Betting guide: Favourites, form and what to expect at the Durban July
All eyes will be on the three-year-old colt, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by champion jockey Richard Fourie, as he heads into the R5 million Durban July on the back of some impressive results.
Eight of Eighteen, who comes in at 14/10 to win on Saturday, came out tops at the prestigious Cape Town Met in January, and again at the SplashOut Cape Derby a month later. And for good measure, the young colt was also victorious in the Daily News 2000 in Durban.
Sail The Seas, the only horse to beat Eight of Eighteen this year, will not be in Durban. Oriental Charm, the winner from last year, is expected to give Eight of Eighteen a run for his money, coming in at 11/2 to take top honours.
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The Citizen
23-07-2025
- The Citizen
Striker: Exit the master jockey
Peerless Piere Strydom has finally called it a day. Trainer and old friend Sean Tarry sums it up well: 'If you want to learn how to ride racehorses, just watch Piere Strydom.' Racing fans in Gqeberha nicknamed Strydom 'Striker' early in his career – when he was starting out as a jockey in his hometown in the 1980s – because of his uncommon ability to precisely judge the pace of a race and fly up from behind to win by a whisker. His father Hekkie, a former jockey and trainer in the Windy City, lectured him from an early age about a race not being won at the 200m pole but rather at the winning post. The truth is young Strydom won a lot of races by leading all the way, utilising a coastal tailwind to get away – and stay away – from rivals. Indeed, in those days frontrunning victories were a lot rarer than they are now and Strydom was influential in major tactical changes in the game – even after he moved to Joburg in 1889/90 and took mainstream racing by storm. Spectacular career For anyone who missed it, 59-year-old Strydom announced his retirement from riding this week. He has not renewed his licence for the 2026 season and will ride his last race at the Vaal next week. The stats: six national jockey championships, four Durban Julys, seven wins on a card twice and 'five thousand, six hundred and, um, nearly twenty' career wins. The legend: one of the top two South African jockeys of all time, along with Muis Roberts. The pinnacle: beating the best jockeys and speed horses in the world aboard South Africa's J J The Jet Plane at Sha Tin in the Hong Kong Sprint in 2010. Piere Strydom after winning the 2016 Durban July on The Conglomerate. Picture: Steve Haag/Gallo Images Time to call it quits Speaking on a podcast hosted by his new employer Joao da Mata of Glistian Events, Striker said the time had come to finally hang up his saddle – after threatening to do so for a decade. 'It just came to the point where I didn't feel like getting on a horse,' he said. 'It's always nice to ride these winners, it still gives you a thrill … and knowing that you're doing the job right and to see other people happy. I've always been a competitive person, but how do I compete when I don't want to ride? 'I still do the job I need to do, but when you start thinking about the possibility of getting injured again and stuff like that you know it is time to call it.' He added that the cost of his insurance policies had also grown unsustainable. Looking ahead Strydom will keep busy in a hospitality role for Glistian – mixing with clients/guests at race days, golf days and other fun events. Racing scribes like me have written many thousands of words in praise of Piere Strydom over the decades. Racehorse owners like me have seen him win on our nags when the task looked impossible. Acquaintances such as I have always been touched by the friendliness, warmth and honesty of the man. There's not much more to say. Go well, Striker!
