THE EXIT of two horses that were supposed to run in the big Hollywoodbets Durban July race opened the way for two who were waiting for the chance to win this biggest race in the country on Saturday.
The races will start at 11.45 am but the most watched one with a stake of R10 million will start at 4 pm.
The horse that will come out on top in this race, which will be the seventh of the day, will win R6 million.
Star Major, which was held in high regard since the announcement of 18 entrants to the race last week, was forced to withdraw due to illness. Its place was taken by Choisaanada who will start in the fourth lane.
Another horse that withdrew days before the race was Ultimate King, who suffered a hind leg injury. Its place in the third lane is taken by Curious Girl.
This horse will be ridden by a French female jockey, Mickaëlle Michel, who will control Star Major.
The horse that is most likely to come out on top tomorrow afternoon is Note To Self, who will be ridden by experienced jockey Richard Fourie, who has won the race three times.
“He didn’t run well in the Daily News 2000 race in May (finishing third) because he was unwell earlier that week, but he’s back to form. It will be difficult for other horses to leave him in this race. If everything goes according to plan, this is the horse that everyone else should fight to leave,” said Note To Self’s trainer, Justin Snaith.
Another horse tipped to do well in the race is Wish List, who will start in lane seven, under the control of seasoned jockey, Andrew Fortune.
“This is a horse that improves day by day. I liken it to a machine, it has amazing speed. In my opinion, it is the best three-year-old horse in this race. It has shown itself in the way it ran in Cape Town,” said Snaith, who also trains this horse.
List of horses to claim the Durban July title: 1. Isivivane, 2. Regulation, 3. Curious Girl, 4. Choisaanada, 5. Legal Counsel, 6. Hazy Dazy, 7. Wish List, 8. Gladatorian, 9. Viva Liberte, 10. Native Ruler, 11. Note To Self, 12. Zeitz, 13. Mocha Blend, 14. I Salute You, 15. Olivia’s Way, 16. Minogue, 17. King Pelles, 18. Aladdin’s Lamp