The entry list for Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the R1,5-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July, was boosted to 53 yesterday (Monday) when three three-year-olds and a four-year-old filly were nominated as supplementary entries for the 2 200 metre race at Greyville Racecourse in Durban on Saturday, July 3.

This followed the scratching earlier in the day of Doug Campbell’s Great Oak which brought to four the number of scratchings from the initial list of entries. The other scratchings were Dynasty, Highland Night and Jamaica.

As expected, Mike de Kock entered his Badger Land gelding, Otter Trail, who ran a brilliant second to Heir Apparent in the R400 000, Grade 1, Sunday Tribune South African Guineas on Saturday. He also nominated the Modern Day gelding, Bless This Day, who ran fourth behind Greys Inn in the R750 000, Grade 1, Sun International South African Derby at Turffontein the week before.

Weiho Mawing nominated his National Assembly gelding, Grand Emporium, who won the R300 000, Grade 1 Triple Crown at Newmarket at the end of March and George Tambourlas entered the four-year-old filly, Night Diva, who won the R300 000, Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2 000 metres at Turffontein at the beginning of May beating Ilha Da Vitoria.

Supplementary nominations were also received yesterday for the R400 000, Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the R300 000, Grade 2 Astrapak 1900. Alec Laird entered Foxy Lad and Ormond Ferraris nominated To The Line for the Daily News 2000 while Sean Tarry nominated Alastor for the Astrapak 1900.

The date for the second acceptance of Vodacom Durban July supplementary nominations is on June 7 with final supplementary nominations a week later on June 15 and final acceptance on June 15. The final field will be announced on Thursday, June 17 when the draw for barrier positions will take place.