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.