Author Archives: Yegan Kander

Festival Of Speed Pick 6 worth the catch

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    David Thiselton

The Pick 6 at the Festival Of Speed meeting on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is usually worth catching and the jackpot of Graded races over 1200m that form the middle legs is always well supported and pays a worthwhile dividend.

Starting off with the first leg of the Jackpot, the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship, Querari Dancer would be fancied more if she had a better draw than one, which will be especially problematic for her style of running in which she comes from off the pace. The outside horses tend to drift inward and cause traffic problems for the lower drawn horses who are being held up. The wily Fortune might concoct a plan though and this horse looks to have the class to win. Get Up showed a fine kick from a handy position over 1100m to win the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes and has a form chance. If she can be in the leading line the draw of four should not be problematic and she has the Tarry factor. Secretary Bird is well regarded and Griselda beat Get Up in the SA Fillies Nursery, but the latter slammed the SA Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine in the Pretty Polly, so Get Up was probably below par in the Nursery. Griselda has a scurrying sort of action so is not as impressive as Get Up but they win in all shapes and sizes and she has a nice draw of seven out of 16. Flower Island won well in both starts, although her time was not noteworthy last time.  Ventura Boulevard won by ten lengths on debut in the East Cape and can’t be ignored.

In the Gr 1 Gold Medallion Rich Man’s World looks to be a superstar and can be bankered. For the risk averse Haute Couture can be included as he was very impressive on debut. Egremont caught the eye with his debut win and can also be considered.

In the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint Cosmic Speed bounced back when put over a sprint down the straight last time and, as he is a former Gr 1 Gold Medallion runner up, he will enjoy this course and distance. He has a nice draw of seven. One Eye On Vegas has speed and class and if able to overcome the troublesome number one draw he could be in the shake up. Taxi To The Moon is in devastating form and from draw five should make a bold bid. Texas Red is a 1400m specialist with consistent form and he should enjoy the tough Hollywoodbets Scottsville course and distance. Jerusalema Rain is in fine form and could still have more to come as he has found his feet in the Tarry yard and he should be in the shake up. Cafe Culture has speed and class and should be right there. Fox On The Run has some class and is tough to ignore. Last year’s winner Tenango comes in fresh and could have benefited from the layoff.

In the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint one would have to go thin, considering how many horses have to be put in legs one and three. Asiye Phambili is fancied to take it, but she will have a tough task keeping Double Grand Slam at bay and last year’s winner Mia Moo must also be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m, Uzwano has a nice middle draw and with Gavin Lerena up he should be finishing strongly and will go close. Talk To The Master has hard-knocking form and should be finishing strongly. Those two are taken a chance with and are relied on. If they fail some money can be put into the Jackpot.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Chapbook is only the reserve runner but if getting in he will go close as he caught the eye finishing strongly over 1100m at this course last time. Disting has some good form in Cape Town and has a good record over this course and distance. Vibe SA is an enigmatic sort but is good on his day and has a shout is he is in good form. Magic Surprise was not disgraced last time in the In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m and he has come into his own so should make a bold bid. City Of Love finished a good fifth in the In Full Flight Stakes and should also make a bold bid.

Chasing Gold to make a bold bid

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David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting today is competitive throughout, but there should be some fair opportunities for punters.

In the fifth race over 1600m Chasing Gold will be improving all the time being by Ideal World out of a Silvano mare. His dam Silver Class was a sprint-miler so Chasing Gold has interestingly dropped in trip after a good win over 1900m last time. She had to handle a four point raise for that win, but she is a galloping type who is drawn three and she should make a bold bid from a likely handy to front-running position. Mississippi Spice is also in fine form and going the right way, so should be right there too.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Gimme The Power did well in some open maiden plates in Cape Town carrying low weights, but she also did well in a Class 5 event. She made a good debut in KZN in a maiden and should be in the shake up here in this maiden jumping from draw three under Andrew Fortune. Chooks Kiss and Peace Rose also have to be considered.

