DATE: Friday, 15 May 2015, Night Racing
AGE/ CONDITION: Open Conditions Race over 1900m
ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 24 April 2015 – Fee: R 798
SUPP ENTRIES: 11:00am Thursday, 30 April 2015 – Fee R 3192
WEIGHTS: Friday, 24 May 2015
Benchmark at 62,0kg = 115 or more
Benchmark at 60,0kg = 110 to 114
Benchmark at 58,0kg = 105 to 109
Benchmark at 56,0kg = 100 to 104
Benchmark at 54,0kg = 95 to 99
Benchmark at 52,0kg = 94 and less
The winner of this race will not incur a penalty of more than 6 rating points, unless requested.
There will be no rating increase for placed horses, unless requested.
Weight for age allowance will be applied where applicable to a minimum weight of 50,0kg.
Sex Allowance of 2,5kg for Fillies and Mares, subject to a minimum weight of 50kg
DECLARATIONS: 11:00am Thursday, 7 May 2015 – Fee R 3192
2014 Betting World 1900
Horse: Espumanti
Jockey: Anthony Delpech
Trainer: M F De Kock
Owners: Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack)
Breeder: New England Stud, Myriad and N. Wright
About the Betting World 1900:
The Betting World 1900 is a Grade 2 merit rated handicap run for a stake of R350 000 over 1 900m and this year it will take place on Friday, May 16.
The Betting World 1900 itself is one of the more important races on the Champions Season calendar. It is one of the stepping stones for older horses to secure a place in the final Vodacom Durban July field.
Each year horses from around the country converge on Durban for Champions Season and in many cases they need to show their ability and well-being if they are to be considered as potential big race contenders. Over the years many horses that have won or featured strongly in the result of this race have gone on to win Africa’s greatest race.
ROLL OF HONOUR:
2014
Espumanti claims Betting World 1900 at a canter. The four-year-old British-bred filly Espumanti booked her place in the field for the R3.5-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July when she thrashed a competitive field of colts and geldings to win the R350 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night.
At the same meeting, the three-year-old Dynasty colt Futura threw down a challenge to the July selection panel to dare leave him out of the country’s premier event when he pulverised his opposition in the Betting World Fixed Odds Exotics 1900 Consolation, a race specially carded for runners that did not make the Betting World 1900 field.
2013
This long-standing pointer to the Vodacom Durban July once again drew a competitive field and front-runner Viva Maria set off with gusto to lead the pack from the start and into the home straight.
But moving smoothly and full of running, Jet Explorer was unleashed coming off the false rail and extending his stride moved through smartly to take the lead and race to an easy 2.75 lengths victory from Rock Cocktail, Gold Onyx and Straw Market.
2012
It was the four-year-old Dynasty filly Beach Beauty, trained by Dennis Drier for the Shanks Syndicate that was all the rage to win the race after her great win in the KRA Fillies Guineas. Only two other fillies in recent times, Faralmond and River Jetez, had managed to win this race and Beach Beauty had it all to do.
But she proved that she was something special and after settling as Lion In Winter opened up a large lead, she was set alight in the home straight and accelerated through to win as she liked. Master Plan ran a gallant race to hold off top-weight Chesalon for second place
2011
In a thrilling climax to the R300 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night (May 20), the judges were unable to separate pacemaker Golden Chariot and the Australian-bred gelding Safwan and declared a dead-heat.
The Mike de Kock-trained Safwan, under a powerful ride by Anthony Delpech, stuck his nose down on the line to deny Golden Chariot the outright victory for the Sean Tarry stable after the Caesour gelding had led from the break and looked a certain winner with metres to go.
Young Muzi Yeni had ridden a tactically perfect race on the six-year-old gelding, getting away smartly from his inside draw and dictating the pace ahead of favourite Hammie’s Boy, Fisani, We Three and another fancied runner, In Writing. He drove Golden Chariot clear at the top of the straight with the rest of the field in hot pursuit.
Delpech had settled Safwan midfield and slipped to the inside rail for his challenge as Karl Neisius brought the Dean Kannemeyer-trained In Writing down the middle of the course with a sustained finishing burst.
Golden Chariot looked set to hold on for the win with Yeni driving him as hard as he could but Safwan was closing fast and the pair went to the line almost as one horse with Safwan extending in the final stride to share the winner’s spoils.
2010
There has always been a major buzz about the Betting World 1900 as one of the crucial pointers to the Vodacom Durban July and this year was no different with some top-class contenders among the field including Aslan, winner of the Summer Cup and looking in great condition.
The Sean Tarry-trained Silvano four-year-old opened in the betting at 9-2 along with the three-year-old Bold Silvano from the Mike de Kock stable, also a son of Silvano. But it was Aslan who drew the support and shortened into 75-20 at the off with Bold Silvano easing out to 15-2.
The three-year-old had previously been trained by Gavin Smith in Port Elizabeth and campaigned in the Sizzling Summer Season in the Western Cape where he had finished two lengths behind Noordhoek Flyer in the Bloodstock SA Guineas and five lengths behind Bravura in the Investec Cape Derby.
Mike de Kock had obviously seen his potential and bought Bold Silvano for his leading patron Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum with a campaign in Dubai in mind.
In the race, jockey Anthony Delpech allowed Bold Silvano to settle mid-field while Aslan raced up handier and with 400m to go Aslan looked on course for victory with Bold Silvano still mid-field and some two lengths behind him.
But then the three-year-old exploded into action and ripped through the field to get up and beat Aslan by about a head. He had covered the final 400m in 22.5 secs and gave notice right then that he was a special individual and a force to be reckoned with in future races.
With the magic touch of Mike de Kock, Bold Silvano began his Vodacom Durban July preparation in earnest and finished second to Irish Flame in the Daily News 2000, fourth to Orbison in the Champions Cup at Clairwood before running a sensational race in the Vodacom Durban July to beat his stable companion Irish Flame.
2009
Punters eagerly eyeing the Vodacom Durban July were abuzz with the solid two length victory from Tropical Empire in the R350 000 Betting World 1900 at Greyville racecourse on Friday night.
Ridden by Brandon Lerena and trained by Duncan Howells, Tropical Night proved that his second in the Drill Hall Stakes was no flash-in-the-pan, and the Australian bred bay dived down the inside to race away from Cape Town, Air Combat and Crown of Power.
