JULY WINNER TO STAY AT HOME!

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Durban July hero Big City Life stays at home


South Africa: Durban July hero Big City Life will not join the South African exodus to Dubai butwill instead stay at home in a bid to join the select band who have won both the July and the J & B Met.

Trainer Glen Kotzen said on Monday: "Big City Life has already started his holiday.

"We areletting him down at the moment and in the next week we will send him home. He is going to go into a big paddock and relax.

"Next season his mission will be the Met. He will run in the Green Point Stakes and the Queen's Plate before that, and he may start off in a sprint."

The Durban July and the Met are the two most sought-after prizes in South Africa.

In the last 50 years only four horses have succeeded in winning both races- Yataghan, Politician, London News and Pocket Power.

Kapil, who started joint second favourite with Big City Life in the July, made up a tremendous amount of ground in the straight before his suspect stamina gave out in the final furlong.

He is also being rested in readiness for a crack at the same big-race targets.

Trainer Stan Elley said: "Kapil will have much the same campaign as last season - two sprints, maybe the Merchants and the Diadem, followed by the Queen's Plate and then the Met.

Glen is a master and together with Frik its an awesome team as Frik could hold his own anywhere in the world...hes also been a major part of the team who trained the best around Horse Chestnut.

They would not have taken this decision lightly and I guarantee you its the best for the horse right now. Really viewing that race he was playing at the end..this is one of the best ever and we will see that in the long run.

Stronger, more mature horse for an overseas assault as a 5 year old?

Definitely Greg..Frik told me Tues nite before the July could not lose!..hes very strong on this horse and as I say hes been with the best around.

On Holiday with Rudra?

IMVHO July form will not hold up , the winner of the July consolation ran it half a second quicker and was carrying 3kg more . Maybe magic lips can tell us what that equates to in lenghts?

Good to see the horse is staying in the country , but to mention him in the same breath as London News and Pocket Power .... I don't think so.

I hope they prove me wrong.

8.5 lths?