The Ultimate King Scratched - Mickaelle Michel to ride Curious Girl

John Eastwood

Editor

Last updated: Wed 01 Jul 2026 15:37

John Eastwood 1 hour ago

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The Ultimate King withdrawn from 2026 Durban July due to lameness
Reserves Curious Girl and Choisaanada promoted to the final field
Two female jockeys, Mickaelle Michel and Rachel Venniker, now riding in the race

Durban July. (Getty)

A second horse has been withdrawn from Saturday's Durban July this week, after The Ultimate King was taken out of the field.

Tony Peter was hopeful of a big run from The Ultimate King when he spoke to the press last month. Peter's gelding ran well when third in the Colorado King Stakes at Turffontein in April, and was narrowly beaten behind Isivivane on his most recent outing in the WSB 1900.

Sadly, Peter spoke to the press today and revealed that he'd found The Ultimate King to be lame this morning, and would therefore be scratching his contender from the 2026 Durban July.

Yesterday, the race lost its ante-post favourite, after Star Major spiked a temperature in his box. That seemed to end jockey Mickaelle Michel's hopes of becoming the first female jockey to win South Africa's most famous race, as she was due to keep the ride on James Crawford's market leader.

It seems, however, that Michel has been thrown a lifeline. The Ultimate King's withdrawal means that second reserve Curious Girl will now take her spot in the final field and, with regular riders Sean Veale and Gavin Lerena already riding in the race, Mike and Mathew de Kock could turn to Michel to ride the rank outsider of the field.

First reserve, Choisaanada has also been promoted into the final field. He'll be ridden by Rachel Venniker, meaning that two female jockeys will ride in Saturday's main event.