Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle are delighted to announce a ground-breaking R10m – 3 year naming rights sponsorship of Greyville and Scottsville Racecourses hereafter to be named the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse and Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse. Whilst stadium sponsorship has become commonplace in other forms of sport in South Africa, this represents the first deal of its kind in the South African Horseracing Industry.

Gold Circle is part of a multi-faceted and integrated industry, organising thoroughbred horseracing events throughout KwaZulu-Natal and is now partnering with Hollywoodbets which is South Africa’s most dynamic bookmaker, offering the widest range of betting markets on Horseracing, Soccer, Lucky Numbers, and all other Sporting codes.

Hollywoodbets is proud of the contribution it has made to horseracing over the past years through their trainer and work-rider sponsorships, and the number of horses that run in the Hollywood Syndicate colours.

The collaboration between Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle will encourage other bookmakers and corporate brands to get involved in sponsoring the Sport of horseracing.

Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle look forward to working together in ensuring that KZN continues to be the ultimate racing destination in South Africa. Together we welcome the world to Hollywoodbets Greyville for the 123^rd running of the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday 6^th July 2019.

The reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna has been priced up at 12/10 by Track and Ball for the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m to be run on Vodacom Durban July day having drawn well in three.

Her stablemate Snowdance was not as lucky and is drawn widest of all in barrier 14.

Trainer Justin Snaith said about them last week, “They are flying, Snowdance has just gone to another level. She needed the run in the SA Fillies Sprint. She was meant to be in a barrier trail before that but they cancelled it, so she never got to have her proper prep. She’s come on lengths from that race. Oh Susanna has come on for her Tibouchina win. She’s not a 1400m filly, she’s better over a mile. So I think the Garden Province is going to be very interesting.”

Oh Susanna was allowed to go to the front in the Tibouchina which favoured her as she is hard to catch once she winds up into her huge stride. This time the jockeys might not allow her to have her own way and the danger is she will begin racing too strongly if she does not reach the front. This will blunt her excellent turn of foot and punters might have to exercise caution.

Snowdance might have no option other than to go to the front from her wide draw. This might suit her as her best performances have been when allowed to stride freely behind a strong pace. In this race last year she started pulling in a handy position behind a slow pace and after showing her usual superb kick those over-racing antics then told as she was caught late after looking the winner. She showed she can settle well enough in front when leading in the KRA Fillies Last year. She was caught late in that race too but might well have needed it as it was her first run since winning the Majorca more than three months earlier.

Santa Clara showed a blistering turn of foot when winning the Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas at the first meeting of the SA Champions on May 3. She also showed fine gatespeed that night and was able to find the rail in front from a wide draw of ten and ended up in the box seat. If Oh Susanna does indeed go to the front Bernard Fayd’Herbe could get her into the box seat again with the same tactics.  

The Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Celtic Sea was unplaced in the KRA Fillies Guineas, but a line can be drawn through that race as it did not pan out at all well for her. She was caught one wide near the front without cover and did not settle.  She was drawn seven of 13 in that race and now has a better draw of six out of 14. If she does find a nice position she is capable of turning it on. She finished third in the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas on the tough Turffontein Standside track so should get the easier Greyville 1600m.

The classy Front And Centre finished strongly in the KRA Fillies Guineas for second but has the problem of a wide draw. It is particularly problematic due to her tendency to hang inward, which might have cost her the Daily News 2000. This time she might have to be dropped right out and make a run down the inside. 

Vistula is an up and coming three-year-old who possesses a superb turn of foot. She is the dark horse and represents good each way value at 40/1 with Track and Ball, although her draw of nine is tricky.

Al Danza has her second start for the Dennis Drier yard, who are no strangers to winning this race. If able to recapture the form which saw her finish close seconds in both the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes and Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes she will be a runner, although she will have to overcome a wide draw, which as a handy sort will not be in her favour.

Temple Grafin stayed on well for third in the KRA Fillies Guineas from a handy position, but now has a wider draw. However, she came home strongly when dropped in from a wide draw in the Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m so is a contender if it pans out as well again.

Stablemate Elusive Heart ran a fine race in this event last year, coming from near the back to run third and she will be looking to repeat this feat from a similar draw of eleven.

Rose In Bloom is a talented horse with a good turn of foot and finished third to Snowdance in the Majorca last year, but the mile does probably stretch her.

