The Real Prince claims the crown in Durban July
Trained by Cape Town trainer Dean Kannemeyer - who has three previous Durban July successes to his name with Dynasty (2003), Eyeofthetiger (2006) and Power King (2015) - The Real Prince was given a gem of a ride by Zackey at his first Grade 1 race attempt.
First-up after his last-start fourth in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes (1,400m) on May 3, the Gimmethegreenlight four-year-old jumped smartly from gate 5 before Zackey sat him in midfield on the rails, trailing Grade 3 Dolphins Cup Trial (1,800m) winner Madison Valley (Gavin Lerena).
Defending champion Oriental Charm (Juan Paul van der Merwe) made good use of barrier 1 to lead and stack up the speed in a bid to catch his rivals napping.
Meanwhile, hot favourite Eight On Eighteen (Richard Fourie) slotted into sixth position after jumping from gate 11, just five lengths off the leader.
Upon straightening, the Justin Snaith-trained star colt drew first blood, while The Real Prince ($81) was angled out by Zackey for his final assault after a patient rail-hugging ride.
With Fourie throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at Eight On Eighteen and Zackey riding for dear life on The Real Prince, the two went to the line locked in battle.
Eight On Eighteen would not cave in but in the end, it was The Real Prince who came out tops in a stirring finish, denying Eight On Eighteen's chance of making history and becoming the first three-year-old to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met (2,000m) and the Durban July in the same year.
Selukwe (Serino Moodley) stormed home for third while Royal Victory (Muzi Yeni) finished fourth.
Zackey was relieved that he had finally put behind him the bad memories of his last Durban July ride. The Gauteng-born hoop finished unplaced with another Kannemeyer-trained galloper, Green With Envy, in last year's edition.
Green With Envy started as the favourite, but was well beaten by Oriental Charm. The dual Grade 1 winner was retired to stud in early 2025, shortly after one more dismal run.
"It's incredible," he said to Gallop TV.
"Green With Envy didn't have the best of run after the (Grade 1) Daily News (2,000m). He got injured and it felt like I was carrying the world on his shoulders and the pressure just got to both of us.
"He went wrong after the race and I just haven't let it down for a year, so I carried it with me in a cool tone coming here today and that pressure is well off now.
"If he (The Real Prince) had one more run in between, I think he would have been a bit more comfortable. But I knew he was the best horse in the race and I just knew if he stays, he's hard to beat."
Owned by breeder and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw of Khaya Stables, The Real Prince silenced doubters about his staying ability.
Out of Grade 1 winner Real Princess - who was bought by former racecaller and racing manager Jehan Malherbe for Lady Laidlaw - he also has an older full brother Gimme A Prince, who was a three-time Grade 1-winning sprinter in South Africa.
"We know his family so well and this was a team effort by everyone," said Kannemeyer, who also won the Durban July with Power King for Lady Laidlaw in 2015.
"This is the second July I've trained for Lady Laidlaw and she's been a great supporter of my yard.
"I remember buying Real Princess in the Cape Premier Yearling sale. When we bought her, Jehan said with that pedigree, she is going to go a mile without a doubt, or maybe further, and we were banking on that stamina with this horse (The Real Prince) because he's a completely relaxed horse.
"The first time we tried him over a mile (in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1,600m at Kenilworth on Feb 22), he won by six lengths.
"He ran a big race in the Drill Hall, and if we'd gone to the (Grade 1) Gold Challenge (1,600m) and run fourth, the handicappers would've been looking for you.
"You've got to land at the right time and the right place, and we've got the right draw, so it was fantastic."
