See It Again to earn his place in history

Jack Milner

There is aways that feeling of anticipation in the air every time the Hollywoodbets Durban July comes around.

There are 18 horses in the field and every person you talk to has an opinion of which of them will win. There are those who fancy favourites, there are others who have an outlook on outsiders.

There is also bragging rights in telling everyone you backed the Durban July winner and to add more substance to this boast there is a carryover of R2 million to a Pick 6 pool that is likely to reach R20 million and R1 million to kick start the Quartet pool for the R5-million Grade 1 race over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with a likely pool of R10 million.

How wonderful would it be to gloat about winning a share of those two pools!

Three and four-year-olds have won this race every year since 2009, with Pocket Power the last five-year-old to triumph when dead-heating with Dancer’s Daughter in 2008.

The trend is expected to continue, and this year could well be dominated by the three-year-olds. It’s not because they are all so well weighted, in fact the opposite is true, but they do seem to be a little above average this time.

Michael Roberts has been a true great of South African racing, winning the Champion Jockey’s title 11 times and adding the UK title to his tally against the likes of Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Pat Eddery.

He had a slow start as a trainer but has slotted into the role with dignity and composure and finally has a horse in his care that appears to be exceptional – See It Again.

A three-parts brother to dual Durban July champion Do It Again, Roberts did not rush the son of Twice Over, but when he was sure this colt was ready, he made a move with him.

“From the beginning I could see he had ability and when he won the Model Man Mile, I told (owner) Nic (Jonsson) I wanted to take him to Cape Town for the Cape Derby,” said Roberts.

Most people thought this colt would be punching above his weight when taking on Charles Dickens in the Grade 1 Splashout Cape Derby but the horse did the talking with a telling victory and immediately he was on the map.

Remarkably, that was Roberts’ first Grade 1 win as a trainer but less than four months later he did it again when See It Again won the Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

As a result of those wins See It Again will now carry 56.5kg, a weight no three-year-old has yet carried to victory.

But records are made to be broken as Igugu proved when winning the race in 2013 with 55kg on her back, quite a weight for a three-year-old filly.

The addition of Piere Strydom to this winning team has also attracted a lot of attention and this six-time champion jockey will be looking for a record-equalling fifth win in this race.

Despite having a reputation as a cynical judge of his rides, there is quite a bit of optimism coming from him. “He’s probably the best horse in the field and he’s good enough to win, even with the weight, but you need luck,” said Strydom.

‘Luck’ is a word emulated by Roberts. “I know what it takes to win a July. I’ve ridden some of the best horses in the country and did not win.”

He finally won his only Durban July with Super Quality and will become the fourth person after Syd Garrett, David Payne and Bert Abercrombie to both ride and train a July winner.

Roberts adds that See It Again’s preparation could not have been smoother and he did not have even one day where he had to let up because of some issue.

There are other three-year-olds to consider. Son Of Raj looked good when winning the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby and he had a good look at the Greyville circuit when sitting off the pace in the Daily News. Muzi Yeni gets the ride on Weiho Marwing’s charge and he will be looking for his first July win.

Justin Snaith has five runners but Richard Fourie has chosen to ride Without Question who is 2kg better off with See It Again for a two-length beating in the Daily News.  

There is a lot of talk for Brett Crawford-trained Winchester Mansion after his facile win in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m. Not everything went his way that day but he still managed to mow down his opposition and win with ease.

“He is very well and he’s had a very good prep,” said Crawford yesterday. “The July is a handicap so he’s running off the right mark so he has a chance. He’s won two Grade 3 races and he is a typical handicapper.”

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 11 Secret Identity, 2 Betula, 3 Dolcezza, 10 The Charleston

Race 2: 4 Outlaw King, 1 Main Defender, 3 Jerusalema Rain, 10 Gimmelightning

Race 3: 4 One Way Traffic, 5 Lord William, 9 Nebraas, 6 Aragosta

Race 4: 4 Future Pearl, 10 Arumugam, 5 Runaway Song, 7 Red Maple

Race 5: 4 Mrs Geriatrix, 6 Distant Winter, 8 White Pearl, 7 Elegant Ice

Race 6: 13 Gimmeanotherchance, 5 Guy Gibson, 7 Sandringham Summit, 4 Hawkbill

Race 7: 7 See It Again, 9 Son Of Raj, 2 Without Question, 15 Rascallion

Race 8: 10 Princess Calla, 6 Desert Miracle, 11 Golden Hostess, 14 Feather Boa

Race 9: 7 Thunderstruck, 11 Surjay, 6 Cold Fact, 12 Cosmic Highway

Race 10: 11 Melech, 10 Captain Fontane, 12 Quasiforsure, 4 Money Heist

Race 11: 2 Let's Not Linger, 9 Zinikele, 4 Valerias Dream, 5 Asiye Phambili

Race 12: 2 USA's Hope, 3 Passage Of Power, 6 Tirpitz, 13 Mo Jive

BEST BET

Race 5 No 4 Mrs Geriatrix

VALUE BET

Race 10 No 11 Melech

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 6x10

BIPOT 1 (Races 2 to 7)

R384

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 9

Leg 3: 4, 5, 7, 10

Leg 4: 4

Leg 5: 5, 13

Leg 6: 2, 7, 9, 15

BIPOT 2 (Races 7 to 12)

R384

Leg 1: 2, 7, 9, 15

Leg 2: 6, 10

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 4, 10, 11, 12

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 4, 5, 9

Leg 2: 4, 5, 10

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 5, 13

Leg 5: 2, 7, 9, 15

Leg 6: 6, 10

Leg 7: 7, 11

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 4, 5, 7, 13

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17

Leg 5: 6, 10

Leg 6: 6, 7, 11, 12

JACKPOT 1 (Races 1 to 4)

R240

Leg 1: 2, 3, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 10

Leg 4: 4, 5, 7, 8, 10

JACKPOT 2 (Races 5 to 8)

R64

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 4, 5, 7, 13

Leg 3: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17

Leg 4: 6, 10

JACKPOT 3 (Races 9 to 12)

R360

Leg 1: 7, 11

Leg 2: 4, 7, 10, 11, 12

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6