Glen Kotzen and Greg Cheyne proved to be the toast of the town on Saturday when they took out the country's most prestigious race, the Vodacom Durban July.

Grey Cheyne comments on July winner, Big City Life

Glen Kotzen on Big City Life

Fun and Games in the traditional 13th race on July Day

JULY WRAP

Greyville Racecourse and Gold Circle played host to a highly successful Vodacom Durban July Racemeeting on Saturday. Gold Circle Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Hawkins, said that attendance was on a par with last year’s 50 000 and that the course was full to the brim.

In spite of the serious downturn in the national economy, Hawkins said he was extremely happy with the tote turnover which was only 1% down on last year’s figures.

The takings on the July meeting alone were R49 million, only slightly down on last year. Takings on the national tote were only 4% down on last year’s figures.

Joint Gold Circle Chairman, Vidrik Thurling, said that it would be well to remember that these figures came off a high base and that under the circumstances the turnovers were outstanding.

Vodacom’s Regional Manager in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Alberts Breedt, said that he been extremely happy with Saturday’s event. He said he shared this relationship with Gold Circle with great pride as it did so much for Vodacom.

John Bescoby, Gold Circle’s other joint chairman, echoed Thurling’s sentiments. He said it was a fantastic Vodacom Durban July and to have the president of the country, Jacob Zuma, in attendance was a coup for horse racing.

Thurling said that President Zuma could not believe that people could get so passionate about horseracing and that having him present had been a major coup.

Big City Life stormed to victory giving both trainer Glen Kotzen and jockey Greg Cheyne their first wins in the big race.

The result confirmed the confidence of Kotzen, who had described the bay three-year-old colt as a “freak” in the lead up to the event.

Big City Life has now repeated the feat of the great Dynasty in winning all of the Grade 1 Cape Derby, the Grade 2 KRA Guineas, the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the July in his three-year-old season.

The syndicate of owners Raymond Deacon, Andre Hauptfleisch, Glen Mitchell and Kotzen himself was then assembled.

Before the July, Hennie Basson, a business partner of Andre Hauptfleisch’s, also became a shareholder. The first three past the post were all three-year-olds with the two Mike de Kock rank outsiders, Zirconeum and Forest Path finishing second and third respectively and Thundering Jet in fourth.

Hot favourite Pocket Power was caught at the back of the field in a slow-run race and although running on strongly at the finish the champ was unable to make the frame to the disappointment of his legion of fans.