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The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
BLOGGING THE VIEW: Fierce contenders and fashion at this year's Durban July
BLOGGING THE VIEW: Fierce contenders and fashion at this year's Durban July The thundering hooves, roaring crowds, and array of high fashion will once again take over Durban's Greyville Racecourse this Saturday, 5 July, for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July. With a R5-million purse, the field is packed with elite thoroughbreds, with this year's race promising to be one for the history books. 1. The favourite Topping the charts in this year's race is Eight of Eighteen, the three-year-old colt from trainer Justin Snaith's stable and ridden by champion jockey Richard Fourie. Coming in at 14/10 odds, this horse has been virtually unstoppable in 2025, boasting wins at the Cape Town Met, the SplashOut Cape Derby, and the Daily News 2000. His entry into the Durban July was the subject of speculation, with some concern over the hefty 57kg weight, the heaviest for a three-year-old since Abashiri in 2016. But with a decent draw of 11 and momentum like no other, Eight of Eighteen is primed to make history as the first three-year-old to win both the Cape Town Met and the Durban July in the same year. 2. The challenger Last year's winner, Oriental Charm, is not backing down. Trained by James Crawford and piloted by JP van der Merwe, he's drawn pole position (Gate 1) with 11/2 odds. While he finished seventh in the King's Plate earlier this year, he bounced back with solid second-place finishes in both the Cape Town Met and the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. 3. Rising star Coming in at 7/1 odds, Immediate Edge – who is trained by Mike and Mathew de Kock – is a serious contender. With four wins from six starts and carrying a light 53kg, the three-year-old colt will be ridden by Callan Murray. However, he's untested at sea level, with all victories coming at Turffontein, adding a layer of mystery to his race-day prospects. 4. Other horses to watch · See It Again: Trained by Michael Roberts and racing in the same colours as Eight of Eighteen, he's making his third appearance, following a second-place in 2023 and an unlucky fifth in 2024 · The Real Prince: With a win at the Jet Master Stakes and trained by Dean Kannemeyer, this horse drew gate five and is expected to show up strong · Atticus Finch: Trained by Alec Laird and winner of the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup, he enters from gate four and will be one to watch · Confederate: A promising entry for trainer Fabian Habib, this gelding has never placed lower than second and will be ridden by Warren Kennedy · Rainbow Lorikeet: The only filly in the race, this classy contender from Candice Bass Robinson's stable drew well at gate seven 5. Fashion from the 'Marvels of Mzansi' While the turf sets the stage for equine excellence, the Hollywoodbets Durban July is also the runway for the fashion elite. This year's theme, 'Marvels of Mzansi' will ignite creative brilliance. Audiences can look out for: · Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars · Top 10 Young Designer Award finalists · Invited designers, including crowd favourite Khosi Nkosi · Gateway's heavyweights like Boss, Fabiani, Forever New, and YDE If you can't make it to Greyville, SuperSport on DStv offers a front-row seat to all the action, from the heart-racing finishes to the head-turning outfits. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Durban July 2025 betting guide: Favourites, form and what to expect at Greyville
