The Real Prince Rules the July

COURAGE: KANNEMEYER'S CHARGE FIGHTS HARD TO GET THE BETTER OF FAVOURITE EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN

- Jack Milner

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer won his fourth Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday when The Real Prince ran down 2-1 favourite Eight On Eighteen to claim the Grade 1 race over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Perfectly timed by jockey Craig Zackey, The Real Prince closed in late on Eight On Eighteen who hit the front some 300m from home under Richard Fourie.

The pair did battle over the final 100m but although fighting on gamely, the three-year-old eventually had to concede the R5-million race to The Real Prince by a neck.

Third place went to Selukwe (17-2) ridden by Serino Moodley and trained by Andre Nel while Royal Victory (20-1) once again ran an honest race to finish fourth under Muzi Yeni.

The four-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight had been quietly fancied by his connections and went off at 14-1. Many pundits felt he would not see out the distance as he had not run beyond 1600m.