Friday, 20 July 2012: Beaten Durban July favourite Jackson is to be given a long holiday instead of returning to Greyville for the Champions Cup on Saturday week.
Trainer Brett Crawford said: “The owners and I sat down and discussed it. We decided that, although he has only had three runs in Durban and hasn't had a hard campaign, we should send him away for a rest.
“He will then travel back to Cape Town and continue with his break before we start to get him ready for the summer season.
"He will have the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate on his agenda but obviously the race we will be targeting is the J&B Met. I have always thought that he will be a stronger horse in six months' time.”
Crawford confirmed that nothing had shown up to account for the way Jackson dropped out of contention early in the straight in the Durban July.
“We have been looking to find an excuse and we haven't been able to come up with one. For some reason he just didn't shine on the day," he said.
The handicappers are also not prepared to accept the run and have left his merit rating unchanged on 116.
Pomodoro, the longest-priced July winner since 1970, has been raised two points to 110 and runner-up Smanjemanje has been put up one point to 109.
Pomodoro is now having a two month holiday before trainer Sean Tarry determines his next mission.
“I want to give him a really proper rest for a couple of months,” Tarry said.
“Maybe after his four-year-old campaign we will consider going overseas."
Meanwhile Mike Bass reported that Chesalon is a “doubtful starter” in the G1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville after he was found to be lame after his third in the Durban July, leaving him with English Garden as his main contender.
Bass said the veterinarians were not sure what the cause of the lameness was apart from the firm ground on the day.
Bass said that English Garden had come out of the July well, making up ground after a slow start to finish tenth.
SOUTH AFRICA: Durban July Countdown Begins
