Do It Again Does It in Durban July

Do It Again emerged from behind a dawdling pace to win the Vodacom Durban July (G1) July 7 at Greyville by 1 1/4 lengths over Made To Conquer, giving jockey Anton Marcus his record fifth win in the South African test.

Elusive Silva was third, 4 1/4 lengths farther back, as trainer Justin Snaith swept the top three placings. Another of his five starters, African Night Sky, went to the post as the hot favorite but finished fifth behind late-running Majestic Mambo after shooting to the lead the top of the stretch.

Snaith scored his third win in the Durban July.

Do It Again, a Twice Over gelding, was one of seven 3-year-olds in the 18-horse field as many of the top-level South African stars who featured in recent years have faded from the scene.

Do It Again won for the fourth time from seven starts. After starting his current campaign with a victory in the Daisy Guineas (G3) May 4 at 1,600 meters, he was fourth, beaten less than two lengths, in the Daily News 2000 (G1), run over soft turf at Greyville June 2.

With no pace on display in the July, the field was well bunched halfway through the 2,000 meters when Made to Conquer, under Jeff Lloyd, took up the lead. African Night Sky boldly challenged at the top of the stretch, but as the field spread out across the narrow turf course, Marcus found the perfect spot for Do It Again.

"It's not often there's a trouble-free July," said Marcus, who had nothing but open space in front of him at the critical juncture. "I was just in a fortunate position.

"It was a bit of a muddling pace, but when I saw the favorite overracing, that pleased me. For me, the most important thing was to keep the horse in rhythm."

While the race itself was trouble-free for Marcus, the start was delayed for more than 10 minutes as workers sorted out a problem with the gate and the horses circled near the start. And Abashiri, the 2016 South African Triple Crown winner, appeared to take a bad step nearing the finish and was vanned off the track.

The Durban July, run for the 122nd time, is both a racing and sports highlight of the South African year and a prominent date on the Durban social calendar. Fans, many decked out in fanciful dress related to the annual theme, packed the stands and hospitality tents strung out most of the length of the stretch.

Fashion shows on an infield venue competed with the racing for attention throughout the day.