David Thiselton

Owner Jonathan Bloch has a fascinating history behind him as a horseracing fan and owner and he almost certainly created July history just over a week ago, because after the announcement of the Hollywoodbets Durban July final field he was part-owner not only of the favourite Star Major, but also of the two joint-second favourites, Wish List and Note To Self.

Of course Wish List and Note To Self are now the joint-favourites after the shock scratching of Star Major, but whilst the scratching was disappointing for Jonathan as well as for trainer James Crawford and the other part-owners Neville Isdell, Ravi Naidoo and Prakashni Pillay, Jonathan knows the correct decision was made.

He said, “I I grew up riding and have always loved horses. I would never harm a horse. It can be asked ‘Could we have got him right for Saturday, could we have got his temperature down?’ Maybe. But if I am a partner in a horse it ain’t gonna happen. We will come back to fight another day. The other thing was we were not going to take him out on Friday or Saturday to deprive somebody else from having a chance to run, it’s just not the way the game is meant to work.”

He continued, “It was a disappointment for everybody, but all the owners have been absolutely amazing about it and philosophical. That is the secret about having the right partners.”

He added, “The person I really felt for was Neville Isdell as he is now 80 years old and he had previously had a fancied July runner, Zapatillas, who was also scratched on the week of the race. It was also a hard knock for our jockey Mickaelle Michel (although she now gets a ride on second reserve Curious Girl).”

Jonathan commented on Wish List and Note To Self, “Both horses are really well and are looking good. Their bloods are good and they are both working nicely.  They are in a good space and we will have some fun.”

He added, “If you had to say which one is closer to my heart it would obviously be the filly, because she is just such a trier and has just been the most amazing horse (five wins including her last four starts consisting of two Gr 1s and two Gr 2s). If she can just reproduce her Derby run. But Note To Self is a very interesting horse too. When we bought him he was immature, but a magnificent yearling and we didn’t overpay. The penny dropped in his run before the Derby and his Derby run was also good. He has furnished well and is looking magnificent. Richard (Fourie) has been riding him in work and is feeling comfortable with him and is quietly confident.”

Jonathan said it was fitting both horses run in Nancy Hossack’s colours because he not only described her as the “perfect partner to have in racing,”, but the colours were her late father Jack Mitchell’s colours and the latter owned the respective sires of the two horses, Legislate and Futura.

Jonathan’s feat of having the three July favourites might just be one of the records he has established this Champions Season, because it is believed he might also be the first owner to capture all of what used to be KZN’s four classics. He won the Gr 2 WSB Guineas and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 with Star Major and the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 with Wish List, although the latter race is no longer a classic as it is now open to older horses.

What makes the records more incredible is that although he is a long-time owner he is not a particularly prolific, big-spending owner. In fact he has only ever had one July runner before and it was 27 years ago, a horse called Ess Five Beaches, who finished 13th in 1999.

Jonathan was fortunate to be able to mix with some of horseracing’s greatest industrymen when he was fresh out of university.

He recalled, “I came into racing in about 1989-90-91. When I had finished university and started off as a young stockbroker I met two amazing guys by the names of Abe Swersky and Arnold Golombick. They were doyens of racing and very involved with the like of the great trainer Terrance Millard. They were just amazing to me and opened the doors for me. So at the beginning of my career I had Swersky, Golombick, Graham Beck, Laurie Jaffee as my clients. I was unbelievably blessed, but more importantly having them as my clients I also had them as my mentors. So I was a young guy in my early 20s being mentored by these captains of industry, it was just beyond belief, and 35 years later those relationships still continue.”

He continued, “I took small shares in horses back then and when Swersky stood down from the Jockey Club I landed up replacing him. However, I then had a difference of opinion with Markus Jooste in about 2003 and got out of racing until coming back about five years ago.”

The story of Ess Five Beaches is a fascinating one as Jonathan was asked by the family of big horseracing owner Len Salzman to accompany the latter to the Sales in New Zealand Sales with the aim of trying to help control his spending.

Jonathan, recalled, “Len was a great character, but uncontrollable and I failed dismally in my task! He ended up buying a jumbo-load of horses.”

He added, “One of them was this lovely grey by Zabeel which I took a share in and he was my first and only July runner to date. Len lived in the same block as Graham Beck in a residential estate called Beaches and he was in apartment S5. So his address was S5 Beaches and his wife’s name was Esther, so the horse was named Ess Five Beaches.”

Jonathan should improve on his July record to date on what will be a much anticipated race meeting on Saturday.

David Thiselton

In further Hollywoodbets Durban July breaking news the Tony Peter-trained The Ultimate King was scratched on Wednesday morning when found to be lame on his near hind.

This was bitterly disappointing news for owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen as they felt he had “a good chance.”

The couple had a runner two years ago, Hoedspruit, who finished unplaced, but Suzette confirmed the disappointment and added, “There are a lot of races, but the July is definitely every owner’s dream.”

