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The Citizen
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Numbers add up to Eight On Eighteen for Durban July
The favourite is likely to win, but there are no certainties in the Durban July. Logic, rationality and plain common sense tell us Eight On Eighteen will win the R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday 5 July. If Eight On Eighteen runs to his true ability; if he doesn't get badly hampered by other runners while navigating 2200m around Greyville; and if – as experts expect – he makes light of a relatively hefty 57kg weight against the best older horses in the country, he should win the 129th edition of South Africa's biggest horse race and justify his hot favouritism. But there are those ifs – and maybe more lurking. And some buts. Uncertainty and intrigue are the lifeblood of racing. There'll be people who tip and back other runners, yet they'll be relying not on cold, hard logic but on hunches, dreams, lucky numbers and the throwing of bones. The case for Eight On Eighteen · Of 10 starts as a two- and three-year-old, he has won five, including three Grade 1s, and has never finished out of the first three. · All three Grade 1 wins have been over 2000m, so the July's extra 200m will be no issue. His pedigree has both stamina and speed. · He won the prestigious Cape Town Met, unusually as a three-year-old in open company. · In his final prep race for the July, the Daily News 2000 at Greyville, he blew away his rivals with a jaw-dropping turn of speed in the final two furlongs. · Trainer Justin Snaith said after that race, 'The frightening thing is that there is so much still left in the tank!' After the Met and Cape Derby triumphs, months earlier, Snaith informed us that his charge then was fairly immature. · Regular jockey and reigning champion Richard Fourie recently said the colt was one of the three best horses he'd ridden. Snaith Racing's regular work rider Andrew Fortune – who has been in a few saddles in his 58 years – reckons Eight On Eighteen is nigh unbeatable. · The quality of the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July opposition might not be exactly moderate but is not exceptional. The ifs and buts: · Eight On Eighteen carried 54kg to victory against older horses in the Met. The extra 3kg raises a small question mark. The last five July winners have carried 53kg-53.5kg. · The Durban July is a notoriously rough and chaotic race, thanks to its glorious history and status. Snaith wryly notes, 'All the jockeys lose their heads from the very start and anything can happen!' · While some clever people reckon a draw in the middle of the field of 18 is ideal, others aren't convinced and believe Eight On Eighteen's No 11 gate is a tad wide and could see him shuffled back towards the rear of the field, out of the firing line, during the early frenzied charge. · A number of other runners are relatively unexposed in this elite company but will have been quietly revved up in hopes of a mighty effort – and a mighty surprise – on the big day. There is almost always a surprise or two among the top six July finishers. Other contenders The challenge is to find them. Selukwe is a late developer who has come into his own since transferring from trainer Andre Nel's Cape West Coast base to his satellite yard in KwaZulu-Natal. The five-year-old has shown superb speed down the short Greyville straight, notably in his last (and best) showing when he landed the Grade 3 Greyville 1900 by flashing past all rivals in the last stretch. Nel looks confident, as does devoted rider Serino Moodley. Draw No 6 has something to do with that. Atticus Finch won the Summer Cup on home turf at Turffontein but then lost his mojo with a trip to Cape Town for the summer season. After a break, he has shown signs of a return to form. Draw No 4 is a big help, while veteran trainer Alec Laird knows exactly what it takes to win the big one. Can Oriental Charm win again? Defending champion Oriental Charm is a tenacious front-runner and seldom delivers a sub-par performance. This year's burden of 60kg is a different proposition to the 53kg of 2024, but the four-year-old's obvious class and the magic preparatory touch of young trainer James Crawford make him impossible to ignore. Among the three-year-old contenders, Fabian Habib-trained Confederate probably carries the most credentials with a Grade 1 win in the SA Classic at Turffontein and a record of never being out of the first two in nine