Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Diamonds and Durban July - Part one of two

DAVID THISELTON
The scratching of Big City Life from this year’s Vodacom Durban July was sad considering he had the chance of doing the July double on the diamond (60th) anniversary of Milesia Pride’s famous second successive win of the big race.
Milesia Pride became the first to achieve this double since Corriecrian did it in 1907 and 1908 and in the process he broke the then South African record for stakes earnings. Diamond (60th) anniversaries of important events in the July are always carefully looked for due to the race’s close association with womens’ favourite jewel, mainly through the Oppenheimer family, who will always be irrevocably linked to two major South African institutions, diamonds and the July. The famous yellow and black Oppenheimer silks have a chance of gracing the parade ring once again this year. Bridget, the wife of the late De Beers and Anglo American chairman Sir Harry, still has five horses in the reckoning, last year’s third placed Forest Path, as well as Bulsara, Service Ace, Bouquet-Garni and Noblewood. Her daughter Mary Slack could be represented by Happy Valley. Bridget, fondly known as the “Queen Mum” of South African racing, received the winner’s sash for the sixth time in 2007 after the victory of the Charles Laird-trained Hunting Tower. Five of the Oppenheimer victors, Tiger Fish (1959), King Willow (1965), Principal Boy (1975), Greys Inn (2004) and Hunting Tower (2007) were also bred by themselves. The Dennis Drier-trained 1992 winner Spanish Galliard was the only one of their July winners that they purchased. The Oppenheimer family are not the only diamond magnates to have had a strong association with the July. The South African diamond tycoon, Sir Abe Bailey, had many July runners and one winner, Bird Of Prey, who won in 1925.
Then there was SB “Solly” Joel, the nephew of De Beers co-founder Barney Barnato, who later became head of the company Barnato Brothers, which continued their interest in diamonds although playing a greater role in the gold industry.
Joel had two July winners, Longstop in 1921 and Glen Albyn in 1928.
Glen Albyn, having carried nine stone (just over 57kg) , and being sent off at odds of 7-4, is considered to be one of the greatest July winners.
However, Joel’s presence in The July is still felt today thanks to the great stallion Polymelus, whom he purchased in training in England.
Polymelus, won eleven races in 31 starts in England, including the Champion Stakes, but he surpassed his track record at stud by beocming the five-times Champion Sire of Great Britain. He was a fore-father of one of the best if not the best sire-lines in history, which in order of descent is Polymelus, Phalaris, Pharos, Nearco, Nearctic, Northern Dancer. All of these stallions were champions.
Continues with Part 2

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