Hollywoodbets Durban July (Group 1)

LAST Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July saw victory in South Africa’s most famous race go to Cape Town trainer Brett Crawford for the second year running.

But this was a rough affair with veteran jockey Pierre Strydom lucky not to be brought down in the closing stages, and winning rider J.P. van der Merwe given a 16-day ban as a result.

J.P., somewhat unconventionally for this race, elected to try and make all the running on 10/1 chance Oriental Charm who took a strong hold early.

The son of Vercingetorix was headed briefly by fourth-placed Flag Man a furlong out but he stayed on strongly to beat 25/1 shot Cousin Casey by a neck.

But the stipes were more concerned about last year’s runner-up See It Again who was squeezed between the first two in the final furlong and had to be snatched up by Strydom just to stay on his feet.

At the subsequent inquiry, J.P. signed an admission of guilt. This was his fifth Grade 1 win of a highly successful season but, as he related, it was far from smooth sailing: “It wasn’t easy. Oriental Charm is gutsy and a proper racehorse but he always takes you on and he only dropped the bit at the 800-900 metre mark. From there, though, I was very confident - and, although the challenges came, he fought to the line.”

Crawford reported that he had adopted much the same procedure as he had done with Winchester Mansion a year earlier, sending him to be prepared under the care of son James on the high altitude Highlands near Johannesburg.

Great ride

He added: “The horse looked amazing and he has improved with every race. Added to that, it was a great ride from J.P.”

The winner, by Vercingetorix, was bred in the Western Cape by Vaughan Koster at his Cheveley Stud and was sold at the 2022 National Yearling Sale for R375,000 (€19,050) to a triumvirate of owners that includes Greg Bortz who has done so much to upgrade racing in Cape Town in the last three years.

The big disappointment was 7/2 favourite Green With Envy who was given an incredible amount to do. He was still among the backmarkers turning for home and, while he then started motoring in earnest, he would have had to be Nijinsky incarnate to get up. Indeed, he still had six in front of him at the line.

Province Stakes

Strydom, although hinting at retirement for years – he is now only two off 60, showed not the slightest ill-effect of his narrow brush with danger when winning the next, the Grade 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, on 14/1 chance Humdinger. The big Ridgemont operation is owned and run by the Kieswetter family who also own the Co Tipperary Barnane Stud.

For good measure, they not only bred Humdinger (by What A Winter) but also runner-up Happy Chance, a daughter of the legendary Dynasty.

Strydom reported: “Mike de Kock told me that this was one of the most gutsy horses you could find and that she would never give up.

“Down the straight she wanted to lug in but I sensed that, when I switched my whip hand, she would change legs and find that little bit extra.”

De Kock added: “I think we have just witnessed a little bit of mastery from Strydom. It was a super ride although as a trainer you want to have horses like this all your life.”