Andrew Hawkins in the Barney The Dinosaur mascot suit is escorted in the famous unofficial last race on Hollywodbets Durban July day by fellow international racing journalist Sean Trivass. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The mascot who ran in the last race on Hollywoodbets Durban July day was actually the well known international racing journalist Andrew Hawkins.
Andrew is currently the Idol Horse Deputy Editor. Andrew’s deep passion for international racing has taken him to all corners of the world, including Hong Kong, where he was based for five years. He has worked with media outlets including the South China Morning Post, Racing Post, ANZ Bloodstock News, Sky Racing Australia and World Horse Racing, as well as for organisations including the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Victoria Racing Club. Outside of racing, he is also an Olympics and Paralympics researcher for Nine.
Andrew spotted something about this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July winner that the local journalists appear to have missed i.e The Real Prince was the first horse since the great In Full Flight in 1972 to win the July without having ever raced beyond 1600m before.
He wrote a fine report on the big race.
Read Andrew’s report on the Hollywoodbets Durban July below.
Andrew Hawkins
The Real Prince Overcomes Stamina Concerns To Land Durban July
The Real Prince Wins Durban July
Dean Kannemeyer produced a training performance only achieved before by the prolific David Payne, taking a horse beyond a mile for the first time to win Africa’s biggest race.
South African trainer Dean Kannemeyer again proved himself one of the world’s shrewd horsemen, producing The Real Prince to win the G1 Durban July (2200m) at Greyville at his first run beyond a mile – just the second horse ever to achieve the feat.
Ridden by Craig Zackey, The Real Prince edged out gallant three-year-old Eight On Eighteen to land Africa’s biggest race with lightly weighted Selukwe taking third, almost three lengths from the winner.
The Real Prince had only raced beyond 1400m once, winning the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth in February. By Australian-bred stallion Gimmethegreenlight, he is a brother to three-time Group 1-winning sprinter Gimme A Prince and the question over his stamina was a major talking point leading into the race.
“This had been a real team effort, planning to get him here,” Kannemeyer told Idol Horse. “First time we tried him over a mile, he won by five lengths. He had the right draw and he was able to sneak in under the radar rather than running well in the Gold Challenge and getting a bump in the handicap. It’s always a case of right time, right place when it comes to the July and that was certainly the case for him.”
The Real Prince is the just the second horse in the race’s 130-year history to win the July having not raced beyond a mile. The first was In Full Flight, who gave David Payne his first July win as a trainer in 1972 having taken the prize as a jockey in 1968.
It was a fourth July win for Kannemeyer, a second for owner Lady Christine Laidlaw and her Khaya Stables operation and a maiden success for Zackey.
Runner-up Eight On Eighteen was attempting to carry 57kg to victory – a weight with which no three-year-old had ever won. A head bob may have denied him a place in the record books, but trainer Justin Snaith is eyeing off a potential trip abroad with his colt.
“He’s achieved so much for a young horse,” Snaith said. “We’ll be careful with him and then go into the summer (in Cape Town) and have a go or look abroad. He’s certainly a type of horse that I don’t think would be out of place in certain countries – certainly something like Dubai would be top of the list – but maybe that is one for 2027.
“I’m still so proud of him and he’s a fighter. Even at the line, he was coming again – he was all heart.”
