The Wilgerbosdrift bred and owned filly Sparkling Water put up a superb performance when she won Saturday’s G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Under a fine ride from former champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo, the four-year-old claimed her first G1 triumph when scorching home over the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf to score by an emphatic three lengths
Defying a poor draw of 12, Sparkling Water was making her first start since finishing second in the G1 TAB Premier’s Champions Challenge run at the end of April.
Trained by Mike de Kock, Sparkling Water was providing her owner Mary Slack with her first July triumph and her trainer his fifth win in the famed Greyville showpiece event.
She is also the fifth July winner for deceased champion sire Silvano, whose progeny include previous July winners Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King and Marinaresco.
The beautifully bred Sparkling Water, herself a daughter of Dansili’s G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge/G2 Betting World 1900 winning daughter Espumanti, has now won 7 races for earnings of R4 354 125.
The July was Sparkling Water’s third graded win, with the filly having also claimed both the G3 Victory Moon Stakes and G2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers earlier in the season.