It’s one thing when horses basically run themselves into form and do well. However, it’s quite another skill for a trainer to target a specific race months into the future, cleverly chose the right contests in the build up to protect the horse’s handicap rating and also ensure that the horse peaks for the big prize. That is the exceptional feat managed by Snaith Racing with Belgarion – the 2020 G1 Durban July winner.
The race itself was run at a brisk gallop, making it a true test of class and stamina. Settled far off the early tempo by jockey, Richard Fourie, Belgarion (speed figure 110) made a sweeping move towards the stand-side rail to outrun tremendous three year- old, Got the Greenlight (s/s 110) who emerged with great credit in defeat.
Do It Again (s/s 109), bidding for an unprecedented third July in a row, also rallied from far off the pace to be a close third with Golden Ducat (s/s 108) just holding off valiant stayer It’s My Turn’s (s/s 108) deep closing run. Rainbow Bridge (s/s 107, has managed 113 @ best) did not see out a true run 2200, caving in late after moving sweetly up to the 300m mark.
Temple Grafin (s/s 104) was a 40/1 shock winner of the G1 Garden Province Stakes, as she downed a slightly below-par Celtic Sea (s/s 103, has run 109), Pretty Young Thing (s/s 102) and Driving Miss Daisy (s/s 101+.) The in-and-out Duke of Marmalade filly has won at G2 level before, but appeared held on many lines of form, though she clearly loves the Greyville circuit and took advantage of rivals that failed to fire their best shot.
Candice Dawson pulled off a fine double in the closing events. Her very talented Vercingetorix filly, Gallic Princess (s/s 106) is on the tear, scoring a fourth win in a row when destroying opposition in the listed eThekweni Sprint. Rio Querari (s/s 101) was a well-beaten and discouraged second after a troublesome passage, though he looks to have more wins in him when things pan out smoothly.
Then, the grey miler Infamous Fox (s/s 107) ran right back to his best rating after a series of tame efforts to win for the third year in a row a race he seems to own, the listed Thukela Handicap. In an exciting finish, and what is likely to turn into a key form race, he beat off Hudoo Magic, Priceless Ruler, More Magic and Liberty Hall, all who attained really neat scores of 106 so are worth following in similar races in future.
Caralluma (s/s 95) was a popular banker at odds on – only to bite the dust. Her defeat in the G2 Golden Slipper by a rails-skimming 35/1 long-shot Love Bomb (s/s 96), combined with a series of shock results across the multi race sequence led to a massive R13 million P6 dividend.
One of those jolts was the victory by 14/1 Nourbesse (s/s 86 +) who won a rough and false run Golden Horseshoe over Portico and Erik the Red. Earlier, the stout staying mare Dynasty’s Blossom just denied Before Noon in the G3 Gold Vase in a photo finish, whilst Sovereign Spirit proved much the best in the G3 Campanajo over 2200m – a July consolation event run a full five seconds slower than the main race where Belgarion was to perform his heroics.
Finally, Katak justified short odds when sauntering to victory at Kenilworth in a G3 over 2400m to complete a sweep of the Winter Series. The legendary, Pocket Power and African Night Sky are the only others to have managed this feat. He is a very sensible character imbued with raw talent and sharp racing instincts, so will be a real force in 6 – 8 months’’ time when he matures fully.