THE R300 000 Betting World 1900 is packed with borderline cases for the Vodacom Durban July as well as those fairly assured of a place in the final line-up but using the race as a stepping stone into the big race.
Chesalon heads the handicap to be run at Greyville on Tuesday evening and trainer Mike Bass will be hoping for better luck this time round as his charge missed his J&B Met engagement through injury.
Chesalon, currently in eleventh place on the provisional Vodacom Durban July Log, made a smart Champions Season debut when second behind Tales Of Bravery in the Drill Hall Stakes and the Betting World should bring the former Winter Classic and Premier Trophy winner nicely to the boil.
Hard-knocking Lion In Winter will need to step up on recent form if he is to have a chance here and is a borderline July entry but the Brett Crawford-trained Polar Bound is in the top twenty and put a very useful field to the sword in his Champions Season debut. He has come into his own this season, winning four of his last five starts including the Peninsular Handicap beating Astro News who is also in the Betting World line-up and doing duty for Greg Ennion.
The crack filly Beach Beauty was arguably unlucky in the J&B Met and made a smashing return to the track when runner-up to top sprinting filly Princess Victoria at Clairwood recently. The Dennis Drier-trained filly will be much better suited to the 1900m and will be a strong contender for top honours.
Vaughan Marshall is having a season to remember and saddles former Investec Cape Derby winner Top Seller who recently finished second to Gold Onyx at Scottsville. But while Top Seller is currently tenth on the July log, Gold Onyx is still borderline. Gold Onyx was a tad unlucky not to make the Vodacom Durban July field last year but is on track this season, winning his last two but as mentioned Sean Tarry’s runner is still outside the top twenty on the Vodacom Durban July log.
Mike de Kock is seldom without an entry in a big feature and saddles three runners in Solo Traveller, Berry Blaze and Golden Chateau. However, all three are borderline July candidates who may possibly need to win here to make the big race field.
