Do It Again will win the Vodacom Durban July this year if one historical pointer repeats itself.

There have been six horses who have won the big race twice, but the three previous dual winners to Do It Again all ended their sequence on a year ending in zero.

Pamphlet won it in 1918 and 1920, Milesia Pride won it in 1949 and 1950 and El Picha won it in 1999 and 2000.

Can Do It Again keep up this trend by winning it in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and thus become the first in history to win it three times? 

El Picha was trained by five times SA champion trainer Geoff Woodruff. 

His father-in-law, the late great trainer Terrance Millard had trained a number of good horses from Argentina, including July winners Tecla Bluff and Illustrador as well as the immortal Empress Club.

After his retirement in 1991 he continued his purchasing journeys to Argentina on behalf of Woodruff and his son Tony.

One day in the mid-1990s his shipping agent phoned him to tell him there was one space left in the jet stall he had paid for and would he like to fill it.

Millard immediately thought of a small black horse who had caught his eye but had ultimately failed to make it on to his shortlist. He managed to secure this horse, El Picha, for $15,000.

Woodruff described El Picha yesterday, “He was right up there with the best I have trained, although I would not say the best. He was easy as pie to train and one of my favourites. He was laid back and a friend to everybody and I think he knew that.”

The 1994-born gelding by Tough Critic won seven races in Cape Town, including the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m.

However, the key to his success could have been Woodruff’s move to train in Johannesburg.

Woodruff revealed to the Racegoer a few years ago that El Picha had a naturally low “blood count” but in his first three months on the Highveld his blood count improved “out of sight.” Horses at that altitude have to be worked harder in order to get fitter because the thinner air provides less oxygen and El Picha began to thrive. In his second start on the Highveld he finished fifth in the Grade 1 Champions Stakes, beaten five lengths by Fort Defiance, and he then travelled down to Durban. After running a three-quarter length third in the Greyville 1900 from a wide draw he was set to carry just 53kg in the July. Robbie Hill rode a peach of a race from a wide draw and he denied Classic Flag a July double by 0,75 lengths.

As a five-year-old El Picha won the Summer Cup, finished second in the Met, second in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes, second in the Grade 1 Champions Stakes at Turffontein and then easily won the Grade 3 Jubilee before defending his July crown under Anton Marcus with a hair’s breadth victory over Young Rake despite carrying top weight of 58kg. He went on to win a Grade 1 over 2000m at Clairwood. That was the last race he won but he did well enough to continue racing until the end of his seven-year-old season.

Woodruff said he then proved to be a “useless” showjumper and thus spent the rest of his life, until the age of 22, happily eating grass in a paddock at Randjesfontein together with his pony friend “Andy.”

Racing historian Jay August wrote about Milesia Pride in his informative facebook page Notable South African Thoroughbreds.

Milesia Pride, a chestnut who stood at about 16 hands, was bought in Ireland by Mr JT Amery of KZN for £1150. The 86-year-old Amery had harboured the desire to win the “July” for near fifty years but had managed just one third place in 1918 with a horse named Draughtsman and two unplaced efforts in 1916 and 1945. Milesia Pride arrived by boat in Cape Town and was later sent to the yard of Jim Morrison.

Imported unraced horses were only allowed to run in Top Division events in those days, so Milesia Pride, having to start his career as a two-year-old running against top older horses, finished unplaced in his first five starts. He then claimed a fourth place and then ran second in the Kings Cup. He then won a top division race to secure his July place. After two sharpeners he won the 1949 July comfortably under Tiger Wright carrying 49kg. He thus became the second youngest horse to win the July Handicap, at 39 months of age, the only younger one being two-year-old Nobleman in 1911.

Milesia Pride won the July narrowly in 1950 under Basil Lewis carrying 57kg. He was unlucky in 1951, finishing seventh carrying 62kg. He had one more attempt at the big race in 1953 and was later retired to stud.

