All eyes will be on Legislate on Saturday when he steps onto the Greyville track to validate his credentials as favourite for the Vodacom Durban July in KwaZulu-Natal’s biggest race for three-year-olds, the R2-million Daily News 2000.
He meets a strong field of contemporaries, including Triple Crown winner Louis The King, but trainer Justin Snaith “is not looking for worries, just concentrating on my horse”.
Contrary to popular belief, the Durban July is not the Dynasty colt’s major target this winter. “The Daily News 2000 is the big one for us,” said Snaith. “If everything goes right, we’ll look at the Durban July – that would be the bonus.”
Legislate blasted into the Durban July reckoning in January when he suddenly blossomed into one of the best horses of his age in the country and trounced Captain America in the Cape Derby over 2000m at Kenilworth.
Then taken to Durban, he settled well into his new headquarters and made short work of winning the KRA Guineas, proving that his “hell of a turn of foot” works just as well on the tight Greyville circuit – which has proved the downfall of many a top racehorse – as on the more galloping Kenilworth track.
Said Snaith, who “fell in love” with Legislate and secured him for R90,000 at the National Yearling Sale, said: “I’m not silly-bullish for the Daily News 2000 but hope everything goes well and that he comes out of the race in good condition. We have a lot of things planned for him, like the Durban July. We’ll see what weight he is given.
“He is in very good form. He looks amazing and is doing well. I just hope he overcomes the No 11 draw.”
The fact that only 12 horses will line up aids his cause. When asked whether he will be giving any special instructions to jockey Richard Fourie from the draw, Snaith said: “Just one: Win!”
Cape Fillies Guineas winner In The Fast Lane, who finished second to Beach Beauty in the Paddock Stakes, will represent Snaith in the Woolavington 2000 for fillies.
The talented daughter of Jet Master has caused Snaith’s team a few sleepless nights because “she is missing home and doesn’t enjoy Durban”.
Said Snaith: “We’ve worked hard at making her comfortable and think we’ve got it right, but it’s a 50-50 call.
“We were quite devastated (when she got beaten into third in the SA Fillies Guineas at Greyville this month) because she’s a very good filly. But I hope the tweaks and changes have helped a bit. If I’ve done my job, she’ll run well.”
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