South African champion Do It Again is the senior in the Group 1 Durban July class of 2022 at the grand old age of seven. The son of Twice Over won the Durban July in 2018 and 2019, and now bids to write his name into the folklore of the sport of kings, with a historic third success at Greyville racecourse on Saturday morning (first post: 5:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. PT). The Greyville card will be broadcast live on TVG with simulcast available for livestream on the Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms.
Do It Again (10-1) could become also become the first 7-year-old to win the big race for 77 years. St. Seiriol was the last 7-year-old to do it 1945 and some would argue he only managed it because it was a substitute July, falling as it did in the war years. However, Pas De Quoi was one of the unluckiest losers of the July in history in 1994 when seven years old.
He is the best performed horse in July history, having run the best race at the weights all four times he ran, which included two wins. Last year he was unlucky to not go closer as he was continually hampered down the straight and still managed to run fourth.
This year, he will be ridden by the jockey with the highest strike rate in the country, Aldo Domeyer and rounded off his prep with a smooth victory in the recent G2 WSB Cup Trial.
Last year's winner Kommetdieding (10-1), looks to have come right at the right time and as one of just seven horses to have done the July-Met double he has to be respected despite carrying joint top weight. He has a better draw of 13 than when winning from draw 18 last year.
Linebacker (6-1), who finished an unlucky second last year, has not won this season but he has landed an inside draw of four and has had a good preparation.
Mike de Kock seldom misses when he has a favorite in a big race and Safe Passage (3-1) will be the choice of most pundits. He won the G1 Daily News 2000 with ease despite an interrupted preparation and should have come on from the run. However, he does have to give three pounds to the 3-year-olds he beat in the Daily News, so it won't be easy.
Sparkling Water (7-1) was out of her ground in the TAB Premier's Champions Challenge behind fractions which proved the horse who was alone in second, Astrix, was going at the right pace. She did well to run on and only just be denied by Astrix. She comes in with a nice galloping weight of 118 lbs.
Jet Dark was running on strongly in both the WSB Met and the Daily News 2000, so has a chance of staying the 1 3/8 mile trip. He is full of class but does have to carry topweight.
Waterberry Lane would be a fairtytale winner being owned by the recently late doyen Mike Rattray and he has been perfectly tuned by three times July-winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer.
The Greyville card will be broadcast live on TVG this Saturday morning (first post: 5:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. PT) and can be livestreamed on the Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to livestreaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
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