The favourite horses and jockeys you should pay attention to at the Durban July
Key horses and jockeys to watch out for at the Hollywoodbets Durban July, Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Horse racing fans in South Africa and other parts of the world will soon have access to the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The latter is one of the most intriguing horse racing competitions of the year, so it's not surprising that there will be loads of top-tier jockeys and horses.
Speaking of the horses, as well as jockeys, Efirbet News will look at all of the Hollywoodbets Durban July 1st favourites. The names you are about to see are in a better position to win than the rest, and the whole industry seems to agree. Even though they do not know the names of the participants yet, the team at Efirbet News researched a lot and concluded that it is very likely to come across a few specific jockeys. It is yet to see if they will take part in the competition, but let's go through each one.
Horses
Aside from the most recent results, some horses perform really well at events similar to the Durban July. Following Efirbet News' research and analysis, here are the horses that they think will shine.
Eight on Eighteen and Richard Fourie
Eight on Eighteen is a thoroughbred horse born in South Africa in 2021. It is one of the first entries in the Hollywoodbets Durban July 1st race that you should pay attention to.
Trained by Justin Snaith, this talented horse has made 9 starts so far, achieving an impressive 4 wins and 5 placings. Notably, Eight on Eighteen has claimed victory in two prestigious Grade 1 races—the Cape Town Met in January 2025 and the SplashOut Cape Derby—securing a remarkable double at the highest level of competition.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
Checking some of the horse's recent stats, you will see he has excellent chances of winning. Of course, we will have to wait and see if this will be the case. Considering who is the jockey, however, we can definitely expect this horse to dominate.
Eight of Eighteen is ridden by Richard Fourie. He is one of the first names that fans expect to see at the Durban July horse racing event. It's safe to say that he is one of the best when it comes to this race. Fourie has achieved impressive results so far and definitely has what it takes to do it again.
Fourie is a South African jockey with an impressive career behind his back. After making his first appearance in 2001, he has slowly but steadily made a name for himself as one of the best in this sport.
Born in 1985, Fourie will be one of the most experienced jockeys at the Durban July 2025 race in South Africa. Assuming he attends the competitions, fans will get the chance to watch one of the best in action.
Oriental Charm and JP van der Merwe
Oriental Charm is the next favourite for this Year's Durban July Race that you should pay close attention to. Many experts and fans alike believe that he is in the same position as Eight of Eighteen, so it's definitely an option to consider.
While its overall stats are not as striking as those of Eight on Eighteen, Oriental Charm has proven its quality on the biggest stages. On July 6, 2024, he secured the most prestigious victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, outpacing legendary horses such as Green with Envy, Royal Victory, and See it Again.
Moreover, on January 25, 2025, Oriental Charm finished a close second in the WSB Cape Town Met (Grade 1), with just half a length behind the winner Eight on Eighteen. With that said, Oriental Charm has what it takes to take the lead once again, and we believe it's one of the names you should keep a close eye on.
The person who will do what he can to win with Orientam Charm is JP van der Merwe. Everyone who followed the 2024 Durban July knows that JP van der Merwe was in a league of his own. He won one of the most important races in South Africa after riding Oriental Charm. Considering his results, we definitely expect to see the reigning champion back in action.
Those who follow the horse racing scene probably remember the events a few months ago. Some jockeys protested in March during the Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and some got in trouble. JP van der Merwe was one of them because he was fined for his actions.
Legend of Arthur and Richard Fourie
Born in South Africa in 2021, Legend of Arthur is another of the Hollywoodbets Durban July 1st favourites. Sean Tarry is the person behind the horse's training, and he is responsible for its success.
Speaking of the devil, the horse has 10 starts so far and secured 3 wins and 4 placings. Considering Legend of Arthur's age, it's no surprise he is one of the main favourites to win the race.
However, age is not the only thing that you need to consider. A major highlight in Legend of Arthur's career is his victory in the Grade 1 SA Derby on April 5, 2025, at Turffontein Racecourse. This win proves he can handle top-tier competition, and despite the strong field expected for the Durban July, he has real chances to secure a victory. The analysis also reveals that the horse is in a good streak compared to some of the names on the list.
An interesting fact is that Richard Fourie is also the person who usually rides the Legend of Arthur. We already mentioned this name when talking about Eight of Eighteen, so it will be interesting to see if we will see him on the back of this or the other horse. The last time Fourie and the Legend of Arthur completed was on March 29, 2025.
