Sunday 28 July drops the curtain on KZN’s SA Champions Season, fresh off the announcement of the Gold Circle conditional takeover approval and hot on the heels of another superb Hollywoodbets Durban July Handicap raceday.
Stakes of R7.2 million is up for grabs with three R1million races and the day’s feature purse of R1.5million supplemented by the remaining races that equate to feature race money on many another day.
Some of the silverware up for grabs on the day (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The quality dripping 10 race card comprises 125 horses that should delight horseracing lovers with what promises to be a Season Ending Showstopper.
59 of the runners have finished in the top 3 in their last race.
10 of those 59 fill the entire Race 3 field.
Races 4 and 5 are similarly packed with horses that have earned in their last race, 5 of which in each having won their last races.
For the Punters it could be a teasing minefield however with the lure of handsome payouts for those that get it right, particularly in the exotic bets.
As SA still awaits the outcome of an NHRA Investigation (at time of writing), the Trainers Log reaches a crescendo between the Cape’s Snaith team fending off the Gauteng-based Tarry attack. Both Trainers have thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at the day.
Snaith saddles up 14 of his very finest equine athletes across 8 races, having sneakily contracted the services of SA’s 2022/23 Champion Jockey Keagan De Melo.
Tarry sends out 14 runners across 9 of the day’s events,, having retained the services of 2024 record breaking Champion Jockey Richard Fourie for the majority of his ace entries.
Perennial top jockey Gavin Lerena, after 4 great winners at his home base on Saturday afternoon, plays wing man for Team Tarry on a number of others.
In a duel akin to a Western movie, at Fairview on Friday, Snaith drew his 45, finger-rolled it, fired 4 winners to boost his tally, blew off the smoke and slid it back into the holster.
Today Tarry drew a blank. But the fat lady ain’t sung yet. However it plays out, the Trainers championship title is another fascinating due on KZN’s SA Champions Season finale.
To add further colour to the day Irish owner,and now a KZN Breeder, Michael Moroney of The Poet’s Corner fame, will be back on course to watch his runner Pray For Rain contest the last, the LHKIR In December Listed Umngeni Handicap.
The gelding bids to replicate his victory in this race last year, which ended the day with one of the most enjoyable post-race interviews seen in a long while.
These are the days that those of us who adore the sport of horseracing look forward to with child-like excitement.
One more sleep!
- Editorial by kind courtesy of Ethanicity Research, a private & independent SA Horseracing Research Agency with no third party affiliations.
