Pyromaniac is one of the horses Sean Tarry is trying to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July (JC Photos).
Sean Tarry has a definite Hollywoodbets Durban July runner in Rain In Holland, while Nebraas was number 19 on the first log so still has a chance of getting in.
However, the twice Durban July-winning trainer is still trying to qualify Litigation and Pyromaniac.
He sent Litigation back to Randjesfontein after his unplaced run in the Gr 2 WSB 1900, in which he was only beaten 2,20 lengths.
His reasoning for sending him back was he might draw better in the Jubilee Stakes than in the Cup Trial.
However, as luck would have it he landed draw 8 in the Jubilee and a plum draw of 3 in the Cup Trial, so he might be on his way back to KZN.
Tarry sounded very keen to run Pyromaniac in the Cup Trial, but he has drawn 18 there and 5 in the Jubilee.
He pointed out Pyromaniac was unlucky last time out when runner up over 1800m at Turffontein. He was running on strongly and suddenly jumped over something, either a patch or a shadow, and it might well have cost him the one length that he lost by.
Tarry thinks the July is particularly attractive to enter this year due to the tightness at the top of the weights, meaning the lower weights are not going to be much under sufferance if at all.
Tarry scratched Future Pearl from the July after his unplaced run in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, where the slow pace was against him.
Shango also ran unplaced there, but Tarry said he was not as forward going into the Lonsdale this year as he was when winning it last year.
He felt Shango would be a big runner in the July consolation race this year, as he should be cherry ripe by then and his career record shows that he has a top run in KZN every season, including winning the July Consolation race two years ago and the Lonsdale last year.