In the next leg of the Pick 6 Gold Gold Baby impressed in her KZN debut in a maiden over 1900m and can follow up off a reasonable 75 rating.  She has a nice draw on her poly debut. Princess Palace will go close if repeating her last start and if she has a chance then La Maddalena must also be considered as she beat Princess Palace narrowly last time, although she does now have a wide draw to overcome.

In the sixth race over 1600m, a Middle Stakes event, Tomyris on a 93 is one off the top of her merit rated band and this merit rating has seen her go close in both of her previous two starts, including in a Middle Stakes race last time. She is clearly well weighted under these conditions and should go close from a good draw.  Spirit Of Shimla and Ice Rain make most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh over 1200m Poetic Princess won well last time and has a chance off a four point higher mark from pole position. Littleblackgem and Clickbait look well treated at present and can earn.

In the last race over 1400m Mask On ran a cracker last time and can go close with a repeat and Heaven’s Will will be right there too if repeating her last start, which was over this course and distance.

The meeting could start with a win for the well drawn Queraristinyferari in the 1000m contest, although on form there is not much between her and the widely drawn Royal Crest.

In the second over 1600m the Highveld raider Royal Jacket makes appeal as a consistent sort who does not face an inspiring field.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Wednesday 20 May 2026 – Comments by David Thiselton

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RACE 1

4 QUERARISTINYFERARI 11 ROYAL CREST 5 MEEKSHA 8 MISS CHARISMA

Preview: 4 QUERARISTINYFERARI is knocking on the door and should go close from a good draw over a trip which should suit. 11 ROYAL CREST was only a length behind Queraristinyferraris last time out. 5 MEEKSHA made a good debut behind a fair sort and should be thereabouts. 8 MISS CHARISMA made a fair debut and can improve.

RACE 2

1 ROYALE JACKET 3 PRINCESS TRIPPI 8 PLACE OF PRACTICE 7  PUTTHELIGHTSOUT

Preview: 1 ROYALE JACKET is a long time maiden but should enjoy this course and distance and can go close. 3 PRINCESS TRIPPI has the form to be a contender in this line up. 8 PLACE OF PRACTICE has run some cracking races and should take to the poly. 7  PUTTHELIGHTSOUT has run to good races and has a chance.

RACE 3

3 GIMME THE POWER 8 CHOOKS KISS 7 PEACE ROSE 5 BLENHEIM PALACE

Preview: 3 GIMME THE POWER had some fair Cape Town form and should improve on her decent KZN debut. 8 CHOOKS KISS has a fair form chance in this race and Lerena is up albeit from a wide draw. 7 PEACE ROSE is knocking on the door and should be right there.  5 BLENHEIM PALACE was not disgraced on debut and could improve.

RACE 4

4 GOLD GOLD BABY 1 PRINCESS PALACE 7 LA MADDALENA 8 PRAISE DE LA REY

Preview: 4 GOLD GOLD BABY impressed with her win on her KZN debut and she can follow up. 1 PRINCESS PALACE ran a cracker last time over 1600m and should appreciate this step up in trip and she has pole position. 7 LA MADDALENA is half-a-kilogram worse off with Princess Palace after beating her last time by 1,20 lengths and she will also enjoy this trip but she has a wide draw to overcome. 8 PRAISE DE LA REY is a maiden and ran well in a D Stakes race last time and could earn here.

RACE 5

8 MISSISSIPPI SPICE 2 CLOUDS CLEARING 9 ROY’S GRACE 3 CHASING GOLD

Preview: 3 CHASING GOLD is continually improving and can defy the handicapper again from a good draw. 8 MISSISSIPPI SPICE is in fine form and a wide draw did not bother her last time. 2 CLOUDS CLEARING has a good draw and a good form chance. 9 ROY’S GRACE is always thereabouts and with a 4kg claimer up has a chance although she has a wide draw.

