Durban - In the wake of Paul the psychic Octopus’ uncannily accurate predictions of results for the German team during the Soccer World Cup, socialites and racing fans are asking Durban’s equivalent to assist them in tipping a winner for Saturday’s Durban July.

At Ushaka Marine World, the home of the Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban’s equivalent of Paul the Octopus is actually a “Pauline” and pregnant, which makes them basically inert and unco-operative when it comes to picking form thoroughbreds.

So the intrepid Durban July team followed the lead of the Seaworld staffers and went to the seal and penguin colonies for help.

The penguins were delighted to oblige, and when 20 identical balls, each bearing the number of a Durban July runner, were set up on a piece of Astroturf in their enclosure, they excitedly examined the balls, before making their selections.

Some simply waded into the line of balls, spraying them with glee into every corner of the enclosure. But others, one assumes the astute punters among them, carefully studied each ball before carefully picking it up and taking it off to their nest.

What might initially seem like a random exercise started to develop focus when one ball consistently became to dominant focus of their attention.

Ball number 16 was carried away five times more frequently than any other, and often became the subject of a heated squabble for possession between ardent punter penguins like Arnette, Lilo, Letoya and Sugar.

In a final adjudication, the 20 balls were set up one last time, and Tinkerbell strode straight to ball number 16, and scurried of to his nest to present it as a gift to his partner.

A nest egg perhaps?

Horse 16 for the R3 million Durban July is the Justin Snaith trained Russian Sage, currently being quoted at 16/1 by the bookies.

Even one of the seals took a break from Seal Island to give the selection of Russian Sage high honours.

Physic Penguins? Perhaps. Enthusiastic about the Durban July? Most certainly.

Should Russian Sage gallop past the finishing post first to give Snaith another victory following Dancers Daughter in 2008, you can be sure that many more people will return to Seaworld to consult the psychic penguins!

The Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, July 31, 2010. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za


Sugar walks away with her selection, ball number 16 (Russian Sage) for the running of the 2010 Durban July. (Dave Macleod / Gameplan Media)