Andrew Harrison

Race Coast are expecting the full house signs to go up at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning in anticipation of Africa’s greatest race, the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

On-course patrons will be treated to a carnival of entertainment but the real entertainment comes at 4pm as the 18 runners line up for the big race.

It is a competitive line-up and being a true handicap the theory is that all have an equal chance but the scratching of former ante-post favourite Star Major and The Ultimate King has opened up the race even more.

Mocha Blend’s win in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup was at long odds but those that had paid attention were not wholly surprised. Frank Robinson’s filly is a strapping individual and has always had a touch of class. Since her Summer Cup victory Robinson has steered clear of any races that would have affected her handicap rating and 56.5kg is a handy galloping weight where Legal Counsel shoulders top weight of 62kg.

Her two warm-up runs were just that, both over distances well short of her best and in both instances she was running on smartly at the death. She goes the extra 200m for the first time but she handled the tough Turffontein 2000m comfortably and with rider Tristan Godden riding with supreme confidence of late, Mocha Blend has a lot in her favour.

Gareth van Zyl saddles the stayer King Pelles who was at the peak of his powers last year and won the Gr3 Gold Vase over 3000m on the July card. It is well documented that most horses peak in yearly cycles and Van Zyl appears to have timed King Pelles preparation to a nicety.

Although last season’s wins all came over much further, Van Zyl has taken a similar route to Mocha Blend, running in races  seemingly short of his best. However, he has been showing a sharp turn of foot in his build-up, second to Okavango in the Gr3 King’s Cup over a mile and running on late behind Zeitz in a handicap over 1400m where he was giving his fellow July runner 6kg and although they meet on the same weight terms, King Pelles is tried and tested over the trip while Zeitz has yet to venture past 1800m.

The July would not be the same without a handful of Justin Snaith runners and he saddles five of the 18.  59-year-old Andrew Fortune has been a revelation in his comeback to the saddle and would dearly love to retire with a July notch in his gun handle. He has been working alongside Snaith in the mornings and earmarked the filly Wish List a long way back and is adamant that the filly is the best of the Snaith contenders.

After winning the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes followed by the Lucky Fish Cape Derby against the colts, she comes into the race off a string of four straight victories but not all have been plain sailing. She started at prohibitively short odds for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington and looked a beaten horse halfway up the straight. But somehow Fortune extracted extra from the filly and she snaffled the older Minogue on the line. Candice and Tammy Dawson’s mare is now 1kg better off but Snaith is a master at getting his runners to peak on the day and Wish List may well be able to come on enough to beat the weights.

Heading the handicap is Legal Counsel who has it all to do with 62kg to shoulder. However, he comes into the race off a narrow loss to the smart Questioning over 1600m and arguably his best run to date was his second to See It Again in the WSB Cape Town Met. He has a good draw to help his cause.

Snaith has a further string to his bow in Native Ruler who comes off a comfortable win in the Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m. Keagan de Melo got a ‘feel’ for his July mount in that race and will know exactly what is under him.

Viva’s Liberte’s last win came over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville back in October last year but has been knocking at the door in useful company since. She comes in off the magical July weight of 53kg and can go back-to-back for owner Khaya Stables after their victory last year with The Real Prince.

The grey Zeitz will have plenty of supporters and comes off the back of two wins for Andre Nel. He has come to hand at just the right time and also comes into the race off a handy galloping weight. Against him is that he has not been the trip and the blinkers come off.

There is an international flavour to the race with Zak Lloyd, fresh from a win at Royal Ascot, French rider Mickaelle Michel, Chad Scofield and Mark du Plessis all in the mix. Interesting is that the two scratchings has seen the two women jockeys in the race.  Rachel Venniker has the ride on first reserve Choisaanada for Erico Verdonese who has his first runner in the race while Michel, who was down to ride ante-post favourite Star Major, got a ride through the back door after the scratching of The Ultimate King and she now partners rank outsider Curious Girl for Mike and Mathew de Kock.

The July is under-pinned by 11 other top class races that race into the night under lights in what promises to be a festive occasion.

For those not able to make the races, the day will be screened live on GTV, DStv 240 and SABC Sport.