IT is 19 years since any horse managed to win the Vodacom Durban July more than once but last year’s winner Do It Again boosted his credentials by overcoming a four-month absence to land the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville last Saturday.

However, the Twice Over gelding (out of a mare by Dermot Weld’s Ballysax winner Casey Tibbs) showed signs of temperament that will not help his cause in front of the huge and noisy crowd on July 6th. Few in racing knew anything about this flaw in his make-up beforehand but trainer Justin Snaith was well prepared and flew in the celebrated horse whisperer Malan du Toit from Cape Town just in case – and he proved to be needed.

Psychologist

“I was very nervous because we had a few hiccups in the parade ring and the warnings were there,” said Snaith. “I could see that his head was starting to turn and that he was getting annoyed. Thank goodness we had Malan. It was like having a psychologist there.”

Rider Richard Fourie was also grateful for Du Toit’s presence. “Down at the start the horse didn’t want to load,” he reported afterwards. “In the race the pace was on. I had four lengths to make up coming into the straight but I had so much horse underneath me. Do It Again is a true champion and he showed his class.”

He did but the 15/4 shot only collared longtime leader Cirillo close home and by half a length with Met winner Rainbow Bridge a possibly unlucky third, a length and a quarter further back. The gap his rider Anton Marcus went for closed, he had to ease up for a costly couple of strides before switching to Cirillo’s other side.

No horse has won the mile Gold Challenge and the 11-furlong July in the same season since Dancer’s Daughter 11 years ago and she was also trained by Snaith who is keen on his chances this time.

“Do It Again proved here that he is the best weight-for-age horse in South Africa at the moment, he proved it in the July last year and he did so again in the Met in January,” Snaith enthused. “He is an unbelievable racehorse.”

The July is a handicap and, with the weights not due out until next week, there was some concern (at least on the part of those who had already backed him) that he might go up as a result of this win but on Monday the handicappers reported that they had left him on the same mark. The bookmakers have taken widely different positions on the gelding’s July chance. Some now have him as short as 5/2 while others are offering twice that. The Mike de Kock-trained Hawwaam heads the market.

Hong Kong an Eldorado for jockeys

SOUTH African jockeys regard Hong Kong as an Eldorado and willingly give up the best jobs at home for a chance to go there even though over the years many have returned home with their tails between their legs.

Current champion Lyle Hewitson and this term’s longtime title leader Muzi Yeni have both been given contracts to ride there next season, while Hong Kong new boys Aldo Domeyer and Grant van Niekerk have had their contracts renewed.

Also going is Armando (a What A Winter two-year-old from an American family) who has won all his three starts in emphatic style including a Kenilworth Group 3 last Saturday. He was bought as a yearling by Hong Kong trainer Tony Millard for one of his patrons and put into training with Brett Crawford.

Millard did the same with Elusive Gold but he stayed in South Africa until after winning the 2013 Cape Guineas.

This time, though, Crawford believes the colt will embark on the lengthy journey (via quarantine in Mauritius) quite soon.