The final field for the July Handicap will be announced today. It is South Africa’s most famous race, by a mile, and anybody who has been to Greyville on July day, knows how packed the course is. In fact, it is so packed that unless I have runners on the day I generally try to avoid it because it is just too much of a party and a little bit overwhelming!

I am hoping that my horse, Do you Remember, who certainly has done enough to be included in the final field, is included and today will see the announcement of the field and the horses’ numbers, etc for the race will be allocated. It is a handicap, so once you are in the field, you have a chance because the horses are rated in such a way that in theory they should all tie for first place, but of course that does not happen. To be the winner you need to be a little bit better than your rating and still be improving, so it is quite often a younger less experienced horse who ends up fitting that role but there are certainly some very consistent types, who despite heavyweights, have run fantastically over the years including Pomodoro and Seal. I also have Master Sabina entered and he is set to carry 53 kg if he makes the race, but on his performances to date he cannot possibly qualify.

What will be crucial will be the draw that each horse gets and an outside draw makes it very difficult to win the race and if you draw somewhere between say stall gate two until eight, you are really in a very good position and have a much more chance of doing well in the race, so it is a handicap, but the draw part always introduces the element of luck. Starting on the outside of 19 other horses and trying to get round to the front of the race is exceptionally difficult and pretty much ruins the chances of any horse unless they are way better than the other horses in the field ( and the handicapper hasn’t noticed yet).