Durban July 2021 – Every Race Tipped

It’s Christmas in July for all horse racing lovers as the Durban July commences this weekend. Birds of a feather is the theme of the prestigious event, but sadly, we won’t be able to flock together as we are forced to witness Africa’s biggest horse racing meeting from the comfort of our homes due to the nationwide lockdown. Despite restrictions being made tighter, the show must go on as we preview all 10 races for the Durban July.

Durban July 2021 Final Field

Race 1 – Fillies Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (1300m)

The Vodacom Durban July race meeting gets underway with a competitive 2-year-old race between some of the finest young fillies in the country. The Corne Spies-trained SUPREME QUEST gets my first selection at Greyville. Lyle Hewitson will be aboard the daughter of Querari, who has the most experience in the race and has cracked a neat draw from the inside at barrier gate 1. She ran third behind Heavens Girl in a Grade 2 last time out and finished just over a length behind Under Your Spell prior to that run, who went on to win a Grade 1 event. Her form line looks decent and she could be the value in the race.

Race 2 – Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Colts & Geldings) (1300m)

Champion jockey, Muzi Yeni, could be the jockey on every punters’ lips this Saturday as he rides the favourite in the Durban July, GotTheGreenlight, as well as a few other fancied horses on the day. One of them being the top selection in this race, Bard Of Avon, who has done absolutely nothing wrong in his career so far. The son of VAR has had two career starts, winning on debut, before an eye-catching second behind Ambiorix in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion. The way he ran on in his last outing suggests that there could be more to offer from the Ashley Fortune-trained gelding. Bard of Avon has already found plenty of betting support and I’m expecting Yeni to give him his second career victory.

Race 3 – Hollywoodbets 2200 (Grade 3) (2200m)

The first of many group events takes place at 12:25 and kick-starts the Place Accumulator. A few horses stand out in this field, but none more so than Silver Host. The 4-year-old gelding ran home powerfully to win the Track And Ball derby last time and renews his rivalry with a number of horses in the race, most notably Black Knap, who he will be hoping to reverse the form around after being beaten by 3 lengths in his penultimate outing. Jockey Grant van Niekerk teams up with Trainer Justin Snaith again, looking to continue their excellent partnership from Cape Town to Durban. Silver Host is a reserve runner in the final field for the main race and should produce a cracking run here. Over 2200m, he should overcome the wide draw.

Race 4 – DStv Gold Vase (Grade 3) (3000m)

Leg 1 of what is expected to be a massive Pick 6 starts with the Gold Vase Grade 3 event over 3000m. This could be the toughest race to call on the day, but Atyaab edges it as the top selection in the race. The 5-year-old gelding has been bred to enjoy the distance and is a proven stayer. Luke Ferraris is the pilot on Atyaab and could look to implement similar tactics to what the horse has shown on his best form, which is to set the pace and dictate terms according to his way. Ferraris will have to get things spot on to win against this tough company, but with the form he is in, it is hard to back against one of the brightest young talents in horse racing.

Race 5 – Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper (Grade 2) (1400m)

The first Jackpot of the afternoon starts in Race 5 as 14 horses look to win the Grade 2 Golden Slipper event. Since the fields were first announced, the talk of the town has been Desert Miracle, who is Trainer Mike De Kock’s only runner on the day. De Kock will be looking for a 100 percent record on July day, and has already witnessed the horse he trains drift down the betting into favourite. Still, my top selection in this race lies elsewhere. Maryah produced a promising run to win on her debut, and the way she took off in the final 200m on that day suggests that she may suit the step up in trip. Sean Veale retains the ride and will jump out from barrier gate 1. After an encouraging debut, she should go close once again.

How to watch the 2021 Durban July: Free Streaming and TV Broadcast Schedules

Race 6 – Durban Golden Horseshoe (Grade 2) (1400m)

Good Traveller got his career off to a flying start, winning his first three races. The son of Visionaire was very unlucky in his last start though, losing a length at the start to finish 3rd behind Ambiorix in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion. Despite his excuse at the start, the manner in which Good Traveller ran on suggests that he may enjoy the extra furlong. Grant van Niekerk knows him very well and will be looking to bring him back to his best form. If the Glen Kotzen-trained horse shows up, this race could be won with relative comfort.

Race 7 – Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1) (2200m)

The horse racing fraternity will come to a stand-still this Saturday as the 2021 Vodacom Durban July takes centre stage. The best horses in the country get to test their might against his each other with each horse already proving to be a champion in their own right. All eyes will be on two-time winner, Do It Again, as well as Rainbow Bridge, who comes into this race off the back of an impressive victory in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, not forgetting last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner, Belgarion.

But the talk of the town has been the younger horses in the race, most notably GotTheGreenlight, who finished second behind Belgarion in last year’s July, as well as Linebacker, who comes into the race as the most-fancied 3-year-old after winning the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby and most recently the Daily News 2000.

Suggested Bet: GotTheGreenlight – Just like last year, I’m expecting the favourite of the Vodacom Durban July to take the crown and make its claim as the best horse in the country. GotTheGreenlight has shown encouraging signs in his last two starts, winning back-to-back Grade 1 events. Muzi Yeni knows him very well and will know exactly when the right moment is to make him show his superb turn-of-foot.

Value Bet: She’s A Keeper – The Gareth Van Zyl-trained filly is a massive runner in this year’s Vodacom Durban July. She has done nothing wrong in her career so far and looks to have class about her. With Warren Kennedy aboard, She’s A Keeper has to be given the respect she deserves and could be the value of the race.

Race 8 – Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) (1600m)

he eagerly-anticipated battle between the finest fillies in the industry get underway in Race 8. War of Athena is the top selection here, but has luck on her side as well, benefitting from a neat draw at barrier gate 1, while her closest competitor, Captain’s Ransom, has to overcome a wide draw from gate 13. What is a slight concern for me is that the daughter of Act of War has been running over much further recently, although she is proven over this distance, winning twice from three starts over a mile. This is definitely not the race to go into with much confidence, but including two horses in your Pick 6 should see you through to the next leg.

Race 9 – POST Merchants (Grade 2) (1200m)

On days like this, the powerhouses in horse racing tend to flex their muscles, and so maybe the case in race 9 of today’s program as Warren Kennedy and Paul Peter team up to bring home MK’s Pride. Kennedy is more than familiar with this horse and was very unlucky in his last outing, finishing half a length behind Battle Force. The 3-year-old colt will have blinkers fitted on him, which could also see a return to form for the son of Willow Magic.

Race 10 – Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap (Listed) (1600m)

An upset could be on the cards here, which could bail us out of jail if we do have a poor day at the office, or significantly enhance our winnings from the previous 9 races. Pinkerton is my top selection in the race with Jockey S’manga Khumalo and Trainer Justin Snaith teaming up. The 4-year-old son of Dynasty brings attractive form from the Western Cape, and needed the run last time out when finishing over 5 lengths behind Rainbow Bridge. He has got upset potential written all over him and could be worth a punt with Khumalo in the saddle.