(Durban, 27 June 2026) – Creativity took centre stage at Westown Square on Friday evening as the Hollywoodbets Durban July Preview Fashion Show transformed the retail development into a celebration of style, imagination, and unmistakable South African flair.

Surrounded by paved walkways, flower installations and open skies within the shopping centre’s hub of artisanal creativity, shoppers, families, young children and fashion enthusiasts gathered in an atmosphere perfectly suited to this year’s enchanting theme of ‘Country Allure’.

Against this relaxed countryside-inspired backdrop, rustic elegance met contemporary couture as the Hollywoodbets Durban July’s full range of official fashion elements were presented together for the first time in spectacular style.

“It is the first time the public get to see the three tiers of fashion at the Hollywoodbets Durban July all on one stage: The Young Designer Award presented by Metro FM; the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars; and the six Invited Designers,” said Race Coast Head of Marketing, Major Events and Broadcast, Steve Marshall.

“It is a visualisation of the ‘Country Allure’ theme and acts as an inspiration for the public to see how the professionals have interpreted the theme. We hope that everyone turns out on Saturday, 4 July with their own interpretation,” he added.

From rebellious country chic to breathtaking tributes to South Africa’s landscapes, cultures and traditions, every collection offered a fresh interpretation of ‘Country Allure’. Rich textures, hand-crafted detail, earthy tones, intricate beadwork and dramatic silhouettes celebrated both the untamed beauty of the countryside and the sophistication that has become synonymous with Africa’s greatest horse racing and fashion event.

Drawing inspiration from South Africa’s vibrant tapestry of cultures, tribes and landscapes, designers also explored more theatrical and unexpected elements, reminding audiences that the country’s diversity remains one of its greatest creative strengths.

Durban Fashion Fair Co-ordinator Derrick Mhlongo said: “Tonight we communicate to all sectors of our consumers, from our sponsors to our audience. It is a family event where kids get to look up to designers and be inspired. Moms, dads and grannies are all here enjoying the experience. While they may not be able to attend race day, this provides them with the opportunity to see and feel what fashion is all about.

The fashion element of the Hollywoodbets Durban July is an igniter. Everyone thinks about what they are going to wear when they go to the races. As a result, we need to acknowledge the role played by fashion in this event, starting with the designers, the models, the make-up artists, hairstylists and producers. When these elements all come together, the lifestyle and the Hollywoodbets Durban July comes alive.”

Referring to the role played by the Hollywood Foundation, Marketing Manager Vuyisile Ngobese explained that the organisation was founded in 2021 as an NPO aimed at creating meaningful pathways for designers in South Africa, ultimately helping to revive the clothing and textile industry in the province.

“Tonight at the Hollywoodbets Preview Fashion Gala, apart from being a platform for the Young Designers and the established Invited Designers, it is also a chance to showcase the nine emerging designers who are part of the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars. They were selected last year, and the Hollywood Foundation was part of that selection. They will receive a share of R300 000 worth of equipment that will assist them in establishing sustainable businesses,” said Ngobese.

“Over the past five years that we have partnered with the Hollywoodbets Durban July, we are now able to see the fruits of this partnership. Many of those participating tonight started off as Young Designers and have gone on to become Rising Stars – or, like former Durban Fashion Fair Rising Star Kwenzi Nkomo from Indoni Fashion House, who, through the support of the Hollywood Foundation, is one of the Invited Designers,” Ngobese added.

As the countdown to Africa’s most prestigious horse racing and fashion spectacle gathers pace, anticipation is reaching a crescendo. On Saturday, 4 July, Greyville Racecourse will once again become the stage where bold fashion, world-class racing, and unforgettable entertainment collide.

General admission entrance tickets are on sale via Ticketpro.

All the event and racing information is available on https://www.racecoast.co.za/hollywoodbets-durban-july/.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Langerman is a two-year-old event that is often a good pointer to the classic races of the following season and the 1500m race could be won this year by Catwalk King, who caught the eye last time when coming from off the pace to win the Listed Somerset 1200.

