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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Racing News: Slumdogmillionaire to miss 2012 Vodacom Durban July

The much-awaited clash in the R3-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July at Greyville on July 7 between what are claimed to be the country’s two top three-year-olds, Jackson and Slumdogmillionaire, will not happen this year.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl revealed today that his star Strike Smartly colt, impressive winner of the R2-million, Grade 1 SA Classic at Turffontein at the end of March, will be out of racing for the entire Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal. After being found slightly lame, X-rays showed that the colt had a bone chip on his fetlock and surgery would be required.

But the striking colt, bred by Gavin Schafer out of the Australian Last Tycoon mare Make A Million, is likely to meet the Brett Crawford-trained Jackson in the J&B Met in January.


Speaking today, Van Zyl said while the injury was not a serious one, it was felt that it needed attention because Slumdogmillionaire was still young and was a serious horse that had a great future ahead of him.
“I was looking forward to the clash between him and Jackson in the Vodacom Durban July but this is a tough game and you have to take the good with the bad.

“After the operation he will be rested to ensure a good recovery and his next mission will be the J&B Met. I will probably take him down to the Cape with a small string and train him there for the race to eliminate the travelling problem before the race.”

He said he had Bulsara and Seal which he hoped to get into the Vodacom Durban July and Bulsara would also be aimed at the Champions Cup. His top juvenile filly Franny would have the Allan Roberston Fillies Championship as her next mission.

Slumdogmillionaire had only raced three times before winning the SA Classic. He won his first two races very easily before finishing third to Golden Chateau in the Gauteng Guineas after breaking through the stalls during the loading process and having to be pulled up and reloaded.

Van Zyl also revealed that his other top horse from last season, the Mogok colt The Apache, is in quarantine in the Cape bound for an overseas campaign. He is among a parcel of Mike de Kock-trained horses – including Igugu – that are heading for Dubai.

“One of De Kock’s patrons has bought a half share in The Apache and he will be heading overseas.”
He said he had purchased 20 yearlings at the National Yearling Sales and had bought 11 at the sales in the Cape earlier this year. “There are also some babies for Mrs Bridgett Oppenheimer coming in off the farm.”

Van Zyl is based at Summer-veld but has a vibrant yard in Gauteng under his son Chesney who has been largely responsible for the preparation of his horses for the big races in that region…

Source: VDJ


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