2019 VODACOM DURBAN JULY FIRST ENTRIES

The first entries for the R4.25 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville racecourse on Saturday, July 6 are in.

Five of entries are #kznbred, including two Gr1 winners – Hero’s Honour (Summerhill Stud) and Camphoratus (Middlefield Stud).

Sire Mogok is represented with two entries, The Dazzler and Top Classman, both bred by Scott Bros.

The first entries:

Gary Alexander

HERO’S HONOUR                 107    

Brett Crawford

CHARLES                               104

Mike de Kock

HAWWAAM                          121

BARAHIN                               108

ALYAASAAT (AUS)  105

ATYAAB (AUS)                     105

NOBLE SECRET                    105

THE DAZZLER                       99    

PROTEA PARADISE 92

Dennis Drier

LADY IN BLACK                  117

St  Gray

DAWN ASSAULT                  106   

R A / S R Hill

CAMPHORATUS                   105    

RED CHESNUT ROAD          101

Duncan Howells

FIORELLA                              100

THANKSGIVING                  97

J A Janse van Vuuren

DIVINE ODYSSEY                105

DOOSRA                                104

Dean Kannemeyer

SILVA’S BULLET                   91

Glen Kotzen

EYES WIDE OPEN                111

HERODOTUS             101

Paul Lafferty

DARK MOON RISING          105

Weiho Marwing

SAMURAI WARRIOR           105

Andre Nel

HEAD HONCHO                   122

RUN RED                               94

Joey Ramsden

TWIST OF FATE                    115

FRESNAYE                            108

Frank Robinson

ROY HAD ENOUGH             109

ROY’S RIVIERA (AUS           95

ARIANOS SHADOW            93

TOP CLASSMAN                  85    

Eric Sands

RAINBOW BRIDGE              124

Justin Snaith

DO IT AGAIN                        125

OH SUSANNA (AUS)           118

MADE TO CONQUER          108

MIYABI GOLD                      105

DOUBLEMINT                       104

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN        104

ELUSIVE SILVA                    103

BUNKER HUNT                    100

PLATINUM PRINCE             97

Sean Tarry

LEGAL EAGLE                       118

TILBURY FORT                     110

RETURN FLIGHT                  106

ZILLZAAL                              105

SHENANIGANS                    89

SILVER GOD                         87

Geoff Woodruff

SECRET POTION                  102

BANNER HILL                       99

Alyson Wright

FLICHITY BY FARR 94

Months of suspense and speculation has ended with the eagerly anticipated announcement of the theme for the 2018 Vodacom Durban July, and the “It Is Time” concept has been warmly received in racing, fashion and social circles.

“Every element of the raceday has the aspect of time attached to it,” explained Gold Circle’s Event Marketing Manager Ken Tweddell, “from the time used to select the right stallion for the perfect mare, to the preparation of the perfect yearling for the sales.

“From the time of the two-year-old’s first race, to competing as a seasoned contender in the “ultimate” race – the Vodacom Durban July, it is years of time focused on a race that lasts just over two minutes,” he added.

Tweddell said the theme explores the excitement of a thoroughbred winning the Vodacom Durban July and touches on the fashion element of raceday asking fashionistas and designers to create timeless fashion and to use the elements of a watch face to conceptualize their designs.

“I love this theme because time is so important for designers,” said Fashion Programme Director Tiffany Prior.

“Planning, preparation, fine tuning and last minute panic, that’s the journey designers go on each time they create something. Sometimes they give themselves time, but most times not.

“Looking at this theme in terms of fashion, I see three words that stand out – timeless, understated, and classic. Whatever the design, make sure it’s raceday appropriate and stands the test of time, as with some of the world’s greatest designers.”

Demand for the theme for the Vodacom Durban July has intensified since the turn of the new millennium, to the point where the theme has become an extremely important catalyst for stirring interest in the Vodacom Durban July raceday.

The theme is embraced by the thousands of people who attend the raceday at Greyville Racecourse and for the many hundreds throughout South Africa who hold raceday functions at home to celebrate what has become known as Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event.

Decades ago the theme was described in just a few words. At some stage this developed into a short description of what was expected. Nowadays it has grown into a rather elaborate poetic description for inspiration for fashionistas, fashion designers, hospitality providers and racegoers.

2018 Vodacom Durban July theme
IT IS TIME

Years of planning . . .

Months of preparation . . .

Weeks of sharpening . . .

Days of fine tuning . . .

Hours of tension . . .

Minutes of anguish . . .

Seconds of panic  . . .

. . . .  a race against time!

One hundred and twenty two years,

To this extraordinary day.

An occasion for celebration,

Camaraderie and play.

A national hero,

The winner will be.

A champion forever,

An equine V I P.

The fashion is timeless,

Explore a watch face.

Understated or classic,

Or detailed like lace.

The buzz of excitement,

You might ask why!

Twenty past four,

First Saturday of July.

Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event

The Vodacom Durban July.

There are a few hopefuls but barring Legal Eagle and overseas-bound Whisky Baron, most of the country’s top middle distance gallopers are among the first entries for the Gr1 R4,25 million Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday, 1 July 2017. Eight of the entries are either KZN-bred or by KZN resident stallions.

Entries closed at 11am yesterday and Gold Circle received 58 entries for Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event.

Legal Eagle may not be an entry but Champion Trainer Sean Tarry has loaded his gun with 16 entries that include the promising Al Sahem, filly Smiling Blue Eyes and recent Gr3 Byerley Turk winner Africa Rising who put his field to bed in impressive fashion in spite of still wearing a brushing boot that had not been removed at the start.

Justin Snaith, not to be out-done, has entered nine horses including the smart filly Bela-Bela, Byerley Turk runner-up Copper Force and dark horse, Black Arthur.

Candice Bass-Robinson will be pinning her hopes on last year’s runner-up Marinaresco while Captain America, French Navy, Mac de Lago and Heavenly Blue are other notable entries.

Of the local contingent, Duncan Howells has entered two runners from last year, fifth-placed Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute together with the smart filly Dawn Calling who has yet to race beyond 1600m.

The full list of entries are as follows:

*Bold denotes KZN-bred horses or sired by KZN stallions

Entries:  58

Important Vodacom Durban July dates to diarise:

• First Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 8 May 2017
• First Supplementary Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 9 May 2017
• Second Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 29 May 2017
• Final Supplementary Entries: Close 11:00 Monday, 12 June 2017
• Weights Published: Tuesday, 13 June 2017
• Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 19 June 2017
• Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 20 June 2017
• Public Gallops:  7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 22 June 2017