RACE 6

3 TOMYRIS 5 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA 6 ICE RAIN 7 EDUCATOR

Preview: 3 TOMYRIS is not the most reliable but has class and is capable of delivering a top performance on her day. 5 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA is consistent and should be in the shake up. 6 ICE RAIN beat Tomyris narrowly last time on the same terms as here and now has a 2,5kg claimer up so has a big chance, although there is a reversal in draw fortunes. 7 EDUCATOR has some class but is none too reliable and she has a tough draw.

RACE 7

1 POETIC PRINCESS 6  LITTLEBLACKGEM 4 CLICKBAIT 5 QUENTASIA

Preview: 1 POETIC PRINCESS won well last time and has a chance off a four point higher mark from pole position. 6  LITTLEBLACKGEM is consistent and is currently off an attractive merit rating. 4 CLICKBAIT has good pace and off an attractive merit rating from a good draw should make a bold bid. 5 QUENTASIA has come down to a nice merit rating and could make her presence felt with a low weight and a 1,5kg claimer up.

RACE 8

4 MASK ON 8 HEAVEN’S WILL 2 PLEASEDTOSEEYOU 3 THE GLIDING FISH

Preview: 4 MASK ON ran a cracker last time and can go close with a repeat. 8 HEAVEN’S WILL will be right there if repeating her last start which was over this course and distance. 2 PLEASEDTOSEEYOU has the form to be a contender. 3 THE GLIDING FISH is capable of popping up.

New anchor leg for Festival Of Speed

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 David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting has a new anchor leg for the Jackpot, the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

The Golden Horse Sprint has always previously been the last leg of the Jackpot, but with that race now being a Gr 2 for the second year running it seems that the SA Fillies Sprint has now replaced it as the most important of the two open events as it is forms the last leg of the always much looked forward to Jackpot of Graded races for the first time this year.

It has the same stake as the Golden Horse, R1 million, and is hence not the most expensive race of the day with the stake for the Gr 1 Gold Medallion now upped from R1.5 million last year to 1.75 million this year.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint is certainly going to be a humdinger this year, although many Jackpot and Pick 6 players will likely be going thin in this leg.

Double Grand Slam and Asiye Phambili are the form horses of the race and reigning champion Mia Moo can be considered too as she did beat both of those horses last year and she also has another important fact on her side i.e. she is trained by Sean Tarry, otherwise known as The King of Pietermaritzburg, having plundered a record 21 Gr 1 victories at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Double Grand Slam’s defeat in last year’s SA Fillies Sprint is one of the reasons trainer Justin Snaith has entered her this year, because she was enormously unlucky in that race and Snaith would like to set the record straight.

Double Grand Slam had the number one draw, which was problematic on the day, if not always at this meeting, because the horses tend to drift over from the outside towards the perceived better going towards the inside.

Richard Fourie decided to stick to his stations and it almost worked out because a gap opened just after the 400m mark and she still looked to have plenty in  hand. Unfortunately, it closed as quickly as it opened and after being switched outward the crack filly had nowhere to go and she could only coast home behind a forest of horses to take sixth place, beaten 1,45 lengths.

So it is good news she is drawn ten out of 15 this year, not to mention being in the form of her life.

Her new regular partner Andrew Fortune is back aboard with her rider from her 5,40 length Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes victory, Craig Zackey, now aboard the contender from his guv’nor Dean Kannemeyer’s yard.

Asiye Phambili has also been plagued by bad luck in this race. Trainer Duncan Howells was ultra confident a couple of years ago only to see Rachel Venniker dislodged at the start after the filly pecked badly. Then last year her run came just a fraction too late and she went down a shorthead. If she had stayed straight instead of drifting inward she might have won too.

Asiye Phambili has drawn eight and regular rider Sean Veale is aboard.

Mia Moo came into the race last year on the back of a 2,10 length victory in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes, whereas this year she comes in off a 2,90 length third in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint.

Interestingly Mia Moo beat Almond Sea by 4,80 lengths in the Camellia Stakes race and beat her by 3,35 lengths in the Computaform, so her form coming in is not actually much worse than it was last year.

