Picture: Rainbow Lorikeet is one of only three females still standing their ground in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and might sneak into the final field. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
The Hollywoodbets Durban July final field panelists always have a tough task, but with only 29 horses standing their ground four weeks befoe the big race, it might be a touch easier than usual.
This article takes a look at some of the performances on the weekend that will have a tellling impact on the final field choices.
Son Of Raj was among the horses just outside of top 20 looking in on the first Hollywoodbets Durban July log and he did not enhance his chances of making the July final field for the third time in succession by finishing a 3,75 length seventh in the Gr 3 4Racing Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on Sunday.
Pomodoro’s Jet was number 20 on the July log and was scratched from the Cup Trial, but he still remains among the big race entries.
Purple Pitcher was a well beaten 7,60 length ninth in the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, but this 122-rated twice Gr 1 winner was number seven on the log on the back of his consistently top class middle distance performances at Turffontein, so he should be safe.
The horses who were outside of the top 18 of the first July log and who definitely enhanced their chances of moving into the top 18 over the weekend were the respective Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial and Gr 3 4Racing Jubilee Stakes winners, Madison Valley and Immediate Edge.
My Best Shot won over 2000m at Fairview on Friday, his sixth successive easy win and he should either be in the final field or be right on the edge of it.
On My Honour ran a good 0,35 length third in the Cup Trial and might be considered for the final field considering he is a three-year-old who carried 59kg, meaning he was running on 1.5kg terms worse than weight for age with Madison Valley, so he actually performed better than him.
Litigation was not disgraced in a 1,75 length fourth in the Cup Trial.
Confederate was near the top of the log but was beaten in the Egoli Mile by the smart Erico Verdonese-trained Querari gelding Choisaanada. However, as the winner of the Gr 1 SA Classic that will not affect his standing.
The 29 horses are listed below in order of preference by the writer:
Eight On Eighteen
Oriental Charm
Gladatorian
See It Again
Royal Victory
Confederate
Atticus Finch
Legend Of Arthur
Purple Pitcher
Madison Valley
Selukwe
The Real Prince
Okavango
Native Ruler
My Best Shot
Immediate Edge
Mucho Dinero
Rainbow Lorikeet
On My Honour
Future Swing
Litigation
Pomodoro’s Jet
Beating Wings
Magic Verse
Holding Thumbs
Joy And Peace
Son Of Raj
The Equator
Thunee Playa
NB the above is not an official Hollywoodbets Durban July log.
