Sparkling July Victory For Mary Slack

Silvano, who has produced five July winners, saw his daughter Sparkling Water give Mary Slack her first [Hollywoodbets] July win and the seventh for the Oppenheimer family in total. Its been a memorable year for Wilgerbosdrift’s Mary Slack, as her famous black colours with red cap won recently at Royal Ascot.

Jockey S’manga Khumalo, who chose the big Mike De Kock trained filly over second placed Jet Dark celebrated his second July win since 2013, aboard Silvano’s son Heavy Metal.

Sparkling Water winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Image: Candiese Lenferna

Sparkling Water winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Image: Candiese Lenferna

It was a phenomenal day at Hollywoodbets Greyville which saw a swollen crowd in the grandstands with over 30 000 people on course for the Hollywoodbets sponsored Durban July, a stark contrast of the empty stands from the previous two years and encouraging to see many international racing media back on in the country to document what is known as Africa’s greatest Horseracing event.

Out of Espumanti by Dansili, Sparkling Water is now a 7-time winner, having also won a Gr2 under S’manga at Kenilworth over 2800m and a Gr3 over 1800m.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the farms enjoyed a splendid day kicking off with two winners back to back in the respective BSA Sales Cups, winning with Feather Boa (Flower Alley) and Mover And Shaker (Rafeef).

It turned out to be a splendid day for Maine Chance and Ridgemont Highlands sires.

Ameena. Image: Candiese Lenferna

Ameena. Image: Candiese Lenferna

Maine Chance sires Quasillo, Silvano and Vercingetorix captured their share of the Group races, whilst Ridgemont Highlands saw progeny by Rafeef, Potala Palace and their own bred Xavion and One Way Traffic capturing the Gr3 Vodacom 2200.

Trainer Glen Kotzen enjoyed a fantastic Gr2 juvenile double, taking both the Golden Slipper and Golden Horseshoe.

Ameena, a filly purchased privately for R5000 made it look easy to win the Golden Slipper, bred by Al Khayl Breeders under Richard Fourie. She is out of the mare Sabaha by Dynasty.

Cousin Casey, a son of Vercingetorix ridden to victory by Grant Van Niekerk is a horse close to the Kotzen families heart – his dam is a full sister to Big City Life with whom Kotzen won a Vodacom Durban July. Bred by Riyo Stud, Casey Tibbs is the broodmare sire who also happens to be the broodmare sire of Do It Again.

It didn’t stop there for Vercingetorix, as the Paul Peter trained Val D’Orcia took the Gr2 Post Merchants. Bred by Winterbach Stud and owned by Messrs J F and L M F Wernars and Mr H Willson and Mrs T J Wernars, the gelding is out of a mare by superb broodmare sire Spectrum.

She's A Keeper wins the Gr1 Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes. Images: Candiese Lenferna

She’s A Keeper wins the Gr1 Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes. Images: Candiese Lenferna

Gimmethegreenlight added another Gr1 to his record with She’s A Keeper storming to a much deserved Gr1 victory in the Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes for owners and breeders Missing U Syndicate (Nom: Mr R C Knuppe), trained by Gareth Van Zyl. Things didn’t go according to plan for the favoured five-time Gr1 winner Captain’s Ransom, who placed fourth. Ridden by Warren Kennedy, she is out of Trippi mare Gold Trip.

Ridgemont Highlands won two features on the day, starting off with the Dynasty gelding One Way Traffic, also out of a Spectrum mare for owners Mr Nick Jonsson and Bjorn Nielsen of Stradivarius fame. The ‘July consolation’ as it has become known sponsored by Vodacom over 2200m saw the win come from under Grant Van Niekerk for the Justin Snaith stable.

Xavion (Futura) then followed up for the Brett Crawford stable and Ian Longmore, taking the Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap Listed with Luyolo Mxothwa in the irons.

Congratulations to all concerned on a great day!

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