On pedigree he should enjoy this step up in trip being by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a High Chaparral mare who won over 2000m. He has a good draw of two with Keagan de Melo staying up.

Kalahari King won well on debut over 1200m and looked to be a horse looking for further next time out when staying on over 1100m. He will relish this step up in trip and will be a threat under Richard Fourie despite a tricky draw of six.

Aquae Calidae was beaten 1,25 lengths by Kalahari King on debut but improved to win over 1200m next time out and this superbly bred colt will relish the step up in trip and is drawn well in three.

From The Island has the widest draw of all to overcome but this big horse won well over 1400m last time when giving weight all around and must be a player here.

Uncle Same could earn a cheque here.

Those are the five who make most appeal and they are selected in the order mentioned.

The Listed Irridescence Stakes over 1500m could see Grapes Of Wrath making amends as she was unlucky behind Catwalk King last time. The half-sister to Charles Dickens is drawn in pole and can beat home the widely drawn Enticement, who should enjoy the step up in trip.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Cork Bay won well on May 3 and the form has been well franked, so he could beat Kelp Forest and Volegov, who should enjoy the step back up in trip.

In the next race over 1200m Music Of The Night is in fine form and can follow up her last win off a three point higher mark and with the 4kg claimer staying aboard. Raffish Trend should enjoy the course and distance at this time of year and Star World has the form to be a contender.

In the fifth race over 1400m Prince Of Tibet has a tricky draw but should enjoy the trip and can run on to go close.  Super Viking should be right there and Noon Day Gun is always capable of winning a 1400m race of this nature.

In the ninth race over 1600m Peaches And Cream stayed on well last time over 1500m and from a good draw should go close.

In the first race over 1000m My Bonny Boy went close over course and distance last time and is the one to beat.

In the second over 1000m Hiawatha Goldberg is interesting stepped back down in trip and should be right there under Richard Fourie.

David Thiselton

Mickaelle Michel would never have believed in her wildest dreams when landing in South Africa last December that she would be aboard the favourite for South Africa’s greatest race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, just seven months later. However, she will have to defy 43 years of history even if ignoring the fact that she would become the first female jockey to ever win the big race.

Mark Sutherland was the last jockey to ride the winner of the July in his first ride in the great race and that happened in 1983 on the filly Tecla Bluff, who was the first of the great trainer Terrance Millard’s six July winners.

The previous jockey to achieve the feat was Leslie Mustard, who won on the Des Rich-trained Lightning Shot in 1977 in his first July ride.

Before Mustard one would have to go as far back as 1959 to find another case.

1959 was a historic year, because the Oppenheimer family had the first of their nine July wins either as owners, breeders, or both, as their homebred four-year-old Tiger Fish made amends for his short-head defeat the previous year, He was ridden to a convincing 2,25 length victory by Bennie Little in the latter’s first ever July ride.

Bennie was the grandfather of current jockey Chad Little.

Whilst the Oppenheimer family have a fine chance this year of making it a tenth July victory with their Frank Robinson-trained homebred filly Mocha Blend, an opportunity for history to repeat itself was missed when Holding Thumbs did not make it into the final field earlier this week as this Glen Kotzen-trained Vercingetorix gelding was bred by the Oppenheimer family and Chad Little was due to ride him.

It would have been Chad’s second career July ride, his first having been 21 years ago on Tyson who finished 11^th in the 2005 July.

Mickaelle will become only the second woman to have ridden in the iconic race.

Rachel Venniker made history when riding in the Hollywoodbets Durban July in 2024.

She might get a second ride in the big race this year as she is booked to ride the first reserve runner Choisaanada, an Erico Verdonese-trained horse who was somewhat controversially left out of the top 18 having been a top 18 incumbent on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

It was in fact the second time a Verdonese-trained horse who had been set to be ridden by Venniker was eliminated at the last minute as the Verdonese-trained Jimmy Don was 18th on the final log in 2023, but did not make the cut.

