| Vodacom Durban July Final Field |
The Vodacom Durban July final field has been announced, with quality KZN-breds making an appearance, including the exciting entry of Eton Square.
Pierre Jourdan tops the table with a weight of 60kgs, and drawing stall 15. He ran an incredible strong second to the mighty Igugu(AUS) last year. Auctioned for an amount of R1,6 million to dissolve a partnership a few months back, the Summerhill-bred R60 000 graduate of the Ready-To-Run Two Year Old sale, he has over R4,5 million in stakes, and clearly his new owners feel there is still a lot more to come out of him. He recently placed by two lengths on 9 June in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m to Variety Club, as well as placing in February, again 2 lengths off Kavanagh in the 1400m Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes but he seems to prefer further. He has had nine wins and nine places to date, five of those wins being Graded Stakes races.
Another Summerhill-bred Smanjemanje, a son of Kahal out of In Style by Model Man, has seen his performance’s since being gelded improving and it’s going to be exciting to see what he can pull off. He recently ran a third to Eton Square featured below, in the Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m. In April he placed by a length to Europa Point in the Champions Challenge Gr 1. A R210 000 graduate of the Emperors Palace Ready-To-Run Sale, he has had five wins and 14 places, earning almost R1 million in stakes, including wins in Gr 2 and Gr 3 races over 1800m. He will be shouldering 57kgs, and drawn stall 13. Kahal has another representative in Tales Of Bravery, recent winner of the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville.
Eton Square recently made the headlines by defeating a powerful field of horses to take home the Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m, which motivated the decision for Gavin Van Zyl to nominate him for the Vodacom Durban July. A three year old gelding by the exciting stallion at the Scott Bros, Miesque’s Approval, he is out of Monroe by Model Man. He has had just four starts, two wins and two places (incidentally both being second) earning just over R200 000. He was sold for R280 000 at the 2010 Emperors Palace National Two Year Old sale. Drawn sixth, and carrying a light weight of 53kg with Glen Hatt in the irons, he will be a horse to look for.
Reserve Runner number 2 is Seal, a four year old gelding born and raised at Bush Hill Stud and bred by Dr Heyns, is by Silvano out of Prestine Performer by Rambo Dancer. He sold at the 2009 Sibya Yearling Sale for R210 000. Four wins, eight places, including a win in the Gr 1 SA Derby in April last year, as well as a win the in Wolf Power 1600 Listed in February this year. He ran just two lengths off Europa Point in his last start at the end of April of this year in the Gr 1 Champions Challenge. He has placed multiple times in Graded Stakes races. Should he get a run, he will carry 57.5kg and has drawn starting stall 4.
The Gallops will be taking place at Greyville on Thursday 28 June at 7am. It will be televised on Tellytrack, channel 232 if you are not able to be present at Greyville. If you wish to see the July runners in action be sure to be there. Hot coffee and sticky buns will be on offer, with a panel of experts usually discussing the morning’s results. It is a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with the cream of South Africa’s racing crop. Betting for the big race opens 2 July 2012.
It is a busy and exciting time for KZN racing and breeding and next year will see the inaugural running of the KZN Breeders Cup for R1 million on Vodacom July Day next year, for graduates from the 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale. The KZN Breeders Race day and Million Mile (previously the R250 000 KZN Breeders 1600) is to be run on 1 July 2012 at Greyville, with an increased stake of R1 million.
KZN Breeders will be offering wonderful incentives to the winning owners of each race on the KZN Breeders Race day and the momentum continues with the Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale on 5 and 6 July – with KZN’s best featuring amongst the approximately 260 yearlings up for auction.
With the new Triple Million Challenge incentive from the KZN Breeders in place, now has never been a better time to purchase a KZN-bred yearling.
KZN Breeders will be hosting a Golf day at Beachwood Country Club on 29 June. If you would like more information, please email Michelle.
The theme for the Vodacom Durban July day this year is ‘A Material World’, click here to find out more.
NB: Two Reserve Runners will be announced which will replace any horse withdrawn on or before 12:00 on Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012 – Vodacom Durban July Gallops at Greyville Racecourse
Information source courtesy of www.goldcircle.co.za