Forwarded on behalf of Racing South Africa
MEDIA RELEASE – 30 JUNE 2008
No less than 43 horses running in 6 Graded races on Vodacom Durban July day will carry the hopes of the majority of entrants in the inaugural Charity Turf Challenge, July Day being the seventh leg of the competition.
After the running of the Gr.2 Post Merchants just over a week ago, “African Lion” had held onto his slender lead of 2 points over nearest rivals, “Honey” and Jacque Strydom, both of whom had accumulated 155 points after Dancer’s Daughter had won the Gold Challenge run on Saturday, 14 June.
However, many contestants are lying within striking range of “African Lion” and as the Gr.1 Vodacom Durban July is the last of the 25-point bonus races, whoever has the winner of the country’s premier race in their 10-horse selection is likely to take the lead.
Of the 20 horses in the Vodacom Durban July field, only Galant Gagnant and Wendywood were not part of the original list of 100 qualifiers and victory by either of them would see the Challenge become wide open in the final race for the grand prize worth R50 000. Most popular choices in the July are Pocket Power, Dancer’s Daughter and surprisingly, the well backed River Jetez.
The Gr.1 Garden Province Stakes sees 12 of the 16 runners eligible to earn points. Greyville specialist, Bold Ellinore will be hoping to avenge her defeat by Ethereal Lady at Clairwood recently and Surabi, a popular choice to contest the sprint races, tries the mile for the first time.
In a twist of fate for Challenge entrants, Charles Laird has elected to run the popular Challenge choices, Warm White Night and Merlene De Lago, in the Gr. 1 SABC 3 Golden Horseshoe for juvenile colts, geldings and fillies. Many would have banked on the high class stablemates securing victory in the Golden Horseshoe and the fillies equivalent, the Gr.1 Durban Golden Slipper, respectively. But, given that Laird had cleverly nominated Merlene de Lago in both races, his decision to do so was vindicated when the unbeaten filly drew well in the former race and he must now really fancy his chances of victory.
This leaves the fillies race wide open and following the withdrawal of Alan Robertson joint-winner, On Her Toes, only Consensual, Rock Concert and Zirconeum are eligible to earn points in the Challenge.
The Gr. 2 Schweppes Gold Vase sees 4 of the 16 runners battling for points and Equal Image, Likeithot, Prince Asad and Omaha Beach all have claims in the marathon 3000m race. They will also carry the hopes of a few entrants come the last day of the Challenge when possibly lining up for the final event of the Challenge, the Gr.1 Canon Gold Cup run at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, 2 August.
The last of the Charity Turf Challenge qualifying races on July Day is the SABC Sport 2200 in which Bill Of Rights, Silverpoint and Autumn Frost will be battling to secure the 5 points on offer for victory in this Gr. 3 contest.
The Racing South Africa Thoroughbred Expo 2008 is scheduled to take place from Thursday 31 August to Saturday, 2 August and will include a “Live Exhibition” as part of its education and careers focus aimed at school children from around KwaZulu-Natal.
Debbie Harvey-Moon has joined Racing South Africa’s team to manage the operational side of the Expo, whilst Chad Cooke continues with the marketing of the event. Expo Secretariat, Sheila de Villiers, is on standby to assist with general enquiries and she can be contacted on:
031 314 1926 or by email: sheilad@goldcircle.co.za
ends
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