Rachel had been set to make her July debut in 2022, but suffered a concussion and whiplash injury after a freak starting-gate accident just five days before the big race.

When she did finally have a July ride two years ago it was aboard the outsider Hluhluwe, a three-year-old 40-1 chance trained by Justin Snaith,

and she finished a 5,35 length eleventh.

Venniker and Verdonese will be hoping there is a scratching before 08H15 on Friday July 3.

The July is not an easy race to ride in, so experience would be an advantage, but a professional of Mickaelle Michel’s standing would go in with plenty of meticulous homework and preparation having been done. July replays, for example, would be a valuable tool for a first-time rider in the race and there are plenty of current jockeys and ex-jockeys who would be willing to offer advice.

There will be many hoping the popular French jockey can make history in about ten days time on the fourth of July.

David Thiselton

Peter Muscutt spoke about the draws of one and fourteen for his two Hollywoodbets Durban July runners, Isivivane and I Salute You respectively, at Summerveld yesterday morning. He also gave feedback on his Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe runner St. Harry.

Isivivane jumped well from draw two last time out in the Gr 3 WSB 1900. Sean Veale managed to settle him in the box seat behind the pacemaker Trust. From there he ran on well down the inside to win the race by 0,60 lengths from Regulation.

Peter said about his pole position July draw, “It is probably a very good draw for him. It can be a bit of an awkward barrier if they miss the break or don’t manage to hold their position early, but he’s pretty sharp out of the gates. We would have to be positive on him and he should get a very cosy run in transit from that barrier.”

Isivivane is by Erupt (Dubawi), who won two Gr 1s over 2400m. He is out of a mare by Casey Tibbs, a Sadler’s Wells stallion who won two Listed races over 2000m. Furthermore, Isivivane’s dam Rodeo Sioux’s three wins included two over 2600m, one of them a Non-Black Type feature.

Peter said, “I have no doubt that 2200m is well within his compass.”

In I Salute You’s last race in the Gr  3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m he was drawn in pole position and after dwelling slightly at the break he sat on the rail but only had two horses behind him in the ten horse field. He moved outward coming around the final turn and ran on well to be a 0,70 length second giving the winner Zeitz 2,5kg.

He is 1kg better off with Zeitz from that run in the July, but this time has drawn wide in 14.

Peter said, “It’s a little bit awkward, but he is quite a versatile horse. He can sit with them or off them and he has got a turn of foot.

I Salute You is by Soqrat, whose three Gr 1 wins were over 1600m, but he did finish a narrow second with topweight in the Gr 1 Summer Cup over the tough Turffontein Standside 2000m trip and he finished third in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and a not disgraced 4,45 length 8^th in the July carrying second topweight of 59kg. I Salute You is out of a mare by speed influence Var and her two wins were over 1000m and 1200m, but both I Salute You and Taegan’s Champ have won over 1700m to 1750m trips.

Peter said, “With him too I have no doubt that the 2200 is going to be within his distance range.”

I Salute You’s big race rider Mark du Plessis lands in South Africa on Wednesday night next week.

Peter said, “Mark will get to sit on I Salute You on the Thursday morning and  then basically his work is done.”

Tristan Godden will likely be riding I Salute You at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops on Thursday morning this week.

Peter has one other runner on July day, the exciting Australian-bred St. Harry, who is a son of Harry Angel (Acclamation).

He runs in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Peter said, “He is drawn eleven, but he is a very good horse. He hasn’t run since Cape Town. I have given him as much time to mature as possible. He has got a devastating turn of foot, so we can ride him conservatively from the eleven barrier. He’s an exciting horse for the future, so we don’t want to overdo things with him as a two-year-old, but he has developed and furnished very well since his last race and if he runs to his work he should be a factor on July day.”

