Latest news with #GoldVase
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
King Pelles rules over the Gold Cup market
Search is on for a longshot in SA's premier marathon For decades the Gold Cup at Greyville was famous for its longshot winners. But in recent years the formbook has proven to be a more reliable guide for punters. When declarations for South Africa's premier marathon horse race were announced this week, bookmakers quickly pegged obvious favourite King Pelles at a prohibitive R1.65 for the Win (and R0.31 the Place!). That would have been unheard of in the days when the punters' game was finding the traditional end-of-season 'roughie'. Racing being the funny old game it is, though, there'll still be a search for value among the 13 runners before the start at the 3200m pole at Greyville on Sunday 27 July. Holding Thumbs is well regarded by his trainer Glen Kotzen and has been developing into a decent stayer, so his R4.55 looks fair value – until one scrutinises his most recent run, in the Gold Vase on July day, when he was made to look pedestrian by King Pelles. Madison Valley ran a commendable fifth in the July and leading jockey Gavin Lerena was encouraged enough by what he felt that day to stick with the four-year-old. That makes his R6.25 Win worth considering. Shoot The Rapids, a close runner-up in this race last year, has all the stamina needed to outlast his rivals, but hasn't been in the best of form recently. It might pay to keep a close eye on the Gold Cup betting market over the next week, especially for moves for runners with no proven record the marathon trip. What happens on the gallops seldom stays on the gallops. Gold Cup betting: King Pelles – R1.65 Holding Thumbs – R4.55 Madison Valley – R6.25 Future Swing – R8.33 Navajo Nation – R10.00 Shoot The Rapids – R12.50 Nebraas – R12.50 Bournemouth – R14.30 Cape Eagle – R16.67 Blackberry Malt – R16.67 Field Marshall – R33.33 Taxhaven – R40.00 Positive Attitude – R75.00
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Mixed Fortunes (and Andrew) at the Durban July
Andrew Fortune's story is well known in racing circles. Preparations for Hollywoodbets Durban July horseracing event at at Greyville in Durban on 30 June 2023. Picture: Nigel Sibanda A highlight of Hollywoodbets Durban July day at Greyville was jockey Andrew Fortune's win in the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes – which reminded the country of the veteran rider's astonishing career journey. Always a showman and hugely popular with racing fans, Fortune outdid himself as he stood up in the irons and saluted the capacity crowd as his mount Double Grand Slam (15-10 favourite) cruised to victory in the Grade 1, R1.5-million, 1 600 metre contest. As trainer Justin Snaith and owner representatives led the four-year-old filly into the winner's circle before the main grandstand, Fortune waved his crop like an orchestra conductor, milking the applause and cheers for all he was worth. ALSO READ: Somizi arrives in a chopper, stealing the show with eight outfit changes at the Hollywoodbets Durban July From drug addiction to champion jockey Fortune might be in trouble with the stipes for this bit of fun, but they'd have to be hard-hearted to punish the 57-year-old harshly. His story is well known in racing circles. From drug addiction, recovery, to becoming champion jockey, to retiring and being assistant trainer to his wife, to having his weight soar to 80kg, to returning to the saddle with an epic loss of 30kg-plus. Since his amazing return to riding a few months ago, he has registered nearly 40 winners. The Grade 1 trophy on Durban July day was a pinnacle no-one would have contemplated. Sympathy was due current champion jockey Richard Fourie, who has routinely partnered Double Grand Slam, but is contracted to ride for Ridgemont Stud, sponsor of the Garden Province. Fourie was booked aboard Ridgemont's Mon Petit Cherie – who was runner up to Double Grand Slam. READ MORE: 'Shrewdies' to make July Quartet pay big It was Fourie's third second-placing at the meeting, with the biggest disappointment being his narrow defeat on Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite Eight On Eighteen, beaten just 0.25 lengths by The Real Prince. The champ did have the consolation of a win in the Splashout Golden Horseshoe, a Grade 2 juvenile feature, aboard Anotherdanceforme for PE trainer Alan Greeff. By contrast, legendary golfer and racing nut Gary Player would have been a happy chap after the spectacular day at Greyville. He is a part owner – with Drakenstein Stud and Dave MacLean – of Double Grand Slam. He is also a part owner of King Pelles, the four-year-old who dominated the Grade 3 Gold Vase and is now a clear favourite for the Gold Cup later in the month. And he part-owns Gold Vase runner up Holding Thumbs, who runs in his black and white colours.
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
July day eyes on Pick 6's R15m prize
The problem with the Pick 6 is the ridiculously competitive nature of races that make up the popular bet, especially on Durban July day. The Pick 6 on Durban July day is always tough to crack. Picture: Michel Bega / The Citizen The Pick 6 is a front-of-mind wager for most players on Durban July day at Greyville on Saturday – thanks to an expected R15-million mega-pool. The problem for anyone striving to win a slice of that treasure is the ridiculously competitive nature of races that make up the popular bet. Indeed, the July itself – Africa's greatest horse race and the highest aspiration of every owner, trainer and jockey – might prove the easiest of the six legs to negotiate! The key to a puzzle like this is finding a banker – a surefire winner on which to pin all hopes and allow one to select a wider spread of runners in other, more tricky legs. And the standout hot-pot favourite on Saturday is Eight On Eighteen in the Durban July – Race 7 on the card and Leg 4 of the Pick 6 – so he is likely to be a banker in a vast number of exotics bets. Options for Pick 6 Eight On Eighteen's odds on Wednesday morning were 16-10. The remaining five legs include two juvenile races, which are always difficult as the form is somewhat unreliable due to young horses often making sudden improvements as they mature. Also, there are two Grade 3 contests – the Gold Vase and the Post Merchants, longest and shortest features on the day – which are packed with top performers from around the country, all with connections desperate to lead in a winner on the big day. Finally, there is the main supporting feature, the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes, which is arguably the premier mile race for female horses in the country and carries valuable black type into the thoroughbred stud book and breeding arena. Quite a few Garden Province hopefuls could easily have made it into the Durban July line-up, so the competition is red-hot. Some players will be tempted to include the entire field in their Pick 6 combinations, but 14 runners will send the cost of the bet soaring! Another option is to trim the choice down to the best of the best. Rascova (10-1), Mon Petit Cherie (10-1), Double Grand Slam (11-2), Fatal Flaw (8-1) and Spumante Dolce (13-2) are the ones that have proven their worth in the highest company. If one has the agonizing task of trimming that list down to fit a budget, perhaps the shortest-priced, Double Grand Slam, must go – if only because her regular rider, national champ Richard Fourie, has opted for Mon Petit Cherie over her. A suggested Pick 6: 3,5,9,11,12,13 x 8,9,10 x 6,7,10,13 x 11 x 6,7,10,11 x 2,3,4,8,9,12 (R1,728)