He only produced one foal to race and was put back into training in Bloemfontein where he was to pass away of what racing writer Mordaunt Milner suspected might have been a “broken heart.”

Milesia Pride’s sire Montrose was the first horse to sire the winner of four “July’s” and the first to sire three individual winners

According to Jean Jaffee’s book, They Raced To Win, Pamphlet was imported by Mr A. Britton (the racing nom-de-plume of Albert Lavenstein) from Britain at the same time as Trocko, who won the Johannesburg Summer Handicap in 1916.

Pamphlet won that race in 1917 before going on two win his two Durban Julys.

Pamphlet was reportedly a huge horse who according to renowned industry an Alex Robertson would have done justice to a team of “vanners” (Gypsy Cob horse).  

Although, he looked like a stallion while in training he proved “useless” at stud, the best of his progeny being the filly Pavlova who finished second in the 1929 Summer Handicap.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford will send between ten and 12 of his best horses to Summerveld on Friday but Southern Cross winner Run Fox Run will not be among them.

The Philippi trainer explained: “She has a lot of aches and pains so she is going to raid from here when she runs in the SA Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (May 30).”

The Ridgemont four-year-old was unbeaten in five starts until finishing just over a length-fourth to Russet Air in the Cape Flying Championship. She would have been a leading fancy for the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes three weeks later but for showing an abnormal blood count and having to be scratched.

Candice Bass-Robinson will prep some of her stars at home – including dual Bidvest Majorca winner Clouds Unfold and Gold Cup candidate Mercurana – but the first of the remainder will depart at the end of the month “and I will stagger them after that.”

Yesterday’s declarations for Saturday’s meeting at Durbanville were not kind to the Crawford stable. Charles (Corne Orffer) and Hudoo Magic (Anton Marcus) were the only ones declared for the 1 400m Progress Plate and so this useful stepping stone was cancelled.

Two 1 250m juvenile races were hastily put together to make an eight-race card, and eight trainers responded to the National Racing Bureau’s call by putting ten horses in the first and 11 in the fillies equivalent. Justin Snaith came up with seven runners and Mrs Bass-Robinson with five. 

By Michael Clower

MEDIA RELEASE
SUBJECT: Racing and the coronavirus
DATE: Monday 16 March 2020
RELEASED ON BEHALF OF: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, Kenilworth Racing, Gold Circle, the Racing Association, the National Horseracing Authority and the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust

In light of the guidelines and restrictions regarding public gatherings as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday 15 March to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, Kenilworth Racing, Gold Circle, the Racing Association, the National Horseracing Authority and The Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust have unanimously agreed to implement the following Protocols and Procedures with immediate effect:

1.            Racing to continue, but with no public attendance on course

From Tuesday 17 March, all race meetings will be closed to the public until further notice. Consequently, the Jo’burg Prawn Festival at Turffontein scheduled for 4 April and the Klawervlei raceday scheduled for Durbanville on Saturday 28 March are cancelled, although the race meetings at which they were scheduled will take place.

Only essential racing participants will be allowed access to racecourses on race days. These include owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, officials and staff deemed necessary to host a race meeting safely and successfully.

2.            Access control to be strictly adhered to and facilities for participants to be limited

Access points to racecourses will be limited, as will hospitality venues for participants allowed at racecourses on raceday in order to strictly comply with the guidelines and restrictions imposed.

3.            Sanitization measures to be put in place

Hand sanitizer, accompanied with the necessary signage and instructions, will be made available to all racing participants allowed on course.

The same sanitization measures will be applied at training centres which will include all grooms. In addition, various restrictive measures to be implemented as a cautionary, as well as potential lockdown procedures, are being put into place in the eventuality of an outbreak at any of the grooms’ accommodation.

4.            All non-racing events cancelled

All non-racing events, such as conferences, hosted at the various racecourses across the country will be cancelled with immediate effect.

5.            Off Course Betting Outlets

In line with the published restrictions, attendance at all Off-Course Betting Shops will be limited to under 100 persons as required. In addition, sanitization measures will be put in place at all outlets.

