Belgarion Wins Quiet Durban July

Belgarion, with Richard Fourie riding, came nearly into the empty Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse stands to get around the field, and narrowly won the July 25 Vodacom Durban July (G1).

The race, billed as "Africa's Greatest Horse Racing Event," was postponed from its normal first Saturday in July because of COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns. And it was run without fans in the stands—a blow for an event that normally is the raucous social event of the year in the Indian Ocean city.

The race was wide open as the 18-horse field turned into the narrow Greyville stretch. With 250 meters left, favorite Rainbow Bridge wrested the advantage from early breakaway leader Silvano's Pride and looked to have clear sailing as the field spread right across the course.

In the final 50 meters, Belgarion found just enough to outfinish Got the Greenlight, with two-time Durban July winner Do It Again a close-up third. Rainbow Bridge also was passed in the final strides by Golden Ducat.

Belgarion entered the race with six wins from eight starts but was stepping up in class and, like Do It Again, was handicapped by an outside draw. Belgarion started from the No. 17 stall with only Do It Again to his outside.

Belgarion is a 5-year-old gelding by 2003 Durban July winner Dynasty, from the Acatenago mare Riva. He is owned by his breeder, A. N. Foster.

Trainer Justin Snaith had five runners in the July including both Belgarion and Do It Again.

"Jockeys win the Durban July," Snaith said before the race, while expressing confidence in all five of his runners and a hope for a historic three-peat. "There was a lot of hype into the race about jockeys not traveling. We saw the writing on the wall early and committed early. So I've got jockeys that I think are the right guys for the race."

Fourie had ridden Belgarion in four of his eight previous starts but gave way to Anton Marcus in Belgarion's last outing—a victory in the June 20 World Sports Betting 1900 (G2) at Greyville.

The Durban July is one of the prized events of the racing year in South Africa but this year suffered not only from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but also from ongoing restrictions on the movement of horses out of South Africa, which may have precluded the participation of local hero Hawwaam.

Hawwaam's owner, Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, is keen to unleash the 4-year-old son of Silvano on the world and, with current regulations requiring up to six months of quarantine to leave the country, opted to skip the July to jump-start the process. Ironically, a European Union that was to have considered easing the restrictions was unable to travel to South Africa for that purpose because of the pandemic travel issues.

Hawwaam's stablemate in the Mike de Kock barn, Soqrat, was away slowly in the July and could manage only an eighth-place finish under Callan Murray.

With the race still hours away, internationally minded Snaith was comparing his runners with the rest of the world, too.

"I could take Belgarion anywhere in the world and he wouldn't look 'out' in any parade ring," the trainer said.

South African racing and government officials remain confident that, when circumstances allow, they will win an easing of export protocols, opening doors for their horses to enter international competition.

Snaith, de Kock, and their owners are eager for that day.