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First July win for Tarry yard!


Sean saddled the winner of South Africa’s most famous race on Saturday, when his 3yo Pomodoro ran out a storming winner of the R3 million, G1 Vodacom Durban July. It was a first win in the race for both Sean and leading owner, Chris Van Niekerk.

The July victory was the cherry on the top of a magnificent season enjoyed by Sean and Chris, the latter having been one of the Tarry yard’s most loyal and stalwart supporters. Saturday’s victory was all the more poignant, with Pomodoro being one of three July runners for Chris. The victory was made so much sweeter by the fact, that Pomodoro was also bred by Chris.

Pomodoro also benefitted from a magnificent ride from former champion jockey, Pierre “Striker” Strydom. Strydom was winning the July for the third time (he won previously on London News and Trademark), and he made full use of his experience and guile to win a race, in which many fancied contenders went missing.

Pomodoro himself is a horse who clearly thrives on a fight. Having gallantly gotten up previously to share the spoils in the G1 SA Derby with Royal Bencher, the colt showed similar reserves of courage to win South Africa’s top race, when outfighting some tough older rivals.

Quickening up well when coming into the home straight, Pomodoro was headed by rank outside Smanjemanje in the final 100m, but fought back bravely to nab the eventual runner up by a short head.

In a tight finish, there was 2.75 lengths separating the first eight home – with Sean’s other two July runenrs, Gold Onyx and Whiteline Fever, running seventh and eighth respectively.

Long well regarded by Sean, Pomodoro was found to be suffering from a shoulder problem following his run in the Daily News 2000. However, the colt thrived after the race, and was spot on coming into the July, but unfortunately drew widest of all, in barrier 20.

The second son of Jet Master to win the July, Pomodoro has secured himself in the lineup for Equus Honours next month. He has won four feature races this year, two of which were G1, and he was also desperately unlucky not to win a fifth – when narrowly touched off in the G1 SA Classic.

Pomodoro, now a six time winner, is also another feather in the cap of his dam Golden Apple – who was also trained by Sean!

Golden Apple, a daughter of champion broodmare sire Northern Guest, was a talented racemare, who won the G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She has also duplicated this success at stud, with her seven registered foals to date having included six winners and four black type performers. Golden Apple’s previous high-class performers include the G2 winner Golden Chariot, winner of the Astrapak 1900.

Dead-heating seems to run in the family – as not only did Pomodoro dead heat in the SA Derby, but his half-brother, Golden Chariot, shared the spoils in the G2 Astrapak 1900 of 2011.

Golden Apple has surely thrown her name into the hat for Equus Broodmare of the Year!

It is remarkable to think that Pomodoro began his career last August, and less than one year on, he has captured a Derby as well as South Africa’s greatest and beloved race.

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