However,  it is her who has to contend with draw one this year and ironically Richard Fourie is up.

In an another coincidental twist Mia Moo was drawn 8 last year, which is Asiye Phambili’s draw this year, and Asiye Phambili was drawn ten last year, Double Grand Slam’s draw this year.

Princess Of All should be considered by the risk averse as she has a Gr 2 win over this trip as well as a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 over 1400m.

Perfect Miracle is an interesting runner too as she is by Hawwaam, whose progeny seem to improve continuously, just like his father Silvano’s progeny.

Perfect Miracle is proof of that. She has won a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 in her last two starts and the latter was the Camellia Stakes, which produced last year’s SA Fillies Sprint winner.

In this year’s Camellia Perfect Miracle faced Rodeo Drive on terms 1kg better than weight for age and beat her by 0,75 lengths, so on paper there should not be much between them now on wfa terms.

She was on wfa terms with all of Rachel Wall, Whistle The Tune, One Fine Winter and Almond Sea, whom she beat by 1,15 lengths, 2.05 lengths, 2,30 lengths and 3,80 lengths respectively, so has their beating on paper.

Symphony In White is a previous Gr 1 Allan Robertson third-placed achiever, but was beaten 4,55 lengths in this race last year and is well held by Asiye Phambili this year from their previous meeting.

Elegantrix was second in last year’s Allan Robertson, but ran a shocker last time out although she did win a Listed race well two runs before that over 1200m, so she could be a dark horse.

None of the others make much appeal.

Bass-Robinson Horses (Liesl King)

Changes to the merit ratings

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David Thiselton
The new merit ratings are out from the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic and the handicappers look to have largely managed to get the merit ratings back to the way they had wanted them after the TAB Gauteng Guineas.
The original line horse used for the Gauteng Guineas was Tin Pan Alley, who was rated 117, whilst the appeal panel decided a more appropriate line horse was the 108-rated Grand Empire.
However,  both of those horses are now Gr 1 winners, with Grand Empire having won the SA Classic on Saturday by a short-head from Trust, and Tin Pan Alley having slammed some of the best in the country by 1,75 lengths when winning the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
The appeal panel’s overall rating of the race thus looked to be too low.
The handicappers have managed to use the evidence from the SA Classic, as well as other factors, to get Trust back to the merit rating they had him on after the Guineas i.e 119 and have changed the ratings of the other runners accordingly.
The ratings look to now have a realistic look to them.
Meanwhile, Tin Pan Alley has been raised ten points to 128 after his impressive Horse Chestnut Stakes victory.
Hazy Dazy remains unchanged on 117 after her cosy win in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.
The NHA press release explained all of the changes to the Gr 1 runners:
WILGERBOSDRIFT H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (GRADE 1)
Three-year-old TIN PAN ALLEY has been awarded a revised merit rating of 128, up from 117, following his emphatic victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes run at weight-for-age over 1600m at Turffontein standside track on Saturday.
In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified the consistent TEXAS RED (third place) as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 119.
TIN PAN ALLEY’S commanding win over 1600m on a yielding track dispelled any doubts about his aptitude for the trip. The Handicappers had already considered him suitable for the distance, having used him as the line horse in the original TAB Gauteng Guineas ratings. However, the TAB Gauteng Guineas was subsequently reduced to a level of 109 following an appeal.
The outcome of the TAB Gauteng Guineas appeal has had significant knock-on effects. The three-year-old cohort that dominated the Guineas was reduced from a level of 121 to 109. TIN PAN ALLEY, who finished fourth in that race, has now gone on to win a Grade 1 WFA event.
Effectively, based on the reduced Guineas level, his performance rating has risen from 104 to 128 in just 28 days. While the Handicappers clearly believe TIN PAN ALLEY improved in this race, the improvement would reasonably be measured from 117 to 128 based on the Handicapper’s original assessment of the Gauteng Guineas.
When rating the Guineas, the Handicappers considered the pecking order of the field, the quality of the race as a Grade 2 event, and fairness from a handicapping perspective to ensure horses would meet on proper handicap terms in future contests. The appeal outcome created distortions, including the subsequent reduction of TRUST’S rating from 119 to 108 – a decision made two runs after his Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans victory, which the Handicappers regard as contrary to the principles of handicapping.
TIN PAN ALLY’S performance in this WFA race highlights the strength of this year’s three-year-old crop.
No other horses received upward adjustments in this race. COSMIC SPEED’S rating was reduced slightly, from 124 to 122.
HKJC WORLD POOL SA CLASSIC (GRADE 1)
GRAND EMPIRE, winner of the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic over 1800m, has had his official merit rating raised from 108 to 120.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed that runner-up TRUST reaffirmed the 119 performance he achieved in the Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans last November, where he defeated the 118-rated JAN VAN GOYEN. The Dingaans level remains the officially adopted benchmark for that race.
In the assessment of this race, the Handicappers concluded that TRUST once again performed to that same level of 119. TRUST was used to that mark and was accordingly adjusted to 119.
A collateral line of form with TIN PAN ALLY’S win in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) indicates that the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic is undervalued, however, the Handicappers do not practise retrospective ratings.
Furthermore, the TRUST appeal panel concluded with the following recommendation: “Following the running of the SA Classic, the Handicappers should re-evaluate the entire three-year-old crop.”
Three additional horses received merit rating increases in this race:
  • SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
  • ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
  • RADIO STAR: 95 to 107
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (GRADE 1)
HAZY DAZY’S official merit rating remained unchanged at 117 after she held off her rivals to win the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. HAZY DAZY remains 3 points lower that her male counterpart GRAND EMPIRE, which is within the range of the filly’s allowance while keeping her equal to the Western Cape Leading filly WISH LIST, who is also rated 117.
The Handicappers identified LITTLEMISSMILLION as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 107.
Two horses received rating increases based on their margins ahead of the line horse at level weights:
  • SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
  • DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108

