Hollywoodbets Durban July Runners Pedigree Profiles
The Daily News 2000 one-two Green With Envy and Flag Man both have the immortal Galileo close up in their pedigrees and that will help them in many ways, including staying the 2200m trip. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sarah Whitelaw wrote the below article which is well worth reading for serious Hollywoodbets Durban July analysts!
On Saturday, 18 of South Africa’s top racehorses will do battle in the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Of the select 18 runners, three were sired by Gimmethegreenlight, two by Futura, two by Twice Over, and two by Vercingetorix (Vercingetorix is also sire of second reserve runner Hotarubi). Trippi, sire of last year’s winner Winchester Mansion, will again be represented by Winchester Mansion and is also responsible for reserve runner Hluhluwe, with Trippi also damsire of July hopeful Future Swing.
Below is a brief pedigree profile of each runner in this year’s July.
Royal Victory: g Pathfork -Kailani, by Kahal
Bred by Dr Marianne Thomson, Royal Victory is a son of Irish champion, and 2010 G1 boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes winner Pathfork. Himself a Distorted Humor half-brother to versatile G1 Preakness Stakes winner War Of Will (who recently got off the mark as a sire), Pathfork is enjoying a fine season in 2023-2024, with his flagbearers including not only Royal Victory but also this season’s G1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Main Defender.
Royal Victory is the best of four winners, thus far, produced by his four time winning dam Kailani, a Kahal (sire of 2012 July runner up Smanjemanje) three-parts sister to the Kahal sired G2 Joburg Spring Challenge winner No Worries. Royal Victory is a direct descendant of US champion Maskette.
Barbaresco: g Gimmethegreenlight -Negroamaro, by Fort Wood
One of three runners in the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July for his sire, Barbaresco was bred by his part-owner Laurence Wernars. His sire is on track to be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire for a third time this season, with Gimmethegreenlight runners having already earned, at the time of writing, more than R27.588 million for the current season. Barbaresco, who is out of the Fort Wood sired G3 Fillies Mile winner Negroamaro, is a full-brother to the very smart Outofthedarkness -beaten just a short-head when second in the 2022 G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes.
Barbaresco/Outofthedarkness are bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Fort Wood cross as graded stakes winners Second Base, Eye Of The Prophet, Green Pepper (dam of G1 winner Sweet Pepper), Hack Green, and Cala Muretta, to name but a few.
Without Question: g The United States -Siena’s Star, by Argonaut
Without Question, whose breeders Cheveley Stud also raised fellow July starter Oriental Charm, will be bidding to provide his G1 Ranvet Stakes winning sire The United States with his first G1 winner when he lines up in the 2024 July. A son of the mighty Galileo, The United States has enjoyed a good season with his two-year-olds in 2023-2024 headed by G1 Allan Robertson Championship runner up Rodeo Drive, Listed Dahlia Plate winner Kingdundee and Listed Irridescence Stakes runner up Dixieland Band.
Without Question’s dam Siena’s Star, a twice winning half-sister to Listed Winter Oaks/Listed Lady’s Bracelet winner Rush For John (by Jet Master), is also the dam of 2023 Listed Europa Point Drum Star Handicap winner Infinite Wonder (by Wylie Hall), while her son Futurismo (by Futura) made R1 200 000 when sold at the 2020 National Yearling Sale.
Galileo, the sire of The United States, also features in this year’s July as the broodmare sire of both Green With Envy and Aragosta. Also sire of 2011 July winner Igugu, Galileo continues to make his presence felt, albeit posthumously. At the recent Royal Ascot meeting, the legendary stallion’s sons Kyprios and Illinois won the G1 Gold Cup and G2 Queen’s Vase respectively, while last Sunday, Galileo’s unbeaten three-year-old son Jan Brueghel won the G3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes in smart fashion.
Meanwhile, brilliant recent G1 Betfred Derby winner City Of Troy, who is out of the Galileo mare Together Forever, tops the betting for Saturday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse. Safe to say, the last chapter in Galileo’s remarkable story is a long way from being penned.
