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Big City Life Wins 2009 Durban July Handicap - 07-06-09
 July 6 - On Saturday at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, South Africa, it turned out to be talented three-year-old colt Big City Life who triumphed in the 2009 Durban July Handicap, the country's biggest and most auspicious horserace, topping off what has been an excellent season so far.
In the 2200m open turf race, it was the three-year-old runners who snatched all of the top spots, as Big City Life - with Greg Cheyne aboard - managed to hold off a formidable challenge by Zirconeum who finished second, leading Forest Path home in third and longshot Thundering Jet in fourth.
The result, however, was highly disappointing for the majority of the many thousands of spectators at Greyville - many dressed to the nines as per Durban July's long-standing tradition - who wagered on the overwhelming race favorite, Pocket Power, who could only manage a lack-luster fifth.
At the start of the illustrious turf race, it was Big City Life who broke from the starting gate first and who quickly settled into a comfortable third place behind early pacesetter Forest Path and Argentinean entrant, Aluminium. In fourth was Zirconeum followed by Thundering Jet and Smart Banker.
But as the race for the lead heated up, most of the crowd were intently watching Pocket Power, who was third from last in the 15-horse field in front of Kapil and Outcome. But the real action was at the front of the field, where halfway down the straight Cheyne spurred Big city Life into action.
The gutsy colt went into overdrive as he took the lead, with Zirconeum snapping at his heels every stride of the way until he crossed the line first in a time of 135.55. As for Pocket Power, he managed to redeem at least some kind of pride by fighting his way up the field to cross the line in fifth place.
'I felt that Big City Life always had Zirconeum's measure,' said and ecstatic Cheyne after the great race. 'He was a bit fazed by the roar of the crowd at the 300m mark, but was really only waiting for a horse to come up to him. Once Zirconeum got alongside he just took off again and didn't stop.'
Mike Bass, trainer of Pocket Power, attributed his charge's poor run to a 'combination of a poor draw, a poor start and a pedestrian pace'. 'The horses which made the pace were simply able to maintain their gallop to the line, and the order remained more or less unchanged all the way around,' he said.
Other Articles:
Benny the Bull Back in Smile Sprint - 07-10-09Rocket Man Sidelined Following Injury - 07-09-09Gai Waterhouse in Sydney Premiership Lead - 07-08-09Large Field Expected in Hollywood Gold Cup - 07-08-09Crossthestart Wins The Beginning - 07-05-09Asiatic Boy to Win Suburban Handicap - 07-04-09Mrs Kipling Worth a Wager in American Oaks - 07-03-092009 Durban July Handicap Betting Preview - 07-02-09
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