Roy’s Riviera has a fine turn of foot and showed in the King’s Cup when just behind Dark Moon Rising and Matador Man that she enjoys a mile, although she has had a busy campaign.

The enigmatic Desert Rhythm won the Golden Slipper over 1400m here as a two-year-old two years ago and looks to be better over shorter than a mile.

Being Fabulous struck as a classy sort from day one but after becoming disappointing she flew home to win the Syringa Handicap over this trip in her penultimate start. However, on weight for age terms here she has a tough task.

Twice As Smart will appreciate the step up to 1600m and although outgunned at the weights on paper she does have close up form behind the like of Lady In Black and Camphoratus, so can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Every serious punter in the country sat up and took note when Mike de Kock indicated on Winning Ways 17 days ago that Barahin had a better chance of winning this year’s Vodacom Durban July than the favourite.

Yet Hawwaam still heads the market at around 18-10 and, surprisingly, Barahin has hardly come down from the 7-1 at which he was available at the time of the James Goodman interview – but Muzi Yeni shares De Kock’s view about the horse’s chance and that he (Yeni) is the right man for the job.

“I’m at a prime age for a jockey (32) and over the years I have gained good experience of the July,” he says. “I know the dos and don’ts of the race, I can read the pace and how to understand how the track is running. Also I know my way round Greyville and all this will allow me to ride the horse accordingly and to the horse’s strengths.”

Greyville, apparently, is difficult and the July makes it more so: “It’s tight and in the July they tend to go fast early before slowing it down and then turning it into more of a sprint.”

Yeni has had a long association with De Kock, starting with his first winner Storm King and including Solo Traveller who finished fifth in Mike Rattray’s colours – less than a length and a half behind Pomodoro, seven years ago.

Yeni believes he could have won that year. “Solo Traveller was the best chance I’ve had so far but listening to other jockeys who had ridden him gave me the wrong idea and may well have cost me the race. Mine was the fastest 400m to the finish and, if I’d had him closer and in a better position, he would have gone very near.”

He has yet to ride Barahin in a race but this time he has put a lot of concentration into sussing the horse out for himself rather than consulting those who have partnered him in public. “I have worked him and I found him a bit of a lazy horse, the sort who will do better and give you more on a raceday.”

Yeni has also studied the horse’s racecourse performances – “He is reasonably straightforward. He doesn’t show a lot of pace in the early stages and I don’t think he is a horse that likes to be bustled so I am going to allow him to find his feet and get into the race at his own rhythm.

“My draw (6) will help as I am with fancied horses who run similar to the way he does which is coming from mid-field, or a little bit further back, so I will have my dangers around me.”

Yeni has had six previous July rides and did best on his first, Thundering Jet, who finished fourth to Big City Life in 2009. Happy Valley was fifth to Bold Silvano 12 months later but eighth is the closest he has come in three subsequent rides. 

He has put a phenomenal amount of effort into trying to win the championship this season. Which would he rather win, that or the July? He grins and shakes his head. “I am not fussed – just one of them would be fantastic.”

You have to go back to Hunting Tower in 2007 to find the winner starting from gate six and, curiously, the high numbers have proved best in recent runnings. Indeed in the last nine years the winner has only twice come from a single figure pen. The winners were drawn 10 (2009), 2, 10,20,11,11,18,8, 15 (2018).

During this nine-year period four-year-olds won the race three times and three-year-olds on all the other six occasions thus supporting the long-held view that the one to go for is an improving three-year-old – like Hawwaam or Barahin.

By Michael Clower

Stuart Pettigrew seldom leaves for home without drawing some blood and it was no different at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as American Indian continued his good form with a fluent victory in the fifth.

Apprentice Luke Ferraris – who unfortunately will miss out on the Vodacom Durban July with his mount Magnificent Seven being scratched yesterday – had something of an armchair ride as he went clear a long way out. He was chased home by the luckless Silva’s Bullet who must surely have a change of luck soon.

The scratching of Magnificent Seven left the way clear for the filly Camphorates. Robbie Hill has her entered for the KZN Million Mile this Saturday and it will be interesting to see whether he scratches from this Saturday or next Saturday or races the Gr1 Empress Club winner in both.

Hill was in the winner’s box as Hey Jude motored home in the fourth. Bernard Fayd’Herbe was hard at work on favourite Isikhwami Sami a long way out and just when it looked as if his vigorous efforts had paid off, Anton Marcus arrived with a wet sail, Hey Jude rattling home under hands and heels.

