Doyen Durban owners and breeders Roy and Gladys Meaker are looking forward to their ninth run in the country’s biggest race, the Vodacom Durban July, and there will be many neutrals hoping the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Mr Winsome gives them a richly deserved victory.

Gladys explained the lucky circumstances behind landing a share in Mr Winsome, “We were sitting next to Dean at the Sale when he was bought. Roy had planned to buy me a horse which was going through the ring later. Dean offered us Mr Winsome and we immediately replied we were in for a share. So we were the first shareholders. I love Silvano, he is my favourite stallion. But they are just about impossible to get these days.”

The Meaker couple’s last July runner, Ice Machine, who ran in 2015, was also by Silvano and they actually bred him too.” Ice Machine was a brilliant miler and was most unfortunate to end his career without a Grade 1 victory. In the July, trained by Charles Laird, he moved up superbly at the top of the straight, but the 2200m distance was beyond him and he finished 7th.

The other shareholders of Mr Winsome are Darryl and Victoria Dickerson, who will be flying in from Indonesia, and passionate Cape Town-based owners Bryn Ressell, Barry Zeidel and George Nichas. All of the owners are loyal supporters of the Kannemeyer yard and Dean said, “They are a great bunch of owners to train for.”

It is little wonder the Meakers are hooked on racing as it was not long after they had been introduced to the sport in the 1970s by trainer Sonny Whiteford’s daughter-in-law that they experienced big race success. In 1976 they had their first involvement in the July when their two Whiteford-trained three-year-olds Gigantic and Bahadur made it into the final field. Gigantic, who had won both the Dingaans and the Cape Derby, only just failed to place, finishing fifth at odds of 7/1, while Bahadur was seventh at 6/1 odds. Gigantic won the Holiday Inns later that year and Bahadur won the 1977 J&B Met in what was a momentous season for the Meakers.

Gigantic went on to run in the next three Julys without ever improving on his fifth place. In that 1976 race he finished a whisker behind Majestic Crown, who was running in the colours of one of the country’s biggest owners, Cyril Hurwitz. Gladys recalled those heady days fondly, describing Hurwitz as “a great character”. They also used to rub shoulders with the regal couple, Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer.

Later, the Meakers sent some of their horses to another great character of the game, trainer Brian Cherry.

However, their next July runner was the Paddy Lunn-trained Secret Rites in 1992. There was much anticipation that year as Secret Rites started 3/1 favourite. Top jockey Basil Marcus was flown out from Hong Kong to ride him. However, the day turned into a major disappointment. Secret Rites first he lost a shoe on the way to the start and then in attempting to overcome the widest draw of all he ended up too handy. He duly faded and finished stone last.

The following year Secret Rites started 6/1 and finished 10^th, although in his very next start he won the Gr 1 Mainstay International (Champions Cup) at Clairwood, beating the former July winner Flaming Rock.

Gladys said the only stressful time of the July build up for an owner comes at the time of the final field selection.

She said, “You know your horse is good enough but it’s up to the panel to say yay or nay.” Their biggest disappointment in this regard was when Ice Machine didn’t make the cut in 2014.

She said the week of the July is a time for enjoyment and there is always the Friday evening cocktail party to look forward to also.

However, she admitted the member of the family who always got most excited about their runners was her son Shaun, an outstanding photographer and a passionate fan of the sport of kings.

Gladys concluded, “I just love the July, it has that special feel to it.”

By David Thiselton