See It Again (Picture: Wayne Marks).
The first Hollywoodbets Durban July log was out today and there were no real surprises, although as usual the ones who have the best official qualifications are not always the most fancied in the betting market.
The log is shown below:
See It Again, winner of the Grade 1 Splashout Cape Derby and runner up in the Grade 2 WSB Guineas, is also the favourite in the betting.
A possible weakness in the Hollywoodbets Durban July qualifying conditions is that Johannesburg Grade 1’s tend to be regional races, with few raiders, yet they have four automatic July qualifying races while the Cape and KZN only have three each.
The automatic qualifying races are all Grade 1s and include the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the WSB Met, the Splashout Cape Derby, the WSB SA Classic, the WSB Fillies Classic, the WSB SA Derby, the Premier’s Champions Challenge, the Daily News 2000, the Woolavington 2000 and the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.
The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m is usually a stronger race than the SA Fillies Classic, yet the Paddock Stakes is not even found among the races given preferential consideration for inclusion in the final field, they being the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup, the Grade 2 WSB 1900 and the Grade 3 Cup Trial.
The second horse on the log Puerto Manzano is the only horse in the entry list who has won two Grade 1s this season, the Betway Summer Cup and the Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m. However, few pundits give him a chance due to his total unsuitability to a tight track and the sponsor offer him at 20/1.
The third horse on the log, Anfields Rocket, won the SA Classic and has also been striking lately as a horse who would prefer a longer straight, although it could be a different story over 2200m. He will get a chance to prove his course suitability in the Daily News 2000.
The fourth horse on the log Son Of Raj, winner of the SA Derby, also has plenty to prove on a tighter track as well as in a KZN race contested by horses from all provinces. The Daily News will also be his acid test.
The fifth horse on the log is the SA Fillies Classic winner Bless My Stars and although one of five automatic qualifiers so far, she is the lowest rated horse on the log off 109, so has plenty to prove, although she should not have a problem with the tight Hollywoobets Greyville as she proved in last year’s Grade 1 Ethekwini when finishing fast for third.
She will probably be seen next next in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.
There are still 15 places up for grabs in the twenty horse final field, which does include two reserves.
Do It Again, who needs no introduction, is the highest on the log of the non-automatic qualifiers.