The second reserve runner now comes into the race.

The Gr 2 SA Derby winner Curious Girl thus gives Mike and Mathew de Kock a second runner in the field of 18 and she also gives champion owners Hollywood Racing a second runner.

History is now going to be made as Mickaelle Michel has been declared for Curious Girl, which means there will be two woman jockeys in the big race.

Mickaelle became available when the favourite Star Major was scratched yesterday (Tuesday), whilst Rachel Venniker was declared for the first reserve to come in, the Erico Verdonese-trained Choisaanada.

Rachel became the first woman to ride in the July two years ago and ironically she was aboard the Suzette and Basie Viljoen-owned Hoedspruit.

Mike de Kock has won the July five times and will be out to land a first one as a partner with his son Mathew.

Curious Girl comes into the draw vacated by The Ultimate King, the plum barrier position of three.

The fairy tale story behind French jockey Mickaelle Michel is now alive once more, but instead of being on the favourite she is now aboard the horse who officially has the toughest task. The Futura filly is officially 6kg under sufferance carrying bottom weight of 52kg off a 100 merit rating.

RACE 1

MFULATHELA and TIME TO FIRE have the form and experience to be competitive but are probably vulnerable to well-bred newcomers AU CONTRAIRE, TROMPE L’OEIL, ASTROPHILE and MULHOLLAND DRIVE, so watch the betting for clues and follow the market movers. SITVA QUEEN and ALL TIME LEGEND could improve to get a look in.

RACE 2

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL defied an alarming market drift on debut to finish an encouraging second over this trip and with natural improvement she should go one better. CALADRIUS is held on that form but has the experience to play a role in the outcome. SATISFIED has shown pace and promise in both starts over 1160m and could pose more of a threat with this shorter trip likely to suit. INDECENT OBSESSION should also make her presence felt back in same-sex company after a creditable third against male opposition. Watch the betting on the newcomers.

RACE 3

Consistent KNOWMORE was returning from a layoff when finishing second over 1600m early last month and, with the benefit of that comeback outing, could improve to go one better over this extended trip. EPIDAURUS, EVENING NEWS, COMIC ARTIST and HEROIC ACT have the form and experience to stake a claim but are vulnerable to less-exposed sorts, such as the selection and youngster COVER CHARGE.

RACE 4

QUICKFREEZE stayed on encouragingly in his first start as a gelding to finish 1.80-lengths behind BRISTOL HERCULES over 1400m and, while the hat-trick seeking latter remains competitive under a penalty, the former is good value to turn the tables over this extended trip on 2kg better terms. WAR REPORTER is another bidding to complete a hat-trick but steps up in class off a career-high mark after beating a subsequent winner. FORCE PUBLIQUE, CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD and DARK SILVER are also capable of getting involved. Unexposed 3yo JAFFA fluffed his lines last time but shouldn’t be underestimated.

RACE 5

Well-bred youngster AINT NO DOUBT improved markedly for the step up in trip when shedding his maiden tag over 1600m. With further progress expected, he could make light of his opening handicap mark, even against older rivals. Hard-knocking mares PRINCESS LOLA and GOLDEN ASPEN, SIX OF ALL and 2yo maiden CAPTAIN COOPER could trouble the selection on their best form but have less scope for improvement. LAVA FIRE and SHEETS AND GOGGLES also have earning potential.

RACE 6

WARNING SOUND won a similar contest over 1450m last time and a resultant penalty isn’t likely to prevent her from following up. CAPE SAFFRON has a bit to find on her last-start conqueror but is weighted to pose more of a threat. Lightly raced RUSSIAN NOBILITY caught the eye over 1200m in her last start and the step up to this trip in her peak outing should suit. VAMANOS, FIRE IN HER SOUL and SONIC JET also have earning potential.

RACE 7

PRINCESS ILARIA boasts consistent form in stronger company off higher ratings, so this looks like a good opportunity for her to end a 369-day winless spell. She drops in class off a reduced mark with a top jockey engaged. Lightly raced DELAWARE RIVER has the form, experience and scope for improvement to fight out the finish. Last-start maiden winners GREENANDGOLD and MASTER’S ROSE aren’t taken lightly on handicap debut, while BEAUTIFUL RANIA is another capable of getting into the picture.

RACE 8

A trappy concluding contest, so go wide in the exotics. Veteran JET CAT is probably most effective over 1000m but his last, fast-finishing close-up 5th over that trip suggested he should remain competitive over this distance on his peak outing. OH MY GUCCI GIRL is versatile and her recent form, albeit over further, suggests she is good enough to play a leading role. TIME WILL TELL, READY SET FIRE, NKANDLA GOLD and DARING ACT all have the means to make their presence felt too.

Soccer6 Friday 3 July 2026.  Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R 600 000. Pool Closes at 20h00. Sport 4 Pool 2.

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