David Thiselton

The big question before the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw Ceremony at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday morning was whether the fancied entry Regulation, who had been single figures in the betting markets, would make the top 18 and connections and supporters were left on tenterhooks until the last minute as 17 horses were on the board without his name appearing.

The Justin Snaith-trained horse’s name then appeared, although the connections of the Erico Verdonese-trained Choisaanada must have feared the worst as the horses are revealed in weight order and when they went past the 58,5kg weight without his name appearing the writing was on the wall.

Choisaanada is merit rated 121, while Regulation is merit rated 106 and the latter is thus 1kg under sufferance.

However, considering Regulation beat Zeitz by 3,20 lengths when winning the Gr 3 Ownpay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and faces the latter on the same terms in the July he looks to have a chance of winning the race.

Choisaanada on the other hand, finished a neck ahead of The Ultimate King at level weights in the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes and Regulation beat the latter in the WSB 1900 by just over a neck when receiving 6kg. Regulation will only receive 4,5kg from The Ultimate King in the July, but would have received 6,5kg from Choisaanada, so that collateral formline would justify Regulation’s position in the final field.

Nevertheless, Choisaanada’s connections are likely to feel aggrieved as he was three positions ahead of Regulation on the final log.

On a brighter note the Australian-based sensation Zac Lloyd will be aboard Regulation. He will attempt to break the trend of his legendary father, the former Durban-based Jeff Lloyd, who finished third in this race no fewer than nine times without ever winning, although he did finish second in his last July ride in 2018. Regulation landed a plum draw of two.

There were no other contentious issues in the Final Field Announcement.

The race favourite is the James Crawford-trained Star Major who is part of a fairy tale story as the Querari colt will be ridden by French woman Mickaelle Michel, who travelled out here with the hope of riding winners and enjoying the experience but never in her wildest dreams would she have believed that she would be riding the favourite in South Africa’s greatest race just seven months after arriving.

James Crawford was assistant to his father Brett when they landed the July in successive years, 2023 and 2024, and will be out to win a first July under his own license.

Three-year-old Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner Star Major jumps from a well nigh perfect draw of four and will realise a long held dream for Durban-born part-owner Ravi Naidoo if he were to win the race. Ravi went close two years ago with Cousin Casey and will be hoping to go one better.

That 2024 race was of course won by Oriental Charm, who was part-owned by Greg and Gina Bortz and this year the couple part-own the Snaith-trained Native Ruler and they are sole owners of Regulation.

Greg was also Durban-born and another Durban-born owner who will be out to realise a long held dream will be Ravi Padayachee, the chief owner of the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles. Ravi pulled a draw of 17 for King Pelles.

Preshalin and Jayson Murugasa, owners of the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Aladdin’s Lamp, are also passionate Durban-born owners.

Mike de Kock has won five Julys before and will be out to win a first together with son Mathew and they will have to do it from the widest draw of all as Aladdin’s Lamp drew 18.

An interesting fact of the field is that following on from no female runners in the race in 2024 and only one last year, there are no fewer than five female runners this year and one reserve.

The two most fancied of them, Wish List and Mocha Blend, drew seven and 13 respectively.

Wish List will be one of five horses representing Justin Snaith, who will be out to win a sixth July. She will be out to give a first July win to Andrew Fortune, who will become the oldest jockey to win the race at the age of 59 if she does it. Fortune pulled his own draw of seven and was thrilled with it.

Among the Snaith-trained horses is the topweight Legal Counsel, who only just failed to become a Gr 1 wfa winner when pipped in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m last time and he also came second in Cape Town’s greatest race The Gr 1 wfa WSB Met over 2000m. He will be ridden by Callan Murray and is drawn well in five.

The locally-trained horses in the field are the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian, the Frank Robinson-trained Mocha Blend, the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles and the Peter Muscutt-trained pair I Salute You and Isivivane.