Read the Efirbet News Article to see the whole chart and gather all the essentials about the upcoming Durban July edition - the finest mix between sports, fashion and entertainment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
No hanging about in Gold Challenge at Greyville
The Equator's southern appearance will be closely watched. Oriental Charm, seen here winning last year's Durban July, is in the field for the Gold Challenge on Saturday. Picture: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images There'll be no dawdling behind the Drill Hall at Greyville on Saturday afternoon; no ambling, loitering, strolling or sauntering. It'll be, 'Quick march! At the double!' – recalling the bad old days when the infantry base resounded with fighting energy. The 1600m starting pole next to the Drill Hall plays host to 12 horses in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and making the 2025 contest really interesting is a glut of accomplished front runners in the field. The high-quality line-up includes Equus Horse of the Year, and likely favourite, Dave The King, who always likes to make the pace in a race. Reigning Durban July champ Oriental Charm does not like to be headed at any stage – and can get a bit annoyed if it happens. The excellent Montien is seldom out of the first two in running, and See It Again performs best when travelling in a handy position. Other contenders Those are some of the best middle-distance racehorses in the country who'll be fighting it out for the early lead. But they're up against some sprinters with natural gate speed and cruising power – such as Café Culture and William Robertson. The real 'milers' in the race, such as Great Plains, Gladatorian and Royal Aussie might be outgunned at the start but will be hoping overeager speedballs cut each other's throats and leave the way clear for 'closers'. It'll be a good watch. A Grade 1 trophy and R2-million are on the finishing line, while several runners are also getting their acts together for the Hollywoodbets Durban July a month hence. The Greyville meeting will get massive international exposure with Races 7 to 10 being part of a Hong Kong World Pools Saturday extravaganza that also takes in the famous English Derby at Epsom. Turffontein meeting Sunday's meeting at Turffontein racecourse is a bit overshadowed by that glamour, but racing aficionados will watch it keenly. The Jubilee Handicap and the Egoli Mile feature a number of Durban July hopefuls – all out to do well and crack the nod for the big one. Among them are Legend Of Arthur, Confederate, Atticus Finch, Son Of Raj, Musical Score, Olivia's Way and Immediate Edge. But the most intriguing is surprise July entry The Equator, making his South African debut after being imported from the Irish stables of the world's top trainer Aiden O'Brien. Nigel Riley, new co-owner of the colt, who is a son of the great Galileo, put out a media statement on Wednesday saying: 'We have been inundated with enquiries about the well-being of The Equator and have decided to appraise the racing public of the situation, so that they can make their own decisions… He went into (trainer) Tony Peter's yard on 28 March, where he has made excellent progress and has put up some eye-catching work. 'Last Sunday, The Equator had a 1600m gallop on the inside track at Turffontein against a couple of horses, including a Grade 1 winner. He won the gallop by three lengths, going away from them, and his work rider was as impressed as onlookers. We look forward to the race. We hope this will assist punters.'
IOL News
28-05-2025
- IOL News
Fashion forward: discover the designers set to shine at the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July
A 2024 design by Nompumelelo Mjadu from the brand Jado Mjadu. Image: Sean Laurenz. As the Hollywoodbets Durban July approaches, nine talented designers will take centre stage to showcase their unique collections for the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Star Collection. This event stands out as one of the most thrilling initiatives in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience by Durban Fashion Fair (DFF). It offers a captivating preview of Durban's vibrant up-and-coming designers, poised to make a striking impact on South Africa's fashion industry. This year, the showcase promises to be a feast for the senses, with an array of fashion that caters to diverse tastes, from the elegant pieces for curvier fashionistas to dapper menswear with a proudly African twist under the theme "Marvels of Mzansi". Among the nine designers selected, six have cultivated their skills under the guidance of industry heavyweights through the Durban Fashion Fair's (DFF) prestigious business support and mentorship programme. The remaining three represent seasoned, award-winning professionals from the 2024 DFF Fashion Showcase, bringing a wealth of runway experience to the event. Nondumiso Mhlongo of Curved Ndlovukazi, Kazadi Wilson Mukeya from Victor Fashion Kingdom and Eulender Cele of Eullue have been selected alongside Nelly Nxumalo of Ezobkhosi Designs, Nelisiwe Dlamini of Slop Duka and Zandile Myeza of AZM Fashion Creations. Bonisiwe Ndlovu of Dfant Fashion Clothing, Muzi Mlambo from MitaN Dyzn and Mbasa Ndongeni Iqhosha House of Fashion round up the list of participants. 