Racing fans are encouraged to open online betting accounts instead of placing bets at Off-Course Betting Shops.

6.            Government Hotline

Attention is drawn to the government hotline – 0800 029 999 – which provides easy access to important information on the subject.

The Racing Operators reserve the right to deny access to any of their venues to any person displaying Covid-19 symptoms.

The Vaal straight course has an eight race meeting tomorrow and with three staying races, a handicap sprint and two fillies and mares 1 600m handicaps making up the Pick 6 there should be a big dividend.

In the first race over 1400m the long-striding Duke Of Marmalade gelding Lord Melbourne has been backed in but on the downside the in-form Marco van Rensburg is out for up to six weeks with a fractured collarbone and this is one of the first good rides he misses out on. He has been replaced by Mathew Thackeray. Lord Melbourne lost a length on debut over 1200m and ran on well for third and he should appreciate this step up in trip.

In the second race over 2 000m Ideal Wolff will relish the step up in trip and is progressive.

Magic Duke caught the eye staying on well over 1 600m on debut and although out of a National Emblem Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes winner this Duke Of Marmalade gelding looks likely to enjoy the trip. Ideal Man disappointed last time but was found to have a nasal discharge.

If he finds the form of his debut when second over this trip to Imperial Ruby, he should be right there.

In the third race over 2 400m Heliocentric is n interesting runner as she looks to be crying out for this trip having plugged on over 1 600m last time.

She is by Visionaire out of Windrush mare Zodwa, who won over 2 600m. Wishonaire placed second over this course and distance in her penultimate start, albeit in a slow time.

Stratplan Dora has stayed on over 2 000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly before despite being a bit headstrong, so has a chance here if settling.

Lightoftheunicorn was staying on over 2 000m last time after a slow start although was still five lengths back at the line and being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Count Dubois mare who won from 1 000m to 1 450m she is not a certainty to stay. Grey Flyer tried 2 600m last time and did not have a smooth passage so can be given another chance.

Artscape has to be considered for the Pick 6 in this uninspiring field.

in the next race over 2 400m Emerald Bay has just failed in her last two starts over this trip and runs off the same mark as last time, although she does have a wide draw.

The Sash moved up before finding no extra last time and is now 2,5kg better off with Alicante for a two length beating. Alicante is 2kg worse of with Emerald Bay despite beating her by only a head, although she is a three-year-old so will be improving.

However, she comes out here three days after finishing ten lengths back in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial on Saturday which was run in testing going. Pink could be involved if using more conservative tactics than last time when leading in her first try at this trip and being beaten just four lengths by Alicante.

Ever Fair won her maiden easily over 2000m and must carry topweight in her first attempt at this trip.

Glamarous Scandal is four points higher than her mark when winning over this trip but could earn.

Wings Of Light could earn if reproducing her best.

The Joceleyn Tree won her maiden easily over this course and distance, albeit in a slow time. 

In the next race, a Middle Stakes event over 2 800m, Fife will have to be bankered considering the difficulty of the rest of the card.

She won a Middle Stakes event easily over 2400m last time and now carries only 52,5kg and has a 2,5kg claimer aboard too. She is officially best in at the weights and has a classy pedigree being by Silvano out of Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes winner Stratos. Master And Man looks to be the back up for the risk averse.

In the sixth race over 1 000m Palace Assembly might find this a touch sharp but will be finishing strongly and with the recent rains the likely testing going could be in his favour.

Galactic Warrior will enjoy the step back down to the minimum trip.

Ring Of Fire is ultra consistent over this trip and is a must include.

Aqua Delta overraced over 1 200m in his first run as a gelding and is interesting dropped in trip.

Greasepaint is nine-years-old but goes for a hattrick under Piere Strydom.

Big Blue Marble is full of ability but tends to ruin it by being headstrong so he is interesting returning from a layoff. Touch Of Fate, Isphan, Battle Creek, Topmast and Mr Whatson are hard to ignore.

