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New Paper
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
July 5 Durban July form analysis
1 Oriental Charm Last year's winner whose preparation run in the Gold Challenge was scintillating. Gets the best draw and has a huge chance of going back-to-back. 2 Madison Valley Bounced right back to winning ways last time. He is a five-time winner and has a chance of finishing in the money. 3 On My Honour Caught the eye last time when third to Madison Valley and has the form to be competitive. Strong place chance, but others are chosen for the win. 4 Atticus Finch Is taking time for the next win but is packed with ability and class and needs to be respected. Expect a good effort. 5 The Real Prince Is an interesting runner. His form is solid and if he stays the added trip, then can go very close to getting it all right. The neat draw will help. Respect and include. 6 Selukwe Was an impressive winner of the 1,900m last time and caught the attention of many. His turn of foot is his biggest asset and if he were to win, it would be no shock at all. Good each-way claims. 7 Rainbow Lorikeet Has solid form but others might be stronger. Others are preferred for the win, but she can certainly earn. Her run in the Woolavington 2000 was eye-catching. An outsider with a place chance. 8 Pomodoro's Jet Has won his last three in fine fashion but against weaker and faces his toughest test to date. He gets a cozy draw but needs to raise his game to threaten here. Happy to ignore. 9 My Best Shot Has a sparkling record from the Eastern Cape having won 10 races from 16 starts. He clearly is good and has talent but will find it tough against these. An outsider with a small place chance. 10 Immediate Edge Interesting three-year-old who is showing huge potential for the de Kock team. He shows guts and determination in his races and could end up being anything. He is an exciting prospect and has an undeniable winning chance. 11 Eight On Eighteen Is winning in the manner of a top horse. He is a top horse and his last victory was outstanding. The one to beat. 12 Purple Pitcher Is taking time for the next victory and is a tad off form. He is capable of a good run but has become difficult to assess and predict. Small outside place chance at best, if things go his way. 13 Okavango Is the each-way value in the race and has to be respected. He has acquitted himself well in some very tough races and has talent. Strong claims. 14 Confederate Has absolutely no stamina doubts and is a big runner. His form is solid and he has a lively chance in this. Each-way chance. 15 See It Again Is taking time to get the next win but he is packed with class and ability. He can build on his last run to Dave The King and can never be dismissed from any bets. Big run in store. 16 Gladatorian Seems to have had a sparkling preparation coming into the Durban July and if he sees out the trip, he can be very competitive. Respect and include as the value for the places. 17 Royal Victory Is running very well and is coming into the race off two excellent last runs. He ran a cracker last year and has a bright winning chance. 18 Native Ruler Is never too far off the action but there are many that are selected to finish in front of him. He finished fourth behind Eight On Eighteen last time. Others are preferred. RESERVES: 19 Litigation Showed a form return last time but is taking a long time to win again. He would be a surprise winner if he gets into the race. 20 Son Of Raj Is off form at the moment and will have to improve a lot on current form to feature in the finish. He is likely to be at huge odds and if he gets in, would be a shock winner. Happy to ignore. Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The South African
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: Here's who will WIN
We are now 48 hours away from the 129th edition of Africa's greatest horse race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be held on Saturday, 5 July at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The R5 million Grade 1 race over 2 200m is scheduled for 16:00. The race was rocked by a late scratching on Tuesday morning when Michael Roberts's See It Again was withdrawn due to an abnormal blood count. See It Again was at the time of his scratching the joint fifth favourite at 16/1. First reserve runner, Litigation, from the Sean Tarry yard has taken the place of See It Again and will jump from gate 15 with Grant van Niekerk aboard. So which horse will cross the line first – that's the big question. Eight On Eighteen from the Justin Snaith yard will be tough to beat if things go his way. And that's a big 'if'. The Hollywoodbets Durban July has thrown up a number of shock results, especially by horses drawn wide out. Eight On Eighteen will be doing his best work