Future Swing: g Futura -Carousel Swing, by Trippi
One of four runners (as well as reserve runner Hluhluwe) in this year’s July bred by Drakenstein Stud (also breeders of last year’s July winner Winchester Mansion), Future Swing will be bidding to follow in the footsteps of his paternal grandsire Dynasty, who won the July in such memorable fashion in 2003. His sire Futura, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year 2014-2015, is also set to be represented in this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July by his champion son Future Pearl. Future Swing, who is bred on the same Futura/Trippi cross as stakes winners Pink Tourmaline, Vihaan’s Pie, Future Girl, Dawnofanewday, and Sweet Future, is out of the twice winning Trippi mare Carousel Swing. The latter, also dam of the smart Opera Swing (by Oratorio), is a half-sister to G1 Gold Cup winner and Equus Champion Stayer Jeppe’s Reef (by Jallad) and to G2 Track And Ball Derby winner and dual G3 Algoa Cup winner Disco Al (by Captain Al).
Green With Envy: c Gimmethegreenlight -Miss Coco, by Galileo
A colt with a stallion’s pedigree, Green With Envy races for his breeder, Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd. He is one of more than 60 stakes winners for his sire Gimmethegreenlight, Champion Sire, Leading Sire of 2YOs and Leading Sire of 3YOs in South Africa in 2022-2023. While Gimmethegreenlight is yet to have a July winner, his champion son Got The Greenlight was beaten just less than a length when runner up in the 2020 G1 Vodacom Durban July, and his champion daughter Bless My Stars finished third in the 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. Green With Envy is out of Miss Coco, a winning Galileo own sister to G3 Ballyroan Stakes winner Eye Of The Storm and half-sister toG3 Joel Stakes/G3 Sirenia Stakes winner Satchem. Miss Coco’s full-sister Livia Galilei ranks as the granddam of G1 American Oaks winner Rhea Moon (by Starspangledbanner).
Miss Coco’s outstanding sire Galileo, whose daughter Igugu won the July in 2011, is broodmare sire of more than 330 black type winners, including Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy -the two most recent Betfred Derby winners.
Shoemaker: g Gimmethegreenlight -Moggytwoshoes, by Mogok
Shoemaker who was bred by Varsfontein Stud, is bidding to provide his champion sire with his first G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July win. Gimmethegreenlight has had another outstanding season in 2023-2024 with his 12 individual stakes winners, at the time of writing, headed by graded stakes winners Green With Envy, Gimme A Nother, Proceed, Lucky Lad, Sandringham Summit, Just Reckless, Kwinta’s Light, and Let’s Go Now. Shoemaker is out of the Mogok mare Moggytwoshoes, a five time winner who ran third in the Listed Syringa Handicap.
Shoemaker’s half-brother Zapatillas (by Master Of My Fate) won the 2022 G2 World Sports Betting Guineas, where his beaten rivals included 2024 July runners Double Superlative and Master Redoute.
Aragosta: g Rafeef -Miss Galidora, by Galileo
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Aragosta is one of two runners in the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July whose dam was sired by the great Galileo. He is one of eight stakes winners for his sire Rafeef this season, with that Computaform Sprint winner’s fellow flagbearers this season also including the now retired G1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint/G2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes winner Thunderstruck.
Aragosta, whose G2 TAB Camellia Stakes/G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes winning full-sister Mrs Browning, contests Saturday’s G1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, is out of the placed Galileo mare Miss Galidora.
The latter is a half-sister to 2003 G1 French 2000 Guineas winner and successful sire Clodovil and G3 Gordon Richards Stakes hero Colombian. A direct descendant of the hugely influential mare Argentina, Aragosta’s granddam, G2 Prix de l’Opera winner Clodora (by Linamix), ranks as the fourth dam of impressive 2024 G2 King Edward VII Stakes winner Calandagan (by Galileo’s son Gleneagles).
Purple Pitcher: c New Predator -Heliantha, by Count Dubois
Dual G1 winner Purple Pitcher, who was bred by Bush Hill Stud, hails from the first crop of ill-fated G2 Charity Mile/G2 Drill Hall Stakes winner New Predator. A son of New Approach, New Predator’s first crop also includes G2 TAB Colorado King Stakes winner Pure Predator -who finished second to Purple Pitcher in this season’s G1 TAB SA Derby. Purple Pitcher is one of two graded stakes winners produced by the winning Count Dubois mare Heliantha.
