Hollywoodbets Durban July: Flashback to 2022 race – WATCH

We are just 10 days away from the 127th running of the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 1 July.

FOR THE LATEST HORSERACING NEWS PLEASE VISIT THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEBSITE

As reported by The South African website, a capacity 55 000-strong crowd is expected to attend what is internationally regarded as the holy grail of South African horseracing.

The final field for this year’s race has been confirmed – read all about who’s in – and out – HERE

ALSO READ | ‘Out Of This World’ theme for 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July revealed

But what happened in last year’s race? Can you remember?

According to the Sporting Post website, the 2022 contest produced a dream result for multiple champion conditioner Mike de Kock and jockey S’manga Khumalo, when Mary Slack’s Silvano filly Sparkling Water gave the boys a hiding.

After two years of Covid-19 induced silence on course, the crowds returned in their numbers.

ALSO READ | Hollywoodbets Durban July: 55 000 fans expected to attend

Sparkling Water (16/1), the sole member of the fairer sex in the class of 2022, romped clear off a modest pace into the final 300m, to beat Jet Dark (16/1) by 3 lengths in a time of 135.08 seconds and give Mary Slack a first Durban July success, after her parents Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer won it six times in their famed yellow and black strip.

Another De Kock runner, Safe Passage (11/2) was the first three-year-old home in third, a further 0.30 lengths back.

Sparkling Water was Mike de Kock’s third fairer sex victress in the big race after Ipi Tombe (2002) and Igugu (2011) – and his fifth overall.

Sparkling Water is not in the field for this year’s race, meaning we will have a new winner.

WIN | Hollywoodbets celebrates the Durban July with a R1 million Bonanza