Comments on July runners

Joe Soma:

Got The Greenlight’s preparations have gone off very, very well. We’ve had a trouble-free preparation. With his last three starts, there’s always been rain or something that resulted in a stop-start preparation. This time round he’s had two very good grass gallops. He’s doing very well and he’s in a very good space.

Justin Snaith:

Do It Again is in great form. He’s come on nicely from the one run that he’s had, and he’s had a gallop. He came through it with flying colours. He’s got that killer instinct back. I don’t know how or where it’s come from, but it’s back. We expect a very good run if he overcomes the draw.

Crown Towers will more than likely be the pacemaker. It’s the only way he races – from the front. We are not going to try anything different.

Belgarion is in extremely good form. He needed his first run back and he was within three lengths of Rainbow Bridge. He is now 2kg better off and racing over a distance that he’s better suited to. So, in my opinion Belgarion is a big runner. He will run a massive race.

I scratched Nexus from the Met because of all the penalties they normally give the runners that run close in the Met. We had a feeling Nexus would run around fourth or fifth in the Met and would incur the usual penalties, so we decided to rather put him away. He’s been prepped into this race. Off 53kg he will run his race. He could be the dark horse.

Eric Sands:

Rainbow Bridge is a brilliant horse and he doesn’t know how to run a bad race. In my opinion, he’s the best horse in the country. As far as the things I consider important are concerned, every box has been ticked for this race.

Vaughan Marshall:

Linebacker is running against older horses for the first time but he is a big, strong horse and I don’t think it will be a problem. He has matured, and Grant (Van Niekerk) rides him very well.

Rascallion ran on best of all in the Daily News 2000 and if that had been any further, he would have won it. Rascallion has some staying blood. He’s very honest, and over 2200m he could turn out to be the better of the two. For me, I’d just like to win it. It doesn’t matter which one!

Gavin Lerena:

I’ve ridden Kommetdieding a couple of times in work, as well as at the official gallops last week. What I felt is what I wanted to feel. He looks to be a very game horse, still quite immature, but he has all the ability in the world. He is definitely going to be a better older horse, but he’s in a good space at the moment and is in great health.The No 18 draw is what it is. A bad draw is a bad draw, but I will just go out there and ride my race and place my horse where he is happy.

Gareth van Zyl:

Having She’s A Keeper as my first July runner is very exciting. We just wish the day would arrive because she is so well at the moment. We were very happy with her gallop. She wasn’t asked to do much so didn’t set the track alight. She just went about her business and came out of the gallop better than she went into it. All systems go.

Tyrone Zackey:

Johnny Hero is hopefully the winner. It is a strong field but he is doing well and I am hoping for the best. His work has been good.

Candice Bass Robinson:

Sovereign Spirit could have an outside money chance at the weights. He is doing well.

Stuart Pettigrew:

Expressfromtheus has gone through his preparations well and is very well. He is going to find it tough to win this race. I am hoping he can finish in the first six. The owner is very excited to have a runner so we will try our best.

Tony Rivalland:

Tristful is fit but it does look a monumental task for him.

Alyson Wright:

Matterhorn is very well and has had a very good preparation. We are just hoping for the best.

Lyle Hewitson:

Cirillo is well and will give a good account of himself.