Top jockeys do battle

BIG THREE: MARCUS, DELPECH, STRYDOM HAVE WON JULY FOUR TIMES

Citizen readers have chance to win big at country’s biggest race.

Any apprentice starting out at the South African Jockeys’ Academy, if asked, will respond that his biggest dream is to win the Vodacom Durban July. The country’s most famous race only comes once a year, though, and many wait all their professional lives to even be asked to partner a horse in the big one at Greyville on the first Saturday in July.

That makes it all the more remarkable that this year, three jockeys – Anton Marcus, Anthony Delpech and Piere Strydom – will be bidding for a record fifth win.

Marcus is set to ride ruling favourite Edict Of Nantes, Delpech will probably be astride second favourite Al Sahem, while Strydom is due to ride third favourite It’s My Turn.

Just two favourites have won the July in the past 10 years – 28/10 chance Pocket Power, who deadheated with Dancer’s Daughter in 2008; and three-year-old star filly Igugu, who started at 2/1 in 2011. In the past two years, honours have gone the way of long shots but the pendulum has to swing. So perhaps this year the race will go the way of a better-fancied horse.

Should Marcus, Delpech or Strydom take the July for a record fifth time, a lucky

Citizen reader who wins our SMS competition will be on course to enjoy jubilation.

To enter, SMS the keyword WIN followed by your full name, ID number and suburb of residence to 33521.

First prize is an all-expenses-paid weekend for two in Durban, Friday to Sunday, with a fantastic day’s racing on the Saturday. The competition also offers R6 000 in cash prizes and R4 000 to spend with TAB.

There are two consolation prizes, each comprising a scrumptious lunch for two in the plush Aquanaut Room at Turffontein on Durban July Day, R2 000 to spend with TAB and R1 000 in cash.

Three-time champion Marcus, 46, is currently fourth in the national jockeys’ standings, 30 wins behind Delpech, 47, but he has the highest winning strike rate with more than a quarter of the horses he has ridden this season ending up in the No 1 box.

Delpech, with a winning strike rate of more than 21%, is clear in his bid to win the jockeys’ premiership for the third time when the curtain comes down on the racing season on July 31. Six-time champion jockey Strydom, who won the July last year on The Conglomerate, is 10th on the log.