Slumdogmillionaire to miss 2012 Vodacom Durban July

The much-awaited clash in the R3-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July at Greyville on July 7 between what are claimed to be the country’s two top three-year-olds, Jackson and Slumdogmillionaire, will not happen this year.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl revealed today that his star Strike Smartly colt, impressive winner of the R2-million, Grade 1 SA Classic at Turffontein at the end of March, will be out of racing for the entire Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal. After being found slightly lame, X-rays showed that the colt had a bone chip on his fetlock and surgery would be required.

71 Entries received for 2012 Vodacom Durban July

A massive entry of 71 of the country’s finest thoroughbreds have been entered for the 2012 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2 200m at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, July 7, but the big shock of the announcement was that the superstar filly Igugu, winner of the race last year, was not among them.

The talk at the special function at Greyville to launch Champions Season 2012 and reveal the first entries for the big race, was that Mike de Kock has an overseas plan for the filly that also won the J&B Met at Kenilworth in January. However, the reference to the overseas campaign was vague and many believed that the fabulous filly might still be entered at one of the later entry dates.