The fairer sex have won the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July on fourteen occasions, with Sparkling Water the latest female to prevail when victorious last year.
On Saturday Bless My Stars, Time Flies, Silver Darling and Rain In Holland are the proverbial roses amongst the thorns.
Bless My Stars – one of a quartet of fairer sex challengers for the title (Pic – J C Photos)
At stud, July winners have enjoyed mixed success, with many failing to produce anything approaching their own merit.
One July-winning female, however, to prove outstanding in the paddocks was Peerless, the first equine female ever to win the great race.
At stud, Peerless produced another July winner in the form of Nobleman (Greatorex), who is the only horse ever to win the July as a two-year-old. Nobleman’s full-sister Noble Lady won both the SA Derby and SA Oaks, while Nobleman and Noble Lady’s half-brother Unequalled (Minor Forfeit) went on to sire 1930 Durban July winner Full Dress.
The 1962 July winner Diza (Herculaneum) continued the legacy set by her famed granddam Drohsky (Polyphontes), with Diza’s numerous high-class descendants including champion Evening Mist, Fillies Guineas winner Rei Rei and Star Award, and Summer Cup winner Ingleside. Current useful performers Resonate and Kingdom Of Gold are a few others directly descended from Diza.
Resonate descendant of Diza (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Another July winning female to make her mark in the paddocks was Devon Air, who not only produced the stakes winners Cream Of The Crop (Gr2 Chairmans Handicap) and Plymouth Rock (Settlers Trophy), but also ranks as the granddam of Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner August Rush (Var) and third dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner, and Equus Champion, Tempting Fate (Master Of My Fate).
While Tecla Bluff (Snow Bluff), victorious in the 1983 July, never produced anything in her own class, she did leave behind an outstanding broodmare daughter in the form of Teclafields (Northfields). The latter not only produced a trio of Gr1 winners headed by champion Circle Of Life and Met winner Zebra Crossing, but Teclafields also ranks as granddam of Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Deo Juvente (Trippi) and the third dam of top-class sprinter True To Life (Duke Of Marmalade).
2008 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter (photo: Gold Circle)
Flashy grey July dead-heater Dancer’s Daughter (Act One) has not enjoyed the same success at stud as has her half-sister Imvula (Aqlaam), but she is the dam of Listed Kings Cup winner Born To Perform and also granddam of the smart performer Silvano’s Dasher.
Ipi Tombe – 2002 Vodacom Durban July winner
Globetrotting July winner Ipi Tombe was another mare whose influence was felt through a broodmare daughter, with Ipi Tombe’s daughter Pin Turn responsible for Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes/Listed Swallow Stakes queen Zimbaba (Legislate), while 2011 July winner Igugu (Galileo) died young but did leave behind a smart performer in the form of Fred Archer Stakes runner up El Misk (Dansili).
Devon Air – 1984 July winner (Pic – Ken Wilkins)
Influence of July winning mares was well and truly felt in various races run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this past Saturday with brilliant Listed Perfect Promise Sprint winner October Morn (Trippi) sporting 1984 July winner Devon Air as her third dam, and fellow Hollywoodbets Kenilworth scorers Future Turn (Futura) and Grand Bay (Silvano) produced by Ipi Tombe’s daughter Pin Turn and Dancer’s Daughter’s daughter Dashing Scarlet respectively.
