Cousin Casey was runner up in last year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, but was among a number of significant scratchings from the big race this morning. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Hollywoodbets Durban July final field panelists have had their task made easier by a spate of significant scratchings from the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The Justin Snaith-trained Sail The Seas was number three on the first Hollywoodbets Durban July log, but has had some issues.
He was scratched on Monday morning alongside his log incumbent stablemate Pacaya, who was number 18 on the first log, but whom ran disappointingly in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.
A big scratching on Monday was last year’s runner up Cousin Casey, who was tenth on the July log, and his absence from the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Chllenge on Satuday indicates he must have an issue.
Fiery Pegasus was number 12 on the July log and was scratched a while ago.
Mike and Mathew de Kock have likely signalled their intent to go for the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes with the crack filly Spumante Dolce, who was 13th on the July log, by scratching her from the July on Monday.
The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Gr 1 SA Derby runner up Wild Intent, who was number 15 on the July log, also failed to fire in the Cup Trial and true to what Lucky had said about not just wanting to be “a field maker”, he was duly scratched on Monday morning alongside his stablemate Musical Score, who was a disappointing sixth in the Gr 3 4Racing Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on Sunday at Turffontein Standside.
A surprise scratching was the Roy Magner-trained Olivia’s Way. She was among the horses on the outside looking in on the first log having won the Gr 2 TAB Igugu Stakes to add to her Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic second and Gr 1 SA Derby fourth. She finished a cracking second in the traditional July pointer, the Jubilee Stakes on Sunday, so would likely have been a strong consideration for the final field.
The Sean Tarry-Let’s Go Now ran disappointingly in the Jubilee and was also scratched on Monday.
Scratched earlier were Parisian Walkway, Marauding Horde and Shoot The Rapids, who were all among the outside looking in horses on the fist log.
Another Snaith-trained scratching on Monday morning was Regulation, who was 4,5kg under sufferance in the Cup Trial and could only plug on steadily from a position backward of midfield. This Legislate gelding is a three-parts brother to July winner Belgarion and is one to watch next season as he is progressive and is likely to blossom as a four-year-old just as Belgarion did.
Other July entries who could not enhance their chances in the Cup Trial were Hotarubi, Zeitz and Winter Games and they are all among the July scratchings.
Navajo Nation could only manage fifth in the Jubilee and is among the July scratchings.
