David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Durban July is always the highlight of the South African horseracing season, but as it is a handicap the winner often doesn’t get an Equus Award.

However, the winner will remain in racing fans’ memory banks forever, so in the season’s aftermath some space should be allocated to this year’s winner The Real Prince as well as to trainer Dean Kannemeyer, jockey Craig Zackey and owner-breeder Lady Christine Laidlaw.

The first ingredients a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner needs is class.

Lady Christine Laidlaw as well as her racing manager Jehan Malherbe and trainer Dean Kannemeyer must all take bows for that score.

Malherbe and Kannemeyer identified The Real Prince’s mother Real Princess (Trippi) and Laidlaw was willing to splash out a Sale-topping R2.7 million to secure her.

She has been a wonderful broodmare, as is well documented, and she was named Equus Champion Broodmare at this year’s awards.

The trio also identified Gimmethegreenlight as the stallion to send Real Princess to and Laidlaw boarded her mares at the top class and professional Varsfontein Stud, where Real Princess and her foals were always going to get the best care money can buy.

The next ingredient for a July winner is to be well handicapped and Kannemeyer and Malherbe ensured that would be the case by putting The Real Prince away afer his eye-catching running on fourth in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

That decision also included their belief that the horse would stay the 2200m trip of the July and, despite not many pundits agreeing with them on that score, they were ultimately proven correct. Sufficient stamina capacity is a vital ingredient of a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.

Their decision to not have a race for nearly three months in the build up to the July also entailed the horse having a particularly good trainer and Kannemeyer proved it again by winning his fourth Hollywoodbets Durban July, despite having to get the horse fit enough only through the tracks and facilities of Summerveld and having the official July gallop as the finishing touch.

Luck is one of the biggest ingredients and the first bit of luck for The Real Prince was that he landed a low draw of five, which was going to be a bonus for a horse who had proven speed but was not proven over further than a mile.

He would need to be able to relax from a long way out and that draw gave him a good chance to do so.

It is usually essential to be within striking distance turning into the short 450m straight in the July, because there are no bad horses in the July.

Even with a strong pace, making up a lot of ground on top horses at this course is very difficult as was shown in 1987 when Model Man never looked like catching Bush Telegraph despite an incredible effort to do so.

Even a champion like Dynasty needed to be not more than three lengths back at the top of the straight to catch another champion in Yard-arm.

A horse thus needs adequate gate-speed and early pace.

The Real Prince broke on terms and his early pace proved to be a valuable asset.

Of course an essential ingredient is a good jockey and Craig Zackey made a crucial move early. He eased a touch and was able to dive behind the two horses drawn three and four and he then used The Real Prince’s early pace to secure the rail just behind the horses drawn one and two, Oriental Charm and Madison Valley.

However, the next bit of luck that played out was the slow pace set by Oriental Charm.

Off a faster pace The Real Prince might have been shuffled further back than he wanted to be as Madison Valley is not normally a handy type.

Furthermore, The Real Prince’s sprinting speed was going to be a big asset in the dash for home off this slow pace.

A good temperament is another asset and The Real Prince relaxed beautifully under Zackey, who is known for his good hands.

The jockey and luck play a big part in the straight.

A split second decision must be made on which route to take to the finish and that can be the difference between winning and losing.

The luck factor is that the gaps must open at the right time.

Zackey made the wise decision to switch off the rail coming up the hill towards the straight.

It was going to be important to get a clear run in the relatively short straight off that slow pace and a dream gap opened, allowing Zackey to switch The Real Prince all the way to the outside of the leading vanguard.

He had fresh air in front of him as early as the 400m mark.

The next essential is the horse must have a good turn of foot (acceleration), followed by the ability and courage to stay all the way to the line.

The Real Prince has an exceptional turn of foot and this enabled him to fetch the favourite Eight On Eighteen by the 200m mark.

He then had the resolve and the stamina capacity to see off the fight back of Eight On Eighteen, although the bit that probably played the biggest part in that eventuality was him being well handicapped. He was 2,5kg better off then weight for age with Eight On Eighteen and hence the latter, who was also a three-time Gr 1 winner over 2000m, put in a better performance on paper and was a deserved winner of the Equus Middle Distance Champion award.

When looking at all the factors that are involved in winning the country’s most iconic horse race, it is little wonder that it has the reputation of being an enormously difficult race to win.

David Thiselton

Olympian Gold could get punters off to a good start at the Vaal today, but a warning is that he might well be drawn on the wrong side.

The St. John Gray-trained Potala Palace colt did his best work late when stepped up to this 1600m trip last time in his second career start and he failed by just 0,60 lengths to win it with the rest of the field well beaten. However, he is drawn eleven out of 12 and the outside rail is in by 13m according to TabGold, a setup which usually leads to low draws being favoured (although recently the setup has been different on race day to the one stated the day before, so punters should just check up on it). The danger is Frere Jacques, who was slow away last time over 1400m and had to be switched inward towards the unfavourable going late in the race, finishing a disappointing 3,30 length fourth. The 125/1 shot Beach Walker had the run of the race that time and Frere Jacques can reverse a 2,60 length beating by the latter with more luck. However, that pair are drawn nine and seven respectively and might also prove to be drawn on the wrong side.

In the second race Carnarvon is the choice simply due to him having some fair form and facing totally uninspiring opponents. He is drawn four out of seven in the 1200m contest and that should not disadvantage him.

