Rascallion is ahead of work partner Look For Hounds at the HDJ Gallops at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The form book is not dictating the prices in this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July and the Vaughan Marshall-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Rascallion provides the best example.
He is 3,5kg better off with Pacaya for a one length beating in the Gr 2 WSB 1900 and 4,5kg better off with Winchester Mansion for a 0,70 length beating.
He probably needed that run too.
Yet Winchester Mansion is a 6/1 shot with the sponsor, Pacaya is a 10/1 shot and Rascallion is a 17/1 shot.
There are some who believe Rascallion does not stay the July 2200m trip.
However, Marshall responded to that question by saying, “He ran fifth two years ago and had a few traffic problems too, so that is hogwash – he will stay, don’t you worry about that.”
Rascallion galloped this morning with Look For Hounds and strode out well.
Marshall said, “I’m very, very happy with his gallop, he did everything I asked him to do and I thought he worked very, very well.”
He added, “He is better now than he was two years ago when running fifth, he’s been there and done it, so we just need a bit of luck from that draw and I think he is a big runner.”
Corne Orffer will be aboard from draw 15.
Rascallion was drawn six as a three-year-old when beaten just 2,25 lengths by Kommetdieding under Sean Veale.
He carried 53 kg there off a 123 merit rating and was half-a-kilogram under sufferance and he now carries 57.5 kg off a 122 merit rating.
He is quietly fancied by more than a few.
