Bold Silvano Delivers Great Win in Durban July Handicap - 04-05-10

August 5 - Last Saturday, South African horseracing fans were treated to the spectacular 2010 Durban July Handicap (Gr 1), the biggest race in the country, which attracted a 20-horse field including deserving winner, Bold Silvano.

With betting rife ahead of the prestigious 2200m race, there was huge speculation as to who would win the turf race, which this year was held in the last week of July instead of the first, so as to not interfere with the 2010 World Cup.

As expected 7-year-old Pocket Power, arguably the best racehorse in South Africa over the last decade, and his full sister, 6-year-old mare River Jetez, who is in prime winning form, were right up there amongst the early favourites.

But it was 3-year-old colt and favourite Bold Silvano (13/2) who grabbed the most attention. No stranger to Durban's Greyville Racecourse, Bold Silvano likes track and on Saturday had top-rated jockey Anthony Delpech aboard.

These three factors, coupled with the fact that he is trained by Mike de Kock, arguably South Africa's best racehorse trainer, contributed to what will no doubt be remembered as one of the most exciting Durban July's in recent years.

At the start, Red Race, one of Mike de Kock's seven entries, set a blistering pace, before tiring as expected. Perhaps he should have been called Red Herring, but he accomplished his mission to set a good pace for his stable mates.

As the frontrunners jostled for position hurtling towards the line, the two runners that emerged from the fray were Irish Flame and? Bold Silvano. The latter sneaked through along the rail while the latter turned inward from the outside.

But it was Bold Silvano who pipped Irish Flame at the post to win the 2010 Durban July Handicap in fine style. After Irish Flame in second (with Kevin O'Shea aboard) came Orbison in third (with Raymond Danielson aboard).

Bred by Rose and Ashley Parker at the Ascot Stud in Port Elizabeth, Bold Silvano is owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifah Al Maktoum.

Here are the full 2010 Durban July Handicap results:

1. Bold Silvano
2. Irish Flame
3. Orbison
4. Service Ace
5. Happy Valley
6. River Jetez
7. Fabiani, Lizarre
8. Rudra
9. Ancestral Fore
10. Vertical Takeoff
11. Pocket Power
12. Goat
13. Captain Scott
14. Russian Sage
15. Love Is In The Air
16. Aslan
17. Fort
18. Vogue
19. Red Rake
20. Flying Tristram