BIG CITY LIFE LEADS HOME 3-Y-O CHARGE IN 2009 JULY
Big City Life (SAF) crowned a superb season by annexing the 2009 Vodacom Durban July at Greyville on Saturday, seeing off a spirited challenge from Zirconeum (SAF) with pacemaker Forest Path (SAF) staying on for third place and ensuring a clean sweep for the 3-year-olds. Outsider Thundering Jet (SAF) was fourth, just ahead of stablemate and hot favourite Pocket Power (SAF).
Big City Life was the first one out of the gates and eventually settled in third as Forest Path went out to make the running ahead of Aluminium. Zirconeum sat in fourth with Thundering Jet and Smart Banker next best. River Jetez, who many felt was the main danger to Pocket Power sat in midfield but all eyes were on the backmarkers, with Pocket Power third last for much of the race, only Kapil and Outcome behind him.
Pocket Power had dropped out to last by the time they turned for home but he was shown daylight as he went for a run down the outside and started to make up ground. However, the real action was still taking place up front with Forest Path not exactly stopping and Big City Life and Zirconeum still travelling with a bit in hand. Big City Life took charge about halfway down the straight and although Zirconeum pressed him all the way to the line, she was always going to come off second best as Big City Life confirmed his status as the best 3-year-old around and placed himself in pole position to dethrone Pocket Power as Horse Of The Year.
The race was a triumph for trainer Glen Kotzen who has been having his best ever season and jockey Greg Cheyne who rode a copybook race. Both had been very bullish going into the race and their stable star fully repaid their faith.
Big City Life has simply gotten better as the season has progressed and while his win in the Daily News 2000 had not initially looked as emphatic as expected, it turned out to be a dress rehearsal for the July as almost identical tactics were used, the son of Casey Tibbs sitting a lot handier than usual and kicking for home early in the straight. This was his third Gr1 victory of the season and lest we forget, he also won the Gr 2 KRA Guineas, a race which for many years also enjoyed Gr 1 status and which many feel still deserves top-tier status. The Equus award for champion 3-year-old is a formality but with Pocket Power having also won three big Gr 1 races this season - and the Champions Cup still an option - it will be interesting to see what transpires when the panel casts votes for Horse Of The Year.
The scary thing for the opposition is that Big City Life looks the sort who will be even better at age four and his connections have a multitude of options to ponder over as far as his future plans are concerned.
Zirconeum ran the race of her life in second and the daughter of Jallad upheld her proud record of never having run a bad race in two hectic seasons of top-level racing. She was up with the pace throughout and her effort never flagged as she chased the winner all the way down the straight.
Forest Path remains an enigma but this effort showed just what he is capable of when in the mood. Despite doing the hard work up front, he stuck gamely to his task in the straight and was only beaten two lengths at the end.
Thundering Jet would certainly have raised a few eyebrows in fourth. He's always hinted that he is capable of bigger things but his overall profile seemed him well short of what was required here. He was nicely placed and at around R8 a place, his supporters will be delighted at the resolve he showed when the heat was on.
Inevitably, much of the post-race talk centred around Pocket Power's failure to add to his already stellar record. The champion may have disappointed his fans on the day but a bit of perspective should show that he didn't really let himself down: he had plenty of work to do turning for home and to come from that far off in a relatively slow-run race was always going to be a tall order, even for a horse of his calibre. He was conceding at least 7kg to the four horses that beat him home and he was within three lengths of the winner at the line so he certainly wasn't disgraced.
A topic of discussion that might linger a bit longer is the relative strength of this season's 3-year-old crop. On the whole, they certainly haven't looked the part for much of the season relative to their older peers but on the biggest racing day of the year, they came up trumps in no uncertain terms.
Big City Life is a 3-y-o colt by Casey Tibbs (IRE) out of Dollar Crisis (SAF) by Goldmark (SAF). He is owned by Messrs R W Deacon, H J Basson, G A Hauptfleisch, G S Kotzen & G W Mitchell and was bred by Mrs J A Wintle.
Christiaan, South Africa, (2009-02-17 15:13:43)(426 days ago) Congratulations to the connections of the winner. They deserve their spoils!!!!
I would like to mention that I don't believe ANY horse in the world can give away 7kgs and 25 lenths turning for home and make up that type of ground. I think Pocket Power did an admirable job. Now in hindsight and remember that I guess hindsight is 20/20.......What were the connections of Pocket Power thinking when they thought it a good idea to have him that far back? He jumped fine and could have settled anywhere but right at the very back!!!!
Good luck to everyone and a great racing day had by all!!!
AndrewJMPD, South Africa, (2009-07-04 22:04:29)(426 days ago) I must say I am glad of such a res , I really thought Pocket power would win, My congrats go to Zirconeum for an un believable performance as I really didn't think he would do so well , pity it was a long shot but I'm happy well done to all the runners it was one hell of a close one!!!!
kilesh, South Africa, (2009-03-24 08:21:41)(426 days ago) what were the connections thinking, droping pocket power back to the end of the field? i thought it was a very bad ride that let to the demise of the hot favourite, pocket power. anyway thats racing i guess!!! well done to all the winning connections.
philip herringer, Australia, (2009-04-24 07:46:43)(426 days ago) Pocket Power was obviously ridden a terrible race. with Greyvilles' short run in, a super horse can win but with no more than 8 stone or 50 kgs. if he has to give a 25 length start on the turn. A very poor ride and a please explain needed.
