Latest news with #NativeRuler
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Royalty will reign tomorrow, says sangoma
Royal names and symbols could spell success at the Hollywood Bets Durban July, says sangoma Fezile Pretorius. Horse racing is the sport of kings and the Hollywood Bets Durban July tomorrow promises the usual set of social royalty, influencers and thoroughbreds, both on and off the field. A sangoma, Fezile Pretorius, said the theme may extend to which horse finishes the main race first this year. 'It's all about royalty and power this year,' said Pretorius, who consulted two divination tools and dreamt of a prophesy that hinted at this year's big winner. Vision revealed purple and gold First, his nighttime vision revealed the colours purple and gold. 'Those colours represent royalty, power, wealth. It may relate to the name of the horse, the silks worn, or the spirit behind it,' he said. Looking at tomorrow's race card, there are four horses in an extended field of 20, including two reserves, connected to royalty. Son of Raj is presently listed as a reserve, 'but don't write it off', he said. 'The symbolism is strong. Raj means king. That's enough to keep an eye on it.' ALSO READ: Inside the must-attend marquees at the 2025 Durban July The Real Prince, Native Ruler and Royal Victory are all named to start. Then, Atticus Finch, a fictional character from To Kill A Mocking Bird represents power, while the same could be said for Litigation and On My Honour. Pretorius, who practices from the Heavenly Healing centre in Benoni, does not throw the bones as gambling is not an appropriate use of its power. Instead, he sought further clarity from tarot cards that narrowed his selection. Further clarity from tarot cards 'The standout in the reading was yet again the Emperor card. That confirmed authority, status, and control. 'These are traits tied to a winning energy. There was definitely a celebration, too. A party. And again, royalty imagery that came through strong.' He noted a lion. A throne. A leader. 'That's power. That's money.' There was also a hint in the cards that the winning horse could be lighter in colour than some of its competitors. ALSO READ: July day eyes on Pick 6's R15m prize Meanwhile, bookmakers have made Eight of Eighteen the favourite to take the honours. Pretorius used cowrie shells to ask direct questions. These shells are traditionally used across many African and Afro-Caribbean divination practices and reinforced the message that horses tied to authority, names of rulers or nobility, are the ones to watch. 'One shell short of a perfect 'yes',' said Pretorius. 'The ancestors say a ritual needs to be done, a prayer. There's work that must go into securing a win. But the message remains: royalty is key.' One shell short of a perfect 'yes' To test the divination method, several horses were run through the shells. While not every horse linked to regal naming passed the cowrie test, Pretorius said the top prospects at the time of the reading carried consistent signs. We asked specifically about each horse using the shells. Royal Victory received confirmation. So did Native Ruler and Son of Raj. NOW READ: Underworld plots a Durban July heist
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.
