Eight On Eighteen aims to be No.1 of 18
Their star colt Eight On Eighteen heads the list of 18 runners for the Grade 1 five million rand (S$360,000) Hollywoodbets Durban July to be run over 2,200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 5.
The field announcement and barrier draw took place at a glittering function in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring where Eight On Eighteen drew 11.
The son of Lancaster Bomber will make history should he win and become the first three-year-old to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met (2,000m) and the Durban July in the same year.
All the signs are good with current South African champion jockey Richard Fourie hunting his fourth July win and Snaith his sixth.
Eight On Eighteen's victory in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on May 24 was breathtaking as he made short work of many of the country's top three-year-olds.
He was equally impressive in this year's Cape Town Met on Jan 25 when he took on and beat the country's top older horses at weight-for-age.
The five-time winner has been set to carry top weight for a three-year-old male in 57kg, the highest since Abashiri lumped 59kg into 13th place behind The Conglomerate in 2016.
While Eight On Eighteen is likely to start one of the shortest-priced favourites in the long history of the race, he will not be short of opposition.
Current second favourite is last year's winner Oriental Charm, who goes into this year's race off an exceptional prep.
The Vercingetorix five-year-old was beaten half-a-length by Eight On Eighteen in the Cape Town Met and now meets his younger rival on 5.5kg better terms.
In his comeback run, he was touched off a head in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1,600m by reigning Equus Horse of the Year, Dave The King, on June 7.
It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett soon to ply his trade in Hong Kong.
See It Again races in the same Jonsson pink, green and white silks as Eight On Eighteen and has his third attempt after finishing second to Winchester Mansion two years back and fifth last year behind Oriental Charm.
Piere Strydom has been replaced in the irons by Raymond Danielson as Michael Roberts tries for a win as a jockey and trainer.
Stuart Ferrie sends out his first July runner in the hard-knocking Gladatorian.
A fast-finishing third behind Dave The King and Oriental Charm in the Gold Challenge, he tries the July 2,200m trip for the first time.
Also by Vercingetorix, Gladatorian is a horse with a smart turn of foot and will be charging at the leaders come the home straight.
Another one who likes to charge late is The Real Prince.
Dean Kannemeyer knows what it takes to train a July winner, successful with Dynasty, Eyeothetiger and Power King.
The Real Prince has been brought along quietly and is sure to peak on the day.
Royal Victory will have his supporters as Nathan Kotzen's charge has also had an ideal preparation.
A winner of the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup (2,000m) and the Grade 1 Champions Challenge (2,000m) at Turffontein last season, he finished third in the July last year behind Oriental Charm.
He was doing his best work late behind Dave The King in a warm-up over 1,500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last start and will strip at his peak. He has drawn 17.
Highveld raiders are a little thin on the ground this year but their best chance could lie with Confederate.
Relatively lightly raced by Fabian Habib, Confederate has won four of his nine starts but has never finished further back than second.
The Fire Away four-year-old won the Grade 1 SA Classic (1,800m) on March 1, beating subsequent Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack and will be ridden by two-time South African and current New Zealand champion jockey Warren Kennedy who has made the trip to ride in the race.
Champion trainer Mike de Kock boasts a stellar record in this race and has now joined forces with his son Mathew.
They have their first July runner together in the three-year-old and recent Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes (1,800m) winner Immediate Edge.
He carries bottom weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg and has won four of his six starts to-date. He has drawn alongside Eight On Eighteen in gate 10.
Snaith has two other runners in the race, namely Okavango and Native Ruler while Alec Laird pins his hopes on Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch. GOLD CIRCLE
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