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Gr2 Betting World 1900 KZN-Bred Entries

Double Clutch. Image: Gold Circle

The Gr2 Betting World 1900 runs at Greyville on Friday night and sees KZN horses and Vodacom Durban July entries, Double Clutch, Solar Star and It Is Written making a start.

The Paul Lafferty yard are happy with the preparation of their Gr2 Betting World 1900 candidate, “the miracle horse” Double Clutch (pictured right).

Another candidate for the Dubai string to accompany Harry's Son will be Vodacom Durban July entry Run Rhino Run, whom the yard believe has as good a chance as any of winning the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

Lafferty said about this talented Silvano gelding, “He has only been running over his minimum trip (1400-1600m) and all he wants is a bit of ground. Wait until he gets that because he is a really good horse.”

Double Clutch has won his last three races, all of them over 2000m at Greyville, and has been able to quicken from the front on all three occasions. However, he was only taken to the front because there was no pace in any of those races.

He had shown in his maiden win that he is capable of coming from last too. Friday night’s Betting World 1900 looks to lack pace and the yard would like to see him going handy from his wide draw.

Double Clutch was knocked sideways at one stage when winning the Listed Easter Handicap on April 10 and consequently pulled a muscle. He had to have a bout of physio, but was soon back in full work. He worked very well on the Summerveld grass on Monday and left his moderate companion way behind.

The Stronghold gelding is a big, strong horse and the yard hope he can defy the handicapper yet again.

Double Clutch was diagnosed with West Nile disease in the first half of last season. This is the same disease that was believed to have killed the mighty KZN-bred Jet Master.

Solar Star. Image: Gold Circle

Double Clutch weighed 100kg less than he does now and was close to being euthanized.

The veterinarian had also advised that even if he did recover he would never race again. On one occasion the yard were unable to help him walk from his stable across a strip of concrete onto a grass patch. He was simply too weak.

He eventually managed to achieve this short trip after being fitted with special foam shoes. It is quite incredible that he has won five races since making a full recovery from his illness and is an entry in the country’s premier race the Vodacom Durban July.

In form Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer has a strong hand in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night where he runs Vodacom Durban July entries Solar Star (pictured left) and It Is Written.

He said there had been a lot of horses with upper respiratory problems and others that had bled during the Cape Summer Of Champions Season and he was unable to quite pinpoint why his own string had been performing below par, so he had backed off a lot of them and saved them for the Champions Season.

His excellent results since arriving in KZN in March reflect this.

Kannemeyer said that he had thought that Summerhill-bred Solar Star might have needed his first KZN outing over 1600m on the Greyville polytrack, but instead he won "exceptionally well".

He followed up by winning the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville "very well." Kannemeyer said this would be the Kahal gelding's first test but added, "He is on the up and has everything in his favour (good draw), so we will see how good he is."

It Is Written. Image: Gold Circle

He is also 1,5kg out with the best in but is drawn well in two with Stuart Randolph up.

Solar Star, out of American mare Nevada Sunrise by Carson City, is owned in partnership by Messrs Greg Bortz, Bryn Ressell and Mrs Vanessa Harrison.

Kannemeyer said that he had always felt that It Is Written, bred by Kievan Stud, would be "a miler plus". This Dynasty gelding has also benefitted from his stay at Summerveld, for after going a bit off form during the Cape summer he bounced back with a facile 4,25 length win in a MR 94 Handicap over 1400m at Scottsville. This prompted Kannemeyer to supplement him for the Vodacom Durban July.

Owned by Fred Crabbia, the four year old gelding is out of Northfields mare Good Rapport. It Is Written, a five time winner is a 2012 National Yearling Sales graduate, where he sold for R210 000.

The other KZN interest is Dynastic Power, trained by Stan Elley. The four year old Dynasty gelding is a half-brother to Spring Valley sire Ravishing, and a Gr3 winner of the Winter Derby. His last outing saw him place a length off Kingston Mines in the Gr2 J&B Stayers Handicap over 2800m.

- extract Gold Circle