Last year’s runner up Marinaresco defied carrying the heaviest weight to race to a spectacular win under Bernard Fayd’Herbe to win the R4,25 million Vodacom Durban July at Greyville Racecourse, giving trainer Candice Bass-Robinson her maiden win in Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event.
Fayd’Herbe engineered a spectacular charge through the middle of the field in the closing two hundred metres to win from a resurgent Al Sahem and another pre-race favourite Edict Of Nantes edging ahead of outsider Krambambuli and the filly Nightingale.
There were joyous scenes on the track as Fayb’Herbe was congratulated by his brother Robert, who has overseen much of Marinaresco’s training at the Bass yard at the Summerveld Training Centre.
The capacity crowd revelled in the fever pitch excitement as the thoroughbreds turned into the home straight, and needed replays to confirm that Marinaresco was indeed the 2017 champion.
The massive crowd then returned to the lavishly appointed suites and the vibrant Marquee Village to celebrate the occasion that will be remembered for it’s mild weather, and a distinct leaning towards bling, glitz and glamour and away from the bizarre.
RESULT OF THE 2017 VODACOM DURBAN JULY
1. Marinaresco
2. Al Sahem
3. Edict of Nantes
4. Krambambuli
5. Nightingale
6. Horizon
Source: Durban July