THOUSANDS of punters and party-seekers braved the chilly July weather to enjoy the 120th instalment of Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event on Saturday. The Conglomerate gave trainer Joey Ramsden his first Vodacom Durban July winner at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.

Race Seven lived up to the expectation with the final furlong producing all the action as the pre-race favourites all fell by the wayside which left The Conglomerate, starting from the extreme outside draw of eighteen and ridden by Vodacom Durban July veteran Piere Strydom, and Marinaresco to fight it out over the final lengths with the former winning and claiming the R4.25-million prize with Mac de Lago finishing in third position.

A thrilled Strydom heaped prise on the four year old, saying he had more than enough to hold off the challenge from Marinaresco, with the fancied Bela-Bela failing to mount a challenge in the finish straight after straightening on the inside.