APHROS
Sarvan, South Africa, (2009-02-25 14:31:27)(425 days ago) That's racing. It just wasn't the Champ's day. He lost his race at the start. A slow run race added to his woes. Take nothing away from the winner, he's a brillant horse and deserved his victory on the back on some very decent form. Fanstastic celebrations as well, the racing game needs winners like these blokes. Well done to all the connections of Big City Life and well done Everton- u picked him a long time ago!!!!. Let's hope they keep the winner in South Africa!
Marvin , Mauritius, (2009-07-05 20:16:53)(425 days ago)
Very please to see a Mauritian rider (K.Teetan) involved in a such big race. Well done guy, we're very proud of you. Keep it up. Congratulation also goes to the winner's connections.
Syed Subuk, Pakistan, (2009-02-24 18:03:01)(425 days ago) my mind said Pocket Power and my heart said BIG CITY LIFE.... i always listen to my mind... and even after the race ill still stay PP was the right choice but almost everything went against the champ maybe better luck next time...
PRAVEEN, South Africa, (2009-02-18 09:23:23)(425 days ago) TOP RIDE BY CHEYNE. WELL DONE TO THE CONNECTIONS. PITY ABOUT THE TACTICS USED ON PP & RIVER JETEZ. I CANNOT BLAME FAYED HERBE ENTIRELY, I THINK HE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO TRAIL THE FIELD - HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO GET ANY CLOSER IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE RACE. PP WAS CLEARLY NOT GOING TO WIN A LONG WAY FROM HOME.
THE MEETING WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, WE WERE TREATED TO SOME TOP RACES BUT UNFORTUNATELY FROM A PERSONAL POINT THE ONLY THING THAT WORKED OUT FOR ME WAS THE WEATHER.
Russell, South Africa, (2009-02-18 06:35:33)(425 days ago) first of all Big City Life ran a cracker, well done to all connetcted. Secondly, the De Kock yard with delpech onboard a hell of a combo. For me that was the run of the day... Drawn in Amamzimtoti to finish second was well done! They got ahead of Pocket Power, who needed to running in top 5 on last bend to win it, and slowed the pace rite down. Those were excellent tactics by the de Kock maestro and executed well by the jockeys! I you looked closely toward the finish and on the outside rail, Pocket Power was tearing up the ground and posted the fastest finishing 400m time to come from second to last to finish fifth. That was also a top notch finish by the champ but he always out of it from 2000m marker with greyville track being a very difficult one. Without taking the glory out of a well run race by cheyne on BCL, had PP been a length behind him throughout the race and turning for home on the inside rail and instead of the car park on the outside, i feel PP would've steamed home by more than a length and a
kenny, South Africa, (2009-05-13 21:54:30)(424 days ago) why so many excuses are made for PP in this race? all the horses in the field were affected by the draw and the pace. a fast 400m time means nothing because he had to do it anyway to save ground. PP had the right draw, wgt and jockey and failed to deliver on the day, no excuses. I.m.o if the race were to run again PP would lose the same way he did.
Russell, South Africa, (2009-02-18 06:35:33)(424 days ago) highly doubt that
Christiaan, South Africa, (2009-02-17 15:13:43)(424 days ago) Kenny, I'm not sure what racing background you come from but it is very hard for me to see how you could make such a comment?
There is NO doubt Big City Life is a high class animal and everything worked out for them just fine but to say PP would lose again if the race was re run....This time with no farcical pace issues and tactics that clearly did not work!!! I have no doubt which horse you backed on the day! Good luck bud!
winnie, Singapore, (2009-07-06 17:55:58)(424 days ago) Very good horse. Just like him. By the way. Share this site for Hk & singapore racing tips http://www.asianhorseracingtips.com/ very good tipsters. Good Luck!
JIM KIOW-SAN, Mauritius, (2009-03-05 17:29:12)(424 days ago) congratulations for the winner, i still donn't understand why the july handicap is not run like weight for age like all classics in m'tius except the duchess. By running at weight 4 age ,each wil hav an equal chance of winning as the 3 year old are advantaged. WELL DONE KARIS U HAVE DONE MAURITIUS PRIDE.
Congratulations to the connections of the winner. They deserve their spoils!!!! I would like to mention that I don't believe ANY horse in the world can give away 7kgs and 25 lenths turning for home and make up that type of ground. I think Pocket Power did an admirable job. Now in hindsight and remember that I guess hindsight is 20/20.......What were the connections of Pocket Power thinking when they thought it a good idea to have him that far back? He jumped fine and could have settled anywhere but right at the very back!!!! Good luck to everyone and a great racing day had by all!!!