Durban July: Power to the King (gallery)
For the second year in succession it was left to the stipendiary stewards to analyse the race footage in this year’s Vodacom Durban July.
Power King, ridden by jockey Stuart Randolph wins the 119th running of the Vodacom Durban July, 4 July 2015, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban. The winner banks 3.2 million rand in this race. Picture: Alaister Russell
At the business end of a rough run race at Greyville it was Power King and Punta Arenas who had emerged as the two main contenders heading into the closing stages.
At the line it was Power King, ridden by Stuart Randolph, who had come out tops but there would be a twist as the hooter sounded, an objection on the grounds of interference in the closing stages had been lodged.
It was almost half an hour after the field of 18 had jumped from the 2 200m mark that a decision was made with the stipendary stewards deciding that the Dean Kannemeyer inmate was to be crowned the 2015 winner.
The head-on replay showed that Punta Arenas, who would have provided the perfect swan song for trainer Stan Elley who retires at the end of the season, had shifted into Power King and while there was reciprocal shifting it was more due to Power King losing its footing and in turn hanging outwards.
It was left to Tellina, ridden by Johnny Geroudis, and top-weight Futura, from the Justin Snaith stable to fight out the minor positions. Tellina ended up third and Futura in fourth.
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- Reverllers watch as horses race by,4 July 2015, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban, for the Vodacom Durban July under the theme . The event has attracted thousands under the theme “The Captain’s Table”. Picture: Alaister Russell
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- Power King, ridden by jockey Stuart Randolph wins the 119th running of the Vodacom Durban July, 4 July 2015, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban. The winner banks 3.2 million rand in this race. Picture: Alaister Russell
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- A Reveler takes a picture ahead of the main race, 4 July 2015, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban, for the Vodacom Durban July under the theme . The event has attracted thousands under the theme “The Captain’s Table”. Picture: Alaister Russell
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- Power King, ridden by jockey Stuart Randolph wins the 119th running of the Vodacom Durban July, 4 July 2015, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban. The winner banks 3.2 million rand in this race. Picture: Alaister Russell
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- Revelers gather to watch the main race, 4 July 2015, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban, for the Vodacom Durban July under the theme . The event has attracted thousands under the theme “The Captain’s Table”. Picture: Alaister Russell
At the jump it was Helderberg Blue and Deputy Jud who went up to set the pace and the two set decent enough fractions up front. As the field swung into the home straight there was a definite preference for the outside rail with a number of runners opting to take that route home.
Tote favourite Legal Eagle had looked like mounting a challenge but couldn’t find a gap as Power King and Punta Arenas took up the running and dulled down to the line.
It was the third success in the race for Kannemeyer and for Randolph it was the first time he’d piloted a winner home in the R3.5-million race.