Point Of Sale looked to be the right horse in the opening leg of the Pick 6 but she found one too good for her in Jack’s Bird. Well handled by apprentice Ashton Arries, Jack’s Bird flew home to collar Point Of Sale with the balance well beaten.

Michael Roberts has high hopes for the filly that was part of the groom’s cooperative at Cheveley Stud and bought for R175k.

Apprentice Jason Gates rounded off the day with a double and will next step out claiming 1.5kg. It was a welcome change for Lowan Denysschen as Eternal Words put plenty of daylight between herself and favourite Kilvington.

Gates was on the mark again, this time for Brett Crawford with Oloye revelling in the switch back to poly.

Dons Assembly, an entry for the Super Sale at Greyville next week, scored a timely win in the second for Dean Kannemeyer. Badly hampered at his last start, Dons Assembly made short work of his opposition. “He’s on the market,” concluded Kannemeyer.

By Andrew Harrison

Muzi Yeni was delighted to find, soon after his arrival at Kenilworth yesterday, that Barahin had collected one of the plum draws.

He said: “Six is a very good draw and I appreciate getting it, particularly as I am drawn among the fancied horses like Rainbow Bridge (4) and Hawwaam (3) while I have Richard Fourie on Do It Again on my outside at ten.”

Barahin will be Yeni’s seventh July ride whereas Keagan de Melo on Head Honcho will be riding in the great race for only the second time. He had mixed views about picking up slot 19 and said: “It’s not a good thing but on a front-runner it’s not a bad one either. I am just going to have to make my own luck.”

Doublemint, one of Justin Snaith’s five-strong armada, will be July ride number six for Corne Orffer who said: “Twelve is better than 18 but I would have preferred eight (the draw of Magnificent Seven) but I am going to make the best of it.”

Last year’s winner Do It Again is the ninth in the July for Richard Fourie who won on Legislate (drawn 11) five years ago. “Ten is brilliant,” he said. “I prefer being drawn out a little because the inside is a big tussle.”

Lesedi La Rona, for whom great hopes were held this season after she won her only two starts last term including the Perfect Promise, finally returned to form with a comfortable success under Lyle Hewitson in the Pinnacle Stakes and looks set to stay in training as a four-year-old.

Mark Bass, representing sister, Candice, said: “We thought very highly of her but she injured herself in the Diana Stakes when she pulled muscles quite badly. We sent her back to Drakenstein but in her last start she choked so we fitted a tongue tie here.”

Kevin Sommerville, Gaynor Rupert’s racing manager, said: “We will sit down and discuss things but it’s likely that she will stay in training. There are some nice black type races for four-year-olds over today’s sort of trip.”

By Michael Clower

There were no real surprises in the announcement of the Vodacom Durban July final field at Gateway yesterday and later most of the top contenders landed draws which the connections were happy with.

The last July log reflected the final field except for Grade 3 Track and Ball Derby winner Roy Had Enough coming from outside the top 20, leapfrogging Camphoratus and Zillzaal, and filling the berth vacated by the scratched Hero’s Honour.

The connections of Camphoratus might have felt unlucky not to get in ahead of four-year-old fillies Miyabi Gold and Fresnaye as she won the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes, where she beat Fresnaye comfortably, as opposed to the latter pair’s respective Grade 3 and Grade 2 wins. However, what likely worked against her was she was beaten by Fresnaye in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 in May by 0,60 lengths. They ran at level weights in that race and will run at level weights in the July.

There is very little separating Miyabi Gold and Fresnaye with latter winning the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m in December by 1,50 lengths from Miyabi Gold, from whom she was receiving 2kg.

Some would argue that Bunker Hunt, merit rated 112 and a strong-finishing third in the KRA Guineas, 1,65 lengths behind the fancied July horse Twist Of Fate, could have been included ahead of his stablemate Miyabi Gold. The latter is 2kg under sufferance carrying 52kg, whereas Bunker Hunt would have been only 1,5kg under sufferance carrying 53kg. Bunker Hunt is also a progressive three-year-old who should be starting to come into his own, whereas Miyabi Gold, merit rated 105, is quite an exposed four-year-old. On the other hand Miyabi Gold did win the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m at Greyville and the Listed Scarlet Lady over 1750m, whereas Bunker Hunt is yet to win a stakes race.

However, all in all there won’t be too many gripes.