London News July centenary victory

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David Thiselton

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be a milestone one with the prize money doubled to R10 million and with a longer handicap introduced as the topweight will be upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

It will fittingly fall on the 30th anniversary of the centenary July, which turned out to be one of the greatest of all Julys as it was won by the legendary Alec Laird-trained London News, who went on to put South African racing on the map by winning the QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

The renowned South African wildlife painter Henk Vos released his celebrated work, the Painting Of The Century, depicting a century of July winners, after the July’s centenary running.

The iconic painting now hangs in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Alec Laird actually ordered one of the prints of the painting before it was completed as the print had the first of his great Uncle Syd Garrett’s five July winners on the left and the greatest of his father’s record seven July winners, Sea Cottage, was in the centre.

The right hand side just had a blank with a silhouette of a horse, because Vos did not know yet which horse he was going to paint there.

Alec, who trained out of Randjesfontein on the Highveld, related, “He hadn’t made up his mind what horse he was going to put in the last panel (the 20th panel) and he even said to me ‘I would like you to win the July because I would like to put you as the last painting.’ With about a year to go I said to him I’m not going to make it.’”

However, fate then had it that London News not only became the 14/10 favourite for the 100th running of the July, but he was also saddle cloth number 20, being the only three-year-old in the field and the bottom weight.

Piere Strydom recalled, “I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there.”

London News duly won the race and Alec, London News and Piere Strydom are now at the forefront of the famous painting’s 20th panel and the horse is fittingly carrying the no. 20 saddle cloth.

The London News story starts at the National Yearling Sale of 1994.

Alec recalled big owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee’s chief aim at that Sale was to buy a yearling by their own 1987 July winner, Bush Telegraph.

Alec recalled Harmony Forever being his number one choice at that Sale.

However, he remembered London News being “a nice horse.”

He added, “On the first day a Bush Telegraph colt called Mr Newspaperman went for about R300,000. London News looked more athletic and Jean Jaffee actually said to me, ‘What about this one?’ On the first day they didn’t get a horse, the second day they didn’t get one and the more they asked me about London News the nicer he got, because I was otherwise going to go home without a horse!”

