Castlebet-backed July Cup delivers thrilling day of racing

Horse racing
Junius Racing star proves his class as Castlebet delivers another memorable day of horse racing in Rehoboth.
Brian Munango
  • 6 Hours Ago

Woodland Ridge lived up to his billing as one of Namibia's elite thoroughbreds after overcoming an injury scare to win the prestigious Castlebet Cup on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on a successful Castlebet July Cup in Rehoboth.

The Junius Racing runner produced a commanding performance in the 2,200-metre feature race, defeating a quality field of 14 runners to secure the day's biggest prize in the highlight of a packed 19-race programme.

Following the victory, owner Enrico Junius revealed that Woodland Ridge had not enjoyed the perfect preparation heading into the race.

"A good horse will lose its form, but not its class," he said.

"Woodland had an injury before the race, but he recovered well and was ready for the long distance. He proved he is the top horse in Namibia."

Junius also praised title sponsor Castlebet for its continued investment in the sport.

"To the sponsors, Castlebet, we are very grateful for such big prize money. Thank you."

The Castlebet Cup carried a total prize fund of N$55,000, with the winner earning N$25,000, second place N$15,000, third N$10,000 and fourth N$5,000.

The penultimate Race 18 (Nambred A-Div 2000m) was won by Katiti Komambo of Okahandja Racing. The race offered a total purse of N$22,500, including N$11,250 for the winner.

Earlier, Race 17 (Import D-Div 1800m) carried a total prize fund of N$14,400, with the winner receiving N$7,200.

The day's programme also produced a string of impressive performances. Southern Stream claimed Race 5, Torix Night completed a double in Races 6 and 13, Scofield also secured two victories in Races 7 and 11, while Union Rose, Desert Storm, Leif Erikson, Golden Fire and American Matador were among the other winners.

Away from the racing action, Castlebet kept spectators engaged through its betting promotion. Fans who placed a N$50 bet on Race 17 and the Castlebet Cup qualified for lucky draws. Ridley van Wyk won the N$1,000 cash prize after correctly backing the winner of Race 17. However, the N$2,000 prize linked to the Castlebet Cup draw went unclaimed as there were no winning bets on the feature race.

With exciting racing, competitive fields and enthusiastic crowds, the Castlebet July Cup once again reinforced its status as Namibia's premier horse racing event. Castlebet's sponsorship and fan activations added another dimension to the occasion, further strengthening the growth and profile of horse racing in the country.