The Andre Nel-trained Sabine Plattner-homebred Selukwe (Pomodoro) is fancied by Dave Mollett to finish in the frame for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Dave Mollett
To say the ladies have dominated the 2024/25 season is an understatement. Mesdames Gaynor Rupert and Mary Slack have not only enjoyed racecourse success with their horses but their two studs are miles clear of the opposition in the Breeders Championship.
Perhaps next weekend another well-known lady owner/breeder, Sabine Plattner, could join the party at the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
According to the latest statistics I have unearthed, Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud looks almost certain to win the Breeders Championship. The stud has amassed R36,5 m in stakes this term while Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein operation has the healthy figure of R30,9 m.
(*Editor – the above figures are if restricted stakes are included, but without restricted staks Drakenstein are only R1,587,923 ahead, meaning Wilgerbosdrift nd Mauritzfontein are still in it.).
Interestingly, both ladies have enjoyed success overseas in recent months with winners in the UK and America.
Both ladies have talented experts to guide them. With Gaynor Rupert it’s Kevin Sommerville and with Mary Slack it’s Jehan Malherbe.
In an interview, Mary Slack said “Jehan taught me the importance of statistics and pedigrees and tries his best to temper my sentimentality about my horses.”
So on to Saturday and the big one, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and my thanks to Race Coast (formerly Gold Circle) for their invitation for me to attend.
Eight On Eighteen is obviously a worthy favourite but makes little appeal at 17-10 and – as has proved the case in previous years – the quartet is the bet to play.
This is where Mrs Plattner’s runner comes in as I believe – from a favourable draw – five year-old Selukwe can finish in the first four.
To be honest, the Greyville 1900 hasn’t been a great July trial in recent years, but Selukwe overcame the second worst draw (13 out of 14) to win by two lengths. It showed the gelding is at his peak for the most important race of his career.
So here’s the suggested quartet bet: double float 6 and 11 (Selukwe and Eight On Eighteen) with 1,2,3,4,5,10,13,14,15,17. The cost is R216 for 20%. (NB No. 15 See It Again has been replaced by Litigation since Molly formulated this bet).
Then I have another recommended quartet bet: double float 11 and 2 (Eight On Eighteen and Madison Valley) with 1,3,4,5,6,10,13,14,15,17. Again the cost will be R216 for 20%. (NB No. 15 See It Again has been replaced by Litigation since Molly formulated this bet).
Frank Robinson has done well to secure the services of Gavin Lerena for Madison Valley and I’m still hopeful of collecting on my 6-1 bet for the popular Highveld rider to win the championship. The big plus about Gavin’s mount is that he’s got no stamina limitations and will be staying on when some of his rivals have hoisted the white flag.
In a way, I feel sorry for both Gavin and Craig Zackey in their title bids. This duo have to take on Premier League opposition riding in Gauteng, the Cape and KZN while Richard Fourie simply jets to Fairview every Friday and picks up three or four winners.
In football terms, Fourie is in a situation that can be likened to Liverpool playing a club where I was apprenticed in my youth, Halifax Town, every week. The result would always be the same.
It’s going to be interesting to see whether Hollywoodbets and other layers push out Eight On Eighteen’s price as “off-time” approaches. It is a possibility.
Whatever the fate of Selukwe in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, it is another Plattner-owned runner, Zeitz, who I consider the best bet at the meeting. The three year-old, who boasts a win over Garrix, runs in the 10th race, the Premier Gateway International.
The colt’s latest unplaced run can be forgiven – it brought back memories of my early days in UK racing. If a journo felt a horse had been given a tender ride he/she would comment “Never Placed To Challenge.”
That looked the case with Serino Moodley with Zeitz’s latest outing in the Cup Trial in which the Durban-based jockey, who has really got his act together in the last two years, seemed to accept the fact that a shocking draw was too difficult to overcome.
The Cup Trial was won by Madison Valley so a good run by that horse in the July will frank the form.
With 53,5 kg on his back and a favourable draw in Saturday’s 10th race, I have told my bank manager, who has been badgering me for my July tip, to save his money for a maximum plunge on Zeitz.
One certainty about Saturday is that Hollywoodbets communications manager, Devin Heffer, will have his team at the top of their game to ensure the event is a rip-roaring success.