'We are extremely excited about the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the talent that will be on display, especially as this year's theme enables designers to use every ounce of their creativity," said DFF business support facilitator Nondumiso Mthembu. "There is a lot to feel marvellous about. We can't wait to be marvelled by what these designers will produce." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Owner of Curved Ndlovukazi, Nondumiso Ndlovu. Image: Instagram. "I am humbled and excited by the opportunity that I have been given to showcase my brand and my designs. I am humbled by the chance to network and mingle with the giants out there, and the young ones, the creatives. Fashion is my first love," said Mhlongo, who represents curvier fashion through her label Curved Ndlovukazi. Meanwhile, Mukeya is set to captivate audiences with his Afrocentric menswear collection named after his firstborn. 'Believe it or not, I started sewing while I was at school, in grade 10. I was inspired by my older brother, who was already an established fashion designer. I was encouraged to join the DFF by a friend in 2018, and since then, I have not looked back,' he said. Mukeya further elaborated on his collection, drawing inspiration from the "inky drama of Durban's night sky". 'I don't have words to describe how I feel. This is the first time that I will put my menswear designs on the Hollywoodbets Durban July stage, and I am over the moon.' Kazadi Wilson Mukeya, owner of Victor Fashion Kingdom (VFK). Image: Instagram. DUT graduate Cele is also gearing up to make her mark, showcasing her effortlessly cool aesthetic that has already turned heads from Umlazi to uptown. 'My collection is ready-to-wear, outdoorsy, sporty, high-end, simple, beautiful, and timeless,' Cele noted, expressing her excitement after being mentored by previous industry leaders, including Miss Money Penny. "I am looking forward to this opportunity." The prestigious horse-racing and fashion event is set to take place on Saturday, July 5, at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban.
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- The Citizen
Eight On Eighteen floating to July winning post
The colt is rated tops but will get weight from all his rivals. Eight On Eighteen winning the Cape Town Met at Kenilworth earlier this year. Picture: Peter Heeger/Gallo Images The phrase 'weighted win' is guaranteed to turn any punter's head. Well, if colt Eight On Eighteen competes in the Hollywoodbets Durban July in six weeks' time, he will be weighted to win – and easily at that. The Justin Snaith-trained prodigy has been given a two-point merit rating rise for his facile victory in the past weekend's Daily News 2000 – from 127 to 129. That's a giddily high number for a three-year-old horse but is justified by three Grade 1 wins in just 10 outings, with a Grade 1 second thrown in, too. It makes him the highest rated of the 48 remaining entries for the July, with five-year-old See It Again in second position on 127. MRs are for determining imposts in handicap races, but the July isn't a pure handicap; it's a 'conditions' race, with a bit of this and a bit of that in terms of make-up. Though the race rules set the top weight at 60kg, they also limit the maximum weight for three-year-olds to 57kg. Theoretically, See It Again will lug 60kg and Eight On Eighteen will have to carry only 57kg, despite his two-point higher MR. Knowledgeable Turf Talk puts this advantage at a nett 4kg. It's 'theoretically' as the line-up for the country's biggest race is a long way from being finalised. Uncertain for July Indeed, Eight On Eighteen's connections have maintained for weeks that their star is by no means a definite July runner. He is hot property value-wise – for racing in the near future and for stud purposes in the long term – and, as Snaith stated on Saturday, the July is always a rough affair with everyone involved hell-bent on getting their names into the history books. 'Committing to the July, we've had a lot of horses go wrong in the race,' said Snaith after Saturday's Daily News 2000 at Greyville in Durban. 'It's the most interesting race in South Africa as, when the starting stalls open, the jockeys completely lose their heads and their brains. Its importance, history … there's so much at play in a race like that and you also have to think about his wellbeing. It's a decision that will be made a little later, but when you have a horse of this ability it's very hard not to go for a race like that. We will put it all in and make the call.' Many a racing fan would lay short odds on owners Nick Jonsson and Johan Rupert going for it. The two gentlemen are in the game for the thrills and there's no bigger thrill than winning a July. Durban July odds In terms of laying odds, July sponsors Hollywoodbets have chopped Eight On Eighteen's big-race ante-post odds by half – from 5-1 last week to 5-2. July defending champion and second favourite Oriental Charm has eased from 6-1 to 7-1. In adjusting merit ratings after Saturday's Daily News 2000, the handicappers made runner-up Spumante Dolce their line horse, keeping her rating at 117. Okavango, who finished third, was pushed up sharply from 105 to 120, having finished 0.25 lengths behind Spumante Dolce while conceding 2.5kg in weight. Native Ruler, who finished 0.3 lengths behind Okavango, also got a big bump: 103 to 119. Little Suzie, winner of the Tote Woolavington 2000 – also for Snaith – had her rating raised from 106 to 108.