The favourite Hawwaam drew three and his Mike de Kock-trained stablemate Barahin also drew well in six.

The defending champion Do It Again drew ten and his Justin Snaith-trained stablemate Made To Conquer, runner up last year drew one outside of him in eleven. Another Snaith-trained horse Doublemint drew one outside of them in 12 and the other two stablemates Magnificent Seven and Miyabi Gold drew eight and five respectively.

Eric Sands was very happy with his draw of four for third favourite Rainbow Bridge.

The Sun Met third-placed Head Honcho, trained by Andre Nel drew badly in 19.

Joey Ramsden has in the past seen the funny side of the perennial wide draws he tends to land at the VDJ final field and draw ceremony but yet another couple of bad draws was too much for him this time and he was clearly unhappy. His charges Twist Of Fate and Fresnaye landed draws 17 and 13 respectively.

Dennis Drier was hoping to land a draw from one to ten so was thrilled with draw nine for his filly Lady In Black.

Sean Tarry’s charges Tilbury Fort and Return Flight landed draws one and two respectively and stablemate Legal Eagle draw seven.

The Frank Robinson-trained Roy Had Enough landed draw 15 and the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Divine Odyssey is drawn 16.

Glen Kotzen, winning trainer ten years ago with Big City Life, watched on as Eyes Wide Open drew wide in 18. However, he was philosophical and said at least he could stay out of trouble and added there also appeared to be a lot of pace around him.

The reserve runners, the Robbie Hill-trained Camphoratus and the Sean Tarry-trained Zillzaal, drew 14 and 20 respectively.

By David Thiselton

Most of the top horses in the betting for the 2019 Vodacom Durban July drew well when the final field for the R4.25-million, Grade 1 event was announced at a public function at the Gateway Theatre Of Shopping at Umhlanga on the North Coast just outside Durban at midday today.

Africa’s greatest racing event will be run over 2 200m at Greyville in Durban on Saturday, July 6 and the annual betting frenzy on the iconic race will now move into top gear heading the betting splurge across Southern Africa that will see more than R200 million being wagered on the special day.

There were no real surprises among the 18 horses named to contest the race and the inclusion of the Frank Robinson-trained Australian-bred colt Roy Had Enough was expected after his impressive victory in the Grade 3 Track & Ball Derby at Scottsville on Saturday. However, having made the final field, he did not fare well when it came to the draw and he will have to jump from at best the 14 barrier position.

Justin Snaith, who has five runners in the race, showed satisfaction with the 10 draw position for defending Vodacom Durban July champion Do It Again when he personally did the draw for his runners with the other four members of his team set to start from positions 5 for Miyabi Gold, 8 for Magnificent Seven, 11 for Made To Conquer and 12 for Doublemint.

Mike de Kock, who will saddle favourite Hawwaam, drew three for his star performer and big race favourite and six for his other three-year-old colt Barahin while Joey Ramsden was physically unimpressed with the 13 and 17 draws which he made for his two runners Fresnaye and Twist Of Fate.

Sean Tarry pulled top draws for three of his four horses with Tilbury Fort to jump from the inside pen with stable companion Return Flight alongside of him. The seven-year-old Legal Eagle got the seven draw while the three-year-old colt Zillzaal drew 20 which matched his carded number as the second reserve runner.

Journalist: Richard McMillan.

The latest betting on the Vodacom Durban July as posted by Track & Ball is: 1.7-1 Hawwaam; 4-1 Do It Again; 4.5-1 Rainbow Bridge; 6-1 Barahin; 16-1 Twist Of Fate; 20-1 Legal Eagle; 25-1 Doublemint, Magnificent Seven; 28-1 Head Honcho, Eyes Wide Open, Made To Conquer; 40-1 Tilbury Fort; 50-1 Divine Odyssey, Return Flight; 55-1 Lady In Black, Miyabi Gold; 66-1 Fresnaye; 75-1 Roy Had Enough.

Point Of Sale did not have a barrier trial which had some observant punters hot under the collar when she made her debut at Scottsville earlier this month but officials have cut some slack regarding problem horses at a trainer’s request.

Point Of Sale, sporting earmuffs, was in the paddock a good 10 minutes before the rest of the field and left the paddock five minutes before them but showed no signs of being unruly. However, Glen Kotzen, on veterinary advice, was given special dispensation because he had been struggling with the filly’s shins.

