DO It Again became the first horse since El Picha at the turn of the century to win the Vodacom Durban July in successive years at Greyville last Saturday and only the sixth to win it more than once in the 122-year history of South Africa’s most famous race.
There was high drama at the start when hot-favourite Hawwaam, the last to be loaded, played up badly in the stalls. “He went back and forwards four times and on the fourth he went half up and injured himself,” related rider Anton Marcus. The racecourse vet’s subsequent shake of the head could be clearly seen on the big screens and on television.
The start was delayed by some six minutes while the market was reformed and it proved costly for new favourite Rainbow Bridge and Head Honcho who were both reported by the commentator to be sweating up badly.
However, Rainbow Bridge was travelling like a winner when he swept into the lead early in the short straight. Jockey Gavin Lerena said: “When I squeezed him 300 metres out, he quickened so well that I thought it was impossible for anything to come and catch me, and he ran his heart out.”
Do It Again (71/20) was having none of it and collared him just inside the last 50 metres to score by half a length with 12/1 shot Twist Of Fate one length and three-quarters back third. Head Honcho dropped right out to finish with only four behind him.
The winner was the second July success for Richard Fourie: “I had to be patient. Sometimes he feels as if he is lagging a bit and I want to edge him on. But that is not his style. You have to leave him alone and let him unwind, but early on I ended up in a position where I was worried, on the rail with the pace a bit stagnant.”
Success number four
It was July Cup number four for trainer Justin Snaith.
“Do It Again faced a huge task at the weights but I was always confident – this is the best horse in South Africa,” he enthused. “Naturally, I am sorry for the owner of Hawwaam (Hamdan Al Maktoum) but I would have preferred to win the race fair and square.”
Plans to run him in the Champions Cup were promptly scrapped. The owners want him to be Horse of the Year and winning a second July has virtually clinched this title. Now the target is next year’s Sun Met in which nothing went right for the horse this season.
Do It Again is by Twice Over out of a mare by the Dermot Weld-trained Casey Tibbs (by Sadler’s Wells and winner of the Ballysax Stakes before going to America to take second in the Secretariat Stakes). He was bred by bloodstock agent Robin Bruss and his owners include the former Investec boss Bernard Kantor who was instrumental in getting Twice Over for South Africa.
Runner-up Rainbow Bridge was the third Durban July second for owner Mike Rattray who will be 87 next week and said: “I’ve told everybody I am not going to die until I’ve won the race – and that still stands!”
BUFFALO Bill Cody, bred by Dermot Cantillon’s Tinnakill House Stud and partners, was the early favourite for the Durban July but a setback kept him off from December until last Sunday when he romped home in a mile conditions race at Turffontein.
He is now to take on Rainbow Bridge and other July runners in the Champions Cup at Greyville in a fortnight’s time.
The son of Redoute’s Choice is trained by Mike de Kock whose son Matthew said: “He was really impressive. I am sure he will come on from that.”