AS expected Jackson, the ruling Vodacom Durban July favourite, has been allotted 57kg, the highest weight a three-year-old can be given in terms of the conditions of the R3-million event over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday 7 July.

The three-year-old is an exceptional individual, but the weight poses a formidable challenge, given that the highest weight carried by a winner of his age in recent history was the 55.5kg by Bold Silvano in 2010. Igugu carried 55kg last year.

Captain’s Wild, allotted 54kg.

However, Jackson is the highest-rated horse in the entry and still looks very well treated. In a non-conditional handicap Brett Crawford’s runner would receive just 1kg from Pierre Jourdan, who has been given top weight of 60kg, while Ilha Bela, the ruling second favourite for the Durban July, would get 6kg, rated as she is 12 points inferior to the colt. She will carry 53kg, just 3kg less than Jackson.

Her stablemate Viva Maria, who sprung a huge surprise in the Woolavington 2000 by beating Ilha Bela by an impressive four lengths, has been given 53.5kg. Viva Maria’s time in that race was 0.68 sec slower than that recorded by Jackson over the same course and distance in the Daily News 2000, the equivalent of between four and five lengths. On the handicap she should receive 5.5kg from Jackson. However, trainer Mike de Kock must be quite satisfied with the weights both fillies have been given.

English Garden is currently third favourite and will carry 0.5kg less than Jackson, meeting his rival on 4kg worse terms than should be the case.

So, on paper at least, Jackson should be hard to beat in the country’s premier race. His many fans will be hoping that he draws well in the ballot for barrier positions when the final field is announced on

Thursday next week.

The entries in order of horse, age, sex, weight, merit rating and trainer:
PIERRE JOURDAN (5G) 60.0 114 B Gary Alexander
TALES OF BRAVERY (5G) 59.5 113 Vaughan Marshall
CASTLETHORPE (AUS) (4G) 59.0 112 Mike Bass
BEACH BEAUTY (4F) 58.0 110 Dennis Drier
CHESALON (4G) 58.0 110 Mike Bass
ILSANPIETRO (BRZ) (5G) 57.5 109 C Mike de Kock
SEAL (4G) 57.5 109 B Gavin van Zyl
JACKSON (3C) 57.0 116 Brett Crawford
POLAR BOUND (4G) 57.0 108 Brett Crawford
SMANJEMANJE (5G) 57.0 108 B Tyrone Zackey
ENGLISH GARDEN (4G) 56.5 107 Mike Bass
TOP SELLER (4C) 56.5 107 B Vaughan Marshall
GALANTHUS (5G) 56.0 106 Tyrone Zackey
GOLD ONYX (NZ) (4G) 56.0 106 Sean Tarry
LION IN WINTER (5G) 56.0 106 Joey Ramsden
SOLO TRAVELLER (4G) 56.0 106 Mike de Kock
BULSARA (5G) 55.5 105 B Gavin van Zyl
SAGE THRONE (4G) 55.5 105 Colin Scott
POMODORO (3C) 55.0 108 Sean Tarry
ROYAL BENCHER (3G) 55.0 108 Alec Laird
GALILEO’S DESTINY (4C) 55.0 104 Mike de Kock
JET JAMBOREE (4C) 55.0 104 Dominic Zaki
CAPTAIN’S WILD (5G) 54.0 102 Mike de Kock
HOUSE OF WAX (4G) 54.0 102 B Geoff Woodruff
TRIBAL DANCE (3C) 53.5 105 Vaughan Marshall
VETTEL (ARG) (3C) 53.5 105 Mike de Kock
VIVA MARIA (3F) 53.5 105 Mike de Kock
GORONGOSA (IRE) (5M) 53.5 101 B Mike de Kock
ILHA BELA (3F) 53.0 104 Mike de Kock
ZAMBUCCA (3C) 53.0 104 Saeed Mohideen
WHITELINE FEVER (3G) 53.0 103 Sean Tarry
ASTRO NEWS (3G) 53.0 102 Greg Ennion
GOLDEN CHATEAU (AU (3C) 53.0 102 B Mike de Kock
ETON SQUARE (3G) 53.0 101 Gavin van Zyl
BAY ROUTE (5G) 53.0 100 Deon Visser
PRINCESS OF LIGHT (4F) 53.0 100 Geoff Woodruff
SOUL MASTER (4G) 53.0 100 Geoff Woodruff
MASTER PLAN (3G) 53.0 99 Greg Ennion
BUY AND SELL (8G) 53.0 97 Sean Tarry
TAIPAN (3C) 53.0 97 Dean Kannemeyer
ICE DIAMOND (5G) 53.0 91 Glen Puller
EXTRA COVER (5G) 53.0 87 Alec Laird
GREY COSSACK (5G) 53.0 84 Herman Brown/Frank Robinson
CANTERBURY TALE (3G) 53.0 80 Mike de Kock
IRON GREY (4G) 53.0 78 Mike de Kock
THUNDER DANCE (3F) 52.0 102 Brett Crawford
ATLANTIC OAK (GB) (5M) 52.0 98 Mike de Kock

The horses who have already been scratched include: BERRY BLAZE (IRE); CHECCETTI; FLIRTATION; EMPENOSO HENN (ARG); MOZART’S GIOVANNI; RED BARREL; RIGHT BEAUTY; SAFWAN (AUS); MAIN DANE (AUS); PREMIUM WOOD; STORM SAGAZ (ARG); BARACAH; HEAVY METAL; RIO CARNIVAL; NORTHERN EMPEROR; CAYMEN ISLAND; GOLDEN CHARIOT; WITHOUT MALICE; E-JET; EMERALD COVE; SILVER FLYER; SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE; EUROPA POINT; EBONY FLYER; BRAVURA; DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL.

Declarations close on Wednesday 20 June and the final field will be announced the next day when the ballot for barrier positions will be done.