In any event, she turned in a cracking first run, gong down narrowly to Angel Bouquet. Warren Kennedy will again be aboard and they can go one better when she lines up in the third, first leg of the Pick 6, on the Greyville poly this afternoon and she is already odds-on in the ante-post market.

Jack’s Bird did have a barrier trial where she was allowed to run along in the hands but turned in a smart debut when finishing second to Captains Love at long odds last month. Other than these two, the field is a little thin on form but the year-older Duchess Lane is far better than her last effort when finishing behind Jack’s Bird while Cop That should prefer the extra.

Miss Jagger has drawn up Marriott Road but should have a bright chance in the fourth. Chesney van Zyl has taken a little time to get to grips with the Summerveld routine since re-locating from the Highveld but his horses are finally turning the corner. Miss Jagger had shown steady improvement before the move and she trialled well.

She will also much prefer today’s 1600m trip but Isikhwami Sami, who has the form to be a big danger, has a plum draw at 2. Her two best runs have been over course and distance and she is a must inclusion in any exotics. Ruby Slippers and Hey Jude look pick of the balance.

Stuart Pettigrew is an accomplished trainer of stayers and American Indian has his first run for the Randjiesfontein trainer after showing consistent form for Ormond Ferraris. This is Pettigrew’s only runner on the day and if American Indian can carry his form through, he is likely to be difficult to beat although he will not be short of opposition.

Silver God was down the field in the Cup Trial but was just over a length back to Eyes Wide Open in the WSB 1900. Silva’s Bullet has been costly to follow but is still marginal favourite with Track And Ball and it is only a matter of time before he lands another victory.

Cape Bluebell has come to hand again and was doing her best work late when beaten less than a length by the promising Marsanne jumping from the worst of the draw. She is back to a sprint when she lines up in the sixth but has drawn mid-field which should help her cause. Call Me Winter tried to make all when stretched to 1400m again but ran out of petrol in the last 100m. She is well suited to today’s trip and should be right there from a good draw. Of the balance, Dream Dancer, current ante-post favourite, was narrowly beaten last run in spite of losing a shoe in the running while top weight Tweed Valley is consistent but does seem best over a furlong shorter.

The seventh is a Fillies and Mares 62 Handicap, a minefield if ever there was one. Blue Flower was not far back in her poly debut and boast some useful Cape form. Written is better than her last effort and has been doing well against stronger. The extra furlong should suit and the Highveld form is generally a little stronger when it comes to the lower divisions.

In the last, another Fillies and Mares 62 Handicap, Oloye is way better than her last effort when drawn badly and she is back on her favourite surface. Current favourite Cherry Pop may have found her last run a touch far but back over shorter with first time blinkers could see her home.

By Andrew Harrison

One of racing’s great characters Raymond Deacon recalled yesterday the moment ten years ago he believed his Glen Kotzen-trained horse Big City Life was going to win the Vodacom Durban July and described a feeling of being in a dream bubble as he charged like a rugby player through a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd for the winner’s enclosure.

His wife Paula turned to daughter Lois and said, “What’s Dad doing, what’s happening?!”

Lois replied, “I think we’ve just won the July!”

Big City life had come into the July off the back of victories in the KRA Guineas and the Daily News 2000, having also won the Investec Cape Derby on J&B Met day.

Raymond described the build-up of “unbelievable pressure” as a seemingly unattainable dream came within grasping distance.

He recalled, “It suddenly all gets released, I can’t think of a better drug, it is just an amazing release of joy. It is probably why we still do our pensions on this game. I could hardly see the horses through the crowd as they went past, but earlier when he hit the front I felt almost as if the script had already been written and there was no way he could lose. I have never had a feeling like it. It all happened in slow motion, I can’t remember any noise, it was like being in a dream where you knew the end result.”  

Raymond always watches races at Greyville from the bottom step of the grandstand opposite the finish line as this was where his late father Maynard watched from.    

He reckoned he reached the short distance to the winner’s enclosure almost before Big City Life had crossed the line and was thankful Gold Circle’s media relations manager Gill Mostert (nee Simpkins) was on hand to tell some irate members of the public he had just won the July. Their irritation turned to cheers and they helped him over the winner’s enclosure railings.  

Raymond said, “I would have looked a right royal idiot if he had not won, we often joke about it, although I would also have been happy with second.”

The memory of the victory is ever present in the Deacon home through a painting and all sorts of memorabilia.

Raymond said, “The only thing I haven’t got from that day is my phone!”

