Distributed on behalf of Racing South Africa
PRESS RELEASE MONDAY - 6 JULY 2009
The Vodacom Durban July was dominated by the three-year-olds as Big City Life(Casey Tibbs) came home best of all to take the honours in Africa’s greatest race followed by the filly Zirconeum (Jallad) and the second Mike de Kock runner, Forest Path(Fort Wood).
Many Charity Turf Challenge entrants would have had their hopes pinned on champion Pocket Power (Jet Master) but racing at the back of the field, in a slow run race, any hopes of a July double and a maximum haul of Challenge points went out the window.
Pocket Power might not have scored the July double as El Picha did in 1999 and 2000, but his namesake in the Charity Turf Challenge stays at the top of the leader board with 230 points. William Venters could easily be called Young Rake, as he chased hard on the day and is now only seven points behind on 223, while Jonathan Snaith holds the fourth position on 207 points. Not only has Jonathan climbed the leader board, but his name was also drawn on the day for a spot prize. He received one of the R500 betting vouchers sponsored by bookmakers Morris and Bradley Vee. The other voucher was won by Kuben Naidoo.
Big City Life’s July win secured 40 points for his followers with the July being the third and last of the bonus races, while Zirconeum earned 12 points and Forest Path 10. Other earners on the day were Lady Windermere (Western Winter), who secured 15 points for her followers by winning the Grade 1 Garden Province stakes, while Sparkling Gem (Joshua Dancer) (second) and Prestic (Strike Smartly) (third) earned 12 and 10 points respectively.
The only other point scorer on the day was Mokaro (Manaloj) who finished third in the Grade 2 Gold Vase, securing 5 points.
Not only was the July a big points scoring day in the Charity Turf Challenge, but it was also the bonus meeting of the Challenge where the highest point scorer on the day won a prize to the value of R10 000. This honour went to three entrants who all amassed 79 points on the day. Two of Rodney Dunn’s entries came out top earners, with LS Gilbert being the third winner.
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