The latter, a half-sister to then G2 Majorca Stakes winner Wild Aster, is also dam of 2022 G3 HSH Princess Starling Stakes winner Miss Daisy (by Crusade). Heliantha is out of the Roland Gardens sired G2 Natal Oaks runner up Tropical Garden, who is very closely related to the Roland Gardens sired champion Wild West.
Winchester Mansion: g Trippi -Sea Point, by Spectrum
Winner of the 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, the Drakenstein Stud bred Winchester Mansion lacks nothing in terms of pedigree. He is one of 92 stakes winners for his sire Trippi, South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2015-2016.
Trippi’s numerous high-class performers include Charles Dickens, Hammie’s Hooker, Jet Dark, and Trip Of Fortune -all of whom, like Winchester Mansion, being Equus Champions. Winchester Mansion is very closely related to fellow champion Trip Of Fortune, with Manuka the third dam of both Trip Of Fortune and Winchester Mansion. Winchester Mansion is one of four winners produced by the winning Spectrum mare Sea Point, whose son Sand And Sea (by Twice Over) won the G1 Gold Medallion in 2017. Spectrum, broodmare sire of Winchester Mansion, has enjoyed plenty of success as a broodmare sire with his daughters having also produced such international stars as Moonlight Cloud, Winchester, and the very successful sire Dutch Art.
See It Again: c Twice Over -Supreme Vision, by Visionaire
Runner up in last year’s race, the Drakenstein Stud bred See It Again will be looking to provide his family with more July success. His dam Supreme Vision, a twice winning full-sister to G3 Winter Guineas third Vilikazi, is a half-sister to three stakes winners, notably dual G1 Vodacom Durban July winning champion Do It Again. The latter, like See It Again, was sired by four time G1 winning champion Twice Over, which makes See It Again a three-parts brother to Do It Again, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2018-2019. Supreme Vision also numbers dual Hong Kong G3 winner Horse Of Fortune (whose sire Stronghold hailed from the same family as Twice Over) and Listed East Cape Oaks heroine Virginia Sweet. Supreme Vision is one of seven winners produced by triple G3 winner Sweet Virginia.
Casey Tibbs, sire of Sweet Virginia, is also responsible for the ill-fated Big City Life -winner of the July in 2009.
Oriental Charm: c Vercingetorix -Souk, by Greys Inn
The Cheveley Stud bred Oriental Charm hails from one of the greatest female lines in the stud book. He is one of three winners for his dam Souk, whose sire Greys Inn won the July in 2004. Souk won three times and finished second in the 2014 Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes. Souk’s dam Tagine is a full-sister to G1 SA Derby winner Bouquet-Garni, with Tagine’s granddam, Listed George Azzie Memorial Handicap winner Daphne Donnelly (by Golden Thatch) also ranking as the granddam of this season’s G2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks winner/Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial winner Frances Ethel (by Rafeef). Oriental Charm is directly descended in female line from Natalma, whose son Northern Dancer holds claims to being the greatest stallion of all time. Natalma also ranks as third dam of another breed shaping stallion Danehill (who is closely inbred to Natalma), while 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River is the latest in a long line of outstanding thoroughbreds descended in female line from Natalma.
Son Of Raj: g Duke Of Marmalade -Freudiana, by Black Minnaloushe
Winner of the 2023 G1 World Sports Betting SA Derby, the Steven Chetty bred and owned Son Of Raj is one of more than 40 stakes winners for late Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmalade, also responsible for dual Equus Champion and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland. Duke Of Marmalade previously made his presence felt on July day when his daughter Temple Grafin caused a 40-1 upset when she won the G1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes in 2020. Son Of Raj, who also shares his sire with such international G1 winners as Big Orange, Simple Verse and Star Of Seville, is a full-brother to Listed Gauteng Summer Cup 26 Java Stakes/Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stakes winner Arumugam. The latter also finished runner up in last year’s G3 World Pool Gold Cup. Son Of Raj and Arumugam are out of the three time winning Black Minnaloushe mare Freudiana -a half-sister to Rippling Ring, who ran third in the 2007 G1 SA Derby.
