Madison Valley put up a superb gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday morning at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops and was consequently supported. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The Frank Robinson-trained Madison Valley is one of the local hopes in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and he was the biggest mover in the betting on Thursday after putting up a magnificent gallop at Hollywoobets Greyville at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops, shortening from 33/1 into 20/1.
He will be out to give local owner Sid Moodley a dream result with his first runner in the big race and it will be a first July win too for Robinson and a second for jockey Gavin Lerena if they do it.
Frank said, “I was very happy, very, very happy. with the gallop. He did what we intended to do with him. He showed his fitness and showed his well-being. He was very happy with his ears pricked and he moved over the ground very, very well. I couldn’t have asked for more. Gavin Lerena was very impressed with him. He said, ‘I was very impressed with the horse. He did everything 100%, and more, I’m very happy. We are a massive runner.’”
Lerena rode Madison Valley to victory in the Michaelmas last year and said he had come on tremendously since then.
He was gelded subsequent to his excellent Betway Summer Cup run and has been brought on slowly, culminating in a fine win last time out in the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.
Madison Valley comes out well on the formlines of the Summer Cup, so if he has improved since then he must indeed be a big runner.
He has a plum draw of two.
Other horses to shorten with the sponsor on Thursday were On My Honour from 33/1 to 25/1, Purple Picther from 50/1 to 40/1, while the drifters were Native Ruler from 33/1 to 50/1, Atticus Finch from 25/1 to 33/1 and Okavango from 20/1 to 25/1.