starts. Former dual champion jockey and current New Zealand champion Warren Kennedy has made the long flight back to his hometown to try and win his first July on Confederate. Such long-distance commitment – and perhaps a new sense of detachment – suggest Kennedy isn't one of the riders losing his head. Other young horses who fit the much-desired up-and-coming, lightly weighted July profile include Immediate Edge, On My Honour and My Best Shot – and none of them would be a completely shocking winner. The latter is very much a 'dark horse', coming from the supposed racing backwater of Eastern Cape racing, but has a very capable trainer in Alan Greeff and should not be left out of wider bet combinations. Selection for Saturday's Hollywoodbets Durban July 11 Eight On Eighteen 6 Selukwe 14 Confederate 1 Oriental Charm
IOL News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Defending champ Oriental Charm, in pole position, leads the charge in 129th Durban July
Jockey Richard Fourie Jockey Richard Fourie seeks his fourth July trophy, having previously won twice with Justin Snaith's charges such as Legislate (2014) and Do It Again (2019). Defending champion Oriental Charm will lead the charge from the coveted pole position gate for the 129th running of the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July, boasting a purse of R5 million. The premier event on South Africa's horse racing calendar is on Saturday, 5 July, at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the race's illustrious home. This year's Durban July promises a vibrant celebration themed 'Marvels of Mzansi,' seamlessly merging cultural festivities with the thrill of racing at As always, the event anticipates not just fierce competition but also a showcase of South African culture and fashion, drawing crowds eager to indulge in the spectacle. Oriental Charm is aiming to repeat last year's success under the guidance of young trainer James Crawford. Crawford, who will be saddling his first runners in the Durban July for his own account, is excited about the opportunity and carries immense weight into the race, alongside two strong local contenders, See It Again and Gladatorian, each with hopes of a home victory. Eight On Eighteen's participation has generated buzz, with debates swirling around whether the young racer would face the formidable Durban July or take the 'more secure' route via the Gr1 Champions Cup later in the season. Sporting a competitive draw from gate 11, Eight On Eighteen aims to impress not only his owners—Nic Jonsson, a previous winner, and businessman Johann Rupert, who is making his ambitions in horse racing known—but the wider horse racing community. Should he win, Eight On Eighteen has the potential to break historical odds set by the legendary Sea Cottage in 1967. With a draw at gate 11 for Eight On Eighteen, the pressure is on, but Fourie's experience may well see him navigate through the pressures that come with such esteemed competition. Fourie's previous wins, all for Snaith, add a layer of exciting history to the upcoming race. On the other end, former dual SA champion jockey Warren Kennedy returns to ride the horse Confederate, having yet to clinch a Durban July title since his debut in 2004. Meanwhile, the legendary trainer Mike de Kock, aiming for his sixth victory, prepares Immediate Edge, who arrives after a stellar win in the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes. Candice Bass-Robinson, celebrated for her historic win with Marinaresco in 2017, also has a contender this year, Rainbow Lorikeet, remarkably the only filly in the running. With a competitive draw of 7, she comes with a history that intertwines beautifully with Bass-Robinson's career. Owned by the Yuppie Syndicate, Rainbow Lorikeet adds yet another layer of narrative to the rich tapestry of this year's race. As the date approaches, fans and participants alike prepare for what promises to be an unforgettable event—a celebration of sport, culture, and community pride, encapsulated on the hallowed turf of Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Underworld plots a Durban July heist