Meridius: g Canford Cliffs -Zili, by Parade Leader
Bred by Winterbach Stud, Meridius not only won the recent G3 Jubilee Stakes but also the 2023 Listed @Worldpool Twitter Darley Arabian. He is a son of five time G1 winner Canford Cliffs, with that star miler having enjoyed some results with his two-year-olds in 2023-2024. Among Canford Cliffs’ two-year-old winners this season are G3 TAB Pretty Polly Stakes winner Simply Majestic and Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes victress Almond Sea. In total, Canford Cliffs, also broodmare sire of Australian star Amelia’s Jewel, has been responsible for 26 stakes winners and more than 30 black type placed horses. Meridius is a half-brother to five winners including Listed Ruffian Stakes runner up Outlander and R3 million plus earner Invidia. His dam Zili, a half-sister to G1 Gold Reef C R Medallion winner Zeeno, won five and finished second in the Listed Milkwood Stakes over 1000 metres. Zili’s sire Parade Leader, also sire of G1 winners Laverna, Pierre Jourdan and Rudra, has enjoyed success as a broodmare sire, with his daughters having also produced the likes of champion Anything Goes, and such graded stakes winners as Alexis, Cousin Liz, Gimme One Night, Green Laser and Secret Potion.
Master Redoute: g Querari – Lady Redoute, by Redoute’s Choice
The La Plaisance Stud bred Master Redoute is one of 42 stakes winners for Querari, Champion Older Horse in Germany in 2010.Twice Leading Sire of 2YOs in South Africa, Querari, whose progeny include a pair of G1 Thekwini Stakes winners as well as Equus Champion Rio Querari, has been responsible for seven black type winners in South Africa this season, with his sons Master Redoute and Questioning both winning graded races this season. Querari also went close to having G1 success at Hollywoodbets Scottsville recently, with sons Cosmic Speed and At My Command finishing runner up in the G1 Gold Medallion and G1 Golden Horse Sprint.
Master Redoute is out of Lady Redoute, who won twice up to 2000 metres, with the blue blooded Lady Redoute a daughter of triple Australian Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice (whose son Wylie Hall finished first past the post in the 2014 July) and G1 VATC Thousand Guineas winner Macedon Lady.
Cousin Casey: c Vercingetorix -Bretton Woods, by Casey Tibbs
Cousin Casey, the Riyo Stud bred Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2021-2022, is one of 38 stakes winners for star sire Vercingetorix. The latter, who shares his sire Silvano with the July winners Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King, Marinaresco and Sparkling Water, has had another excellent season, with Vercingetorix responsible for graded stakes winners Cymric, Double Grand Slam, Little Ballerina, Oriental Charm, and Rascallion this season.
Cousin Casey, a three-parts brother to Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes/Listed Breeders Guineas third Klever Kathy, is out of Bretton Woods, an unplaced full-sister to ill-fated Equus Champion Big City Life, victorious in the 2009 July. Bretton Woods is also a full-sister to G3 Final Fling Stakes/Listed Ladies Mile winner Cash Register, dam of five stakes winners including this season’s G2 Anthonij Rupert Wine Premier Trophy winner Mucho Dinero. The latter runs in Saturday’s G3 SplashOut 2200.Casey Tibbs, the broodmare sire of Cousin Casey, is also damsire of dual July winner Do It Again.
Double Superlative: h Twice Over -Come Fly With Me, by Jet Master
This year’s G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner, who was bred by Patricia Devine Investments (Pty) Ltd, is bidding to provide his sire Twice Over with more July success. Twice Over’s champion son Do It Again captured the July in both 2018 and 2019 and also finished third in the 2020 race. Remarkably, Do It Again also managed to fill the fourth spot in the July in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Another son of Twice Over, See It Again, finished runner up in the 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. Double Superlative is out of the smart racemare Come Fly With Me, who won five times and finished runner up in both the G3 Champagne Stakes and G3 Diana Stakes. Also third in both of the Diana and Champagne Stakes, Come Fly With Me is a full-sister to G1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night. Come Fly With Me’s sire Jet Master was responsible for Pocket Power, who dead-heated for first in the 2008 July, and 2012 July winner Pomodoro.
