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Strong Australian Flavour In Durban July

3 minute read

One jockey and five horses give Australia a worthy representation in South Africa’s richest race, the R3.5 million Vodacom Durban July at Greyville on Saturday.

Chad Schofield
Chad Schofield Picture: Racing and Sports

Schofield, the 21-year-old son of Sydney-based former South African jockey Glyn Schofield, will have his first ride in South Africa in the Durban July.

While Scholfield grew up in South Africa, we can count him as an Australian riding product as he began his riding career in Sydney in 2010. He is the only rider to win champion apprentice titles in both Sydney and Melbourne after he moved south midway through his apprenticeship.

The winner of four G1 races to date, Schofield has been riding in the UK for the last month and will soon be heading to Hong Kong where he takes up a riding contract from the start of the new season in September.

His Durban July mount The Conglomerate has drawn barrier 20 but trainer Joey Ramsden is upbeat about his chances.

“We have a top jockey engaged and the draw is in our favour,” he suggested.

The Conglomerate, by Lonhro, is a one of the five Australian-bred runners in the Durban July.

They include two of the favourites Majmu and Wylie Hall, both by champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

Majmu has won six of her eight starts including two at G1 level and is rated the best filly in South Africa up to 1600m.

She was a $300,000 purchase at the 2013 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft.

At her last start she had her first go at 2000m and was beaten into second place by Wylie Hall, a $205,000 purchase from the Newhaven Park draft at the Magic Millions 2011 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Wylie Hall is one of the best Australian exports to South Africa having won the SA Derby at three. Last year he crossed the line in front in the Durban July only to lose the race on protest.

The Conglomerate, a $160,000 purchase from the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, is from the dual G1-winning mare Republic Lass.

The other Australian-bred runners are Tamaanee, a Teofilo filly closely-related to the boom sire I Am Invincible, and Mac De Lago.

Tamaanee was a $40,000 purchase at the 2013 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale from the Yarraman Park Stud draft while Mac De Lago, by Encosta De Lago, was a $65,000 buy from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Racing and Sports

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