Asked on whether his trio would need it on Saturday, Snaith replied, “No they have all had a grass gallop at Greyville, and that is what they needed…

Justin Snaith believes his trio of Grade 2 WSB 1900 runners, Made To Conquer, Doublemint and Magnificent Seven, would be contenders at Greyville on Saturday despite having not raced since Sun Met day on January 26.

Snaith won this race last year with Elusive Silva, who came in off a fifth placed run in the Sledgehammer.

Asked on whether his trio would need it on Saturday, Snaith replied, “No they have all had a grass gallop at Greyville, and that is what they needed. I’m very happy, they are all in a good place. Doublemint won the Peninsula over this trip and the other two are better over around 2200m, so he would be the yard elect. But Made To Conquer could fire up. So, it is going to be interesting.”

Anton Marcus rode Twice Over colt Doublemint in the recent gallop at Greyville and is aboard on Saturday from a good draw of four. Under the merit rated band conditions, he carries 58kg off a 104 rating. On Sun Met form he looks well handicapped, although on Pensinsula form he is 0.5kg worse off with Kampala Campari for a neck beating.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe had the option of riding either Made To Conquer or Magnificent Seven, but decided not to ride either and has instead elected to ride the Andre Nel-trained Kampala Campari.

Apprentice Luke Ferraris rode Magnificent Seven in a recent Greyville grass gallop and stays aboard for Saturday’s race. Snaith, asked whether this meant Ferraris would be aboard Magnificent Seven for the Vodacom Durban July, said, “If the horse wins with him, we are not the type of people to take somebody off.” This four-year-old Horse Chestnut gelding took nine runs to win his maiden but has won seven of his last nine starts, including the Listed Algoa Cup over 2000m and the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Stayers over 2800m. He has a fair draw of five and should run well fresh.

Made To Conquer, runner up in last year’s July, will have stable jockey Richard Fourie up on Saturday from draw seven. He won his first start in KZN last season over 1950m at Scottsville, so this five-year-old Dynasty gelding should give a good account of himself.

Snaith runs Miyabi Gold in the Listed East Coast Cup over 2000m, where she carries joint topweight of 61,5kg from draw six under Fourie. On official merit ratings she is 0,5kg under sufferance with joint-topweight Sabina’s Dynasty but is otherwise well in.

Snaith said, “She’s carrying a lot of weight but she carried it last time and she needed that last outing, so she has got to be a huge runner. She’s a Group 1 level filly.”

Snaith said Platinum Prince would likely go under the radar this year and he is running in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m on Saturday and then going for the Cup Trial.

Oh Susanna is also entered in the Pinnacle Stakes race but had not been declared yet. Snaith said she was denied the opportunity to have a grass gallop at Greyville recently, so he would likely start her over a distance short of her best in the Tibouchina over 1400m.

Snaith has first-timer Innogen (two-year-old Master Of My Fate filly) in race two and one-time winner Ladder Man (three-year-old Twice Over gelding) is third reserve in race four.

He said on Monday, “They are so well, but have got bad draws. From good draws they would have both been huge runners. They have done all the work at home, they are ready and they go and draw bush. I was thinking they would both be bankers in everything, but from the draws I couldn’t have been more unlucky. Innogen is a nice little filly, she can run a bit, and my idea is to run her in some features here. She had a very good barrier trial and the horse who won it came out and won by three.”

David Thiselton-Gold Circle