Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July programme hosts a milestone Gr1 event on the bumper undercard, which represents a unique first for South African horseracing.
The R1 million Brentford FC Gr1 Garden Province Stakes (16h45) is the first race on African soil to be named after an English Premier League side.
Captain’s Ransom – SA’s best according to Mike de Kock (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
This arose through the partnership between the flagship raceday’s major sponsor Hollywoodbets and Brentford, with the leading international sportsbook operator being the front-of-jersey sponsor, and principle partner, of Brentford FC, fondly known as ‘The Bees’ by their legion of fans.
While the prestigious mile contest for the fairer sex hosts a nationally representative field. and an intriguing sub-plot of a ‘best of North’ vs ‘best of South’ battle royale, in a delightful nuance for the fashionistas looking to put in a star performance in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Theme, ‘Show Me The Honey’, the presence of ‘The Bees’ on the great racing day adds the proverbial sting in the ‘tale’, and offers a treasure trove of creative delights for those seeking some sartorial inspiration.
Alongside the Gr1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes and the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, the Garden Province Stakes is a potential Equus championship clincher, and the season’s final leg of the unofficial fairer sex weight-for-age mile ‘Triple Crown’.
The illustrious Garden Province honour roll boasts a bevy of fairer sex stars of the ilk of champions Beach Beauty, Inara, Celtic Sea, and many more.
Justin Snaith’s Equus champion older filly elect Captain’s Ransom, a dramatic last stride winner of the 2022 Schweppes Gr1 Majorca Stakes, is a red hot 3-10 favourite with Hollywoodbets to register her sixth consecutive victory, and also her sixth elite level success.
Labelled SA’s best racehorse by Mike de Kock, her preparatory run in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint earlier this month over Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1200m was breathtaking and underlined her enormous versatility.
Captain’s Ransom galloped under regular pilot Richard Fourie after the official Hollywoodbets Durban July public gallops on Thursday last week, and turned heads as she strode out and looked in fine fettle for her Brentford FC Gr1 Garden Province Stakes test on Saturday.
Jon Varney, CEO of Brentford, said that club representatives were looking forward to experiencing one of the world’s great racedays, against the backdrop of the warm hospitality and passion for sport that South Africa was well known for.
“Our proud association with Hollywoodbets has grown in leaps and bounds over the past two years and, as a club and corporate entity, we share many of the same values. We look forward to the Garden Province Stakes and being represented at the home of the Durban July, Hollywoodbets Greyville, on the big day to share in the great African celebration of the sport of horseracing,” he added.
Hollywoodbets Brand And Communications Manager Devin Heffer said that soccer was South Africa’s favourite sport and that the involvement of a global brand like Brentford FC with a major local horseracing event, created a host of possible synergies.
“Like soccer, horseracing offers adrenaline-charged thrills and excitement for fans. It is this broad-based cross-pollination and diversity that we are aiming to drive for the benefit of both codes, on a day that is unrivalled across the African continent,” added Heffer.
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