Flag Man will be one of three horses who can break a thirty year drought by KZN-based horses in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and he put up one of the best gallops at this morning’s Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops were conducted this morning in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd at Hollywoodbets Greyville and as is usualy the case every year the runners all looked in good shape and strode out well.
The Johannesburg-based horses did their gallops this morning too at their home bases and could not be faulted either.
Royal Victory got the ball rolling and although sweating in the parade ring he put in a superb gallop under big race rider Muzi Yeni. He sat behind his companion from the 1400m mark and quickened well in the straight before galloping strongly all the way to the line. His 800m to finish time was 48.80 seconds and his 400m to finish time was 23.90 seconds. He clearly had a hard workout and it will have put him spot on for the big race.
The favourite Green With Envy was next out and this progressive three-year-old becomes more impressive everytime he sets foot on the racecourse. He relaxed as well as usual and then turned it on superbly in the straight, posting an effortless 400m to finish time of 22.66 seconds under Craig Zackey. His 800m to finish time was 49.17 seconds.
Barbaresco is a dark horse as he appears to have been targeted at the big race. If Gavin Lerena is prepared to slim down to 53,5kg he must have a shout. He has the pedigree for it and strode out well in his workout on the Highveld.
Aragosta led his stable companion Shoemaker in the next gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville and they both strode out well, doing a 400m to finish time of 23.11 and 23.12 seconds respectively. Their 800m to finish time was 48.23 and 48.60 seconds, so they went a decent clip.
Purple Pitcher did a good piece of work on the Highveld.
Oriental Charm strode out well in his gallop on the Highveld.
The reigning Hollywoodbets Durban July champion Winchester Mansion put in a superb gallop on the Highveld.
See It Again worked with two companions at Hollywoodbets Greyville and turned it on well in the straight under Piere Strydom, who kept him up to his task all the way to the line. His 400m to finish time was 23.28 and his 800m to finish time was 48.52 seconds, so he did not take it easy.
In the panel discussion later on the four-times July-winning rider Anthony Delpech revealed that See It Again was his fancy to win the race.
Double Superlative will be ridden by Danny Muscutt in the big race and Sean Veale substituted for him. He strode out well and the gallop will have brought him on. HIs 800m to finish time was 51.66 seconds and his 400m to finish time was 23.30 seconds.
Future Swing was restrained and took a keen hold under Richard Fourie, but threw his legs out beautifully. His 800m to finish time was 50.20 seconds and his 400m to finish time was 24.52 seconds.
Meridius and Son Of Raj did nothing wrong in their workouts on the Highveld.
Master Redoute strode out well in his gallop under his big race ride Corne Orffer at Hollywoodbets Greyville, but did not give much away. His 800m to finish time was 54.65 seconds and his 400m to finish time was 24.37 seconds.
On the Highveld Cousin Casey looked in good shape and strode out well with a companion.
Stablemate Future Pearl will also come into the race spot on after putting in a good gallop with a companion.
Without Question strode out well throughout under Rachel Venniker, who will become the first woman to ride in the July. His 800m to finish time was 50.47 seconds and his 400m to finish time was 24.06 seconds.
Flag Man put in an eyecatching gallop with a companion and recorded an 800m to finish time of 48.98 seconds and a 400m to finish time of 22.73 seconds under big race rider Serino Moodley.
Reserve runners Hluhluwe and Hotarubi worked out at Hollywoodbets Greyville and the Highveld respectively and neither of them could be faulted.
Hluhluwe’s 800m to finish time was 48.23 seconds and his 400m to finish time was 23.01 seconds.
