Durban July win for Jackson?

A decade ago three-year-old colt Angus, trained by Crawford, looked certain to win the Durban July as the field came into the last 100 metres.

However, Ipi Tombe flashed up in the dying strides of the race to beat Angus by the proverbial whisker.

Trainer Crawford and his jockey, Mauritian Karis Teetan, were full of confidence this week that Jackson would take the spoils.

Teetan assured that he was not concerned by his wide draw in stall gate 16 due to Jackson's speed out the gate.

"Jackson has very quick gate speed so we will be able to get into a good position without much trouble," Teetan said on Wednesday.

Crawford said he was even more confident in Jackson than he was in Angus 10 years ago.

"Jackson is a much better horse than Angus," said Crawford.

Thus far Jackson has done all that has been asked of him in his preparations and has looked in great shape in the build-up to the race.