There are eight Cape-trained horses in the top 18 and five Highveld-trained horses and the two reserves are both Highveld-trained horses.

Tammy and Candice Dawson will be out to become the third female trainers to win the July and have the mare Minogue involved. She will be ridden by Gavin Lerena.

The 18 incumbent runners include five three-year-olds, nine four-year-olds, three five-year-olds and one six-year-old and the two reserves consist of a four-year-old and a three-year-old.

Three jockeys have been flown in to ride in the race, Zac Llloyd, Chad Schofield, who rides King Pelles, and Mark Du Plessis, who rides I Salute You.

Only five jockeys in the race have won a July before, with Richard Fourie having three wins to his name, while each of Gavin Lerena, Kabelo Matsunyane, JP van der Merwe and last year’s winning rider Craig Zackey have won the big race once apiece.

 The weight structure this year has topweight at 62kg and bottom weight at 52kg and for the first time in many years it is just a straight handicap without any allowances or limitations.

There is only one horse in the top 18 who is officially under sufferance and that is Regulation, who is 1kg under sufferance, although the second reserve runner Curious Girl will be 4kg under sufferance if she gets in.

With a stake that doubles from last year to R10 million it is going to be a humdinger!

David Thiselton

The all important Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw Ceremony will happen at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

The final field panellists, consisting of chairman Raf Sheik (Race Coast), Lennon Maharaj (NHA Chief Handicapper), Aveen Sewpersad (Race Coast), Kurt Felix (Race Coast), Gabriel Soma (4Racing) and Luciano Passerini (4Racing), will have had the unenviable task yesterday (Monday) of choosing 18 runners plus two reserves from the 25 horses still standing their ground.

They would have been helped by the late scratching yesterday of the fancied Happy Verse as he was a top 18 on the log incumbent.

The scratchings of Tenpenny and Shoot The Rapids yesterday would not have been of much help as they were outside the top 20 on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log and at most the only impact they would likely have had on the final field selection process would have been consideration for one of the two reserve positions.

The anomaly this year is that one of the most fancied runners in the betting market is the Justin Snaith-trained Regulation, despite him only having been 20^th on the final Hollywoodbets Durban July log and having a lowly merit rating of 106, which would mean he would be 1kg under sufferance carrying 52kg if he is a runner in the big race.

The Legislate gelding was fancied to book his place in the July by winning the Gr 3 WSB 1900, but he was caught wide from a wide draw and could only manage a 0,60 length second.

He was then fancied to make amends in the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial, but he was once again caught wide and he then reportedly choked up. His unplaced run there dented his chances of a place in the final field.

In his favour is that when winning the Gr 3 Ownpay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in December he beat top 18 on the July log incumbent Zeitz by 3,20 lengths when receiving only 1kg and then when finishing an unlucky third in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Premier Trophy over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January he beat Zeitz at level weights by 1,55 lengths and beat another top 18 July log incumbent, Native Ruler, by 2,35 lengths at level weights.

Furthermore, he beat top 18 incumbents The Ultimate King and Native Ruler in the WSB 1900, although he was receiving 6kg from The Ultimate King and 8kg from Native Ruler and only beat them by a quarter of a length and 1,35 lengths respectively.

Zeitz reversed form with Regulation when winning the Cup Trial and Regulation was also beaten by Listed Sledgehamnmer winner Field Marshal in the Cup Trial. The latter still stands his ground in the July.

The problem is which horse would Regulation leapfrog if it was decided to put him in?

The 19th position on the last log was the Gr 3 Jubilee winner Aladdin’s Lamp and he deserves a place as the winner of a traditional July pointer race and he is also in the handicap off his 110 rating carrying 53kg.

The next horse above Regulation on the log in 18th position was Minogue, who has placed a narrow second in her last two races, which were both Gr 2s over 2000m.

However, Regulation has won a stakes race this season, while Minogue has never won a black type race in her career, although she has many stakes places to her name including a Gr 1 runner up finish.

