My Turn, confirmed that on well-being and class they both deserved to be included in the July.”
Puller said that the omission of Crowd Pleaser particularly had come back to bite.
“We are all professors in hindsight, but Crowd Pleaser would have been a candidate as a pacemaker and could have prevented it from turning into a farce in the first half. It’s My Turn’s exclusion may have worked in the connections favour as he is showing nice staying ability – and the Gold Cup looks the obvious next step after his impressive 3000m win. Good luck to them!”
Easy as 1-2-3: Do It Again (Anton Marcus) beats Made To Conquer (Jeff loyd) and Elusive Silva (Bernard Fayd’herbe) in an all Snaith thriller (Pic – Gold Circle)
As for the race itself, Puller said that Jeff Lloyd had ridden a calculated race on Made To Conquer and made the running in the end, where he had looked dangerous close to home.
“Races are not run according to a script. I think that the prevalence of 3yo’s with stamina doubts contributed to the reluctance to go, together with the older horses who are not suited or had excuses on the day. For example, Abashiri was slow out and never got into any possible position to lead. White River was there under protest. Jeff (Lloyd) did as he said he would – he could not have gone much earlier than he did and he looked strong into the final stages. I personally don’t feel Grant van Niekerk covered himself in glory on African Night Sky. But the winner is a smart progressive 3yo – he came from 5 or 6 lengths off. A great ride in the circumstances by Anton (Marcus).”
Do It Again’s next target is likely to be the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met in the Cape summer.
Jeff Lloyd and Made To Conquer in the canter past (Pic – Gold Circle)
Runner-up Made To Conquer could carry topweight in the 3200m Gr3 Gold Cup on 28 July. His connections are reportedly keen to have a crack at our premier stamina event – a win in which could seal him the Equus Champion Stayer title.
Third-placed Elusive Silva, who has overcome two tendon setbacks, will run in the Gr1 Champions Cup at the Greyville Track on Super Saturday.
Trainer Paul Peter told Sporting Post that he had ‘no excuses’ and was proud of Majestic Mambo’s run into fourth. This was his first runner in the race.
“The pace did not suit us. The jockey did nothing wrong. Our boy acquitted himself with distinction. I’m proud to have been a part of it all. Majestic Mambo emptied the manger on Sunday and looked as if he hadn’t raced. He goes into quarantine for Dubai in ten days. He is an exciting prospect,” he said.
John Freeman selected Do It Again at sale – Jack and Nancy Mitchell are the lucky part-owners (Pic – Gold Circle)
The Official Handicapper treated the July result with some caution.
Elusive Silva (5,50 lengths back in third) was used as their line horse. Winner Do It Again went from a 110 to a 117, while second-placed Made To Conquer was pushed from 102 to 108.
For mathematical assessment purposes, the distance between second and third was reduced from 4,25 lengths to 3 lengths by the NHA Handicappers.
To put Saturday’s finish into perspective, here is a flashback to show actual distance (in lengths) between 3rd place and winner since 1996:
06/07/1996 Dollar Fortune 0.75
05/07/1997 Shah’s Star 1.50
04/07/1998 Golden Hoard 1.60
03/07/1999 Circle Of Life 3.50
01/07/2000 Free My Heart 1.55
07/07/2001 Double Reef 1.75
06/07/2002 Tytola 0.20
05/07/2003 Red Badge 1.75
03/07/2004 Red Badge 2.55
02/07/2005 Eventuail 1.00
01/07/2006 Equal Image 4.25
07/07/2007 Jagged Ice 0.30
05/07/2008 Bound By Honour 1.00
04/07/2009 Forest Path 2.00
31/07/2010 Orbison 4.50
02/07/2011 English Garden 2.00
07/07/2012 Chesalon 1.05
06/07/2013 Do You Remember 0.40
05/07/2014 Futura 0.60
04/07/2015 Tellina 1.25
02/07/2016 Mac de Lago 2.25
01/07/2017 Edict Of Nantes 0.35
07/07/2018 Elusive Silva 5.50
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