African Night Sky Heads Snaith Quintet in Durban July

Eighteen contenders and two alternates, five of them trained by Justin Snaith, are set for the July 7 Vodacom Durban July (G1) at Greyville—a race noted as much for its exuberant social scene as it is for the top-quality competition.

With many of the old guard gone from this year's field, the race appears wide open, with African Night Sky, Do It Again, and Made To Conquer the relatively weak early market leaders. Three-year-olds Majestic Mambo and White River have support, and Abashiri also is prominent.

Evocatively named African Night Sky leads the charge for Snaith, whose two previous victories in the July, with Dancer's Daughter and Legislate, add to the family tally started by his father, Chris, who won with Flaming Rock in 1991.

"In addition, my wife Lauren is from the Henwood family," Snaith told TAB News in the lead-up to the race, "and if you go back to the early 1900s, you will find that they also have two victories to their name."

African Night Sky seeks his first group 1 win in the July, but Snaith said he feels the Dynasty 4-year-old, out of the Cozzene mare Starzene, is in good form and "had a perfect prep. He is so ready." The gelding won the June 9 Cup Trial (G3) over the course.

Snaith also fields Elusive Silva, Do It Again, Made to Conquer, and Star Express.

Abashiri, a Go Deputy gelding, finished 13th in the 2016 edition.

Snaith's massive presence on the biggest race in KwaZulu-Natal is no fluke, and it reflects the day's importance to the South African racing industry and its central place on the KZN social calendar.

"July Day is the biggest thing, and largely determines whether our four months here is a success or we make a financial loss," Snaith said. "Owning a racehorse is all about excitement, and you want to lead your horse in with a big crowd present, so we do put a big emphasis on the Vodacom July, L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1), and Sun Met (G1) race days."

Race day itself has an annual theme chosen by Gold Circle marketing guru Ken Tweddell and announced in a poem. This year, the theme is "It Is Time," and many racegoers will enter Greyville in fanciful outfits following that message.

Infield hospitality tents are packed up and down the stretch and, just inside the finish, a massive venue hosts fashion shows that draw thousands of fans on their own.

The dark cloud on the horizon this year is a bitter wage dispute between owners and trainers and many of the nation's grooms that has escalated to threats of violence and a strong statement by South Africa's most prominent international voice, trainer Michael de Kock, that the future of the sport is at stake barring an equitable resolution.

The dispute forced Snaith to ride all five of his July starters himself in Wednesday track work. He called it "a privilege."