The eyes of South African horse racing turn to the coastal town of Durban on Saturday for one of the most celebrated races in that country, the Vodacom Durban July. Super gelding Pocket Power looks for his second consecutive win in the 3,000,000 rand (approx $385,000), 2200 meters event. Click HERE for the full field.
Trained by Mike Bass, Pocket Power was first past the post in his comeback effort at Clairwood last time out and is the top-rated horse in South Africa. From 30 career races, the son of Jet Master has 16 wins and 11 placings and finished in a spellbinding deadheat with Dancer’s Daughter in the 2008 Vodacom Durban July. Bernard Fayd’Herbe has the return ride.
CLICK HERE to watch video from the 2008 Vodacom Durban July (race begins at 10:45 of the video).
A field of 20 are scheduled to go to the starting gate, with the late developing Kapil in with a strong chance. He ran at Pocket Power in the Gold Challenge (G1) and flew home following that 1600 meters affair. Piere Strydom, victorious in this race in 1996 and 2001, will be reunited with Kapil. Fifth in the 2007 Dubai Duty Free (G1), more than six lengths behind Admire Moon, Kapil has had a rocky career that seemed troubled from the start when he suffered a fractured hind pastern.
Click HERE for more on the remarkable comeback of Kapil from South Africa’s RacingWeb.
Mike De Kock trains three starters in the full field, most of whom are considered to have smaller chances in the race, all of which are southern hemisphere sophomores, racing in their 3-year-old year; Bouquet-Garni and Forest Path are geldings while Zirconeum is a filly, the only one in the race.
For more information on the great South African race, visit VodacomDurbanJuly.co.za.
2 Comments
not 1 filly but 2 fillies in the race. Full sister to Pocket Power and second favourite is the mare River Jetez
Indeed, Mark. I was being more technical in that River Jetez was a mare…as opposed to a filly. She has a legitimate chance. Good luck in the big race!