late in the race. Whether he's able to catch those horses who would have bolted from the gates nearest the rail, especially with Hollywoodbets Greyville's short final straight, remains to be seen. Defending champion Oriental Charm figures as the main danger and is drawn in pole position, but there are concerns over a lack of race fitness. Those looking for outsiders and a bit of value shouldn't look past, in no particular order, My Best Shot, Selukwe, Gladatorian and The Real Prince – if the distance doesn't prove a factor. Eight On Eighteen My Best Shot Selukwe Oriental Charm The Real Prince Horse Draw Odds Eight on Eighteen 11 14/10 Oriental Charm 1 7/1 Immediate Edge 10 7/1 The Real Prince 5 25/2 On My Honour 3 14/1 Selukwe 6 16/1 Gladatorian 16 16/1 Madison Valley 2 20/1 My Best Shot 9 25/1 Royal Victory 17 25/1 Atticus Finch 4 33/1 Pomodoro's Jet 8 33/1 Okavango 13 33/1 Confederate 14 33/1 Litigation 15 40/1 Purple Pitcher 12 40/1 Rainbow Lorikeet 7 50/1 Native Ruler 18 50/1 Reserve runner Son Of Raj SP Odds correct as at the time of publishing Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: Updated ODDS after key scratching
We are now just days away from the 129th edition of Africa's greatest horse race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be held on Saturday, 5 July. The R5 million Grade 1 race at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 2 200m will go off at 16:00. RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 The race was rocked by a late scratching on Tuesday morning when Michael Roberts's See It Again was withdrawn due to an abnormal blood count. See It Again was the joint fifth favourite at 16/1. First reserve runner, Litigation, from the Sean Tarry yard will take the place of See It Again and will jump from gate 15. Litigation will be ridden by Grant van Niekerk. Horse Draw Odds Eight on Eighteen 11 14/10 Oriental Charm 1 7/1 Immediate Edge 10 7/1 The Real Prince 5 25/2 On My Honour 3 14/1 Selukwe 6 16/1 Gladatorian 16 16/1 Madison Valley 2 20/1 Royal Victory 17 25/1 Atticus Finch 4 33/1 Pomodoro's Jet 8 33/1 My Best Shot 9 33/1 Okavango 13 33/1 Confederate 14 33/1 Litigation 15 33/1 Purple Pitcher 12 40/1 Native Ruler 18 50/1 Rainbow Lorikeet 7 66/1 Reserve runner Son Of Raj SP Odds correct as at the time of publishing Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: LATE scratching
See It Again was scratched on Tuesday morning from Saturday, 5 July's Hollywoodbets Durban July due to an abnormal blood count. The five-year-old son of Twice Over was only paraded at the official public gallops last Thursday due to a temperature spike. A disappointed trainer Michael Roberts said that it was hard enough getting a horse into the big race and now having to scratch was a bitter pill to swallow. 'We have to act in the best interests of the horse and we hope to have him ready for the Champions Cup at the end of the season,' he added. RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 As a result of the scratching, Sean Tarry's Litigation was scratched from the Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2 200 and gets a run in the main race. He will jump from draw 15 and will be ridden by Grant van Niekerk. The 129th edition of the R5 million Grade 1 race over 2 200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville will go off at 16:00. Horse Weight Jockey Trainer Eight on Eighteen (11) 57 R Fourie J Snaith Oriental Charm (1) 60 J P v'd Merwe J Crawford Immediate Edge (10) 53 C Murray M/M de Kock The Real Prince (5) 56.5 C Zackey D Kannemeyer Gladatorian (16) 60 S Veale S Ferrie Selukwe (6) 54 S Moodley A Nel Royal Victory (17) 59 M Yeni N Kotzen Okavango (13) 54.5 A Fortune J Snaith Atticus Finch (4) 57 C Habib A Laird Confederate (14) 53.5 W Kennedy F Habib Native Ruler (18) 54 T Godden J Snaith Madison Valley (2) 54 G Lerena F Robinson My Best Shot (9) 53 C Maujean A Greeff On My Honour (3) 53 S Khumalo G Kotzen Purple Pitcher (12) 57.5 K Matsunyane R Klaasen Pomodoro's Jet (8) 55.5 A Mgudlwa J Crawford Rainbow Lorikeet (7) 53 D De Gouveia C Bass-Robinson Litigation (15) 54 G. van Niekerk S Tarry Reserve runner Son Of Raj 56 Reserve 2 T Peter Draw in brackets Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: ALL the TRAINERS with runners
