Field Marshall winning the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup comfortably. (Candiese Lenferna Phtography).
Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson said his Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial winner Madison Valley had come out of the victory well and he also had news about his Gr 3 Tote Derby runner Field Marshal and others.
He said, “Madison Valley took it very well, that night he never left an oat. The next morning he looked very good and I think he will have come on from the run.”
Madison Valley looks to be a certainty to make the Hollywoodbets Durban July final field as he was 15th on the Hollywoodbets Durban July log released on Tuesday.
Robinson runs the three-year-old Lancaster Bomber gelding Field Marshal in the Gr 3 Tote Derby on Saturday and whilst he is not a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry he could have an affect on the big race because two borderline July entries are involved, Future Swing and Holding Thumbs.
The latter pair will be out to win the race to ensure a berth in the July, but the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup winner Field Marshall could throw a spanner in those works.
Frank said, “Field Marshal is spot on, he is an improving horse. I think I will run him in the July consolation race (The Splashout 2200) after this.”
Frank said Shoot The Rapids, who will run in the Gr 3 Gold Vase on Hollywoodbets Durban July day was in a “very good space.”
The Erupt gelding lost narrowly to Madison Valley in last year’s Gold Vase and he was an unlucky second in the Gold Cup too, so he should be a big runner in this year’s Gold Vase.
Cats Pajamas runs in the Gr 2 Post Merchants on July day and Frank expected a big run, despite his well below par performance in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint.
Frank said on the day of the Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville low drawn horses were having severe traffic problems as all the horses were drifting over, so they had decided to run Cats Pajamas against his normal hold up tactics and sent him forward. However, it was proven that he needs to be left alone and he simply did not enjoy those tactics. Frank also believes he is a better horse at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the scene of his Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes win over the Post Merchants 1200m course and distance.