He lost his cellphone during the mayhem that followed the win so was unable to field the myriad of congratulatory messages.

One thing which struck Raymond later was, for the only time in his on-course ownership career, he did not lead his winner in.

He recalled, “I was too busy hugging Frikkie (Greyling – assistant trainer at the time to Glen Kotzen) and the groom.”

Upon receiving the winner’s sash Raymond entertained the crowd with an impromptu dance.

He said, “I don’t even remember doing it but have seen the footage and hope I am capable of dancing better than that! It is hard to explain but the emotion grabbed me and it just felt right.”

He also remembers, upon leaving the winner’s enclosure, a punter grabbing him and throwing him in the air. It was the excited man’s way of thanking Raymond as he had just won the July quartet, which paid a massive amount because 11/2 chance Big City Life was followed home by 55/1, 100/1 and 70/1 shots respectively.

Raymond continued, “One of my best recollections of the day was when Patrick Loker and Gill took us through to the Classic Room and showed us Big City Life’s colours displayed on the wall alongside all the other famous silks which have won the race. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a dream and had really happened.”

Raymond inherited the purple and white colours from his father.

The Chairman’s Dinner, a traditional function in those days on the Monday evening after the July, was also memorable and Raymond said he definitely felt the presence of his father that night.

He said, “It was a glamorous, old fashioned occasion and that is the way my Dad used to race, in a formal suit for every meeting. They also had a band come and sing the popular hit song after which Big City Life was named which was special and so were the 400 drinks, everybody wanted to buy us a drink!”

One of the joint-owners was Raymond’s cousin Glen Mitchell. As youngsters they used to sneak on to the course at Clairwood and help Raymond’s grandfather Reg Deacon in his role as the numbers board operator.

The Big City Life story is of course tinged with sadness.

He brought more joy by finishing third in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and then winning the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Clairwood.

However, after the latter race he pulled a tendon during a workout at Summerveld.

He was laid off for almost a year but was able to line up for the 2011 July. He finished a gallant sixth but took a bad step after the line and broke down.

He had to be euthanased on course.

Raymond said, “That memory is why July day is never a good day for me, I will find it hard to go to the July unless I have a runner, so instead watch it on TV.”

Big City Life’s place of honour at Summerveld is kept neat and tidy by the connections and visited perennially.

Raymond said, “He will never be out of our lives and before this year’s July we will visit his grave with Glen and have a glass of champagne.”

Raymond is planning a big July function at his holiday cottage in Port Edward for this year’s big race and said, “It is a hot field, wow, but the only thing that matters to me is they all come home safely.”

He concluded, “Even if The Sheik wins he will be excited!”

By David Thiselton

Image: Raymond Deacon wears the blue Vodacom Durban July sash in the winner’s enclosure after his horse Big City Life had won the country’s premier race in 2009. He will be supporting the Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open in this year’s race and any horse Big City Life’s July-winning jockey Greg Cheyne rides.

Photographer: John Lewis

The popular New Turf Carriers Inter-Provincial Rider Cup is scheduled for Sunday, July 21, at Greyville.

The Highveld Hawks defended their New Turf title last year and will be out for three-on-the-bounce.

Last year’s Hawks team of Muzi Yeni (captain), Craig Zackey, Ryan Munger and Raymond Danielson (subbed in for the injured Lyle Hewitson) amassed 146 points to the Cape Eagles total of 137 and the KwaZulu-Natal Falcons 127.

The Victor Laudorum prize for the leading individual jockey went to Aldo Domeyer of the Eagles.

The teams are chosen from the top three riders on the national log in each province with the fourth member of each team being decided by the captain.

Based on the NHA’s National Stats at May 31, the following would be the makeup of the teams for the 2019 Rider Cup.

HIGHVELD HAWKS

L Hewitson (Captain)
M Yeni
G Lerena
+ Captain’s Pick

CAPE EAGLES

G Cheyne (Captain)
R Fourie
B Fayd’herbe
+ Captain’s Pick

KZN FALCONSA

Marcus (Captain)
W Kennedy
K de Melo
+ Captain’s Pick

Under the competition rules, winning rides collected 20 points for a team, second places 16 points, thirds 14 – on a descending scale over the 12 runners, with last place garnering a single point.

As winning team member last year Munger said: “It’s a great initiative, with everyone trying really hard – right down to last place.”

By Andrew Harrison