Get ready for the Durban July Last year's champion, Oriental Charm, has already emerged as one of the early favourites for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July. Photo: Gold Circle Image: Gold Circle Eight of Eighteen is the favourite to take top honours at this weekend's running of the Durban July at Greyville Racecourse. All eyes will be on the three-year-old colt, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by champion jockey Richard Fourie, as he heads into the R5 million Durban July on the back of some impressive results. Eight of Eighteen, who comes in at 14/10 to win on Saturday, came out tops at the prestigious Cape Town Met in January, and again at the SplashOut Cape Derby a month later. And for good measure, the young colt was also victorious in the Daily News 2000 in Durban. Sail The Seas, the only horse to beat Eight of Eighteen this year, will not be in Durban. Oriental Charm, the winner from last year, is expected to give Eight of Eighteen a run for his money, coming in at 11/2 to take top honours. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. While Eight of Eighteen will be the name on everyone's lips on Saturday, punters shouldn't take their eyes off Oriental Charm, as his form going into this weekend is better than when he came out tops last year. After a disappointing seventh place at the King's Plate in Kenilworth, the JP van der Merwe-ridden Oriental Charm earned two second-place finishes at the Cape Town Met and the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in Durban. What's shaping up is a thrilling head-to-head between the rising star and the proven champion. With Eight of Eighteen riding the momentum of a good 2025, and Oriental Charm hungry to reclaim his crown after coming close in recent starts, Saturday's race is expected to deliver fireworks down the final stretch at Greyville. At 7/1 odds, Immediate Edge, who will be ridden by Callan Murray, should also be in the conversation come Saturday. He heads into the July on the back of four wins. But with all of his races having taken place at Turffontein this year, it remains to be seen if racing at sea level will have an impact on his day. Five-year-old See It Again and The Real Prince, aged four, round out the top five at 25/2 and 14/1 odds. The Michael Roberts-trained See It Again will be out to recapture some magic from 2023 when he won a number of races and finished second in the Durban July. The Real Prince, winner at the City of Cape Town Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth, will also be keen to make a splash. Durban July 2025 – Runners List and odds according to Hollywoodbets 1. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (11) Odds: 14/10 Mass: 57.0 kg Jockey: R. Fourie Trainer: J. Snaith 2. ORIENTAL CHARM (1) Odds: 11/2 Mass: 60.0 kg Jockey: J. P. van der Merwe Trainer: J. Crawford 3. IMMEDIATE EDGE (10) Odds: 7/1 Mass: 53.0 kg Jockey: C. Murray Trainer: M/M de Kock 4. SEE IT AGAIN (15) Odds: 25/2 Mass: 60.0 kg Jockey: R. Danielson Trainer: M. Roberts 5. THE REAL PRINCE (5) Odds: 14/1 Mass: 56.5 kg Jockey: C. Zackey Trainer: D. Kannemeyer 6. GLADATORIAN (16) Odds: 16/1 Mass: 60.0 kg Jockey: S. Veale Trainer: S. Ferrie 7. SELUKWE (6) Odds: 16/1 Mass: 54.0 kg Jockey: S. Moodley Trainer: A. Nel 8. ROYAL VICTORY (17) Odds: 20/1 Mass: 59.0 kg Jockey: M. Yeni Trainer: N. Kotzen 9. OKAVANGO (13) Odds: 20/1 Mass: 54.5 kg Jockey: A. Fortune Trainer: J. Snaith 10. ATTICUS FINCH (4) Odds: 25/1 Mass: 57.0 kg Jockey: C. Habib Trainer: A. Laird 11. CONFEDERATE (14) Odds: 25/1 Mass: 53.5 kg Jockey: W. Kennedy Trainer: F. Habib 12. NATIVE RULER (18) Odds: 33/1 Mass: 54.0 kg Jockey: T. Godden Trainer: J. Snaith 13. MADISON VALLEY (2) Odds: 33/1 Mass: 54.0 kg Jockey: G. Lerena Trainer: F. Robinson 14. MY BEST SHOT (9) Odds: 33/1 Mass: 53.0 kg Jockey: C. Maujean Trainer: A. Greeff 15. ON MY HONOUR (3) Odds: 33/1 Mass: 53.0 kg Jockey: S. Khumalo Trainer: G. Kotzen 16. PURPLE PITCHER (12) Odds: 50/1 Mass: 57.5 kg Jockey: K. Matsunyane Trainer: R. Klaasen 17. POMODORO'S JET (8) Odds: 50/1 Mass: 55.5 kg Jockey: A. Mgudlwa Trainer: J. Crawford 18. RAINBOW LORIKEET (7) Odds: 50/1 Mass: 53.0 kg Jockey: D. De Gouveia Trainer: C. Bass-Robinson IOL Sport