sharonzhang@sph.com.sg
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Paper
3 days ago
- New Paper
Dave The King is peaking: de Kock
DURBAN Mathew de Kock is not underestimating the formidable task facing stable star Dave The King, in his quest to achieve back-to-back victories in the ZAR1.5 million (S$109,000) Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville on July 27. After returning from a successful training stint in Australia, de Kock now trains in partnership with his father, Mike, who has accumulated the most Group 1 wins of any South African trainer. Following unplaced runs as favourite in two races at the end of his last campaign, Dave The King has won both of his races in 2025, including his most recent assignment in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge (1,600m) at Greyville on June 7. De Kock said the stable could not be happier with the five-year-old gelding, noting he has improved since his last-start victory when he again started favourite. "He has come on from his last start, which is great because it was really only his second run after a rest," said de Kock. "He seems to be peaking for this race, which is fantastic. "He won very well last year, so it looks like everything is coming together for him to kind of put in a similar performance." In his 2024 victory, Dave The King - the reigning South African Horse of the Year - cruised to the lead at the 1,000m mark and opened up a handy margin while holding off fast-finishers from back in the field. De Kock said the son of Global View was a free-striding horse with a big action and a high cruising speed, and whose strength is placing his rivals under pressure during the middle stages of races. Callan Murray, who returned from Adelaide, Australia in May, was aboard Dave The King at his last two wins. The former South African boom apprentice jockey, who had a brief stint at Kranji in 2019, has met with instant success at his return home, linking up mostly with the de Kocks. While there are only nine runners in July 27's race, de Kock said it was a tricky field. He rates Dean Kannemeyer's last-start Grade 1 Durban July (2,200m) winner, The Real Prince, as the biggest danger. "He is obviously in good form and has beaten most of the rest before, and I would probably be most worried about him from (barrier) No. 1," said de Kock. "The Durban July is our biggest race, which he won two weeks ago. It's a handicap, though. "See It Again is also a good horse on his day." Now based in Hong Kong, Keagan de Melo returns home for the ride on See It Again, who was injured ahead of the Durban July and goes into the July 27 race fresh. Kannemeyer said he did not hesitate to target the Champions Cup after The Real Prince's last start - and most significant - victory on July 5. "This Champions Cup will be his third run after a break, and it may well be that the 1,800m suits him down to the ground," he said. "We will let the others worry about us." Gladatorian finished seventh to The Real Prince, beaten five lengths in the Durban July, but the five-year-old's earlier form gives him a chance of figuring in the placings. The only three-year-old in the field is Fire Attack, who will carry 129lb (58.5kg), 3lb less than his older rivals, but has a tricky draw in barrier eight. Montien, trained by Piet Botha, is sure to have some admirers for a place at decent odds. HKJC
New Paper
07-07-2025
- New Paper
The Real Prince claims the crown in Durban July
The Real Prince put his head down where it mattered and got up narrowly from favourite Eight On Eighteen in the Grade 1 five million rand (S$360,000) Hollywoodbets Durban July (2,200m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 5, handing jockey Craig Zackey his maiden victory in South Africa's most prestigious race. Trained by Cape Town trainer Dean Kannemeyer - who has three previous Durban July successes to his name with Dynasty (2003), Eyeofthetiger (2006) and Power King (2015) - The Real Prince was given a gem of a ride by Zackey at his first Grade 1 race attempt. First-up after his last-start fourth in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes (1,400m) on May 3, the Gimmethegreenlight four-year-old jumped smartly from gate 5 before Zackey sat him in midfield on the rails, trailing Grade 3 Dolphins Cup Trial (1,800m) winner Madison Valley (Gavin Lerena). Defending champion Oriental Charm (Juan Paul van der Merwe) made good use of barrier 1 to lead and stack up the speed in a bid to catch his rivals napping. Meanwhile, hot favourite Eight On Eighteen (Richard Fourie) slotted into sixth position after jumping from gate 11, just five lengths off the leader. Upon straightening, the Justin Snaith-trained star colt drew first blood, while The Real Prince ($81) was angled out by Zackey for his final assault after a patient rail-hugging ride. With Fourie throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at Eight On Eighteen and Zackey riding for dear life on The Real Prince, the two went to the line locked in battle. Eight On Eighteen would not cave in but in the end, it was The Real Prince who came out tops in a stirring finish, denying Eight On Eighteen's chance of making history and becoming the first three-year-old to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met (2,000m) and the Durban July in the same year. Selukwe (Serino Moodley) stormed home for third while Royal Victory (Muzi Yeni) finished fourth. Zackey was relieved that he had finally put behind him the bad memories of his last Durban July ride. The Gauteng-born hoop finished unplaced with another Kannemeyer-trained galloper, Green With Envy, in last year's edition. Green With Envy started as the favourite, but was well beaten by Oriental Charm. The dual Grade 1 winner was retired to stud in early 2025, shortly after one more dismal run. "It's incredible," he said to Gallop TV. "Green With Envy didn't have the best of run after the (Grade 1) Daily News (2,000m). He got injured and it felt like I was carrying the world on his shoulders and the pressure just got to both of us. "He went wrong after the race and I just haven't let it down for a year, so I carried it with me in a cool tone coming here today and that pressure is well off now. "If