Crawford can charm them again

RAWFORD RACING will be out to achieve a treble in the Holywoodbets Durban July on Saturday, although James Crawford will officially become the youngest trainer at age 25 to win the big race since David Payne won it with In Full Flight at the age of 24 in 1972.

- DAVID THISELTON

James is bullish about defending champion Oriental Charm and said, "He is doing very well, I could not be happier with him.”

He said about the Vercingetorix colt's pole position draw, "He's typically had to do a little bit more than the rest of the competition around him because of not having the best of draws.

“With his gate-speed and how he likes to dictate on his terms from the front of the field, I think the draw is absolutely perfect for him."

He said about the defending champions’ form this season, "If you have to take him based on his last run (when a neck second in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m) that run was a prep. It was a race that he was fit enough to win, but he was always going to be a better horse after the race. I expected him to run well, but the manner in which he ran surprised everyone, including myself.

“His prep couldn't have gone any better. His work at home has been awesome. I can't fault him."

The most significant aspect of is form this season is he has improved from a handicapper into a genuine weight for age horse.

In last season's Hollywoodbets Durban July he only had to carry 53kg and was 5kg better off with weight for age than the topweight See It Again, who would have got closer than a 1,80 length fifth had he not been hampered late.

Eight On Eighteen

However, this season Oriental Charm won the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty, he finished a half-a-length second to Eight On Eighteen in the Gr 1 weight for age WSB Met, and he finished a neck second in the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King.