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This last year has been kind to owner Chris van Niekerk. He invests heavily in a sport he loves and over the past 12 months his horses have won the R3.5 million Vodacom Durban July, R2 million President’s Champions Challenge and the G1 President’s Champions Stakes.

The run, which he admitted was “something I could get used to”, could continue at Greyville on Saturday when Pomodoro steps up to defend his Durban July title.

Only four other horses have won the Durban July two years in a row – Campanajo in 1897 and 1898, Corriecrian in 1907 and 1908, Milesia Pride in 1949 and 1950 and El Picha in 1999 and 2000.

Ironically Pomodoro probably has more going for him this time around than 12 months ago.

Last year jockey Piere Strydom overcame draw No 20 to beat Smanjemanje by a short head but on this occasion he is well drawn at No 7, the field looks a little weaker and Strydom is delighted with the way he has come on.

“He is striding out better than ever and I do believe he is a better horse this year than last year. But that is why he has to carry 5kg more than last year,” said the champion jockey.

Trainer Sean Tarry is equally bullish.

“Pomodoro hasn’t put a foot wrong. His preparation has gone smoothly although it started off a bit of a rush but we seem to have caught up.

“It’s hard to be bullish when you’re carry 60kg, you’re always mindful of his weight,” he said.

Pomodoro has run two superb warm-up races in which he finished second and third behind Variety Club. His last outing was in the G1 Gold Challenge and he was just 1.75 lengths off the champion 1600m runner.

Tarry has decided to run Pomodoro with a tongue tie for the first time but it should not trouble the son of Jet Master.

“I’m going on gut feel,” was Tarry’s comment about the new piece of equipment.

Many pundits believe Van Niekerk’s Champions Chalenge winner, is too heavily weighted to win the July but the son of Silvano has improved with age and has been a revelation since tried over further.

He gave Slumdogmillionaire 1.5kg and went down just 0.5 lengths over 1400m, a distance short of his best, in March this year and two runs later came out to win the G1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein.

He won with plenty in hand and continued his success with a comfortable 1.25-length victory over Meissa over 1600m on the inside track.

He concluded his build-up with a neck second to Seal in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein, carrying 62.5kg.

We know he will handle Greyville as he has run there twice for a win and a second.

Tarry believes Heavy Metal is still on the upgrade over middle distances, having been restricted to shorter trips for most of his career because he used to overrace.

“We’ve always rated him a top horse,” said Tarry. “He won a good race in the Darley Arabian and it was always our objective to look at this race.

“He drew No 1 in Champions Challenge and we thought he would run a good race. He ended up winning it and the July hopes went out the window.

Maybe he’s not far off that rating. He’s improving all the time and he finishes it off. He is tailor-made for the course.”

The trainer’s other two runners are Whiteline Fever, who is suspect over the distance, and E-Jet, who Tarry feels is well handicapped but is drawn No 18 and has yet to prove his ability in this class.

He does not see a particularly fast pace but believes that, with the likes of Wagner, Tribal Dance and Jet Explorer in the field, the pace will be reasonable.

“The slower they go the more it will suit Pomodoro and Heavy Metal.

“I’m happy for them not to go fast. In fact, the slower the better,” Tarry said.

Seal is one of the most honest and versatile runners in training and if Heavy Metal has a chance then so does this Gavin van Zyl-trained runner. He has won his only start over this course and distance last year and is horse who can sit handy or make his own pace.

“He’s in the zone,” said Van Zyl. “He came out of the Jubilee Handicap glowing.

The draw (13) will suit him. He won’t get closed in on the inside and he can pick his spot from there.

“I don’t see a particularly hot pace and in that case Seal won’t canter and sprint, he will just take it up himself.”

Jet Explorer won the G2 Betting World 1900 impressively and with just 54kg to carry, drawn 2 and big-race jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons, he looks a solid bet for a place.