Three great July winning trainers of the past were asked yesterday who they thought would win this year’s Vodacom Durban July.

Ralph Rixon, who won the big race with Jamaican Music in 1976, believes it will be hard for any horse to beat Pocket Power this year.

“I think Pocket Power and his sister River Jetez will finish first and second,” he said. “I believe Big City Life will run a tremendous race especially if it is a hard run race as he has no weight on his back compared to the others.”

Terrance Millard, the great trainer who dominated the 1980s and early 1990s, recording six victories, had an almost identical opinion to Rixon.

“I like three horses,” he said. “River Jetez, Pocket Power and Big City Life. If there is an upset it could come from one of the light weights because there is a big spread at the weights. With luck in running and if they are well enough on the day, one of them could pop up.”

Peter Kannemeyer, who won with Over The Air in 1979, is also a Pocket Power fan.

“I always believe in good horses. Pocket Power has won three J&B Mets, three L’Ormarins Queen Plates and one July. I know it’s not as easy as that, but he’s a good horse and I will stick with him.”