A big race final log has been unveiled amid a scramble for places. Bowlers take great delight in hurling surprise bouncers at batters who appear settled at the crease. Jolt them out of a comfort zone is the idea. Racehorse trainer Justin Snaith did something of the sort this week when he made four-year-old Underworld a supplementary entry for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, to be run at Greyville next month. Underworld wasn't among the 61 first nominations, or a late addition at the first supplementary stage of South Africa's premier horse race. Indeed, Snaith watchers had more than enough to keep them busy with a dozen or so of his July aspirants, including a clutch of them near the top of the betting boards. Then Underworld ran in the Grade 3 1800m Dolphins Cup Trial at Greyville this past weekend and did fairly well – as he should have as a 3-1 favourite. He finished a close runner up to 40-1 roughie Madison Valley, with 14-1 chance On My Honour just behind in third place. Here's the thing: Madison Valley and On My Honour were both Durban July entrants and the surprise Cup Trial result, along with a slew of scratchings at second declaration stage, saw them catapulted into the final July log announced on Tuesday. Neither had featured among the 20 'most favoured' entries of a few weeks earlier. Underworld gave 2kg and 1.5kg respectively to his adversaries in the Cup Trial, but the distance and venue were a good pre-July test and indicated that Snaith's charge might not be wildly outclassed in the big race. Shaking things up The bottom rungs of the Durban July ladder are always hotly contested spaces but connections of horses that make it into 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th on the final log can generally start planning their outfits for the parade ring at Greyville on the first Saturday of the seventh month. Comfort zone; but here comes the bouncer. Based on his merit rating of 108, Underworld has no chance of trumping Madison Valley (115) and On My Honour (116) in the minds of the July selection panel. But Snaith is fond of a mischievous argument and a dig at the official handicappers. One of the horses on those lower rungs of the new July log is My Best Shot in 17th spot. No-one can remember when last there was an Eastern Cape-based runner in the July and many would be delighted to see Alan Greeff saddle up his star three-year-old for the big race – and Snaith wouldn't be a popular chap if his Underworld nixed the country cousin. Merit rating adjustments following the weekend's hectic pre-July action saw Oriental Charm and Gladatorian both hiked to 127, which means they will share the July's top burden of 60kg with See It Again – when weights are concluded next week. Cape Town Met champion Eight On Eighteen – who wasn't in action at the weekend – still tops the final log with his MR of 129. The race conditions stipulate that, as a three-year-old, he cannot carry more than 57kg. The log indicates that there is unlikely to be a female horse in the 2025 July. Three fillies are on the 'next best' list, but they will only come into contention for a place in the field if there are scratchings aplenty in the coming week. Hollywoodbets Durban July Log of 10 June 1. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (3C) Justin Snaith 129 2. ORIENTAL CHARM (4C) James Crawford 127 3. SEE IT AGAIN (5G) Michael Roberts 127 4. ROYAL VICTORY (5G) Nathan Kotzen 125 5. CONFEDERATE (3G) Fabian Habib 118 6. GLADATORIAN (5G) Stuart Ferrie 127 7. PURPLE PITCHER (4C) Robyn Klaasen 122 8. ATTICUS FINCH (5G) Alec Laird 121 9. SELUKWE (5G) Andre Nel 111 10. THE REAL PRINCE (4G) Dean Kannemeyer 120 11. OKAVANGO (3G) Justin Snaith 120 12. NATIVE RULER (3G) Justin Snaith 119 13. LEGEND OF ARTHUR (3C) Sean Tarry 117 14. IMMEDIATE EDGE (3G) Mike / Mathew de Kock 108 15. MADISON VALLEY (4G) Frank Robinson 115 16. ON MY HONOUR (3G) Glen Kotzen 116 17. MY BEST SHOT (3G) Alan Greeff 116 18. FUTURE SWING (5G) Justin Snaith 117 19. MUCHO DINERO (5G) Justin Snaith 115 20. POMODORO'S JET (6G) James Crawford 118 Next 9 in alphabetical order BEATING WINGS (4F) Stuart Pettigrew 113 HOLDING THUMBS (4G) Glen Kotzen 107 JOY AND PEACE (4F) Alan Greeff 110 LITIGATION (6G) Sean Tarry 113 MAGIC VERSE (4G) Justin Snaith 113 RAINBOW LORIKEET (4F) Candice Bass-Robinson 111 SON OF RAJ (5G) Tony Peter 119 THE EQUATOR (IRE) (4C) Tony Peter 110 THUNEE PLAYA (4C) Mano Pandaram 104 Final supplementary entries close on Tuesday 17 June after which the weights will be published by the National Horseracing Authority. Final declarations are due on Monday 23 June and the field of 18 runners, with two reserves, will be revealed on Tuesday 24 June when the draw for barrier positions will also take place.
IOL News
31-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
The merger of KZN's Gold Circle and Cape Racing has birthed Race Coast.
