Selukwe storms home to win the Gr 3 WSB 1900 and probably books a berth in the Hollywoodbets Durban July in the process. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The Andre Nel yard look to have booked a berth in the Hollywoodbets Durban July for the consistent five-year-old Pomodoro gelding Selukwe. A further development in the July build up over the weekend was the impressive win of the East Cape’s best three-year-old My Best Shot in the Listed East Cape Derby on Friday, begging the question of whether he will be supplemented for the big race, while up at Turffontein the well regarded Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway disappointed when only fourth in a Pinnacle event over 1800m that was won by July 100/1 shot Navajo Nation.
Selukwe carried 54kg off a 103 merit under Serino Moodley and after being dropped out from a wide draw ran on from the back in the straight to win by a comfortable 2,20 lengths. The consistent Mike Miller-trained Narina Trogon ran on well from a handy position for second, 0,30 lengths ahead of the Justin Snaith-trained Underworld, who drifted out to 25/1 before being backed in late to 7/1. Underworld also came from a handy position, while his 11/2 chance stablemate Okavango, who started Tote favourite, ran on well for a 3,20 length fourth. Thunee Playa stayed on for fifth place. The race did not pan out at all well for the bookmakers 9/2 favourite Native Ruler, who was hampered at the start and ended too far back and never really had fresh air to aim at in the straight.
Selukwe has shortened in to 25/1 for the July with the sponsor. He could be raised from 103 to about 11 if the consistent Narina Trogon, who is merit rated 106, is used as the line horse.
Narina Trogon remains a 75/1 shor for the July, while Underworld is not a July entry, but he might go for a race like the Cup Trial next and be supplemented if winning it.
Okavango has surprisingly stayed at 20/1 for the July, despite probably needing to now either win the Cup Trial or run a big race in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000.
The same can be said for Native Ruler, who remains on 40/1.
Their stablemate Future Swing was last year’s winner of the WSB 1900 but proved in need of the run on Saturday and ran a 6,30 length eighth. He remains on 50/1 for the July. He is highly regarded and could bounce back in the Cup Trial.
The best weighted horse in the WSB 1900 was Indian Ocean who was sent to the front by Kabelo Matsunyane and did way too much trying to get there. Piere Strydom did go close on her from the front last time and has won on her from the front, but he has also won on her coming from last and in retrospect dropping her out from a wide draw would have been a better tactic, although it should be noted that Inian Ocean was found to be not striding out on the right hind after the race.
Indian Ocean finished last and remains a 75/1 shot for the July, while her stablemate Infinite Wonder was never in it and remains a July 150/1 shot. Their fifth-placed stablemate Thunee Playa remains a 100/1 shot for the July.
Madison Valley was another major disappointment in the WSB 1900, finding nothing from a handy position, and he remains on 100/1 for the July. Madison Valley’s Frank Robinson-trained stablemate Shoot The Rapids ran sixth, but is viewed more as a Gold Cup horse and remains on 100/1 for the July too.
Selukwe’s stablemate Cape Eagle had too much use made of him early and faded out. He was scratched from the July this morning (Monday).
The Peter Muscutt-trained I Salute You ran a fair seventh from a wide draw in the WSB 1900, but he was also among the July scatchings this morning.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Holding Thumbs was one of the most backed horses on the day of the WSB 1900 as Glen Kotzen has called him one of the best he’s trained for a long time. However, as a big staying type who was widely drawn he was always up against it and he duly faded after being taken to the front. He is a 50/1 shot for the July.
Meanwhile, the Alan Greeff-trained My Best Shot became the first horse to ever land the East Cape “Triple Crown”. He won all three legs of the Sophomore Series over 1400m, 1600m and 2400m respectively and earned a R250,000 bonus.
The Varsfontein Stud-bred Fire Away three-year-old gelding has now won nine races from 15 starts and has won three Listed events.
My Best Shot was a bit head strong going down to the start for Friday’s Listed East Cape Derby, which raised some concerns because this was the first time he was going beyond 1600m and 800m further is a considerable step up.
However, he settled well at the back of the eleven horse field.
He then scythed through the field like a hot knife through butter in the straight to win by 5,25 lengths.
He is only rated 111 and he faced opposition that were all rated 95 or below, so thoughts of the Hollywoodbets Durban July would probably require a trip to KZN to run in a race like the Cup Trial.
He has such an exhilarating turn of foot that supplementing him for the Hollywoodbets Durban July would not be over optimistic.
The first supplementary stage for the July ends on Tuesday this week and there have been no supplementary entries to date.
Parisian Walkway’s disappointing run at Turffontein yesterday over 1800m opened the question whether he stays further than a mile, because it is the third time he has disappointed over further than a mile. However, he did carry topweight and if apprentice claims are ignored had to give the winner Navajo Nation 8kg and only lost to him by four lengths.
Later, the fancied July entry Legend Of Arthur finished last in a Pinnacle race over 1400m, but it sounds worse than the run actually was as he experienced traffic problem when staying on quite well over too sharp a trip.
Purple Pitcher and Atticus Finch also found the distance too sharp and needed it, but it would have been important respective pipe opener on their route towards the July too.
Legend Of Arthur, Purple Pitcher and Atticus Finch are 25/2, 50/1 and 50/1 shots for the July respectively.
That 1400m race was won in fine style by the up and comig Lucky Houdalakis-trained Oratorio three-year-old gelding Musical Score, so it will be interesting to see where he goes next.
Later, the July 14/1 shot Immediate Edge ran on superbly for second in the Secretariat Stakes over the too sharp 1400m despite carrying 60.5kg. The well regarded Erico Verdonese-trained Choisaanada bounced back in fine style to win the Secretariat under Gavin Lerena carrying 58,5kg in his second run as a gelding.
Earlier in the day July entry The Ultimate King won well first time out the maidens over 1600m, but he was scratched from the July this morning.
