An internationally acclaimed champion golfer, Grade 1 breeder and owner, and one of South Africa’s foremost sporting ambassadors, Gary Player will celebrate his 90th birthday on 1 November.
And there is nothing more that Paarl-based trainer Glen Kotzen would enjoy than to give the legend, who has bred and raced horses for over half a century, a 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July runner.
“The partnership that race Holding Thumbs has been focused on a Durban July run and it’s all we have been talking about for the past six or seven months,” Glen Kotzen told the Sporting Post in a chat on Sunday morning.
Glen Kotzen – looking for a second Durban July victory (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
With the sands of time ebbing away as we count the days down to 5 July and the 129th renewal of Africa’s greatest race, we have 30 hopefuls in contention, with final supplementary entries closing on Tuesday 17 June after which the weights will be published.
The final field maximum is 20 – with two reserves included.
The 4yo Holding Thumbs races in the black and white hooped cap of the Player flag and is owned in partnership with Philip Bamford, Dave MacLean,June Doyle and Ronnie and Rayna Govender..
A Gr3 and Listed winner in his 7 wins with 4 places from his 20 starts, Holding Thumbs wound up his big race prep with a solid staying on 1,20 length second behind King Pelles in Saturday’s Tote Gr3 Derby.
Sean Veale salutes on dual stakes winner Holding Thumbs in the Gary Player silks (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Holding Thumbs came in 2,5kg better off on Saturday with fellow Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Future Swing on their Lonsdale Stirrup Cup clash, where he was in need of the run and finished 0,35 lengths behind the Snaith runner.
He turned the tables, beating the Snaith gelding (at 18 on the recent big race log) by 6,20 lengths.
Holding Thumbs is in the ‘next 10’ on the log, and we can expect to see a few of the entries fall by the wayside.
“We may get lucky and there are still some horses to come out, so we can only hope that Holding Thumbs gets in with what will be a galloping weight. We realise that everybody wants to have a Hollywoodbets Durban July runner, but it would be fantastic for Mr Gary Player and it will be a major moment for the partners in Holding Thumbs. We are grateful to have On My Honour in the race, so from here we will ‘hold thumbs’ and let’s see what happens!” enthused Kotzen, who won the Durban July with the top-notch Wintle family home-bred 3yo Big City Life, who carried 51kgs and was ridden by Greg Cheyne in 2009.
Gary Player – missing a few big race trophies on his bucket list! (Pic – Wayne Marks)
Decorated with every award and title imaginable, from his multiple Major championships to SA ‘Sportsman of the Century’ and extraordinary charitable contributions, Gary Player once admitted that he doesn’t know what he likes more – horses or golf!
“I’ve been in the horse business since 1964, that’s 61years, and I’ve bred some Group 1 winners. I’m the only South African breeder who had a horse who ran in the English Derby, and won a Group 1 in America, that was quite an honour, and finished second in the St Leger, the oldest Classic in the world, and won a couple of Group 3s, so I’ve had a lot of success,” Gary Player once told the Racing Post.
He referred to South Africa’s chronic unemployment problem and said that it has to be eliminated .
“Two things, golf and horses, create so many jobs and we’ve got to be aware of that.”
He declared that he still has racing ambitions left, including the Hollywoodbets Durban July, Met and the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Greys Inn beat Superwood in the 2004 Durban July (Pic – Supplied)
“I’ve had a second in the Durban July, with homebred and co-owned Superwood in 2004,” he concluded.
Holding Thumbs is currently quoted at 40-1 with Hollywoodbets in the ante-post market.
Final declarations fall due on Monday 23 June and the field of eighteen runners, with two reserves, will be revealed on Tuesday 24 June when the draw for barrier positions will also take place.
The traditional public gallops will be held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday 26 June, commencing at 07h00 and all are welcome to attend.