he (The Real Prince) had one more run in between, I think he would have been a bit more comfortable. But I knew he was the best horse in the race and I just knew if he stays, he's hard to beat." Owned by breeder and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw of Khaya Stables, The Real Prince silenced doubters about his staying ability. Out of Grade 1 winner Real Princess - who was bought by former racecaller and racing manager Jehan Malherbe for Lady Laidlaw - he also has an older full brother Gimme A Prince, who was a three-time Grade 1-winning sprinter in South Africa. "We know his family so well and this was a team effort by everyone," said Kannemeyer, who also won the Durban July with Power King for Lady Laidlaw in 2015. "This is the second July I've trained for Lady Laidlaw and she's been a great supporter of my yard. "I remember buying Real Princess in the Cape Premier Yearling sale. When we bought her, Jehan said with that pedigree, she is going to go a mile without a doubt, or maybe further, and we were banking on that stamina with this horse (The Real Prince) because he's a completely relaxed horse. "The first time we tried him over a mile (in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1,600m at Kenilworth on Feb 22), he won by six lengths. "He ran a big race in the Drill Hall, and if we'd gone to the (Grade 1) Gold Challenge (1,600m) and run fourth, the handicappers would've been looking for you. "You've got to land at the right time and the right place, and we've got the right draw, so it was fantastic." sharonzhang@
New Paper
02-07-2025
- New Paper
Eight On Eighteen aims to be No.1 of 18
DURBAN Trainer Justin Snaith and owners Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert have taken the plunge. Their star colt Eight On Eighteen heads the list of 18 runners for the Grade 1 five million rand (S$360,000) Hollywoodbets Durban July to be run over 2,200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 5. The field announcement and barrier draw took place at a glittering function in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring where Eight On Eighteen drew 11. The son of Lancaster Bomber will make history should he win and become the first three-year-old to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met (2,000m) and the Durban July in the same year. All the signs are good with current South African champion jockey Richard Fourie hunting his fourth July win and Snaith his sixth. Eight On Eighteen's victory in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on May 24 was breathtaking as he made short work of many of the country's top three-year-olds. He was equally impressive in this year's Cape Town Met on Jan 25 when he took on and beat the country's top older horses at weight-for-age. The five-time winner has been set to carry top weight for a three-year-old male in 57kg, the highest since Abashiri lumped 59kg into 13th place behind The Conglomerate in 2016. While Eight On Eighteen is likely to start one of the shortest-priced favourites in the long history of the race, he will not be short of opposition. Current second favourite is last year's winner Oriental Charm, who goes into this year's race off an exceptional prep. The Vercingetorix five-year-old was beaten half-a-length by Eight On Eighteen in the Cape Town Met and now meets his younger rival on 5.5kg better terms. In his comeback run, he was touched off a head in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1,600m by reigning Equus Horse of the Year, Dave The King, on June 7. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett soon to ply his trade in Hong Kong. See It Again races in the same Jonsson pink, green and white silks as Eight On Eighteen and has his third attempt after finishing second to Winchester Mansion two years back and fifth last year behind Oriental Charm. Piere Strydom has been replaced in the irons by Raymond Danielson as Michael Roberts tries for a win as a jockey and trainer. Stuart Ferrie sends out his first July runner in the hard-knocking Gladatorian. A fast-finishing third behind Dave The King and Oriental Charm in the Gold Challenge, he tries the July 2,200m trip for the first time. Also by Vercingetorix, Gladatorian is a horse with a smart turn of foot and will be charging at the leaders come the home straight. Another one who likes to charge late is The Real Prince. Dean Kannemeyer knows what it takes to train a July winner, successful with Dynasty, Eyeothetiger and Power King. The Real Prince has been brought along quietly and is sure to peak on the day. Royal Victory will have his supporters as Nathan Kotzen's charge has also had an ideal preparation. A winner of the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup (2,000m) and the Grade 1 Champions Challenge (2,000m) at Turffontein last season, he finished third in the July last year behind Oriental Charm. He was doing his best work late behind Dave The King in a warm-up over 1,500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last start and will strip at his peak. He has drawn 17. Highveld raiders are a little thin on the ground this year but their best chance could lie with Confederate. Relatively lightly raced by Fabian Habib, Confederate has won four of his nine starts but has never finished further back than second. The Fire Away four-year-old won the Grade 1 SA Classic (1,800m) on March 1, beating subsequent Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack and will be ridden by two-time South African and current New Zealand champion jockey Warren Kennedy who has made the trip to ride in the race. Champion trainer Mike de Kock boasts a stellar record in this race and has now joined forces with his son Mathew. They have their first July runner together in the three-year-old and recent Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes (1,800m) winner Immediate Edge. He carries bottom weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg and has won four of his six starts to-date. He has drawn alongside Eight On Eighteen in gate 10. Snaith has two other runners in the race, namely Okavango and Native Ruler while Alec Laird pins his hopes on Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch. GOLD CIRCLE