The list of trainers who have horses in the 129th renewal of the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 5 July makes for interesting reading. The Grade 1 race over 2 200m will go off at 16:00. Top Cape Town-based trainer Justin Snaith has three horses in the race, including current favourite Eight On Eighteen. Snaith's other two other runners are Okavango and the one-time winner Native Ruler. James Crawford has two runners in the race, last year's winner Oriental Charm who drew pole position, and Pomodoro's Jet who drew eight. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett now plying his trade in Hong Kong. No other trainer has more than one entrant in the final field of 18 horses. Sydney Laird – 7 : (1961, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1978) Terence Millard – 6 : (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990) Mike de Kock – 5 : (2001, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2022) Justin Snaith – 5 : (2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020) RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 Horse Trainer Eight on Eighteen (11) Justin Snaith Oriental Charm (1) James Crawford Immediate Edge (10) Mike/Mat de Kock See It Again (15) Michael Roberts The Real Prince (5) Dean Kannemeyer Gladatorian (16) Stuart Ferrie Selukwe (6) Andre Nel Royal Victory (17) Nathan Kotzen Okavango (13) Justin Snaith Atticus Finch (4) Alec Laird Confederate (14) Fabian Habib Native Ruler (18) Justin Snaith Madison Valley (2) Frank Robinson My Best Shot (9) Alan Greeff On My Honour (3) Glen Kotzen Purple Pitcher (12) Robyn Klaasen Pomodoro's Jet (8) James Crawford Rainbow Lorikeet (7) Candice Bass-Robinson Reserve runners Litigation (19) Sean Tarry Son Of Raj (20) Tony Peter NOTE: Barrier draw in brackets There was a collective sigh of relief within the gathered crowd in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring when the name of Eight On Eighteen was read out by Graeme Hawkins as being among the 18 runners for the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday, 5 July. Trainer Justin Snaith was always cagey about whether his star colt would take his place in the line-up, given that he would carry top weight for a three-year-old of 57kg – the highest since Abashiri lumped 59kg into 13th place behind The Conglomerate in 2016. But Snaith and owners Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert have taken the plunge and Eight On Eighteen will make history should he win and become the first three-year-old in history to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met and the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in the same year Eight On Eighteen is also likely to start one of the shortest priced favourites in the 129-year history of the race and his chances were further enhanced when he was drawn 11 in the 18-horse field. James Crawford has two runners in the race, last year's winner Oriental Charm who drew pole position, and Pomodoro's Jet who drew eight. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett now plying his trade in Hong Kong. See It Again races in the same Nick Jonsson silks as Eight On Eighteen and has his third attempt after finishing second to Winchester Mansion two years back and an unlucky fifth last year behind Oriental Charm. He pulled a wide draw of 15. 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 also drew a wide gate of 16. Dean Kannemeyer knows what it takes to train a July winner, successful with Dynasty, Eyeofthetiger and Power King, and The Real Prince drew gate five. Royal Victory will have his supporters but Nathan Kotzen's charge drew deep at 17. However, he is a winner of the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Grade 1 Champion Challenge at Turffontein and finished third in the July last year behind Oriental Charm. Fabian Habib has his first July runner in Confederate. Relatively lightly raced, the gelding has won four of his nine starts but has never finishing further back than second. He won the Grade 1 SA Classic, beating subsequent Grade 1 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. He drew gate 14. Mike de Kock has a stellar record in this race and has joined forces with his son Mathew. They have their first July runner together in the three-year-old and recent Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes 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 drew alongside Eight On Eighteen in gate 10. Snaith has two other runners in the race, namely Okavango and the one-time winner Native Ruler. Okavango will be ridden by Andrew Fortune and drew 13 while Tristan Godden will have to navigate Native Ruler from gate 18. Alec Laird and jockey Calvin Habib pin their hopes on Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch who drew favourably in four. Andre Nel was first up to do the draw for Selukwe and came out with gate six. Serino Moodley will be doing the honours on Selukwe. Alan Greeff will fly the colours for the Eastern Cape with his star performer My Best Shot who has a midfield draw of nine. Local owner Sid Moodley has his first July runner in Madison Valley and he drew gate two for his trainer Frank Robinson. Rainbow Lorikeet is the only filly in the race and Candice Bass Robinson's runner drew well in seven and will have Diego de Gouveia aboard. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
