by Myra Lewyn

At the end of the Vodacom Durban July (SAf-G1) on Saturday at Greyville racecourse, Big City Life had reached the summit of an outstanding season while South African legend Pocket Power showed that there are no certainties in horse racing.

A three-year-old by the Sadler’s Wells stallion Casey Tibbs, Big City Life seized the lead in midstretch and was closely pursued by Group 1-winning filly Zirconeum all the way to the finish, scoring by three-quarters of a length in South Africa’s most important race. He covered 2,200 meters (10.94 furlongs) in a course record 2:15.55 on turf rated as good.

Pocket Power, bidding for a second consecutive win in the Durban July after finishing in a dead heat last year with Dancer’s Daughter, was last entering the straight and had too much ground to make up in a fifth-place finish.

The reigning South African Horse of the Year, Pocket Power entered with a four-race win streak that included history-making victories in the J & B Met (SAf-G1) and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (SAf-G1). He won both major races for the third consecutive year and appeared unstoppable to extend his streak, although he was conceding at least 18 pounds to the top four finishers in the race.

Big City Life duplicated the feat of Dynasty in 2003 by capturing the Investec Cape Derby (SAf-G1), KRA Guineas (SAf-G2), Daily News 2,000 (SAf-G1), and the July as a three-year-old. He most likely cemented the Equus Award for champion three-year-old honors with Saturday’s victory while solidifying credentials to challenge Pocket Power for the Horse the Year title.

Trained by Glen Kotzen, Big City Life was positioned in third early under Greg Cheyne while Zirconeum raced in fourth as Forest Path set a slow pace. Pocket Power raced in midfield early before dropping back to last in the 20-horse field entering turn.

On Cheyne’s cue, Big City Life lengthened his stride and held back the strong bid of Zirconeum for the victory.

Forest Path held on to finish third, 1¼ lengths behind Zirconeum.

Big City Life entered off back-to-back wins in the KRA Guineas on May 12 and the Daily News 2,000 on June 6, both at Greyville.

Big City Life is campaigned by a syndicate that includes Kotzen, whose mother-in-law bred the colt. He is out of the Goldmark mare Dollar Crisis and represents the immediate family of Argentine champion sprinter Hard Up.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor