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The Citizen
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Handicappers S.M.I.L.E. on July champ
The Real Prince raised five points for thrilling win. The Real Prince, right, wins the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville Racecourse on Sunday. Picture: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images The Real Prince has been raised five merit points to 125 following his victory in the past weekend's Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville. The National Horseracing Authority issued an unusually thorough explanation of their deliberations and decisions concerning South Africa's biggest race. The NHA even used the adjective 'thrilling' to describe The Real Prince's win – though its officials are meant to be objective and dispassionate about their work. The statement used other emotive words: 'This was a notable achievement from The Real Prince, as he had previously never raced beyond 1600m and, in fact, his pre-rating of 120 was earned exclusively over shorter trips. 'In handicapping terms, The Real Prince transitioned from the miler aptitude category to the longer-distance category – and did so with a resolute win.' After all that enthusiasm, one might have expected more than five merit rating points. The NHA continued: 'To structure distance aptitude assessments, handicappers often refer to the S.M.I.L.E. acronym: S — Sprint (1000m-1300m) M — Mile (1301m-1899m) I — Intermediate (1900m-2100m) L — Long (2101m-2700m) E — Extended (2701m-and above) 'In determining the updated ratings, the handicappers unanimously selected Royal Victory, the ever-reliable fourth-place finisher, as the line horse, leaving him at a rating of 125. This approach also validated Madison Valley's performance, as the fifth-place finisher ran precisely to his mark of 115, effectively making him a second line horse. 'Eight On Eighteen, the gallant runner-up, reaffirmed his Daily News 2000 merit rating of 129 with a spirited performance. He finished narrowly behind the winner and 2.60 lengths ahead of the 125-rated Royal Victory while carrying 2kg less.' The NHA went on the explain the 'maths for Eight On Eighteen's performance'. • Base: MR 125 (Royal Victory, line horse) • +4 MR points: Margin ahead of the line horse (2.60 lengths = 4 MR points), applying the length distance factor over 2200m • –4 MR points: Weight difference as per race conditions (in receipt of 2kg) • +4 MR points: Weight-for-Age adjustment (3yold WFA allowance in July over 2200m) • Performance Rating: 129 – Final Third-placed Selukwe was the only other runner to get an MR increase, moving from 111 to 115, justified by his under-sufferance position of 2kg going into the race. All other participants maintained their prior ratings, except Purple Pitcher, whose merit rating was reduced from 122 to 121. Assessment of the other Grade 1 race on Durban July day, the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m for females at weight-for-age, saw winner Double Grand Slam retain her official MR of 122. 'Having performed to expectations', she was used by the handicappers as the line horse to guide assessment of the field. Runner-up Mon Petit Cherie, who finished 0.80 lengths behind, was raised from 113 to 120. Just Be Lekker, who was fourth, three lengths behind the winner, was raised from 109 to 116, 'reflecting the quality of her performance'. I Am Giant has had his rating increased from 116 to 119 following his victory in the Grade 3 Post Merchants over 1200m. King Pelles has been adjusted up from 112 to 118 following his easy victory in the Grade 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m. Fourth-placed Shoot The Rapids was the line horse and remains unchanged at 112. 'King Pelles delivered a performance that warranted a higher rating; however, his increase was capped at 118, in accordance with race conditions that limit adjustments to six points for winners and three points for placed runners,' explained the NHA. Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 winner Otto Luyken has been increased from 114 to 116. Due to interference affecting multiple runners in the closing stages, the handicappers assessed the race using the lowest possible route. Navajo Nation (runner-up) was selected as the line horse, retaining his rating of 104. Further increases were Johnny The Thief from 92 to 94 and Count Huhtikulu from 91 to 95. Sunday in Joburg saw Choisaanada complete a clean sweep of the inaugural Highveld Winter Series with victory in the 4Racing Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track. Accordingly, his MR has been raised from 106 to 112. 'Although Choisaanada delivered a performance deserving of a higher rating, his merit was capped at 112 in accordance with the race conditions, which permit a maximum increase of six points for the winner and do not allow rating increases for placed horses,' said the handicapping team.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Mixed Fortunes (and Andrew) at the Durban July