Flag Man: g Flying The Flag -Irresistible Chris, by Mark Of Esteem
Bred by Clifton Stud, Flag Man is a son of the Galileo sired G3 eFlow “YouFirst” International Stakes winner Flying The Flag. The latter’s triple G1 winning own sister Rhododendron is the dam of current star Auguste Rodin, who recently picked up his sixth G1 win when victorious in the 2024 G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Flag Man, a half brother to four winners, is out of the winning Mark Of Esteem mare Irresistible Chris. The latter is a half-sister to late Equus Champion Eyeofthetiger (by Royal Academy, victorious in the 2006 G1 Vodacom Durban July, and G3 The Debutante winner Best Chris (by Trempolino). Flag Man’s broodmare sire, and former star miler, Mark Of Esteem (who also ranks as damsire of South African champion Celtic Sea) also made his presence felt at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting. His star broodmare daughter Reem Three is second dam of both Rosallion and Inisherin -victorious in Royal Ascot’s G1 St James’s Palace Stakes and G1 Commonwealth Cup respectively.
Future Pearl: g Futura -Arabian Pearl, by Al Mufti
Future Pearl will be looking to go better than either his sire Futura or broodmare sire Al Mufti in the July, with Futura finishing third in the 2014 July and fourth in the 2015 July, and Al Mufti, broodmare sire of former July winner Bold Silvano, just beaten into second in the 1991 July. Future Pearl, last season’s Equus Champion Stayer, is one of two runners in the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July for Futura, with Futura’s sire Dynasty having won the July in 2003.
His dam Arabian Pearl, a full-sister to Dubai champion and G1 sire Victory Moon, won twice and finished runner up in the G1 Woolavington 2200 and third in both the Listed Spook Express Handicap and Listed Queen Palm Handicap. Not only is Arabian Pearl dam of Future Pearl, she also ranks as granddam of both Listed Jacaranda Handicap winner Bureau Des Legende (also by a son of Dynasty) and Listed TAB Spook Express Handicap winner Explosive Bond.
Hluhluwe: g Trippi -Lebombo Breeze, by Giant’s Causeway
If he makes the final field, the Drakenstein Stud bred Hluhluwe will attempt to provide his sire Trippi with a second consecutive July win, with Trippi’s son Winchester Mansion having prevailed last year. The blue blooded Hluhluwe is a half-brother to 3 winners notably 2024 Listed TAB Gold Bowl runner up Breeze Over, who runs in Saturday’s G3 DStv Gold Vase. Hluhluwe is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lebombo Breeze, a half-sister to G3 Victress Stakes winner Fresnaye (by Western Winter). Lebombo Breeze’s third dam is G1 Matron Stakes winner, and mighty matriarch, Fall Aspen -whose four G1 winners include Grand Prix de Paris winner and champion sire Fort Wood and US champion and Preakness Stakes winner Timber Country. Giant’s Causeway, damsire of Hluhluwe, also rates as the broodmare sire of South Africa’s current sire sensation One World.
Hotarubi: g Vercingetorix -Hanabi, by Var
Bred on the same Vercingetorix/Var cross as G1 winning sprinter Alesian Chief, the Oldlands Stud bred Hotarubi is second reserve runner for Saturday’s big race. He shares his outstanding sire Vercingetorix with July hopefuls Oriental Charm and Cousin Casey, while Hotarubi’s dam Hanabi won five times including the 2017 Listed Olympic Duel Stakes -where her beaten rivals included Come Fly With Me, the dam of Double Superlative. Hanabi, whose sire Var also ranks as broodmare sire of such G1 winners as In The Congo, Master Archie, Thunderstruck and recent South African Fillies Sprint queen October Morn, is directly descended in female line from Admiration -the dam of legendary racemare Pretty Polly.
In terms of recent stallion domination in the July, Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd’s late, great resident Silvano leads the way. The son of Lomitas has been responsible for five July winners -Bold Silvano (2010), Heavy Metal (2013), Power King (2015), Marinaresco (2017), and Sparkling Water (2022).
Furthermore, Silvano sons Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina filled the first three placings in the July of 2015, while Silvano sired runners Sparkling Water and Safe Passage ran first and third respectively in 2022.
In terms of broodmare sires, the late Northern Guest made a considerable impression on the July, with his daughters Northern Gale and Golden Apple dams of July winners Power King and Pomodoro respectively.
