Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite Green With Envy departed his Summerveld base on Sunday morning, and bar some minor bruising after Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 thriller, is on track to become the eleventh three-year-old this century to win the big race on 6 July.
Speaking to the Sporting Post on a beautiful day at the KZN training centre HQ, trainer Dean Kannemeyer said that winning Grade 1 races is seldom a walk in the park, but that Saturday’s race had been particularly eventful.
“I don’t want to be unkind or disrespectful, but it was a bit of a shambles – a perfect storm of circumstance, I suppose. Green With Envy took a bump out of the gate. The initial leader went fast, then the jockey looked behind, and restrained his mount. That caused a concertina effect. I see the Stipes have opened an inquiry into Barbaresco being carried out at the 900m. My horse was also checked and he found himself further out of his ground than we wanted to be. The saddle slipped on The Grey King. So he unfortunately couldn’t be assisted. These things happen in racing!”
Unbeaten since going beyond a mile for the first time in the Schweppes Grade 3 Politician Stakes on Met day, we asked Dean why the Khaya Stables star had drifted in, in the run for home.
“We picked up some bruising this morning on his near-for cannon. Craig feels that he took the bump that caused the bruising when they came out of the gates. He was feeling that, and it is probably the reason that he ran away from it in the home straight. It’s minor and won’t impact on his prep in any way,” he confirmed.
Craig Zackey, who picked up three winners on the day, took some social media criticism from various quarters for going around his field, rather than waiting to make his run down the inside rail. We asked the top trainer what he thought about that.
“Craig rode his race and he knows his horse. Green With Envy is a long striding athlete, and those out front could easily poach a vital length or two in the run for home. Remember too, that sitting on a sofa is quite different to sitting in the saddle in a Grade 1 race. Decisions are split-second calls. We are very happy and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw is over the moon.”
And the wait afterwards for the race review?
“The Stipes have a job to do. Both Craig and I didn’t feel there was any grounds for concern. They never touched, and the runner-up also shifted in from the crop. And Craig said that Flag Man – what a lovely horse he is – was very game, but that in the final strides we were going away from him. As I said, Grade 1 victories have to be earned. They are designed to be fought for, rather than dished up on a platter!”
Dean, who won the Durban July in 2003 with Dynasty, in 2006 with Eyeofthetiger, and in 2015 with Power King, described Green With Envy’s prep into the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July, as having gone 100% according to plan:
“I had him underdone for the WSB Grade 2 Guineas and he was not wound up for the Daily News. He is a tall, racy individual with a great temperament, who keeps himself fit. So in these last 40 days into the big race, we will keep him happy and ticking over and then he will go on the grass ten days before.”
We asked the man who saddled Dynasty to win the July from a 20 draw in closing, what would be an ideal barrier gate for Green With Envy.
“One always needs some luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but I’d be very happy with a gate of somewhere between 5 and 10. But he’s a class act and a massively talented horse, and we’ll run our race whatever ticket we pull.”