Other horses who have not had stakes wins this season despite some good placed efforts are Choisaanada (17th on the log), I Salute You (15th), Olivia’s Way (14th), Viva’s Liberte (11th), King Pelles (9th), Note To Self  (7th) and Gladatorian (6th).

If winning a stakes race is a key criteria then Regulation must have a chance.

It is always a tough decision for the final field panellists and there are always those who either feel disappointed or aggrieved.

However, the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw ceremony is when the famous “July Fever” really kicks into overdrive.

It is a hugely anticipated event by the South African racing community and trainers, owners, jockeys, breeders, grooms, punters and bookmakers will be on tenterhooks when the ceremony starts at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning, with the final field tension being followed by the barrier draw tension.

David Thiselton

Justin Snaith has six entries in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and one of them, the Vercingetorix gelding Native Ruler, put in a fine preparation run on Saturday by winning the Gr 3 Winter Stakes over 2400m in authoritative fashion.

The biggest irony with Snaith’s entries, which also includes Wish List, Note To Self, Happy Verse, Legal Counsel and Regulation, is that one of their most supported entries in the betting markets, Regulation, is not certain to make the final field.

Justin spoke yesterday (Monday) about Native Ruler and Regulation and said, “Native Ruler dominated a modest field, but did so with real authority, never giving the impression he was in any danger once turning for home.

He remains a progressive horse and, if you cast your mind back to his excellent run in last year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, there is every reason to be optimistic about his chances this time around. Keagan de Melo produced a faultless ride and will undoubtedly know the horse even better going into the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Congratulations to Greg and Gina Bortz, Mukund Gujadhur and Rikesh Sewgoolam – a fantastic partnership enjoying a tremendous run of success.

Greg and Gina’s silks, in particular, have struck a rich vein of form of late and also hold a strong hand in the Hollywoodbets Durban July with Regulation. In my view, he is the best-weighted horse of our runners in this year’s race, and it is no surprise to see him prominently positioned in the betting markets (Currently trading at 8–1 and sitting fifth in the betting). JP Van Der Merwe has been booked to ride him at 52kg.

The best-weighted horse often wins this great race, not necessarily the best horse.

Things did not go his way last time when he choked up in the Cup Trial, but he has since scoped clear. Should he secure a place in the final field, I believe he is capable of running a massive race. His brother Belgarion won the Hollywoodbets Durban July in 2020. Both Belgarion and Regulation were bred by my one of our longest standing clients, Alec and Gillian Foster (who also bred Questioning).”

Regulation has had no luck at all in his last three starts but showed his class when having nowhere to go in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Premier Trophy over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and running on powerfully for third when finally seeing daylight. He comfortably beat the like of Zeitz and Native Ruler in that race despite having been hampered. Before that he had won the Gr 3 Ownway Peninsula Handicap over 1800m and in that event he received only 1kg from Zeitz and beat him by 3,20 lengths. Furthermore, in the Gr 3 WSB 1900 in his penultimate start, Regulation was caught wide throughout, yet still managed to finish second.

However, Regulation was only in position 20 on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

He might have to rely on a scratching or two to ensure a place in the final field of 18. If he is only made a reserve, he will have to rely on a late scratching or two. On the other hand, the log is just a guide and he might still get into the 18-strong final field without there being any scratchings.

Greg and Gina Bortz’s contracted rider is JP can der Merwe and as he is pencilled in to ride Regulation they might be viewing this Legislate gelding as their elect runner. They will be on tenterhooks in the build up to the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field And Draw ceremony.

The Bortz’s won the July in 2024 with the Brett Crawford-trained Vercingetorix colt Oriental Charm, who was ridden by JP van der Merwe.

David Thiselton

Star Major is the second favourite for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and this progressive Querari colt has been in fine fettle at Randjesfontein after his superb win in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas.

