Litigation has been entered in the Hollywodbets Durban July often and never made it into the top 18, but at last he gets into the big race, albeit as first reserve after a scratching. (JC Photos).
See It Again has unfortunately been scratched from the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Tuesday) and the first reserve, the Sean Tarry-trained Litigation comes in at draw 15 and will be ridden by Grant van Niekerk.
Litigation’s biggest wins to date have been in the Gr 3 Tab4Racing Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m in 2022 and in the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m in February last year, although he also won the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m as a three-year-old.
He is a handy to front-running sort, but off a 113 merit rating he will be 1kg under sufferance carrying 54kg and he will likely battle to keep the closers at bay in the straight as he does not have a renowned kick and all of his biggest wins have come at the galloping Turffontein Standside course, which is likely better suited to him than the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track.
See It Again, who finished second as a three-year-old in 2023 and was unlucky not to be in the first three last year when hampered late and still being beaten only 1,80 lengths into fifth place, was excused from the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallop last Thursday when found to have a slight temperature.
However, the problem appears to have been worse than first thought and the official reason for the scratching today (Tuesday) is an abnormal blood count.
It would have been a bitter blow to the connections.
Trainer Michael Roberts was out to become only the fourth person to both ride and train a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.
Owner Nick Jonsson was expecting a big run from See It Again as it seemed he had come into his own this Champions Season having initially taken a while to settle after gelding.
However, Jonsson will at least be able to fall back on two other runners, the hot favourite Eight On Eighteen and Okavango, both trained by Justin Snaith.
However, it would have also been a blow for breeders Drakenstein Stud as See It Again has not won a stakes race this season and Drakenstein are poised to break their own South Africa record of 21 individual stakes winners in a season as they are at present on 20. See It Again could have helped their cause.
A disappointed trainer Michael Roberts told the Sporting Post that it was hard enough getting a horse into the big race and now having to scratch was a bitter pill to swallow.
“We have to act in the best interests of the horse and we hope to have him ready for the Champions Cup at the end of the season,” he added.
Gavin Lerena had been due to ride Litigation in the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 and has now been left without a ride, although that still leaves him with ten rides at the 12 race meeting.
Litigation is quoted as a 40/1 shot with the sponsor.
Grant van Niekerk went close to winning the July in 2012 when his rank outsider, the Tyrone Zackey-trained 55/1 shot Smanjemanje, was hampered a couple of times in the straight and yet only just failed to get up by the shortest of shortheads.
Ironically that race gave Sean Tarry the first of two July wins, with Pomodoro and Piere Strydom just denying Smanjemanje, and Heavy Metal then scored back to back Julys for Tarry the following year under S’Manga Khumalo.
It has been a forgettable season for the under fire Van Niekerk and this gives him an opportunity to turn it completely around.
