After GOT THE GREENLIGHT won the Gr1 Daily News 2000 last year Joe Soma was quick to remind post-race interviewer Warren Lenferna that there was a race in July.
With the Daily News 2000 ticked off his bucket list the Vodacom Durban July was next in his sights for GOT THE GREENLIGHTand the colt came within a length of pulling it off as the well-weighted and year older Belgarion ran him out of it.
Joe Soma has played his cards carefully leading into Saturday’s race at Hollywoodbets Greyville and GOT THE GREENLIGHThas everything in his favour this time around and luck in running should see him close again.
Speaking to former trainer Dom Zaki, Joe Soma said his charge was, “very, very well”.
There are reservations in some circles with pundits pointing out that GOT THE GREENLIGHT will be attempting to overcome the longest layoff for a winner for 87 years. No winner since Sun Tor in 1934, who came off a 161-day layoff, has come off as long a layoff as GOT THE GREENLIGHT’s, which will be 63 days come Saturday.
Joe Soma is no wet-behind-the-ears trainer and will be fully aware of what is required and there is plenty of sand and grass at Turffontein to have his charge fully fit.
“I am happy with the decision to give him a break between the Champions Challenge on May 1 and July 3. His preparation has gone extremely well and he has had two hard gallops. He’s put in a lot of quality work,” said Joe Soma on Monday.
“He has matured and strengthened up and there is no doubt in my mind that he has improved lengths from last year. He is beautiful to look at.”
“The draw (14) is not as crucial as it used to be after the course was narrowed and the field reduced to 18. I don’t think it will be a factor.”
“We are happy and excited and have a top jockey (Muzi Yeni) up,” concluded Joe Soma.
Joe Soma put GOT THE GREENLIGHT away for a lengthy eight-month break after last year’s July, only making his seasonal debut on March 3 this year where he was palpably short of a gallop, caught late by the smart and improving MK'S PRIDE in the 1400m Gr2 Hawaii Stakes.
He followed up in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (WFA) beating the smart three-year-old COPPER MOUNTAIN over a mile followed by the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m on May 1.
GOT THE GREENLIGHTis currently 5-2 ante-post favourite with bookmakers Hollywoodbets ahead of LINEBACKER (4-1), RAINBOW BRIDGE (5-1), DO IT AGAIN (7-1), RASCALLION (8-1), BELGARION (10-1), KOMMETDIEDING (12-1), 20-1 bar.