Justin Snaith
Danie Toerien: Justin Snaith is confident he has the firepower to become the first trainer in 108 years to win the Vodacom Durban July four times in succession. “My horses will be right on the right day,” said the trainer, adding that “it will take a very good horse to beat them.”
He saddles four runners: Do It Again, winner in 2018 and 2019, defending champion Belgarion, Nexus, as well as Crown Towers.
“Everything’s going to plan. The horses have improved as the season’s gone along,” said 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.”
Do It Again
According to Snaith, 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.”
The trainer also said that he is not too concerned about the pace at which the race will be run. “A normal pace will do. We definitely don’t want a slow pace, but with Crown Towers in the field there’s definitely not going to be a slow pace, unless of course my horse doesn’t jump.”
Snaith is also expecting a solid effort from defending champion Belgarion.
“Belgarion is in extremely good form. He needed his first run back and he was within three lengths of Rainbow Bridge. He is now two kilos 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.”
Snaith regards Nexus as the dark horse in the field.
“I scratched Nexus out of 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.”
Considering that Sovereign Spirit had his Merit Rating upped from 106 to 124 after finishing third in the Cape Met, and Princess Calla was raised from 116 to 118 after finishing fifth, it looks like Snaith’s call could pay dividends on July Day.
Snaith considers the favourite, Got The Greenlight, trained by Joe Soma, the biggest threat.
“I think Got The Greenlight is extremely well weighted for a horse that has accomplished what he has,” said Snaith.
“I obviously saw his gallop and it was very impressive. He looked like he was moving very well.”
Snaith has a number of runners contesting the “big races” on July Day, including Captain’s Ransom in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.
Having seen his runners finish second in this race for the last three consecutive years running, Snaith will be hoping that Captain’s Ransom can break the hoodoo when she takes on Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena trained by Paul Matchett.
Snaith is reportedly worried about Captain’s Ransom jumping from gate 13 while War Of Athena will start the race against the rail.
“The draw is a big concern. She is going to be flying home but is going to have to make up a lot of ground from that draw.
“We are going to need luck and we hope the race is not over by the time we come. We are just hoping for a positive run.”
Captain’s Ransom
The trainer from Cape Town also saddles a pair in the Grade 3 DStv Gold Vase over 3000m but will have to watch Doublemint and Bayberry jump from the widest gates – 15 and 16 respectively.
Asked what he would do if forced to take a R100 bet on July Day, the trainer said: “I don’t want to be too cheeky, but I would take 20 wins and 80 places on Pinkerton. He is doing well and this is the right type of race for him.”
Pinkerton contests the last race, a Listed handicap over 1600m.
Apart from aiming for a fourth July title in succession, Snaith also seems unstoppable on his way to claiming a second champion trainer title in three years, and July Day is key.
The trainer admits that he has been “very quiet” in KwaZulu Natal during the first part of their Champions Season.
“The (champions) season’s quite short… but the month of July is pretty much the month that counts,” he said.
In the last three years, Snaith has trained four winners and 19 other top-four finishers on July Day.