One Way Traffic cruised to victory on Hollywoodbets Durban July day last year in the consolation event (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).
The Snaith machine will have a strong team for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July and one of them, One Way Traffic, put up a fine gallop today before the races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
He galloped with the Grade 1 Splashout Cape Derby third-placed Without Question and the Snaiths were very happy with his work out.
Jonathan Snaith said about his July credentials, “He loves KZN and his gallop this morning was outstanding. On his run last year in the July consolation, he has to have a big chance with 53kg.”
Without Question will be targeted at the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and will take his place in the July depending on how well he does there.
Justin Snaith has won five Julys in all and will have a fine chance of joining the legendary Cape trainer Terrance Millard on six this year.
Do It Again will break a record just by lining up this year and will break another record if he wins.
The eight-year-old son of Twice Over will become the first horse in history to run in six Julys and is also out to win it for a record-breaking third time. His record of first, first, third, fourth, fourth already makes him statistically the most successful July horse in history. He was most unlucky as a six-year-old and had every chance as a seven-year-old. This year his target for the entire season has been the July, so he should not be judged on his form for the season to date, in which he has been thereabouts in three starts in Cape Town but is yet to make the frame. He comes alive in KZN and accordingly the blinkers he wore in the WSB Met (3,90 length tenth) will be coming off.
The shortest-priced Snaith-trained horse in the betting is the Vercingetorix four-year-old gelding Pomp And Power, who is second favourite at 8/1. He started Tote favourite last year, but on the day he only managed to enhance his reputation as a difficult, headstrong customer who is his own worst enemy. Three subsequent runs did nothing to improve that reputation and he subsequently started at odds of 66/1 in this year’s Met. He then showed what he was capable of. He was an unlucky third as he came from way back and was climbing all over the horses on the outside rail, which included the winner Jet Dark, but could not find a way through. If he can reproduce that run in the July, he will be a strong contender.
The Snaiths are bullish about the chances of Trippi gelding Pacaya, who is out of the SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud. He did not fulfil his promise as a three-year-old, but after a layoff of more than seven months returned with an eyecatching third in a MR 106 handicap over 1400m and then flew up late next time to win over 1600m, although he did get a bit of help from the jockey in front easing his mount before the line.
Jonathan said, “Pacaya is a massive runner. He starts his preparation on 23 April in Cape Town in the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile.”
Last year’s Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Silver Darling is also being aimed at the July, which is not surprising considering she is a four-year-old by the most successful July sire of all time, Silvano. She will actually be able to defend her crown in the Woolavington 2000 too, now that it has been thrown open to all ages.
Justin’s SA Champion Season String is usually in KZN by now, but the Snaiths are doing it differently this season due partly to the Cape Racing stakes boost for the winter program.
Some of their KZN campaigners will travel to Summerveld on April 25, but others, including Pomp And Power, will stay behind in Cape Town and raid for the July.
