The Real Prince claims the crown in Durban July
Trained by Cape Town trainer Dean Kannemeyer - who has three previous Durban July successes to his name with Dynasty (2003), Eyeofthetiger (2006) and Power King (2015) - The Real Prince was given a gem of a ride by Zackey at his first Grade 1 race attempt.
First-up after his last-start fourth in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes (1,400m) on May 3, the Gimmethegreenlight four-year-old jumped smartly from gate 5 before Zackey sat him in midfield on the rails, trailing Grade 3 Dolphins Cup Trial (1,800m) winner Madison Valley (Gavin Lerena).
Defending champion Oriental Charm (Juan Paul van der Merwe) made good use of barrier 1 to lead and stack up the speed in a bid to catch his rivals napping.
Meanwhile, hot favourite Eight On Eighteen (Richard Fourie) slotted into sixth position after jumping from gate 11, just five lengths off the leader.
Upon straightening, the Justin Snaith-trained star colt drew first blood, while The Real Prince ($81) was angled out by Zackey for his final assault after a patient rail-hugging ride.
With Fourie throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at Eight On Eighteen and Zackey riding for dear life on The Real Prince, the two went to the line locked in battle.
Eight On Eighteen would not cave in but in the end, it was The Real Prince who came out tops in a stirring finish, denying Eight On Eighteen's chance of making history and becoming the first three-year-old to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met (2,000m) and the Durban July in the same year.
Selukwe (Serino Moodley) stormed home for third while Royal Victory (Muzi Yeni) finished fourth.
Zackey was relieved that he had finally put behind him the bad memories of his last Durban July ride. The Gauteng-born hoop finished unplaced with another Kannemeyer-trained galloper, Green With Envy, in last year's edition.
Green With Envy started as the favourite, but was well beaten by Oriental Charm. The dual Grade 1 winner was retired to stud in early 2025, shortly after one more dismal run.
"It's incredible," he said to Gallop TV.
"Green With Envy didn't have the best of run after the (Grade 1) Daily News (2,000m). He got injured and it felt like I was carrying the world on his shoulders and the pressure just got to both of us.
"He went wrong after the race and I just haven't let it down for a year, so I carried it with me in a cool tone coming here today and that pressure is well off now.
"If he (The Real Prince) had one more run in between, I think he would have been a bit more comfortable. But I knew he was the best horse in the race and I just knew if he stays, he's hard to beat."
Owned by breeder and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw of Khaya Stables, The Real Prince silenced doubters about his staying ability.
Out of Grade 1 winner Real Princess - who was bought by former racecaller and racing manager Jehan Malherbe for Lady Laidlaw - he also has an older full brother Gimme A Prince, who was a three-time Grade 1-winning sprinter in South Africa.
"We know his family so well and this was a team effort by everyone," said Kannemeyer, who also won the Durban July with Power King for Lady Laidlaw in 2015.
"This is the second July I've trained for Lady Laidlaw and she's been a great supporter of my yard.
"I remember buying Real Princess in the Cape Premier Yearling sale. When we bought her, Jehan said with that pedigree, she is going to go a mile without a doubt, or maybe further, and we were banking on that stamina with this horse (The Real Prince) because he's a completely relaxed horse.
"The first time we tried him over a mile (in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1,600m at Kenilworth on Feb 22), he won by six lengths.
"He ran a big race in the Drill Hall, and if we'd gone to the (Grade 1) Gold Challenge (1,600m) and run fourth, the handicappers would've been looking for you.
"You've got to land at the right time and the right place, and we've got the right draw, so it was fantastic."
sharonzhang@sph.com.sg
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The Real Prince claims the crown in Durban July
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