In the third race over 1200m Empress Wu is limited as was proven when facing some decent sorts on Saturday and being beaten just over ten lengths. However, she has been hard knocking in fields of this nature and has a chance from draw one with Khumalo up. Concordia should make a bold bid here, although draw seven might not augur well. Bella Boop Boop also has a chance in this line up.

In the fourth race over 2000m, a Maiden Handicap, Heroic Act could be a runner if bouncing back to his best, although he does have to carry second topweight. Ember King ran a moderate third with bottom weight in a maiden handicap last time over 1500m and has bottom weight again in a step up in trip which should suit on pedigree. The topweight, Inclusion, ran a decent race over 1400m in his penultimate start but disappointed last time over 1800m when leading from a wide draw. He is now drawn in pole and can be given more of a chance.

In the fifth race over 2000m Banha Bridge is only one point higher than his last win and has been in good form, so could win for the first time in about 19 months. Storm Ahead was given a six point raise for a good win last time and should fight it out, although he did not beat an inspiring field. Mizzen Sword could improve on his shocking run last time.

In the sixth over 1200m Hong Kong has been frustrating to follow, but he should appreciate the step down in trip and is well drawn so can fight it out with Pennsylvania and Red Penny, although those two will both need to bounce back to form.

In the seventh over 1200m Time Will Tell won a Maiden Handicap well last time and could follow up off an 85 mark as that was his second run with blinkers which look to have improved him and he could improve again with Khumalo staying aboard, although he does have a tricky draw of seven if high draws prove to be unfavourable.

In the eighth over 1600m Zoombomber made a good comeback from a ten month layoff and could build on that from a nice low draw with 1.5kg claimer Calvin Habib staying aboard. After Hours goes for a hattrick over a suitable trip but has to overcome a four point raise and has a potentially unfavourable high draw.

RACE 1

11 OLYMPIAN GOLD 6 BEACH WALKER 4 FRERE JACQUES 7 TRIP TO PEACE

Preview: 11 OLYMPIAN GOLD made much improvement second time out and looks the one to beat here over a suitable trip. 6 BEACH WALKER improved when stepped up to 1400 metres and should enjoy this further step up too. 4 FRERE JACQUES has run two fair races and should enjoy this step up in trip. 7 TRIP TO PEACE looks capable of earning here. (David Thiselton 11-6-4-7)

RACE 2

1 CARNARVON 2 CAPTAIN FRANK 4 KING BLUETOOTH 3 NEW LIFE

Preview: 1 CARNARVON has been thereabouts in his latest starts and has the ability to win this race. 2 CAPTAIN FRANK could be the main danger if repeating his penultimate start. 4 KING BLUETOOTH could earn if repeating his last start. 3 NEW LIFE looks also capable of earning in this field. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-3)

RACE 3

1 EMPRESS WU 3 CONCORDIA 4 BELLA BOOP BOOP 2 CYBER SPIRIT

Preview: 1 EMPRESS WU has been knocking on the door and has a good opportunity to get off the mark here.3 CONCORDIA is usually thereabouts and is capable of earning here. 4 BELLA BOOP BOOP should also earn a cheque in this race. 2 CYBER SPIRIT has run well in his last three and could earn a cheque. (David Thiselton 1-3-4-2)

RACE 4

2 HEROIC ACT 5 EMBER KING 1 INCLUSION 3 CUZZIE

Preview: 2 HEROIC ACT looks the one to beat in this race if producing his best. 5 EMBER KING ran well last time and he should enjoy the step up in trip. 1 INCLUSION disappointed last time but is probably better than that and could earn from pole position.3 CUZZIE ran a fair race last time and if able to reproduce his best could earn. (David Thiselton 2-5-1-3)

RACE 5

1 BANHA BRIDGE 6 STORM AHEAD 3 MIZZEN SWORD 5 GUY ALEXANDER

Preview: 1 BANHA BRIDGE is drawn in pole and has the form to be a player in this race. 6 STORM AHEAD won well last time and although he has been given a six point raise he could be thereabouts again. 3 MIZZEN SWORD was highly disappointing last time but is surely better than that and could be a player. 5 GUY ALEXANDER ran well last time and has a good draw so should also be right there. (David Thiselton 1-6-3-5)

RACE 6

3 HONG KONG 2 PENNSYLVANIA 5 RED PENNY

Preview: 3 HONG KONG has the ability to be involved here. 2 PENNSYLVANIA should be running on late. 5 RED PENNY is capable of earning in this field. (David Thiselton 8-3-2-5)

RACE 7

2 TIME WILL TELL 5 MICHAEL FARADAY 3 PALACE PRINCE 10 TOGETHER AGAIN

Preview: 2 TIME WILL TELL won in fine style last time over 1000m and also enjoys this trip so should be right there off a 85 merit rating. 5 MICHAEL FARADAY became disappointing in Cape Town but could get a new lease of life here and can’t be ignored. 3 PALACE PRINCE represents an in-form yard and should be a big player here. 10 TOGETHER AGAIN is capable of earning in this field although she is half a kilogram under sufferance. (David Thiselton 2-5-3-10)

RACE 8

6 ZOOMBOMBER 1 AFTER HOURS 11 VIVA DE JANEIRO 9 GAMER

Preview: 6 ZOOMBOMBER ran a good race last time and should have come on from the run so is a runner in this race. 1 AFTER HOURS goes for a hat-trick and represents an in-form yard and should be thereabouts. 11 VIVA DE JANEIRO is capable of being involved in the finish here. 9 GAMER is another one who could be right there if at his best. (David Thiselton 6-1-11-9)

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