Excitement mounts for Suzette and Basie

Danie Toerien

“It’s my first July runner and I can tell you I’m so, so, so excited, but also nervous.”
That’s the word from Champion Thoroughbred owner Suzette Viljoen, who on Saturday will have her first Hollywoodbets Durban July runner.
She and husband Basie are the owners of Hoedspruit, trained by Justin Snaith.
According to Suzette, she and her husband fell in love with Hoedspruit the moment they first saw him.
“Hoedspruit was actually picked by Basie. We were at the auction, we had a list of horses we were interested in, but Basie was outside when he saw Hoedspruit.
“He immediately called me and said ‘look at this beauty’. When I saw him, I just knew I had to take him home. It was unbelievable.
“He is such a lovely horse. He cuddles and loves attention. He’s just so lekker,” said Suzette.
“My horses are like children to me.”
While Hoedspruit might not be in a cuddly mood when the gates crash open at 16:00 on Saturday, he will most definitely have his running shoes on, believes Suzette.
“It’s a very open and strong field. Almost every horse in the field can win it,” she said.
“In my experience, there are usually four or five with a realistic chance, but not this year.
“Hoedspruit is my horsey and I believe he has a very good chance. I really believe that. I’m very optimistic.
“He looks good, he’s doing well and I think he will run extremely well.”
Suzette also believes that Snaith has him in the best possible condition.
“I think it must be absolutely wonderful for a trainer like Justin Snaith to have five horses in the July, but it also makes it difficult in that he must probably tell all the owners their horse has a chance.
“But he’s a great trainer.
“I can’t describe how it feels to finally have my own horse running in the July.
“My husband and I have been going to the July for years and years. Every year we can’t wait for the ticket sales to open because we’re always miss the opportunity to get a ticket.
“But this year we are so privileged to go down as owners, to have our own horse there.
“Wow, it’s indescribable.”