In the seventh race over 1 600m Ex’s ‘N Ohs has a 2,5kg claimer up and will enjoy the step back to this trip.

Circle Of Latitude has some class and will enjoy the step back down in trip. Elusive Force won easily from the front in the maidens last time and starts off

handicapping off a reasonable 82 merit rating.

Soul Of Wit has been right there in her last two starts including with the saddle slipping last time.

Afrostar has come down to a competitive merit rating. Loaralei is the favourite and represents the lethal Peter/Kennedy combination.

In the last race over 1 600m Fly North won going away over 1 400m last time so can overcome a four point raise if enjoying this trip.

Charlie’s Jet overraced over 2 000m last time and is interesting dropped in trip. Tigermil was plugging on over 1 200 last time and might be looking for this trip. Westwing Belter has been disappointing but has plummeted down the merit ratings and can start threatening a win.

Picadilly Square has a form chance.

Serendipity and Midnight Top are hard to ignore.

By David Thiselton

Paul Reeves is to send a team of horses to Durban for the first time – and Skidoo will be among them after making pretty much all the running under Liam Tarentaal to record his third success off the reel in the Betting World Handicap at Durbanville on Saturday.

Reeves, who rode nearly 300 winners and started training in 2009, said: “I went to Durban with Sea Cat early in my training career but I haven’t been since. However I am taking ten horses in a week’s time. They will include some juveniles that we think a lot of and nice speed horses like Pippielangkous and Photocopy as well as Skidoo who could be a poly candidate. Basically I am looking for more options as there is so little racing for them in Cape Town at the moment.”

Brett Crawford is a deliberately slow starter with his two-year-olds and Remus, who made all under Greg Cheyne in the opener, was only the fourth of his current 50 at Philippi to run and the first to win. “I like to give them a bit of time,” explained the trainer who had drawn an uncharacteristic blank at the previous three Cape Town meetings. He went some way towards making up for this when the Corne Orffer-ridden Indi Anna sprang a 12-1 surprise in the TAB Telebet Handicap.

The second juvenile race was also Greg Cheyne-ridden with 19-4 newcomer Zarina proving too strong for the favourite Soft Day. Both first and second carried Marsh Shirtliff’s distinctive colours but were from different stables; he backed the favourite but covered the winner.

Asked if the filly’s win was a surprise to her, Candice Bass-Robinson said: “Ability-wise no but she worked poorly when Greg rode her on Thursday. I took her blood and scoped her but nothing showed up.”

Keagan de Melo is enjoying a tremendous season – he is third on the Western Cape log as well as one the national one -and he followed up success on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Meet At The George (named after a pub in Durban) with a comfortable success on Eva Eileen in the Racing Association Handicap.

De Melo had ridden the Paddy Kruyer-trained 8-1 shot on her previous three starts but he only got the mount after M.J. Byleveld was unable to make the weight.

He said: “I was very fortunate to get back on her. I had been waiting for another filly in the race but she ended up being scratched.”

De Melo’s enterprising riding is beginning to change the accepted wisdom of riding Durbanville. Before he came along few jockeys were bold enough to attempt to challenge on the inside for fear of the gap being slammed shut in their faces but he often finds a way through on the rails – Meet At The George was a typical example – and Anthony Andrews did the same on 10-1 shot Six Degrees in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.

That winner is going to Mauritius after being purchased by fish magnate Bahim Taher in what Glen Kotzen described as “a risk buy.” The Woodhill trainer explained: “The horse wouldn’t pass any vetting. He had a problem with his breathing and we had to cut a growth from the back of his throat.”

Radiant Love got up close home under Orffer in the last and Mike Robinson reckoned the decision to geld the horse earlier in the season had paid the expected dividend. “I hadn’t wanted to geld him as he wasn’t really coltish but he was haemoconcentrating badly.”

By Michael Clower