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- The Citizen
The Real Prince is back for more at Greyville
King Pelles heads the field for the Gold Cup in Durban next week. Three weeks after his Hollywoodbets Durban July victory, The Real Prince will return to the scene of the heroics when he contests the HKJC Champions' Cup at Greyville on 27 July. More often than not Durban July champions are sent on a well-deserved holiday after delivering to their connections the biggest prize in South African racing. However, the July emphatically proved that Khaya Stables and trainer Dean Kannemeyer know the depths of their four-year-old and they clearly reckon he can handle another big day out in top company. Indeed, many pundits thought The Real Prince was short of a run or two before the July. They were dead wrong about that, but he remains lightly raced and might still have a big effort in the tank before taking a breather. Strong opposition It'll need a big effort. At the Grade 1's final declaration stage on Thursday, the unveiled eight opponents included some tough nuts. Three horses who did not run in the July appear to be the main dangers. Top Joburg three-year-old Fire Attack, who suffered a minor training setback before the July and was scratched, is one of them. See It Again is clearly over the hiccup that saw him pulled out of the big one at the last moment. And reigning Horse of the Year Dave The King has kept his powder dry since annexing the Gold Challenge – over slightly less ground at the same venue. Locally trained stalwarts Royal Victory and Gladatorian carry further threats. The Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup is actually the headline event of the meeting – for historical reasons. King Pelles, who doddled a Gold Cup pointer on July day, will be a warm order among the 13 runners in the country's premier marathon. Last year's narrow runner-up Shoot The Rapids is one of three horses in the Gold Cup from the local yard of Frank Robinson – the others being July fifth-placed Madison Valley and three-year-old improver Field Marshall under a light weight. HKJC Champions' Cup, R1.5m, Grade 1, 1800m 1 The Real Prince 60 125 Dean Kannemeyer Craig Zackey 2 Gladatorian 60 127 Stuart Ferrie Sean Veale 3 Montien 60 126 Piet Botha Tristan Godden 4 Dave The King 60 128 Mike/Mathew de Kock Callan Murray 5 See It Again 60 127 Michael Roberts Keagan de Melo 6 Son Of Raj 60 119 Tony Peter Serino Moodley 7 Royal Victory 60 125 Nathan Kotzen Piere Strydom 8 Fire Attack 58.5 126 Alec Laird Richard Fourie 9 Litigation 60 113 Sean Tarry Gavin Lerena World Pool Gold Cup, R1m, Grade 3, 3200m 1 Shoot The Rapids 57 112 Frank Robinson Sean Veale 2 Madison Valley 58 115 Frank Robinson Gavin Lerena 3 Positive Attitude 54 90 Dennis Bosch Tristan Godden 4 King Pelles 59 118 Gareth van Zyl S'manga Khumalo 5 Nebraas 54.5 103 Sean Tarry Craig Zackey 6 Blackberry Malt 54 97 Glen Kotzen Cole Dicken 7 Future Swing 58.5 115 Justin Snaith Keagan de Melo 8 Cape Eagle 56.5 109 Andre Nel Serino Moodley 9 Taxhaven 54 90 Paul Matchett Philasande Mxoli 10 Bournemouth 57.5 113 Alan Greeff Richard Fourie 11 Holding Thumbs 56.5 110 Glen Kotzen Chad Little 12 Navajo Nation 54.5 104 Weiho Marwing Kobeli Lihaba 13 Field Marshal 54 105 Frank Robinson Callan Murray Mercury Sprint, R1m, Grade 1, 1200m 1 Mia Moo 57.5 117 Sean Tarry Callan Murray 2 Mrs Browning 57.5 115 Sean Tarry Richard Fourie 3 Whistle The Tune 57 112 Candice Dawson Calvin Habib 4 I Am Giant 60 119 Stuart Ferrie Sean Veale 5 Minogue 57.5 108 Candice Dawson Craig Zackey 6 Questioning 60 123 Vaughan Marshall JP v'd Merwe 7 Just Be Lekker 57.5 116 Candice Dawson S'manga Khumalo 8 William Robertson 60 128 Corne Spies Kabelo Matsunyane 9 Buffalo Storm Cody 59.5 113 Tony Peter Gavin Lerena 10 Cats Pajamas 59.5 115 Frank Robinson Piere Strydom 11 Asiye Phambili 57.5 116 Duncan Howells Keagan de Melo 12 Cafe Culture 60 126 Lucinda Woodruff Serino Moodley 13 Tenango 60 126 Candice Bass-Robinson Aldo Domeyer 14 Surjay 60 124 James Crawford Luyolo Mxothwa Reserve runners: 15 Chocolate Soldier 59.5 112 Corne Spies 16 Frozen Fantasy 57 107 Robyn Klaasen
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- The Citizen
Handicappers S.M.I.L.E. on July champ