Tim Woodruff is the Randjesfontein assistant to trainer James Crawford and he said about the Maine Chance Farms-bred bay, who is owned by passionate Durban-born owner, Ravi Naidoo, together with Neville Isdell, Mr J I Bloch and Mrs Prakashni Pillay.

Tim said, “He is all good, we have just tried to freshen him up because it is a quick turnaround between races, but he is doing good. You do get your things between races you sometimes have to deal with, but I do think he will be alright for the Daily News.”

Star Major jumped from a wide  draw in the WSB Guineas and was dropped out.

He turned for home in last place with a number of lengths to make up, but then produced a good turn of foot followed by an impressively resolute finish coupled with an eyecatching late gear change that saw him surging to a 0,90 length victory over the hot favourite Tin Pan Alley.

 Of course sectional timing invariably shows that apparent late surges or apparent flying finishes are usually an optical illusion caused by the other horses slowing down at a more rapid rate than the apparently strong-finishing horse. Invariably the surging horse is actually also slowing down.

Indeed the sectional timing of the WSB Guineas shows Star Major’s 100m to finish time to be his slowest sectional of the entire race.

However the fact that he was able to have the fastest 100m to finish time of the whole field, despite having had to make up many lengths to get there, seems to show that he has got some stamina.

He did win the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m and finished a fair 3,20 length fourth in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000m, both at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. In the latter race he ran on despite having been a bit keen in the running.

That would illustrate he has the stamina, but hopefully he will be able to settle better this time.

He settled very well in  the WSB Guineas and due to his wide draw Tim Woodruff said the same tactic of being dropped out will be employed.

He added, “Obviously it’s a short straight so it’s obviously not ideal. But just looking for a good run  and then obviously the July afterwards.”

He gave his opinion on the 2000m distance, “He should get the trip.”

Querari won a Gr 1 over 2000m and Star Major is out of a mare by stamina influence Silvano and this mare not only won over 1900m, but was an own sister to Follow The Star, who won the Listed Glenair Trophy over 2800m.

So on pedigree he will easily stay the trip.

Mickaelle Michel retains the ride and if winning it she will become only the second woman in SA history to win a Gr 1, the only one to date to have won one being Lisa Prestwood on the Buddy Maroun-trained Al Nitak in the Golden Horse Sprint on June 1, 2023, almost exactly 23 years ago.

Mickaelle has been in excellent form and Tim confirmed that if everything went well in the Daily News she would keep the ride for the Hollywoodbets Durban July too.

Tim agreed she had been outriding many of her male weighing room colleagues and added, “She has got the touch.”

It would be somewhat ironic if Mickaelle did win the Daily News with a horse conditioned by assistant trainer Woodruff, because Tim’s mother Carol (nee Millard) was the first woman to have a professional license in SA. She had started riding work for her legendary father Terrance Millard at the age of 12 and from age 14 started riding in and winning many amateur races. She was apprenticed overseas and rode in the tough school of England and Germany in professional races. However, the SA authority of the time refused to allow her to ride in professional races in SA, gross unfairness. To get around the legalities the authority installed a rule that overseas apprentices wee not allowed to ride here. This came back to bite them because years later a top apprentice from Europe came over only for everybody to discover he was not allowed to ride here. Carol was able to ride in Cape Hunt races against professional jockeys, ironically a more dangerous discipline than flat racing, and she was able to ride in Zimbabwe under a “Day” license, which was usually utilised when there were not enough professional riders available. She remembers winning a Cape Hunt race on Hawkins, who had formerly been one of Terrance Millard’s many Gold Cup winners. She also finished second in “The Schweppes” in Zimbabwe.

But back to Star Major, who is still a colt meaning a Daily News win will look very good on his stallion CV.

Tim said, “If you win the Guineas and the Daily News it is just next level.”

Tim said Star Major had a fine chance of realising the dream of Ravi Naidoo and no doubt all the other owners too, a win in the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He concluded, “He is ticking all the boxes, He’s a machine.”