Maestro Snaith shines on VDJ day
IT IS the dream of every owner in South Africa to win the Vodacom Durban July and on Saturday Durban businessman Nick Jonsson described the moment his two Justin Snaithtrained geldings – Do It Again and Made To Conquer – powered clear in the straight as “almost surreal.”
Prolific owner Bernard Kantor, whose colours were carried to victory by Do It Again, was still lyrical hours after the running and said, “What an experience!”
Jonsson became the first owner since Luke Bailes in 1990 to run one-two in the big race.
Bailes and Jonsson are close friends, just one irony in a day filled with drama.
Olympic Duel
Bailes feat was achieved with the Terrance Millard-trained pair Illustrador and Olympic Duel in 1990, which was also the second time Millard had done the July trifecta. Justin Snaith now holds the record for the most dominant July performance as he trained the first three on Saturday and was just half-a-length away from doing the quartet as favourite African Night Sky faded late into fifth place.
Jonsson believed he had the two best jockeys in the race, Anton Marcus and Jeff Lloyd, and felt the key to victory was that they had ridden their races exactly as discussed.
Marcus became the first to ride five July winners.
Hunting Tower
He had been stuck on four together with Harold “Tiger” Wright, since Hunting Tower’s victory in 2007.
Anthony Delpech, currently recuperating from a serious injury, joined that pair on four wins with back-to-back victories in 2010 and 2011.
Marcus settled Do It Again near the back from a wide draw, while Lloyd took the ultra-relaxed type Made To Conquer forward from a draw of eleven. Lloyd settled Made To Conquer on the flank of the initial pacemaker White River, who had boiled over during the lengthy fifteen minute delay at the start and was over-racing.
Marcus remained patient behind a pedestrian pace.
Grant van Niekerk appeared to be battling to hold African Night Sky and from a perfect position in midfield allowed him to circle the field and take the lead.
This horse’s best asset, his turn of foot from off the pace, had now been negated.
Made To Conquer, still beautifully relaxed, had by this stage found the rail in front. African Night Sky’s surprise move then provided him with the perfect tow into the straight.
Everything was unfolding perfectly for “The Guv”, Jeff Lloyd, the 56-year-old six-times South African Champion Jockey who had flown out from Australia to make likely a last attempt at breaking his July duck.
African Night Sky
Marcus was having a fine trip, due to his brilliance as a big race rider. He got on to the back of the train provided by African Night Sky and Matador Man and was given a tow up the hill.
2013 July-winning jockey S’Manga Khumalo had kept Matador Man out wide in the back straight despite the latter’s usual slow start. The usual rush for the first turn never materialised and Khumalo found himself trapped wide on a fighting horse and his chances were gone.
Lloyd, knowing Made To Conquer stays further, sent his mount for home while still turning into the straight.
Do It Again
Do It Again was just three lengths behind and still looking full of running.
Kantor was watching in a box at the 200m mark and at this point nudged the top South African Singapore-based trainer, Pat Shaw, standing next to him, and said, “Let’s go.”
He was so confident of victory he knew he could make his way to the winner’s enclosure.
Do It Again fulfilled a statement Snaith had made to a racing enthusiast earlier in the week: “I don’t train horses, I train machines.” He passed the line 1,25 lengths clear.
Third-placed Elusive Silva was beaten 5,50 lengths, 1,25 lengths ahead of fourth-placed Majestic Mambo. It was Justin Snaith’s third July win.
It was a best ever July finish for Lloyd, who had finished third eight times.
Even as Jonsson celebrated his momentous achievement with close friends in a second floor box his eyes were filled with sadness.
He had thought of his late father Ben “all the time” during the emotion charged day. “Benji”, much loved and appreciated by the entire racing community for his friendly demeanour and the passion he had poured into his administrative roles in the sport, passed away in February this year having never realised his dream in 50 years of ownership of having a runner in the July.
Big City Life
A KZN owner had not won the July since Raymond Deacon and Glen Mitchell did it in 2009 as part-owners of Big City Life and one has to go back to 1994’s winner Space Walk to find the previous KZN-based owners.
Pat Shaw celebrated in the box with Jonsson and Kantor and is the last KZN-based trainer to win the July, doing it with Teal in 1994. Also in the box were Sean McCarthy and family. The latter part-owned the 1993 winner Dancing Duel, who had provided Luke Bailes with a third July winner. Kantor was out from London for a meeting between Phumelela and horseracing owners and praised Gold Circle for the incredible job they do with the July.
The Derby
The Investec kingpin has witnessed the emotions of Epsom Derby-winning owners and said winning the July was as good. The Derby is regarded as the premier horse race in the world and is sponsored by Investec.
The roar which ascended above Greyville when the horses jumped outdid the Cheltenham Festival’s world famous roar and on course the top Australian racing journalist Steve Moran described the July as world racing’s “best kept secret.”
Jonsson drew the short straw when deciding whether his or Kantor’s colours would be carried by Do It Again, so it will the familiar yellow with royal blue epaulettes which will become the latest new set of silks to make it on to the July victory wall in Greyville’s Classic room.