Vodacom Durban July Final Field Selection Process

Given the very spirited public debate that has arisen following the announcement of the final field for the 2013 Vodacom Durban July, Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd, with the approval of the Panel tasked with selecting the final field, wishes, in the interest of complete transparency, to make public the following summary of the Panel’s deliberations.



“Of the 32 acceptors, the following 16 horses were “unanimously” selected:-



Pomodoro; Heavy Metal; Hill Fifty Four; Seal; Jet Explorer; Tribal Dance; Shogunnar; Whiteline Fever; E-Jet; Astro News; Cape Town Noir; Wylie Hall; No Worries; Love Struck; Gothic and Do You Remember.



Of the 32 acceptors, the following 6 horses were “unanimously” eliminated:-



Master Plan; Bravura; Zambucca; River Crossing; Penhaligon and Abercrombie.



That left four places to be filled from amongst the following horses:-



Wagner; Run For It; Punta Arenas; Wild One; Jet Belle; Tellina; Rock Cocktail; Gold Onyx; Ice Machine and Bulsara.



For the panel, this was quite obviously the most difficult part of the exercise but following a lengthy and detailed analysis of the various contenders, the Panel agreed that the next three to be selected would be Wagner, Run For It and Punta Arenas.



That then left ONE placing to be filled from amongst Wild One; Jet Belle; Tellina; Rock Cocktail; Gold Onyx; Ice Machine and Bulsara and the Panel came to the unanimous conclusion that the final slot became a toss-up between Wild One and Jet Belle.



On revised ratings there was very little to choose between Wild One’s third in the SA Derby and Jet Belle’s third in the SA Oaks but we all agreed that the Derby form might hold up the better and thus included Wild One as the final choice at the expense of Jet Belle. It is conceded that this was a close call and clearly a subjective view but one that was shared by all members of the Panel.



Tellina was excluded as, in the opinion of the Panel, he was well held on both the form of the SA Derby and the Daily News 2000.



Rock Cocktail was excluded as he has yet to win a Stakes race and has yet to be Grade 1 placed, his sole Graded Stakes performance being 2nd in a Grade 2.



Rock Cocktail’s head to head form with Wild One is 1-1. Wild One beat him convincingly in the Derby Trial, following which Rock Cocktail finished ahead of Wild One in the Daily News 2000. However, the panel took note of the fact that Wild One was finishing very strongly after not enjoying the run of the race and ultimately Wild One has a Grade 1 placing to his credit as opposed to Rock Cocktail’s Grade 2 placing.



Gold Onyx and Bulsara were excluded as the Panel believed that, although they obviously had some grounds for inclusion on current form, they both have had their chances and it has been some time since their last win. Although rated 109, the panel excluded Ice Machine on the grounds that he had yet to prove his effectiveness and ability to run to that rating over further than 1600 metres.”



The Panel included representatives of Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd together with the senior Handicappers employed by the National Horseracing Authority

So for one bad run Tellina gets kicked out of the July?
How many unplaced runs has wagner had?
A workrider maiden winner Gothic gets everyones vote
Cant understand this...

So Wagner didn't get automatic exemption for winning the Summer Cup. I do not agree with what was selected but atleast they have explained their reasoning, and I suppose we all have as opinion.

Gothic got in "unanimously".....

The derby form will be stronger than the oaks form.....so why is Tellina not in before Do you remember?

I can find at least 3 spots where they contradict themselves.

Also still in shock that both Love Struck and Gothic got in unanimously??????

July should be made up of G1 and G2 winner /placed horses ONLY ! When all will -D

And a horse like Master Plan was “unanimously” eliminated (watch out in the consolation). :

IMO looking at the 3 year olds this year having 7 in the race is a couple too many.

KReddy Wrote:

---

> So for one bad run Tellina gets kicked out of the
> July?
> How many unplaced runs has wagner had?
> A workrider maiden winner Gothic gets everyones
> vote
> Cant understand this...


The formline since his win sucks eggs AND the race horses he beat to crack his maiden are pure class!!! From that, i strongly disagree with the inclusion AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TH BETTING... GH was rite last nite, this should be a 8/1 bar betting field

Check the other thread........Graham Hawkins responds

Comments in the computaform made me laugh - Wagner is finding form at the right time with a 3rd to run for it. (IE, running 2nd last).

And the horse that did run 2nd to run for it, ran unplaced over the weekend.

Sigh, oh well, lets just see how this race pans out! Im backing Igugu for the July this year! Oh crap, that was last years winner! {Returns to computaform with double thick glasses and a pint...}

Press Wrote:

---

> Comments in the computaform made me laugh - Wagner
> is finding form at the right time with a 3rd to
> run for it. (IE, running 2nd last).
>
> And the horse that did run 2nd to run for it, ran
> unplaced over the weekend.
>
> Sigh, oh well, lets just see how this race pans
> out! Im backing Igugu for the July this year! Oh
> crap, that was last years winner! {Returns to
> computaform with double thick glasses and a
> pint...}


Need to get some binoculars- Igugu won it two years ago.

:)o:)o:)o

It is clear from the response that Wagner bring the summer cup winner was not a guaranteed runner. In my opinion the chance if Wagner improving vs rock cocktail or tellina is far more unlikely . Can't see why Wagner got the mid ahead of the two mentioned above