With the final field of 20 for the R3 million, Group 1, Vodacom Durban July determined by the July log, the trainers eagerly await each update of the log to see whether their charges are secure of a starting position or in need of another run to prove themselves.
The position of a horse on the log is determined by a panel of three and takes into account the merit rating, current performance and Group race performance of each horse.
The initial log published on the 9th of May yielded no surprises, with Brett Crawford's star three-year-old and Group 1 Investec Cape Derby winner, Jackson in the number one position.
The next update of the Log appeared on May 23, after the running of the Group 2 Bettingworld 1900 at Greyville. Jackson is still the log leader and the only change in the top twenty is the inclusion of the Mike Bass trained English Garden in position number nine.
English Garden earned his top twenty spot with a convincing victory in a Progress Plate(1800m) at Greyville where he trounced a field mostly made up of Vodacom Durban July contenders.
His inclusion saw the Gavin van Zyl trained Bulsara drop out of the top twenty, while good runs from Master Plan and Solo Traveller in the Bettingworld 1900, saw them move into the top thirty, into position 26 and 22 respectively.
Neither are assured a run in the Vodacom Durban July and Solo Traveller has been entered for the R 1 million, Group 1 Daily News (2000m) on June 2nd at Greyville, while Master Plan is likely to start in the R700 000, Group 1 Rising Sun Challenge (1600m) on June 9th at Clairwood.
The next log is due on June 5th after the running of the Daily News, which promises an exciting contest, with current entries including the ruling favourite, Jackson, Pomodoro currently in position 4 and Royal Bencher in position 5.
LOG AS AT 23 MAY 2012
NO HORSE AGE MR TRAINER
1 JACKSON (3C) 116 Brett Crawford2 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (5M) 116 St John Gray
3 EUROPA POINT (IRE) (5M) 109 Mike de Kock4 POMODORO (3C) 108 Sean Tarry
5 ROYAL BENCHER (3G) 108 Alec Laird6 BEACH BEAUTY (4F) 110 Dennis Drier
7 PIERRE JOURDAN (5G) 114 Gary Alexander8 BRAVURA (5G) 113 Joey Ramsden
9 ENGLISH GARDEN (4G) 107 Mike Bass10 TALES OF BRAVERY (5G) 113 Vaughan Marshall
11 CHESALON (4G) 110 Mike Bass12 TOP SELLER (4C) 107 Vaughan Marshall
13 THUNDER DANCE (3F) 104 Brett Crawford14 ILHA BELA (3F) 104 Mike de Kock
15 POLAR BOUND (4G) 108 Brett Crawford16 SILVER FLYER (3C) 108 Mike de Kock
17 SEAL (4G) 110 Gavin van Zyl18 ILSANPIETRO (BRZ) (5G) 111 Mike de Kock
19 EBONY FLYER (4F) 107 Justin Snaith20 SMANJEMANJE (5G) 108 Tyrone Zackey
NEXT 1021 BULSARA (5G) 106 Gavin van Zyl
22 SOLO TRAVELLER (4G) 106 Mike de Kock23 TRIBAL DANCE (3C) 105 Vaughan Marshall
24 GOLDEN CHATEAU (AUS) (3C) 102 Mike de Kock25 FLIRTATION (5M) 103 Mike de Kock
26 MASTER PLAN (3G) 99 Greg Ennion27 GOLD ONYX (NZ) (4G) 101 Sean Tarry
28 ASTRO NEWS (3G) 104 Greg Ennion29 GORONGOSA (IRE) (5M) 101 Mike de Kock
30 BERRY BLAZE (IRE) (4F) 102 Mike de KockThe VDJ Log will be updated on Tuesday, 5 June 2012
The Final Field will be declared on Thursday, 21 June 2012, when the draws for barrier positions will take place.
