Favourite Yard-Arm was among the 30 runners that stood their ground
at the first acceptance stage today, Thursday, June 10 for the R1,5-million,
Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2 200 metres at Greyville
Racecourse in Durban on Saturday, July 3.
Yard-Arm was one of eight horses that champion trainer Geoff Woodruff
left in the race, the eight including Celtic Grove, Golden Moment
and Ubusuku who were not among the top 30 on the Vodacom Durban
July Log after last weekend’s racing.
His entries include the classy filly, Promisefrommyheart, with
the balance being Superwood, Cousin John and Monet.
Runners which he withdrew are Heir Apparent who won the Sunday
Tribune South African Guineas, Saddlewood, The Eiger Sanction and
Thorpedo Gold.
Other runners in the top thirty on the log that were withdrawn
were Amphitheatre, Ilha Da Vitoria, Major Bluff and Bilboa.
In addition to the filly Promisefommyheart, the other three-year-olds
to have stood their ground are Greys Inn, Otter Trail, Angelina
and Bless This Day from the Mike De Kock yard, Weiho Mawing’s Grand
Emporium and Gary Alexander’s James Jaguar.
Wolf Whistle and Gang Related are the other entries from the De
Kock yard that have accepted and Colin Lee has put his runner Key
Of Destiny through to the next round as well.
Final supplementary nominations will be accepted, subject to approval
by Gold Circle, on Monday with final weights and acceptance on Tuesday.
The final field will be announced next Thursday and the public gallops
will take place the following Thursday, June 24.