DURBAN boy Jeff Lloyd revived memories of old with a masterful ride on War Horse in the Grade 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Durban July day.

Now based in Australia, following a stint in Hong Kong, Lloyd – known as The Guv’nor - was returning to his hometown to try to capture his first July. But first it was on Corne Spies’ classy colt that he called back the past.

Lloyd always had War Horse (33-10) well-positioned just off the pace. The leader for most of the trip was Blushing Peter, with Mike de Kock’s audacious filly entrant Honorine (7-1) tracking him, alongside War Horse.

With 300m to go, War Horse thundered into the lead under a typical left-hand drive from his pilot. Honorine threw out a spirited challenge but could never get on terms and tired in the final metres to relinquish second position to fast-finishing Shimmer And Shine (25-1). Rank outsider American Storm (50-1) was another with a late run, getting fourth spot.

Lloyd and Spies nearly made it a memorable double of the two Grade 1 juvenile features. They were only headed near the line in the Durban Golden Slipper – the companion fillies’ event to the Horseshoe.

Lloyd had Straight Set flying for the line, but was overhauled in the final strides by Mike de Kock’s Rumya.
The New Zealand-bred Rumya came from well back to slice through the field.

From the yard of champion trainer Mike de Kock, the grey filly was as many as eight lengths off the pace at one stage. But, driven up the centre of the track by Anthony Delpech, Rumya showed an elastic stride.

Nonetheless, she needed a special effort to peg back Straight Set and Jeff Lloyd. And she produced just that, showing some class to get up by about half a length.

Schiffer (8-1) got out of the gates very smartly and led for most of the way. Dennis Drier’s filly stayed on well for third position, with King’s Temptress (13-1) running on for fourth.

De Kock’s other horse in the line-up, Tayba, had to be withdrawn after being injured in the starting stalls – as did the AlecLaird-trained Pirate Girl.