While nothing really went right in the build-up to the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July for Joey Soma and his Gr1 winning 3yo Red Saxon, the Turffontein veteran says that if he could have chosen a day to suffer a disappointment it would have been Saturday 2 July 2022.
Hollywoodbets Greyville – a purple place on the big day! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“The Hollywoodbets Durban July reawakened the spirit of the great race for me as somebody who has been a part of the game for 50 years. The build-up and the vibe, the organisation and the way we as connections were treated in the Durban View Room on the day, was simply outstanding. It was a unanimous opinion of everybody I spoke to – Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets deserve every accolade for finding the fire and soul of a racing event that is a gem in our proud history – it gives me genuine hope and I am already looking forward to next year,” Joey Soma told the Sporting Post on Saturday.
Serino Moodley is introduced to the massive crowd (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
He said there were logistical issues that would no doubt be remedied.
“I was at the back when the fireworks upset Captain’s Ransom and a few of the other horses. And it’s not acceptable to run a big race past schedule. It’s not good for the contestants, the public and for the international jurisdictions betting on it. But these are fixable items – overall, I salute the Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets Teams for a top class job well done!”
A man who enjoys a wager, Joey said that it was a tough day on the punting front but that Xavion’s victory in the Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap as the shadows lengthened, had gotten them all out of it.
“That’s why we love this game. We are on the canvas and the ref is counting down. Then suddenly we are on our feet and deliver a knockout blow!” he laughs.
With three below-par runs to Red Saxon’s name and an official gallop, where a dead bird added to the trauma, the standing down of potential history-making lady rider Rachel Venniker just five days prior to the race, told a story of a prep straight out of a horror movie.
“We are dealing with flesh and blood, and these challenges arise. To top it all, Red Saxon was never a happy camper at Summerveld. He is a different horse at his Turffontein home base. Then he got cut into during the race – but nothing serious to be fair. Somebody has to run last. This was our turn. No excuses. We got beaten fair and square.”
Joey says that he felt that there could be no genuine hard-luck stories for any of the runners and that Sparkling Water was a deserved winner.
Replacement rider Serino Moodley catters Red Saxon down to the start (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“We are going to give Red Saxon a good break now. We need to restore his confidence and will aim him at the Autumn Season – races like the Horse Chestnut. We will do his bloods regularly and consider gelding him. We know he has the ability and for me as the trainer, it’s my job to get him running back at that level.”
Joey saddled a smart-looking winner in Lady Of Power at the Vaal on Thursday. He says that it’s amazing what a winner does for the morale and spirit in the yard.
“You travel, have expectations and then nothing works out. Back home a few days, and a winner brings us back boxing. I will enter Lady Of Power for the fillies race on Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of this month. She has ability but let’s see if she gets in.”
The veteran said it had not been a golden season in terms of winners for his yard, but that Red Saxon’s Gr1 SA Classic victory had remedied that.
“Grade 1 wins are the reason we wake up shortly after most people have gone to bed. That Gr1 trophy makes up for the win numbers. We start all over on 1 August and we never stop dreaming and hoping for better things!”
Watch the replay of the Hollywoodbets Durban July:
