With the final field and draws announced last week, we spoke to Mike Bass to gather his early thoughts and opinion on the Vodacom Durban July and his three carded runners; Castlethorpe, Chesalon and English Garden.

“Jeff Lloyd phoned me up from Australia to ask me if there were any opportunities in my yard for him to ride in this year’s July. I had been thinking of a suitable partner for Chesalon, and who better than ‘Guv’ Lloyd I thought, so we agreed amicably and I am pleased he will be coming down to ride for me on the day. We have had great success together in the past, we have always had a good understanding, and I think this particular pair will make a very suitable match.” said Bass

We were fairly content with our draws; Chesalon’s draw of 12, and English Garden’s draw of 10 should bring them nicely into the race and this should improve as the reserve runners come out which t leaves them both in the first set of stalls.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe had first choice of our rides, and has elected to ride English Garden who has been in good form recently and comes into the race well weighted at 56.5kg. It won’t be an easy task for him to make this weight, and he will have to shave 3 and half kilos off his regular riding weight, but he is determined to ride him, and we will always give him the benefit. It’s a tough call between our runners this year, but first impressions suggest that English Garden is our stable elect and our best chance of a July winner could come from this pair.

Karl Nesius will retain the ride on Castlethorpe, despite receiving a harsh penalty after running behind Variety Club in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge which has resulted in the Australian-bred gelding having to carry second top weight of 59.5kg, just 0.5kg less that top weight Pierre Jourdan on 60kg. His draw of 20 is a concern and he will need a bit of luck from there but shouldn’t be ignored.

“We will have to see how the Gallops go on Thursday” said Bass “I will probably gallop Castlethorpe with another July day runner Jeppe’s Reef, and Thanks John with Chesalon, while English Garden will have a gallop on his own.”

My first thoughts on the race is that it appears to be an open July, however the three year olds Jackson and Variety Club are certainly a cut above the horses this season, so I still make Jackson the horse to beat despite drawing poorly.

“looking at the balance of the field, and if I had to pick a few at this stage, I would say Sage Throne looks an immediate challenger from a good draw, as too is Vettel who also drew well and could control the pace. The Gavin Van Zyl runner Eton Square intrigues me, he may have an outside chance. You also can’t ignore horses with good form going into the race, which brings in Gold Onyx with a decent chance especially from his good draw of 2” said Mike.