S’MANGA Khumalo became the first black jockey to win the Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July when he rode Heavy Metal (16-1) to victory in the 2013 running on Saturday.

Khumalo claimed his special place in the long history of South Africa’s premier horse race on a day when the huge crowd at Greyville paid fulsome tribute to former president Nelson Mandela, the first leader of a democratic South Africa who is currently critically ill in hospital.

Four-year-old Heavy Metal’s triumph was also notable for giving owner Chris van Niekerk and trainer Sean Tarry back-to-back July victories, following Pomodoro’s win last year. The defending champion, heavily fancied to also notch a double, was unplaced.