The history of the Vodacom Durban July usually centres around facts and statistics.
Yet for many die-hard punters, the pedigrees of the contenders are points of debate, one of which being the matter of stamina.
To that end, an in-depth look at this year’s line-up reveals a rather thought-provoking anomaly, that of fancied three-year-old Linebacker.
As far as his ability to see out the 2200m trip, he should not even be in the line-up!
Linebacker – how did he get this far? (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Vaughan Marshall’s star three-year-old has certainly defied his bloodlines, he is after all a son of champion sprinter Captain Of All, whose progeny generally take after their speedy sire and at a push, barely get a mile!
Linebacker is the exception and following his facile win in the Gr1 Daily News 2000, he looks set to handle the extra furlong with aplomb.
Captain Of All is also sire of second reserve runner Shango, who finished ninth in last year’s July.
A winner of the Gr2 Dingaans over a mile, Sean Tarry’s charge only weakened late to finish second in the Gr1 SA Derby.
As none of the quality runners in his immediate family stayed beyond a mile, pedigree pundits will argue that damsire Jet Master can probably take credit for Shango’s ability to perform over the Derby distance.
Remarkably, the powerhouse stallion is the broodmare sire of no less than seven contenders in this year’s line-up.
As for Linebacker, he wouldn’t be the first July winner sired by a sprinter.
Back in 2005, Mike Bass-trained Dunford finished with a flourish to score by a half-length under Anton Marcus in the colours of Robert Bloomberg.
Dunford wins the 2005 Vodacom Durban July
The KZN-bred was by the sprinter Shalford, who counted three Gr1 winners amongst his four local stakes winners and barring Gr1 Allan Robertson victress Dare To Dream, all stayed much better than their sire.
In addition to Dunford, he also sired African Lion, successful up to 2000m and winner of the Gr1 Champions Cup over 1800m. Taking it to the extreme, his son Chico Azul, won the Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 3000m!
There are other interesting pedigree tidbits amongst the July runners worthy of mention.
Stylish Bay, the dam of Stuart Pettigrew’s runner ExpressfromtheUS is a half-sister to Smanjemanje.
Runner-up when beaten a whisker by Pomodoro in the 2012 July, the son of Kahal was trained by Tyrone Zackey, who must be hopeful that Lady Luck will this time favour his runner Johnny Hero.
Johnny Hero wins the Jubilee Handicap (Pic – JC Photos)
One of three runners representing Gimmethegreenlight, the Varsfontein-bred earned himself a July berth with a smart first stakes win in the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap.
Alyson Wright saddles one of the ‘dark horses’ in the line-up, the four-year-old Matterhorn. The son of Marchfield has as his grandam the Sharp Romance mare Joy Of Spring, a stakes-placed half-sister to 1998 July winner Classic Flag.
Trained by David Ferraris, the Prof Herbst-owned colt set the seal on a fantastic sophomore season which earned him both Horse of the Year and Champion three-year-old colt honours.
Running Brave, the first July runner for owner/trainer Fanie Bronkhorst, likewise has family ties to the Hollywoodbets Greyville showpiece race, albeit a rather distant one.
She traces in female line to Capriole, a full sister to none other than 1965 winner King Willow, who provided the Oppenheimers with their second July success.
Tiger Fish was their first July winner and was an own brother to Rising Trout, the dam of King Willow and Capriole!
The Oppenheimer family’s link to the race is a tangible one as the breeders of no less than six July winners, the most recent of which was Marinaresco in 2017.
Aiming to become their seventh winner this year is Rainbow Bridge, who finished second in 2019.
Mary Liley-owned Tristful hails from the family of the admirable stayer French Mustard
(Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Mary Liley-owned Tristful also has a link to the July as he hails from the family of the admirable stayer French Mustard.
Trained by Tony Furness for the Grindrods and ridden by Michael Roberts, the five-year-old failed by a neck to overhaul winner Big Charles in 1982 and become the second July winner for the Oppenheimer stallion Free Ride, sire also of homebred Principal Boy, who was awarded the race in 1975.
Two previous winners of the race will be represented as sires on Saturday.
Dynasty, who overcame the widest draw to take the honours in 2003, already has a brace of July winners to his name. Legislate won the 2014 renewal in the boardroom, while Belgarion is back to defend his 2020 crown.
Dynasty wins the 2003 Vodacom Durban July
Dynasty is three-handed this year, his other runners being Belgarion’s stable companion Nexus and Sovereign Spirit, who claimed last year’s ‘Consolation July’ for Candice Bass-Robinson.
Pomodoro carried Chris van Niekerk’s silks to victory in 2012 and will be represented by first-crop son Cirillo. Talented and versatile, the entire has just one chink in his armour – he has yet to win beyond 1400m and may just find the July trip a formidable hurdle to overcome.
In all fairness, that comes as no surprise, considering his dam is a daughter of champion European sprinter Lake Coniston.
Click on the Sprint cover below to read more
