A taste of the ‘July’

THE Hollywoodbets Durban July has come and gone, but its effect on the racing fan usually lingers and perhaps attracts a few more to take an interest in a sport rooted in history

- DAVID THISELTON

The dissection of the big race will last for weeks, but here are a few points to note:

South Africa's chief handicapper Lennon Maharaj is often the best person to follow in the big race and he got it right again.

Eight Of Eighteen

Eight Of Eighteen was rated 129 and owing to there not being an older horse rated any higher than 127 he ended up 2kg well in when his weight was dropped to 57kg, the minimum weight for a three-year-old. So were there any horses who could then beat him? Yes there was only one horse, i.e the horse whose route into the big race had specifically involved avoiding the handicapper and that was The Real Prince.

In his previous start he had finished a 1,35 length fourth to Gladatorian in the Gr 2 108S Drill Hall Stakes and had he run in, instead of avoiding, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and finished the same distance behind Gladatorian he would have had to carry 2kg more in the July, and that was not even taking into account that he had to come from a wide draw in the Drill Hall.

The big question of course was whether The Real Prince would stay, considering the close up speed in his pedigree extending from his full brother, Equus Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince, through his Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint-winning dam Real Princess, and stamina only being found under his third dam.

His second dam Pagan Princess was a sibling to middle distance-to-staying superstar Victory Moon as well as to champion stayer Kelly. But milers have won the July before, with 1991 winner Flaming Rock being the best example and the key appears to be the ability to relax and then fly home, while a slow pace also helps. Interestingly, Flaming Rock and The Real Prince ran identical times, a relatively slow 134,2 seconds.