The Peter Muscutt-trained Down To Business has Zimbabwean owners and could give them another day to remember in the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Hollywoodbets Durban July day Pick 6 always attracts a big pool and is well worth taking.
The first leg three legs are always tricky as they include a staying race and two juvenile races, where the form can be thrown on its head.
In the first leg, the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m, Down To Business won the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m in fine style and was getting better the longer the race went so should stay this trip, but he does have another wide draw to contend with. Nebraas has become a bit disappointing, but at the same time has fallen to a dangerous mark. This former Gold Cup winner will have no problem staying the trip and has run well for Gavin Lerena before, including a 0.75 length fourth in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m. Raiseahallelujah is in fine form and proved when fourth in last year’s Gold Cup he stays the trip. One Way Traffic is in much better form this season than last and is a must included as a horse who is capable of a top class performance. Explosive Bond was a 2,75 length fifth in the Gold Bowl, well clear of Nebraas and from a good draw can be included as she can surely do better than her Lonsdale run.
In the second leg, the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer over 1400m, Gimmie’s Countess was desperately unlucky in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m and should also enjoy this trip, so this classy filly can make amends by running on after being dropped out from draw seven. Quid Pro Quo finished like a train to win the Allan Robertson, so can be included from pole position. Little Ballerina is tempting to include due to her top class form, but she skipped the Allan Robertson because the yard did not feel she was right and she now has a wide draw in her comeback race over a trip that might stretch her.
In the third leg over 1400m Great Plains has shown he can come from a long way off them over this course and distance and might have to do so again from a tricky draw of ten. Proceed won the Gr 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m well after running on strongly and should prefer this trip, but a wide draw will mean he will likely have to pass a lot of horses after being dropped out. Truth looks to be a special horse in the making and is also a must include, although he has a tricky draw of eleven. Winds Of Change is still a maiden, but has top class form in features and from a fair draw could kick on from a handy position. Cosmic Speed ran on well from an unfavourable high draw last time so can do well from draw two over a trip which should be ideal.
The Hollywoodbets Durban July is the next leg and in this race Oriental Charm, Green With Envy, Barbaresco, Flag Man, Royal Victory, See It Again and Winchester Mansion can be included.
There will be come who will want to banker Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, but she has in fact never won over this trip and has two defeats to Rascova over this trip and both of those horse were defeated by Silver Sanctuary in the Gr 1 WSB Fillies Guineas over this trip. Double Grand Slam is the choice to win the race from a plum draw and as a progressive sort with a fine turn of foot, because her defeat in the WSB Fillies Guineas might have had more to do with a reluctance to go through a tight gap than a stamina factor. Silver Sanctuary and Rascova should also be included and others to consider are Asiye Phambilie, Mrs Browning and Red Palace in a more open race than it first looks.
The last leg over 1200, the Gr 2 Post Merchants, is ultra tough. Cruise Control ran a cracker in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint and has a good draw. Melech ran on strongly in eyecatching fashion in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint and has a plum draw of three. Royal Aussie is drawn well and has speed and class. Teflon Man is capable of a flying finish. Golden Sickle is ultra consistent and in fine form. Those ones are singled out die to their draws because the like of At My Command and I Am Giant have form chances but wide draws. However, the field has to be considered here as it is difficult to eliminate any of the runners.
This Pick 6 does not go thin in many legs so will be costly, but a thinner one would include only Green With Envy, Oriental Charm, Barbaresco and Flag Man in the July, Gimmie’s Countess would be a banker and Double Grand Slam, Rsacova and Silver Sanctuary could suffice in the Garden Province.
