Thursday, 5 July 2012: Leading trainer Mike Bass has been pleased with the progress of his 11 runners carded for Saturdays Vodacom Durban July day.
 | Mike Bass
Photo by Gold Circle | |
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Besides having three in the R3 million July this year – English Garden, Chesalon and Castlethorpe – with Bass believing it is open due to e favoured horses drawn wide.
"It's never an easy task to overcome a bad draw in this race and with the false rail set out at only 7m for this year's running, the task will be even tougher than usual for those with poor barrier draws," he said.
He feels English Garden could be his best shot.
“All three of my horses are doing very well and are all going into the race with good preparations under their belts.
“I have got them just where I want them going into the race, their work is done now, and I am confident they will put in their best efforts on Saturday.
"English garden is possibly my best contender.
"He has done well since moving to Durban and ran third behind Igugu in this race last year.
"If he gets a good break, I think he will be in the shake up again. He must have a good each way chance.
"Chesalon is still an improving horse and has been ultra-consistent not finishing far off the best of them.
"His gallop was impressive last week, and the Greyville track will suit his turn of foot perfectly.
"If there is a good pace on this year, and with Jeff Lloyd in the irons, I give him a good money chance.
"Castlethorpe will have it all to do from his draw, especially with the false rail.
"He is versatile and in red hot form at the moment but will need some luck in the running."
Despite Jackson's poor draw, he still feels he is the horse to beat. Others in the race that caught his attention included Vettel, the inform Gold Onyx, Sage Throne and Gorongoza.
 | | Photo by Gold Circle | |
Trainer Sean Tarry reckons his three Vodacom Durban July runners have been well prepared to take on Jackson.
Tarry's three runners this year are the three-year-olds Pomodoro and Whiteline Fever and the four-year-old Gold Onyx.
Pomodoro has the widest draw in 20, while Whiteline Fever jumps from the pole position and Gold Onyx is in stall 2.
“Obviously Jackson is the class horse and he has got tons of ability." Tarry said.
"He is a worthy favourite and is the one to beat but the weight and the draw will not make it easy for him.'
"Each of my three has a question mark, but there are also things in their favour.
“They are all up to it in terms of ability, all three have had good preparations and they deserve their place in the field.
“I leant towards Pomodoro before he drew No 20 stall.
"Piere Strydom is a brilliant rider and if anybody can overcome that wide draw he can.
“The good thing about his draw is that we will have Jackson (drawn 16) in our sights.
“Against Whiteline Fever is the distance although I think there's enough evidence to suggest he will stay.
"He is a big, strong horse, so they won't bully him and he will have no problem holding his position.
"Gold Onyx was heavily penalised for his win in the Cup Trial and 56kg might be too much weight for a horse his size.'
Raymond Danielson, who finished third on Orbison in the 2010 July and fourth on The Apache last year, will ride Whiteline Fever.
Gold Onyx has won three of his last four starts, including the Listed Sledgehammer Handicap over 1800m at Scottsville and the G3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Clairwood.
