Best bets and value tips for racing from Greyville on Vodacom Durban July Day with selections provided by Winning Form as well as their back page tipster, Magic Tips.
Winning Form Best Bets
Race 5: CELTIC SEA(7)
Race 6: CUE THE MUSIC(7)
Race 10: INVERROCHE(13)
Race 11: DUTCH PHILIP(1)
Magic Tips Best Bets
Race 1: CALL ME WINTER(12)
Jockey: Brandon Lerena - Trainer: Mike Miller
The speedy track specialist CALL ME WINTER has found some useful form in recent starts. Including a courageous last c & d effort in mixed company despite racing wide. The chestnut filly is best drawn as she faces her own sex today and should go very close for her in-form yard despite racing unshod behind.
Race 3: PLATINUM PRINCE(10)
Jockey: Richard Fourie - Trainer: Justin Snaith
The Cup Trial formline behind July favourite African Night Sky could be worth following in this consolation of the big event. PLATINUM PRINCE continues to progress this campaign and he stayed on smartly for a flattering close 3rd over nine furlongs in the above-mentioned event four weeks ago. However, he was just a head adrift of the runner-up and defending champion CROWD PLEASER but could turn the formline around over the extra ground.
RACE 5: BELIEVE THE BEST (3)
Jockey: Richard Fourie - Trainer: Glen Kotzen
BELIEVE THE BEST could be ready for her first real test in the big time and the progressive half-sister dual Grade 1 winner EYES WIDE OPEN showed her above average quality with an impressive maiden triumph over older rivals this distance three weeks ago.
VODACOM DURBAN JULY
RACE 7: AFRICAN NIGHT SKY (4)
Jockey: Grant van Niekerk - Trainer: Justin Snaith
The most prestigious race may not be as straightforward as the betting market indicates but solely due to a potential lack of pace. The first selection is the promising three-year-old WHITE RIVER who hails from the top yeard of visiting Cape conditioner Brett Crawford. The bay son of Trippi was moved on too soon when outrun late in a fast run Daily News 2000 last month but he is expected to race up with the early gallop and make full use of his handy 53kgs. He meets the runner-up of that event MAJESTIC MAMBO and 4th placed finisher DO IT AGAIN on 1kg better terms with the latter pairing clearly preferring an unlikely solid tempo.
The deserved favourite is the Snaith trained AFRICAN NIGHT SKY whose brilliant turn of foot was evident in his recent triumph on this course at Grade 3 level but he was way out of his ground in his last two starts after jumping slightly slowly and a likely sedate tempo is of grave concern even though he will love this step up in distance.
His stablemate MADE TO CONQUER has excellent form and appears ready for his toughest lifetime test.
TOP BET FOR TODAY
Race 9: SNOWDANCE(10)
Jockey: Bernard Fayd'Herbe - Trainer: Justin Snaith
The brilliant miller SNOWDANCE produced arguably the performance of her career when going down narrowly over this c and d in a Grade 1 in mixed company last month and the best-drawn inmate from the powerful Snaith yeard should be all the rage to notch up her first local triumph. The slight worry is that she underperformed on local debut under the lights in her penultimate start but undoubtedly she would have learnt from the experience and could prove far superior for her opposition. Her fellow three-year-old FOLK DANCE is a high-quality sort who is way better than her below par last run from a wide draw. She could be totally different proposition from her stallgate this time around and can complete the exacta.
VALUE BET FOR TODAY
Race 4: ONE DIRECTION(8)
Jockey: Richard Fourie - Trainer: Justin Snaith
The merit ratings may not necessarily be the best guide in this marathon event as many younger sorts attempt this test of stamina for the first time. The most interesting entrant has to be the cleverly placed Snaith entrant ONE DIRECTION. Incidentally, he is the full brother to the top class stayer Seal who of course triumphed in this very event in 2012. This Silvano colt has won up to a mile and a half and boasts a decent record with this top rider in the saddle. He has progressed with each start in the province and is 1kg better off with his narrow recent conqueror SILVER ROSE.
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