Charl Pretorius HORSERACING
Nine months ago Badger’s Coast was a maiden – a horse that had not yet managed to win a race. Amazingly, just two months later he rose to fame by becoming only the second three-year-old in 45 years to capture the prestigious J&B Met at Kenilworth.
This Saturday Badger’s Coast could add to his already impressive tally with victory in South Africa’s biggest race, the R1,25-million Rothmans July, to be run over 2E200m at Greyville racecourse in Durban.
In the absence of the illustrious Horse Chestnut – his former stable companion – Badger’s Coast could bring joy to the hearts of many punters in a sport badly in need of a new equine hero.
This 104th running of the July is sure to be a competitive and keenly contested event. At least seven runners have good winning chances, but Badger’s Coast has the history of the race and a number of other factors in his favour.
Firstly, three-year-old horses have an outstanding record in the July, having won nine of the past 14 events.
Secondly, Badger’s Coast’s jockey will weigh out at only 51,5kg – no fewer than eight of the past 10 July winners have come from the weight bracket between 51,5kg and 53kg.
Thirdly, Badger’s Coast will enjoy the services of former South African champion jockey Weichong Mawing, who is making a big name for himself in Hong Kong these days. Mawing will be jetting in especially for this race.
In addition, Badger’s Coast is in the care of national champion trainer Mike de Kock, a proven master at preparing horses for the big occasion. De Kock is in search of his first July winner, having saddled two seconds, a third and a fourth in this race since 1989. “If I don’t win the July this year, I probably never will,” he quipped at the start of the current Natal winter racing season.
Badger’s Coast’s pedigree and his ownership are two other factors that bode well for his prospects. His dam, Coasting Home, produced the 1994 July winner, Surfing Home. Badger’s Coast – like Surfing Home – is owned by veteran racing personality John Nash. Surfing Home, however, was disqualified after an objection and Nash – the father of erstwhile South African sprinting star, Paul Nash – will be hoping that fate deals him a reconciliatory hand this time around.
Badger’s Coast’s preparation was interrupted when he broke loose after a training gallop and fell on the tarmac adjacent to Clairwood racecourse three weeks ago, but De Kock is adamant that the three-year-old will be at his best when the 17-strong field lines up for a start at 4.15pm on Saturday. The Sheik has been scratched from the original field of 18 runners.
“Badger’s Coast has some scars and skin blemishes as a result of the fall, but he was only out of work for a couple of days and is physically 100% fit and ready,” reported the trainer.
The main opposition to Badger’s Coast could come from the four-year-old gelding Free My Heart, trained by Dean Kannemeyer. The Kannemeyer family, who last won the Rothmans July in 1979 with Over the Air, is full of confidence for a bold showing from their fast-improving charge.
Just recently Free My Heart surprised all and sundry with a thrilling victory over champion miler Jet Master in the Gold Challenge, and with a repeat of that performance is sure to give Badger’s Coast a good run for his money.
Badger’s Coast stable companion, Fort Defiance – one of the original favourites – has blotted his copybook with some below-par performances in recent weeks, but rates a certain danger if he can produce his best form on the day. Four- year-old Fort Defiance is handily weighted at 53,5kg – reminiscent of 1997 winner, Super Quality, and makes plenty of appeal as a swinger bet with Badger’s Coast.
Another runner with a chance is the multiple-winning mare, Cholula, who gave an indication of her well-being with a fluent victory over 2000m a fortnight ago.
Last year’s winner, El Picha, is reported to be in fine fettle, too, and his trainer Geoff Woodruff has been in devastating form recently. Against El Picha is the fact that no top-weight has won the July since the mighty Politician back in 1979. El Picha faces a stiff task under 58kg, but it would be foolish to ignore him completely.
Best outsider in the field is trainer Terry Lowe’s Polo Classic, who will delight a certain motor com- pany if he were to pull it off. An other good outsider is His Nibs, who will be partnered by apprentice Gift Funeka, the first black jockey to ride in the July.
Greyville is set for a record-breaking day, with 12 top-class races on offer for punters and racegoers. The action starts at 9.30am with the annual July Day fashion competitions, and a spectacular fireworks display will close proceedings around 8.30pm.
ENDS