The 2022 R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July received a media turbo boost of some proportions when dual past winner Do It Again stormed to victory in the R350 000 Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday to set course for a date with history on 2 July at the same venue.
Not tuned up, going straight into a 1900m contest, and returning from a fifteen week break after running on the fringes in the WSB Cape Town Met in January, Do It Again, despite drifting in the betting to 7-2, stormed through under Anton Marcus’ hands from midfield to demonstrate his well-being.
Anton Marcus pushes Do It Again out to an eyecatching victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The 7yo resumed his winning ways two days short of a year after winning a Pinnacle Stakes in class record time at Hollywoodbet Greyville.
After his forward galloping stablemate Crown Towers had led the charge for much of the race, Do It Again was poetry in motion as he raced clear to beat the consistent Mount Anderson (5-1) by 1,90 lengths in a time of 116,16 secs.
Gainsford (12-1) stayed on well for third, a half length back, with Crown Towers (8-1) fading late for a well-beaten fourth.
While Do It Again’s Hollywoodbets Durban July prospects have brightened, there were five other entrants:
- Crown Towers ran a 3,15 length fourth
- Litigation ran a 3,75 length fifth
- Crimson King was sixth and 3,80 lengths off the winner
- Decorated ran ninth and 10,05 lengths behind
- Origami finished last and 13,15 lengths off
Ridgemont Highlands jockey Anton Marcus celebrated a feature double on the day and suggested that we need to appreciate moments like this.
“Do It Again has become a public favourite as shown by his reception here today. I was warned not to be too hard on him today. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him in the mix when the chips are down on 2 July again,” added the man who rode Do It Again to his first July victory in 2018.
An elated trainer Justin Snaith, celebrating his first feature success of the 2022 SA Champions Season, said that Do It Again’s work ‘was incredible’.
“I was hoping for a positive run. He is a legend and an incredible horse. He is what a racehorse should look like. He is so graceful,” he added.
Watch the replay here:
Bred by the Northfields Stud, Do It Again is by Twice Over (Observatory) out of the triple Gr3 winner Sweet Virginia.
A four-time Gr1 winner, Twice Over has enjoyed a royal season so far with his top runners including Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Double Superlative, Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes winner Smorgasbord, unbeaten filly Call The Wind, and stakes winners Resonate and Young Love
The 7yo gelding has now won 9 races with 13 places from 28 starts for earnings of R9 249 100.
Do It Again won the Durban July in 2018 and 2019 and is one of only five horses to have won the big race back-to-back. The others are Campanajo (1897/98), Corriecrian (1907/1908, Milesia Pride (1949/50) and El Picha (1999/2000)
Seven-year-olds have won the July only five times in 125 renewals.
Do It Again has shortened to 12-1 on the big race antepost sponsors, Hollywoodbets.
