Future Swing is well drawn under Richard Fourie in the Gr 2 WSB 1900 on Saturday and should be in the shake up (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Gr 2 WSB 1900 has produced the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner twice this decade, with the Justin Snaith-trained winner Belgarion going on to win the July in 2020 and the Brett Crawford-trained narrow runner up last year Winchester Mansion also going on to win the July.
So the race has to be taken seriously even if it had gained a reputation before this decade as a race for borderline older horses to try and make the final July field.
However, it must be remembered that older horses are going to have a harder task in the July this year than both Belgarion and Winchester Mansion had, because the minimum weight for older horses has been raised to 54kg.
Both Belgarion and Winchester Mansion were under sufferance when they won the July carrying 53kg.
So it is going to be more difficult for older horses to slip in to the big race under the radar, which has for a long time been a popular plan to try and win the July.
This is not good news for Mucho Dinero, who has looked to be one of the horses capable of pulling off a Belgarion or Winchester Mansion-like July victory this season.
He is merit rated 110 and as things stand will be carrying the minimum for a four-year-old male of 54kg in the July and will be 5kg under sufferance.
Jonathan Snaith said he had been mystified by Mucho Dinero’s Champions Season pipe-opener when finishing a 7,80 length last of nine in a Pinnacle stakes event over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. However, he did add that the Twice Over gelding had not run since L’Ormarin’s King’s Plate (LKP) day in early January and would have needed that last run badly. Much Dinero had won his four previous starts and Jonathan said he would have come on from that last run and expected him to bounce back to his best, being far fitter and better suited to this longer trip.
However, the one of the Snaith trio that he himself most likes for the race is Future Swing and added that was especially the case when considering Richard Fourie was aboard. Like Mucho Dinero, Future Swing had not run since LKP day before his last run and like Mucho Dinero his main mission is the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He said Future Swing had therefore also needed that last start and he also expected him to bounce back over this more suitable trip. The yard regard him as a stayer and the July trip of 2200m would probably be the bottom of his optimal range. However, they are trying everything they can to get him into the July.
The third Snaith runner is Without Question and Jonathan said he had never been better. However, he had to be scratched for foot soreness up in Jo’Burg before the Premier’s Champions Challenge, so has not run since the WSB Met. However, Justin has got his feet “perfect” at Summerveld. Jonathan said Without Question had been working particularly well. He regarded him as a dark horse.
KZN have five runners and three of them look to have strong chances.
The Peter Muscutt-trained Formagear was impressive last time out over 1600m and looks to have come into his own. This classy sort by Querari is out of an Ideal World mare, so has a chance of getting the trip in his first attempt at it.
The Mike Miller-trained Narina Trogon is in fine form and goes for a feature hattrick. Being by Vercingetorix out of the great race mare Beach Beauty, who won up to 2000m, he should get the trip.
The Gareth van Zyl-trained Imilenzeyokududuma is talented and should enjoy the trip but has a tough draw.
Safe Passage is a former Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner and has dropped to a dangerous mark of 112, but has a tricky draw of nine.
Atticus Finch is drawn in pole and the best might not yet have been seen of him yet.
Master Redoute is having a fine season and is versatile, but this is his first outing since winning the Gr 3 staying race over 2800m on Met day.
Oriental Charm’s 3,25 length third in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby reads well here and from a good draw he could make his presence felt in his first run since then.
Ponte Pietra is better than his runs against Narina Trogon and Master Redoute recently and he can bounce back.
Baratheon will need to improve on his recent form and has a wide draw.
River Romeo is talented but off form and widely drawn.
Indian Ocean can turn it on, but looks a bit outclassed here.
It will be an intriguing contest as it always is.
