Edict Of Nantes in fine fettle

Edict Of Nantes will be kept ticking over until the July gallops in nine days’ time says Brett Crawford.

He said: “Edict Of Nantes is also doing well. He is racing fit so all we have to do now is look after him and keep him happy.”

One Crawford stable star who won’t be in action on July day is Woolavington winner Lady Of The House. “She has done her job and she is going for a rest in the paddock,” said her trainer. “In my opinion, she is still a couple of months immature so a break will do her good.”

Crawford, 45, has had a memorable season and victory in the big one on July 1 would not only fill one of the few gaps in his CV but finally make amends for the 2002 head defeat of Angus in his first season as a trainer.

“That was hard to take because I thought we had won,” he was to recall. “I never even saw Ipi Tombe who came with such a dash that she got up on the line. People kept saying to me that it was some achievement in my first season but in this game, nobody ever remembers who came second!”

Piere Strydom, who rode Angus that day, has been confirmed by Snaith Racing for last year’s Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn. He won last season’s July on The Conglomerate and will be bidding for his fifth success in the historic race.

Grant van Niekerk, beaten a short head on Smanjemanje on his first July ride in 2012 and a close second on Marinaresco 12 months ago, rides Black Arthur while Richard Fourie has been confirmed for Cup Trial winner Elusive Silva. Fourie won the 2014 race for the stable on Legislate.

Journalist: Michael Clower for Gold Circle Publishing Department