Cracking draws for the fancied runners highlighted the barrier draw function held at Gateway Shopping Mall in Durban today.

The ruling favourite for the race, Hawwaam was drawn in a top position of 3 whilst Do It Again, the best horse in South Africa drew 10.  Rainbow Bridge, one of the more fancied runners and current Sun Met Champion drew 4.

The widest draw of the runners outside of the reserves was given to Head Honcho whilst Roy Had Enough made the final field and drew 15. Return Flight drew a great number in barrier position 2.

Mike De Kock has a plan.. 

Mike de Kock pulled inside draws for his two runners – favourite Hawwaam and strongly supported Barahin – and they will jump from No 3 and No 6 respectively.
“I would have preferred to be drawn a little further out with Hawwaam, but my game plan now becomes very clear,” said De Kock. “I see some pace in the race but I think it’s only good enough to get us to the top of the straight.
“In the case of Barahin, he has only one way of running and that’s to drop out so he’s okay from his draw.”
Justin Snaith will saddle five runners in the Grade 1 extravaganza with last year’s winner Do It Again, with Richard Fourie up, drawn at No 10 and quoted at 17-4. His other runners are Made To Conquer (drawn No 11), Doublemint (No 12), Magnificent Seven (No 8) and Miyabi Gold (No 5).
There was a huge smile on the face of trainer Eric Sands when he pulled the No 4 draw for his charge, Rainbow Bridge. The Sun Met winner will be ridden by Gavin Lerena and is quoted at 5-1.
Sean Tarry has three runners in the main draw while Zillzaal is the second reserve runner.
Legal Eagle, who will come in with a handy weight of 55kg, is drawn No 7 and will have champion jockey Lyle Hewitson in the irons.
Tilbury Fort, the G-Bets Summer Cup winner, drew pole position while Return Flight is drawn right alongside him at No 2.
One trainer who was very unhappy with the draws was Joey Ramsden. Twist Of Fate will jump from barrier No 17 while Fresnaye landed No 13 draw. Three-year-old Twist Of Fate will have Mauritian jockey Nooresh Juglall on his back.
Final field and draws for the R4.25-million Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1) over 2200m at
Greyville on Saturday 6 July:
1 – 10 DO IT AGAIN (S J Snaith) R Fourie 60.0 – 125
2 – 4 RAINBOW BRIDGE (A E Sands) G Lerena 59.5 – 124
3 – 19 HEAD HONCHO (W A Nel) K de Melo 58.5 – 122
4 – 3 HAWWAAM (M F De Kock) A Marcus 56.0 – 121
5 – 7 LEGAL EAGLE (S G Tarry) L Hewitson 55.0 – 115
6 – 17 TWIST OF FATE (J Ramsden) N Juglall 54.0 – 117
7 – 9 LADY IN BLACK (D R Drier) S Veale 53.5 – 112
8 – 6 BARAHIN (M F De Kock) M Yeni 53.0 – 112
9 – 16 DIVINE ODYSSEY (J J van Vuuren) C Habib 53.0 – 111
10 – 1 TILBURY FORT (S G Tarry) …………… 53.0 – 110
11 – 18 EYES WIDE OPEN (G S Kotzen) W Kennedy 53.0 – 109
12 – 11 MADE TO CONQUER (S J Snaith) M Khan 53.0 – 108
13 – 15 ROY HAD ENOUGH (F Robinson) M Van Rensburg 53.0 – 108
14 – 12 DOUBLEMINT (S J Snaith) C Orffer 53.0 – 104
15 – 8 MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (S J Snaith) L J Ferraris 53.0 – 104

16 – 2 RETURN FLIGHT (S G Tarry) …………… 52.0 – 109
17 – 13 FRESNAYE (J Ramsden) …………… 52.0 – 105
18 – 5 MIYABI GOLD (S J Snaith) …………… 52.0 – 105
Reserve Runners
19 – 14 CAMPHORATUS (R/S Hill) Reserve 1 52.0 – 105
20 – 20 ZILLZAAL (S G Tarry) Reserve 2 53.0 – 104
Same Trainer: (1,12,14,15,18) (4,8) (5,10,16,20) (6,17)

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