A staunch investor in South Africa and our racing and breeding for many decades, Sabine Plattner was denied a victory in Africa’s greatest race when Angus went down a head to the champion filly Ipi Tombe back in 2002.
While the son of Northern Guest went on to win the Met the following year, and the Plattner flag has enjoyed plenty of Grade 1 success, including another massive day when Martial Eagle stormed home to win the Cape flagship in 2013, the much-prized Hollywoodbets Durban July trophy has remained an elusive dream.
While it’s early days yet, the Andre Nel yard, under the KZN satellite management of Assistant Byron Foster, may have unearthed a genuine contender for top honours on 5 July in the shape of the 5yo Selukwe who scored a career peak success under Serino Moodley in Saturday’s R500 000 World Sports Betting Gr3 1900.
Serino Moodley and Selukwe storm clear to an eyecatching victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A son of Sean Tarry’s 2012 Durban July star Pomodoro, Selukwe is a Plattner home-bred who only won 1 of his first 12 starts before the penny appeared to drop almost a year ago at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when winning a lowly MR 78 handicap.
Since that 19 May day, the gelding has cracked a total of 5 wins with 4 places from his 12 starts, never finishing more than 2,40 lengths off the winner.
On Saturday he registered a maiden stakes victory in a race that has generally been a fair pointer to Hollywoodbets Durban July success.
World Sports Betting’s Steve Karam and Byron Foster on the podium (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
In a fourteen horse field dominated on the betting boards by the Cape visitors, Selukwe was relaxed at the rear as Indian Ocean, and the well backed Holding Thumbs, led the charge.
Third last turning for home, the 5yo gelding was angled out and lengthened his stride impressively as Narina Trogon looked dangerous.
But inside the final 250m it was pay-pay as Selukwe (16-1) stormed clear to hold the gallant Narina Trogon (25-2) by 2,20 lengths in a time of 115,38 secs for the 1900m.
There was plenty of emotional irony in the victory as Serino Moodley, who really appears to enjoy a special affinity with the winner, had received a substantial fine and a two week holiday for exceeding the crop use limit by one strike when Selukwe had gone down narrowly to I Salute You in the Listed Sledgehammer at his previous start.
Emotions ran high in the post-race interview for Winning Form-sponsored jockey Serino Moodley (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The only current non Hollywoodbets Durban July entry in the field, Underworld (7-1) finished best of the Snaith quartet to run third a further 0,30 lengths back, with stablemate Okavango (11-2), who was apparently running 17kgs over his previous Cape fitness, making up some ground for fourth, after a notable drift on the betting boards.
Trainer Justin Snaith has regularly bemoaned the lack of work opportunities in the province.
Of the balance of the ten Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, Highveld raider Thunee Playa (50-1) finished next best in fifth and 4,10 lengths off the winner.
He was followed by Shoot The Rapids (4,30 lengths), I Salute You (4,90 lengths), defending champion Future Swing (6,30 lengths), Native Ruler (6,40 lengths), Infinite Winder (7 lengths), the winner’s stablemate Cape Eagle (7,60 lengths), the well-backed Holding Thumbs (9,20 lengths), Madison Valley (10,60 lengths), and pacemaker Indian Ocean, who ran last and 11 lengths back.
Bred by La Plaisance Stud, Selukwe is a son of Pomodoro (Jet Master) out of the Captain Al mare Sovereign Flo.
He has won 6 races with 10 places from 23 starts for stakes of R844 025.
The Champions Season action takes a break for two weeks, with the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and Tote Gr2 Woolavington 2000 headlining the racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 24 May.
The Hollywoodbets Durban July dream sands of time are slowly running out after what will have been a reality check for a number of hopefuls today.
Justin Snaith will be thoroughly pleased though that his lowest rated entrant, Regulation, won the Class 4 1900m contest a half hour later in the fashion of a really promising 3yo. He is not likely, though, to be taking on his big-hitting stablemates Eight On Eighteen and Sail The Seas in the Daily News 2000.
First declarations for the Hollywoodbets Durban July close at 11h00 on Monday.
First supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 13 May
Second declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 9 June
Final supplementary entries for the big race close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 17 June, on which date the weights will be published.
The final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 24 June.
