Every year the Durban July comes around and captures the imagination of not only the racing fraternity and regular punters but also the public in general, writes Graham Martin in the Sporting Post mailbag.
It’s also that time of the year when the 3yr old’s take centre stage.
These are the young and improving horses and they attract the most attention.
The 3 yr old’s running in the Durban July and what weight they carry is always a contentious issue.
Hawaii
Some of South Africa’s greatest racehorses ran in the July as 3yr old’s. Some of them won and some of them lost but still went on to achieve greater things.
A horse that come to mind are Hawaii who ran 4th and went on to become one of the best horses in the U.S.A.
London News wins the 1996 Rothmans July
London News won the july with bottom weight of only 52 kgs and went on to achieve greater things.
The point I’m making is that 3 yr old’s are STILL MATURING, whereas the older horses have reached full maturity normally at four or as a late 4 yr old, sometimes even as a 5 yr old.
The 3 yr old’s run in the Classics and they run against each other.
The Gr1 classics are only for 3 yr old’s, not for older horses, yet they receive a bigger penalty than a more mature horse who has won a Gr1 race.
London News won the Classic and the Daily News, both Gr1 races. He won the Durban July with bottom weight of 52 Kg. by a fast diminishing long head from the older and more mature 5 yr old Sleek Machine.
Badgers Drift won three Gr1 Classics in a row namely the Classic, S.A. Derby and the Daily News.
He carried 51.5 kgs and couldn’t find a place.
Probably the best horse that South Africa has ever produced, Hawaii, couldn’t win the July and he didn’t carry the weight that Abashiri carried in this year’s July (59 Kg ).
Sea Cottage
Not even Sea Cottage could win the July as a 3yr old. So the point I’m trying to make is that a Gr1 race for older horses is not the same as a Gr1 race for 3 yr old’s.
I feel that far too much emphasis is placed on the 3 yr old Gr1 Classics.
Legal Eagle couldn’t find a place with a Merit Rating of 120!
I rest my case.
He only won one Gr1 Classic, The SA Derby.
