Durban July 2026 Recap
Monday 06 July, 2026Note to Self s/s 109 just edged out stable mate, Wish List s/s 109 in a thrilling Durban July, dominated by trainer Justin Snaith, as the market anticipated.
Wish List raced quite handy under Andrew Fortune whilst Note To Self was positioned towards the rear early, before Richard Fourie cleverly made a sweeping move with 600m to go. They duked it out over the final furlong with the 3YO Futura colt proving just too strong in the finish.
King Pelles was the surprise wake- up- horse – running a career-top figure of 108, good enough for an admirable third.
Viva’s Liberte s/s 107, ridden with more restraint this time, which proved the right tactics, clocked in fourth, also hitting a career peak figure.
Quickstepgal s/s 105 took out the Garden Province Stakes, racing handy then taking control midway down the straight. She easily held off Mon Petit Cherie’s s/s 103 bid with accomplished mare, Double Grand Slam s/s 103, perhaps feeling the effects of her Jozi excursion, below best back in third.
Tienie Prinsloo trains this G1 winner and he must be commended for his deft handling of the best filly he ever worked with; Keagan de Melo rode the classy daughter of Vercingetorix.
Jet Force s/s 107 took out the Merchants, dropping back to sprints which could be what he likes best of all. Credit to Des McLachlan for campaigning his talented charge quite aggressively, travelling up the coast, pitching him into big races over 1400/1600 before dropping him back to shorter cuts. Flair-rider, Grant van Niekerk flew over from Mauritius to bring Jet Force home in this strong Class 3 sprint.
The favourite, Buffalo Storm Cody s/s 106 and “swooper,” Tenango s/s 106 were close by in an exciting finish.
Earlier on the card, two G2 juvenile races were staged over 1400m. The Dean Kannemeyer- trained, Palace of Arvernia s/s 88 managed to overcome a wide gate (13) to win the Golden Slipper and deserves plenty of credit for that achievement, though connections of second placed Alice B Toklas s/s 88, who found trouble in the straight can feel aggrieved their baby got beat.
Vibe Check s/s 94 made his own luck racing upfront in the Golden Horseshoe. The 2/1 fave, conditioned by Vaughan Marshall, went all the way but was fully extended to deny Green Energy s/s 93 and Secretary Bird s/s 93 who were closing in deep stretch.
Other notable figs on the undercard were produced by Please be True s/s 99 in a B Stakes and Talk to the Master s/s 102, in the Listed Thukela Handicap.
And Ahead of the Facts (also trained by Snaith, who had a great day netting four wins) landed the odds in the G3 Gold Vase, confirming his incremental progression into a smart marathon runner.