The merger of Gold Circle's operations in KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Racing from the Western Cape has given rise to an exciting new entity known as Race Coast. Founded under the auspices of the uMhlanga-based South African sports betting company Hollywoodbets, this collaboration has been met with resounding support from the nation's leading horse trainers, who believe it represents a bright future for the sport. Prominent South African champion trainer Justin Snaith, along with the globally-renowned horse racing ambassador Mike de Kock and accomplished trainer Dean Kannemeyer, have publicly endorsed Race Coast. Their collective enthusiasm highlights a refreshing wave of optimism within the racing community. The Cape Town-based Snaith emphasised that this initiative promises not only to elevate the standards of racing but also to foster a deeper connection between the sport and its fans. He reflected on the initial success in his province of a similar initiative, RaceCape, initiated by Cape Racing and Hollywoodbets. Snaith is celebrating a half-century of KZN winter season assaults for the famous family operation. His father Chris, still a key member of their team, first raided with a string from the Cape in 1975. 'That structure has proven a tremendous success! It has not only boosted ownership and field sizes in the Western Cape but has also provided trainers with additional funding to enhance their operations. "Now we mark the historic beginnings of Race Coast, which is another generous initiative by Hollywoodbets, aimed at promoting ownership in KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape while boosting the horse population,' said at the launch of Race Coast. Snaith reminded us of the past, recalling that many feared that horse racing in South Africa might not survive after the COVID-19 pandemic. 'However, the dedicated efforts of a few individuals have not only saved the sport but have also paved the way for an exciting future. It is a future that we can shape and reinvent, making it better for all stakeholders involved. "Race Coast marks the beginning of something special for the province and the future of horse racing in South Africa. On behalf of all our owners, staff, and horses, we want to express our sincere gratitude,' he concluded. Mike de Kock, hailed as one of the great trainers of his generation, echoed this sentiment. He expressed confidence that Race Coast would invigorate South African racing and attract a new generation of enthusiasts, emphasising the intrinsic value of promoting racing as both an entertainment platform and a cultural cornerstone. De Kock, who recently joined forces with his son Mathew in a training partnership, said: 'De Kock Racing has been around for a long time, but as a new training partnership, Mathew and I are excited to be involved with the innovators behind Race Coast. "We have already seen the evidence of their vision and commitment, and we have positioned ourselves to grow with them. We look forward to what the future holds.' Three-time Hollywoodbets Durban July winning trainer Kannemeyer said a refreshing wave of enthusiasm and hope have been felt tangibly in the horse racing fraternity. 'The improvement and upliftment have been in bricks and mortar, communication, and incentives and stakes across the spectrum in the Cape, and looking at the rejuvenated Hollywoodbets Greyville landscape. It is a revelation and a passion-driven work-in-progress, in simple terms," he said. "The Hollywoodbets Team have made a difference in a short time, and one gets a very warm feeling that the sport is in good hands. We are all united under the flag of future prosperity, and, on behalf of our owners and the DKR team, I extend sincere onward and upward best wishes to Race Coast.'
The South African
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Justin Snaith scratches Sail The Seas from Hollywoodbets Durban July
Top Cape trainer Justin Snaith has scratched 3-year-old Sail The Seas from the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July. No reason for the scratching was given. Snaith still holds a strong hand in the field with a number of other entrants, including current race favourite Eight On Eighteen Hollywoodbets have priced Eight On Eighteen at 5/2 in the ante-post market. The Snaith yard have not won Africa's greatest race since Belgarion do so in 2020, rounding off a hat-trick that was launched in 2018 and 2019 by the iconic Do It Again. This year's R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2 200m will take place on Saturday, 5 July at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Second declarations close at 11:00 on Monday, 9 June Final supplementary entries close at 11:00 on Tuesday, 17 June, on which date the weights will be published Final Declarations close at 11:00 on Monday, 23 June Final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 24 June The official gallops will be held on Thursday 26 June A final field of 20 horses will be carded (18 + 2 Reserves) The reserves to be scratched by 08:15 on Friday, 4 July 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.
