Jockey Grant van Niekerk said Linebacker’s temperament was a big factor in helping them win the 35th running of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday
Durban July 2021 fashion programme takes flight
Open to fashion students across KwaZulu-Natal, the first round of judging will require entrants to present their completed outfit inspired by the raceday theme Birds of a Feather .
As the frenzy of Champions’ Season horseracing starts to grip the racing fraternity, fashion lovers have set their sights on the programme of competitions and shows planned for the 2021 Vodacom Durban July.
Fashion has always been an essential element of Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, and as the event paved the way for behind-closed-doors events last year, so too did the fashion programme adapt to comply with the prevailing lockdown regulations.
Paul Matchett talks about superstar filly War Of Athena Mike Moon
War of Athena, winner in Saturday’s Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks at Turffontein, is set to run again in late May. Picture: JC Photographics The Vodacom Durban July is “a possibility”, but might be a step too far for the filly after an arduous Tiara campaign.
The next assignment for newly crowned Triple Tiara champion War Of Athena will be the Grade 1 Woolavington at Greyville on 29 May. After that, the Vodacom Durban July is “a possibility”, but might be a step too far for the filly after an arduous Tiara campaign that took in five wins in a row over four months, said her trainer Paul Matchett on Tuesday.
‘Champions Season’ details unveiled by Gold Circle Sports Staff
Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal will culminate with the annual Vodacom Durban July race on the first Saturday of July. Picture: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images With R16 million in feature race stakes on offer for owners during the three-month festival of high-class thoroughbred racing from May to July it promises to be a bumper winter.
The venerable winter racing season in KwaZulu-Natal – marketed as “Champions Season” – was launched this week, with operator Gold Circle trumpeting “a feast of 53 feature events … that attracts the best horses from the leading stables around the country.”