Of all the equine talents showcasing their skills and brilliance on Vodacom Durban July day, there is one that will be instantly recognisable to most present. Her name is Beach Beauty, a champion mare. She returns in search of a successful defence of her R750 000 Gr1 Garden Province Stakes title at her fourth July day appearance
The legendary Northern Dancer has dominated the runnings of the Vodacom Durban July since the 1990’s. Of the 16 runners for this year’s running of South Africa’s most celebrated horse-race, 13 are inbred to the mighty stallion.
Stan Elley told the Sporting Post on Thursday that the Dynastic Power connections had been waiting for the Derby as they felt that their Dynasty gelding would be at his best over the distance. In the end, he blew the Power King Triple Crown hopes out of the water
Snaith grabs July confidence booster and continues his dream season as he saddles top two in the Listed Winter Oaks at Kenilworth
Both the Vodacom Durban July favourite Legislate and the topweight King Of Pain are sired by former winners of the race
It was hardly surprising to see trainer Joey Ramsden follow up on his splendid Gr1 Gold Challenge celebration at Clairwood 24 hours earlier when he saddled his eighth Langerman winner as Act Of War scored at a wet and cold Kenilworth on Sunday. The win would have been tinged with some disappointment though as the yard’s smart colt, and punter’s favourite Kingvoldt, ran a dismal race
“When Louis The King took us out at the top of the straight it was game on. We may have had an advantage as we are still fresh, while Louis has had a hard season. I don’t know where Richard is getting the confidence from”, says Justin of his bargain buy champion 3yo
There really appears no end to the Dynasty phenomenon. The Highlands stallion has another top sort in Brett Crawford’s Futura who gave his rivals a hiding when winning the supporting feature at Greyville on Friday
Glen Kotzen’s up and coming young stayer Alexander takes his next step towards a tilt at the 2014 Gold Cup with a resounding late dash win in the Highland Night Cup
It goes without saying that the Dynasty mare Beach Beauty is a superbly talented racer. But the jockeyship of Sean Cormack played a major role in her winning the R350 000 Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes run at Greyville on Saturday, for the second year in a row.
Winning rider describes Dynasty’s Gr2 KRA Guineas winner as ‘phenomenal’ while a beaming Justin Snaith just watches his Champions Season shares soaring
James McDonald closed a highly successful short-term stint in Hong Kong with a quartet at Sha Tin on Sunday