Andrew Fortune's story is well known in racing circles. Preparations for Hollywoodbets Durban July horseracing event at at Greyville in Durban on 30 June 2023. Picture: Nigel Sibanda A highlight of Hollywoodbets Durban July day at Greyville was jockey Andrew Fortune's win in the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes – which reminded the country of the veteran rider's astonishing career journey. Always a showman and hugely popular with racing fans, Fortune outdid himself as he stood up in the irons and saluted the capacity crowd as his mount Double Grand Slam (15-10 favourite) cruised to victory in the Grade 1, R1.5-million, 1 600 metre contest. As trainer Justin Snaith and owner representatives led the four-year-old filly into the winner's circle before the main grandstand, Fortune waved his crop like an orchestra conductor, milking the applause and cheers for all he was worth. ALSO READ: Somizi arrives in a chopper, stealing the show with eight outfit changes at the Hollywoodbets Durban July From drug addiction to champion jockey Fortune might be in trouble with the stipes for this bit of fun, but they'd have to be hard-hearted to punish the 57-year-old harshly. His story is well known in racing circles. From drug addiction, recovery, to becoming champion jockey, to retiring and being assistant trainer to his wife, to having his weight soar to 80kg, to returning to the saddle with an epic loss of 30kg-plus. Since his amazing return to riding a few months ago, he has registered nearly 40 winners. The Grade 1 trophy on Durban July day was a pinnacle no-one would have contemplated. Sympathy was due current champion jockey Richard Fourie, who has routinely partnered Double Grand Slam, but is contracted to ride for Ridgemont Stud, sponsor of the Garden Province. Fourie was booked aboard Ridgemont's Mon Petit Cherie – who was runner up to Double Grand Slam. READ MORE: 'Shrewdies' to make July Quartet pay big It was Fourie's third second-placing at the meeting, with the biggest disappointment being his narrow defeat on Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite Eight On Eighteen, beaten just 0.25 lengths by The Real Prince. The champ did have the consolation of a win in the Splashout Golden Horseshoe, a Grade 2 juvenile feature, aboard Anotherdanceforme for PE trainer Alan Greeff. By contrast, legendary golfer and racing nut Gary Player would have been a happy chap after the spectacular day at Greyville. He is a part owner – with Drakenstein Stud and Dave MacLean – of Double Grand Slam. He is also a part owner of King Pelles, the four-year-old who dominated the Grade 3 Gold Vase and is now a clear favourite for the Gold Cup later in the month. And he part-owns Gold Vase runner up Holding Thumbs, who runs in his black and white colours.
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
July day eyes on Pick 6's R15m prize
The problem with the Pick 6 is the ridiculously competitive nature of races that make up the popular bet, especially on Durban July day. The Pick 6 on Durban July day is always tough to crack. Picture: Michel Bega / The Citizen The Pick 6 is a front-of-mind wager for most players on Durban July day at Greyville on Saturday – thanks to an expected R15-million mega-pool. The problem for anyone striving to win a slice of that treasure is the ridiculously competitive nature of races that make up the popular bet. Indeed, the July itself – Africa's greatest horse race and the highest aspiration of every owner, trainer and jockey – might prove the easiest of the six legs to negotiate! The key to a puzzle like this is finding a banker – a surefire winner on which to pin all hopes and allow one to select a wider spread of runners in other, more tricky legs. And the standout hot-pot favourite on Saturday is Eight On Eighteen in the Durban July – Race 7 on the card and Leg 4 of the Pick 6 – so he is likely to be a banker in a vast number of exotics bets. Options for Pick 6 Eight On Eighteen's odds on Wednesday morning were 16-10. The remaining five legs include two juvenile races, which are always difficult as the form is somewhat unreliable due to young horses often making sudden improvements as they mature. Also, there are two Grade 3 contests – the Gold Vase and the Post Merchants, longest and shortest features on the day – which are packed with top performers from around the country, all with connections desperate to lead in a winner on the big day. Finally, there is the main supporting feature, the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes, which is arguably the premier mile race for female horses in the country and carries valuable black type into the thoroughbred stud book and breeding arena. Quite a few Garden Province hopefuls could easily have made it into the Durban July line-up, so the competition is red-hot. Some players will be tempted to include the entire field in their Pick 6 combinations, but 14 runners will send the cost of the bet soaring! Another option is to trim the choice down to the best of the best. Rascova (10-1), Mon Petit Cherie (10-1), Double Grand Slam (11-2), Fatal Flaw (8-1) and Spumante Dolce (13-2) are the ones that have proven their worth in the highest company. If one has the agonizing task of trimming that list down to fit a budget, perhaps the shortest-priced, Double Grand Slam, must go – if only because her regular rider, national champ Richard Fourie, has opted for Mon Petit Cherie over her. A suggested Pick 6: 3,5,9,11,12,13 x 8,9,10 x 6,7,10,13 x 11 x 6,7,10,11 x 2,3,4,8,9,12 (R1,728)
