The Sean Tarry-trained five-year-old Greys Inn gelding Litigation has halved in price to 33/1 for the Hollywoodbets Durban July following his easy 2,25 length victory in the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
It was his second successive stakes win over the course and distance.
His Turffontein Standside 1800m course and distance record now reads six starts, four wins, including two Gr3’s and a Listed race, one second in a Listed race and a fourth in a Gr 3.
The key to his two sucessive feature race wins has been the employment of the front-running tactic.
Gavin Lerena aboard for his wins in both the Listed Richard Maponya Handicap and his win on Saturday.
Saturday’s race was run under weight for age plus penalties conditions.
Litigation was drawn well in four and after breaking well did not have to work hard to get to the lead because Street Art drawn one inside of him was content to be reined back in order to be in the box seat.
Litigation went at a steady pace under a nice long rein.
However, at the 400m mark viewers couuld be forgiven for believing he was likely to be swamped, because Street Art and Meridius had begun good looking runs.
However, Lerena only actually started asking Litigation at the 400m mark and had left plenty in the tank.
Litigation duly found extra and the challengers weren’t able to make any inroads.
Litigation’s highclass stablemate Bless My Stars was running in the colours of Barry Irwin’s Team Valor International syndicate for the first time.
She was joint best in at the weights together with Bingwa and after being dropped out from draw five stayed on quite well for a 3,25 length fifth.
The Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Pure Predator was drawn wide and was dropped out. It was his first attempt at a middle distance race and he ran on in eyecatching fashion to claim a three length fourth.
However, he was receiving 5kg from the winner so was just half-a-kilogram under sufferance with him. On paper there was nothing special about the run compared to the winner, but compared to Bless My Stars it was a fine effort as he was 4kg under sufferance with her and beat her by 0,25 lengths.
Tarry identified the Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm-bred-Litigation as a possible July horse in his three-year-old year, but in the last two seasons this son of 2004 July winner Greys Inn has been a borderline horse who ultimately failed to make the final field on both occasions.
The courageous five-year-old gelding is making a bold bid this season to qualify for the country’s most famous race as was evidenced on Saturday.
Litigation ran off a 111 merit rating on Saturday and the Tony Peter-trained 107-rated runner up Street Art, beaten 2,25 lengths, was carrying the same weight.
If the latter is used as the line horse Litigation may escape with no raise at all. Street Art could well be used as the line horse, because he has very consistent middle distance form.
However, third-placed 110-rated Meridius is an equally suitable line horse having finished 0,30 lengths behind Litigation in the Richard Maponya at level weights and he has a Listed second to his name over the course and distance too.
He ran at level weights with Litigation on Saturday and was beaten 2,35 lengths.
If he is used as the line horse Litigation will likely be raised four points to 115 and that is a likely scenario, because it was a good performance and therefore the handicappers will likely want to raise him.
If they really want to punish him thay can use his stablemate, fifth-placed Bless My Stars as the line horse, because he was 3,5kg under sufferance with her and beat her by 3,25 lengths. She won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over this course and distance last season among other fine performances which saw her named Equus Champion Three-year-old filly.
Under the conditions of Saturday’s race, the maximum raise for the winner is eight points and the maximum for placed horses is four points.