The Real Prince raised five points for thrilling win. The Real Prince, right, wins the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville Racecourse on Sunday. Picture: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images The Real Prince has been raised five merit points to 125 following his victory in the past weekend's Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville. The National Horseracing Authority issued an unusually thorough explanation of their deliberations and decisions concerning South Africa's biggest race. The NHA even used the adjective 'thrilling' to describe The Real Prince's win – though its officials are meant to be objective and dispassionate about their work. The statement used other emotive words: 'This was a notable achievement from The Real Prince, as he had previously never raced beyond 1600m and, in fact, his pre-rating of 120 was earned exclusively over shorter trips. 'In handicapping terms, The Real Prince transitioned from the miler aptitude category to the longer-distance category – and did so with a resolute win.' After all that enthusiasm, one might have expected more than five merit rating points. The NHA continued: 'To structure distance aptitude assessments, handicappers often refer to the S.M.I.L.E. acronym: S — Sprint (1000m-1300m) M — Mile (1301m-1899m) I — Intermediate (1900m-2100m) L — Long (2101m-2700m) E — Extended (2701m-and above) 'In determining the updated ratings, the handicappers unanimously selected Royal Victory, the ever-reliable fourth-place finisher, as the line horse, leaving him at a rating of 125. This approach also validated Madison Valley's performance, as the fifth-place finisher ran precisely to his mark of 115, effectively making him a second line horse. 'Eight On Eighteen, the gallant runner-up, reaffirmed his Daily News 2000 merit rating of 129 with a spirited performance. He finished narrowly behind the winner and 2.60 lengths ahead of the 125-rated Royal Victory while carrying 2kg less.' The NHA went on the explain the 'maths for Eight On Eighteen's performance'. • Base: MR 125 (Royal Victory, line horse) • +4 MR points: Margin ahead of the line horse (2.60 lengths = 4 MR points), applying the length distance factor over 2200m • –4 MR points: Weight difference as per race conditions (in receipt of 2kg) • +4 MR points: Weight-for-Age adjustment (3yold WFA allowance in July over 2200m) • Performance Rating: 129 – Final Third-placed Selukwe was the only other runner to get an MR increase, moving from 111 to 115, justified by his under-sufferance position of 2kg going into the race. All other participants maintained their prior ratings, except Purple Pitcher, whose merit rating was reduced from 122 to 121. Assessment of the other Grade 1 race on Durban July day, the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m for females at weight-for-age, saw winner Double Grand Slam retain her official MR of 122. 'Having performed to expectations', she was used by the handicappers as the line horse to guide assessment of the field. Runner-up Mon Petit Cherie, who finished 0.80 lengths behind, was raised from 113 to 120. Just Be Lekker, who was fourth, three lengths behind the winner, was raised from 109 to 116, 'reflecting the quality of her performance'. I Am Giant has had his rating increased from 116 to 119 following his victory in the Grade 3 Post Merchants over 1200m. King Pelles has been adjusted up from 112 to 118 following his easy victory in the Grade 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m. Fourth-placed Shoot The Rapids was the line horse and remains unchanged at 112. 'King Pelles delivered a performance that warranted a higher rating; however, his increase was capped at 118, in accordance with race conditions that limit adjustments to six points for winners and three points for placed runners,' explained the NHA. Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 winner Otto Luyken has been increased from 114 to 116. Due to interference affecting multiple runners in the closing stages, the handicappers assessed the race using the lowest possible route. Navajo Nation (runner-up) was selected as the line horse, retaining his rating of 104. Further increases were Johnny The Thief from 92 to 94 and Count Huhtikulu from 91 to 95. Sunday in Joburg saw Choisaanada complete a clean sweep of the inaugural Highveld Winter Series with victory in the 4Racing Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track. Accordingly, his MR has been raised from 106 to 112. 'Although Choisaanada delivered a performance deserving of a higher rating, his merit was capped at 112 in accordance with the race conditions, which permit a maximum increase of six points for the winner and do not allow rating increases for placed horses,' said the handicapping team.
