Every year the racing media, the host operator, and even the sponsor tout Africa’s Greatest as ‘the best July ever!’
This year they could have a point. The tsunami of equine talent that is heading towards a possible date with destiny at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 3 July gives that cliché some serious legitimacy.
Got The Greenlight – joint July favourite (Pic – JC Photos)
Saturday’s Turffontein feature action added to the vintage year impetus, and with the 2021 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July first entries just a week away, the excitement is really and truly building.
If we dreamt of a perfect race with colts and fillies, the up-and-coming versus the tried and tested, speed talent versus stamina reserves, new champions taking on the defending champion – well, now we have it, with class, and then some!
The maximum field is limited to 18 runners.
A look at the top 18 in the Hollywoodbets ante-post betting market reveals an extraordinary depth of talent on display from all categories.
If cynicism is your bent, allay any doubts – compare the runners-up in the past four runs of the July building to this one: Al Sahem (2017), Made To Conquer (2018), Rainbow Bridge (2019) and Got The Greenlight last year. The progression is red handed.
The old guard are the champs we know well.
Like Do It Again, who in three Julys went 1-1-3… a modern fairytale! Rainbow Bridge ran 2nd and 6th, while winning two Mets. Belgarion won on his first try. Got The Greenlight, the 3yo runner-up in 2020 at level weights to the winning 4yo. Dual Gr 1 winner Golden Ducat finished 4th on his debut.
Here’s our July Top 18 today
| CONTENDER | AGE | SEX | Min | Max | MR | Long | Cap | ODDS |
| GOT THE GREENLIGHT | 4 | 53 | 60 | 124 | 55.0 | 55 | 5/1 | |
| MALMOOS | 3 | 53 | 57 | 125 | 53.5 | 53.5 | 5/1 | |
| KOMMETDIEDING | 3 | 53 | 57 | 117 | 49.5 | 53 | 7/1 | |
| BELGARION | 5 | 53 | 60 | 130 | 58.0 | 58 | 8/1 | |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM | 3 | f | 52 | 56 | 126 | 54.0 | 54 | 10/1 |
| WAR OF ATHENA | 3 | f | 52 | 56 | 122 | 52.0 | 52 | 10/1 |
| THE GATEKEEPER | 3 | 53 | 57 | 110 | 46.0 | 53 | 10/1 | |
| RAINBOW BRIDGE | 6 | 53 | 60 | 134 | 60.0 | 60 | 25/2 | |
| SUMMER PUDDING | 4 | f | 52 | 59 | 129 | 57.5 | 57.5 | 25/2 |
| LINEBACKER | 3 | 53 | 57 | 115 | 48.5 | 53 | 25/2 | |
| DO IT AGAIN | 6 | 53 | 60 | 129 | 57.5 | 57.5 | 14/1 | |
| GOLDEN DUCAT | 4 | 53 | 60 | 128 | 57.0 | 57 | 20/1 | |
| RASCALLION | 3 | 53 | 57 | 111 | 46.5 | 53 | 20/1 | |
| COPPER MOUNTAIN | 3 | 53 | 57 | 121 | 51.5 | 53 | 25/1 | |
| SECOND BASE | 3 | 53 | 57 | 116 | 49.0 | 53 | 25/1 | |
| JET DARK | 3 | 53 | 57 | 130 | 56.0 | 56 | 33/1 | |
| PRINCESS CALLA | 3 | f | 52 | 56 | 118 | 50.0 | 52 | 33/1 |
| RUSSIAN ROCK | 3 | 53 | 57 | 114 | 48.0 | 53 | 33/1 |
*Odds supplied by Hollywoodbets – subject to change*
Turning to the fairer sex, there’s ten-time multiple Gr1 winning Triple Crowned SA Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding, who may well pop down to set Hollywoodbets Greyville alight as she did the only time she set foot on the City course.
None of these horses know how to give up, none of them know how to run badly, and even on an ‘off’ day all of them are formidable.
And now the most insane part – these superheroes are available at an average of 12/1. One wonders how it’s possible.
It turns out the odds makers are indeed still on their game, because the new guard are the 3yo’s. They make up two thirds of the ante-post field.
Four of the 12 already have July ‘Golden Tickets’: L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark rated 130 and 56kgs. SA Triple Crown winner Malmoos (125) at 53,5kgs. SA Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena (122), perfectly balanced at the 52kgs. Cape Derby winner Linebacker (115) at 53kgs.
Dual Gr1 winner Captain’s Ransom (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
And if the hyperbole is getting out of hand, we haven’t yet mentioned 3yo filly and dual Gr1 winner Captain’s Ransom rated 126, Cape boom horse Kommetdieding (117), or Princess Calla, the 3yo filly who split Do It Again and Golden Ducat in this year’s Met. And the supporting cast has a Guineas winner, an SA Classic runner up, the Horse Chestnut runner up. It goes on and on.
The SA Champions Season is still but a spark about to ignite.
So for once, the flashes, the accomplishments and the potential is not just hot air hype bidding to get the party started. There’s a genuine proper depth of talent. Fillies and colts, 3yo’s and 4yo’s, and 5yo’s and 6yo’s. Speed and stamina. All there, and all for real!
Why the 2021 embarassment of riches? Maybe exporting doesn’t appeal? Or are ratings too high since the +10 pill taking fest? Maybe there is there something in the water? Oh hell, let’s hope not.
If you don’t feel the July electricity in the air, you are either too suburban – too grounded – or simply not paying attention.
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