There is a chance that a local horse will run in Africa’s greatest race this year.
The reigning East Cape Horse of the Season, Joy And Peace, has been entered to run in the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Joy And Peace is one of 61 entries for the 129th July to be run on July 5 over 2200m at the Greyville track in Durban.
The four-year-old filly is trained by the East Cape champion, Alan Greeff, at the Fairview stables in Greenbushes.
Only 18 horses can compete in this prestigious race, and the final field will be announced on June 24.
It will be an anxious wait till then for the connections of Joy And Peace to find out if she will take her place in the big race.
The possibility of a local horse running in the July comes at a time when Nelson Mandela Racing enters an exciting period.
A huge month of six Fairview meetings starts with eight races on the Polytrack on Friday.
It should be a very competitive meeting, but the talk amongst racing fans is already about Derby Day on May 9 on the turf track.
This is annually one of the biggest race days at Fairview.
The R350 000 Derby for three-year-olds and the R175 000 Dahlia Plate for two-year-olds are the highlights at what is always a high-quality meeting of nine races.
In the Derby, the gelding My Best Shot looks set to have a crack at the bonus of R250 000 up for grabs in the East Cape Sophomore Challenge.
He won the first two legs and has been nominated to run in the third and final leg, which is the Derby.
No horse has been able to win all three legs of the Sophomore Challenge.
My Best Shot is already the top stakes earner at Fairview this season – R510 000 in total stakes from 7 starts (6 wins).
The Derby nominations are dominated by the Greeff stable. Greeff, the trainer of My Best Shot, has entered 6 of the 14 horses.
Justin Snaith, with two entries, and Vaughan Marshall with one, are the only Cape Town conditioners who have nominated Derby runners.
The Greeff stable also dominates the entries for the Dahlia Plate with five of the ten nominations.
The final fields will be named on Monday.
Derby Day is also a big social event. Make sure you book your hospitality spot at
marilyns@4racing.com
Before we get to the Derby, the Fairview stables focus on Friday’s action.
There is no feature race but a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m, race five, catches the eye.
There are highly rated sprinters in this event.
The first race is at 12:30. Entry is free.