The Jaffees managed to secure London News.

Alec recalled, “He was a light youngster and even as a three-year-old was quite light. He didn’t show immediately, but we always had the feeling that he would be a nice horse when he matured.”

In fact, London News made a particularly inauspicious debut, beaten no fewer than 16,5 lengths under Anton Marcus in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal on June 6, 1995.

However, he got better and better and when he smashed the Greyville 2000m course record, which still stands today, in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, he had won six out of eleven starts including the Dingaans and two middle distance Gr 1s.

Piere Strydom was aboard for the Daily News 2000 too.

He reflected on the 1996 July, the first of his four victories in South Africa’s greatest race, “London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight (having led) I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on.”

Alec added, “Mike Rattray had invited me to watch in his box because it was on the line and he won by a neck but my eyes wouldn’t believe it because there was so much pressure. I wanted to see the number up!”

Alec described the emotion of being on the honour roll together with his late record-breaking seven-time July-winning father Syd.

In fact his extended family is comfortably the most prolific July-winning family in history with his grandfather Alec winning one as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett winning two as a jockey and three as a trainer, his father Syd winning a record seven as a trainer, and the cousins Dennis Drier, Alec Laird and Charles Laird each winning one July apiece – a total of 16 for the July dynasty.

July stake jumps to R10 million and a handicap

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The historic and time-honoured Hollywoodbets Durban July is set to deliver its most compelling blend of sport, style and celebration yet on the occasion of the 130th renewal on Saturday 4 July 2026 with the news that big-race sponsors Hollywoodbets have raised the bar with a record-breaking R10 million stake.

The move reinforces the iconic event’s position as Africa’s richest ever graded race – both in prize money and in cultural impact!

Internationally acknowledged as Africa’s Greatest Horse racing Event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July has been run without interruption every year since Saturday 17 July 1897.

Hollywoodbets took over sponsorship of the Durban July in 2022, when it raised the stake from R2 million to R5 million.

In 2026, the year-on-year 100% boost in stakes money will be celebrated with a bold return to its true handicap heritage, reintroducing a more ‘open handicap’ designed to boost competitiveness and elevate the spectacle for racing fans and casual viewers alike.

Key changes for 2026 include a return to a wider weight spread across the field:

  • Bottom weight has been reduced from 53kg to 52kg.
  • Top weight increased from 60kg to 62kg.

Restoring a full 10kg spread in the range of weights means the race boasts the hallmark of a true, open handicap.

To uphold the integrity of this world-class contest, Race Coast will assemble a five-person national panel of racing experts, which will be announced in due course, responsible for determining the final field.

In 2026 the first 12 horses past the post will now earn prize money (up from 10 previously), while the winning connections will bank R6 million.

“The Hollywoodbets Durban July is an internationally recognised raceday where sport, style and South African spirit come together — and we’re proud to be raising the stakes for the milestone 130th running,” said Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager at Hollywoodbets.

“With a record R10 million on offer and a bold return to a more open handicap, the racing will be as dramatic as the day is stylish. It’s a celebration of our heritage — on the track and in the culture — and 2026 is set to be unforgettable.”

The 2026 theme will be announced in February 2026, which signals the start of the creative countdown that turns designers, stylists and racegoers into storytellers, and transforms Hollywoodbets Greyville into a vibrant runway alongside a world-class sporting stage.

Jockey of the Month – June 2025

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Serino Moodley

Serino Moodley has struck up a solid relationship with Byron Forster, KZN assistant to Western Cape-based Andre Nel. Forster is a man of few words but he knows his oats and has been loyal to Serino. They teamed up with Selukwe to win the WSB 1900 in fine fashion and that combination will have a realistic chance of landing the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Serino rode eight winners this month, one less than S’Manga Kumalo and joint with Craig Zackey.

Serino is Race Coast’s Jockey of the Month for June