RACE 1

PERIODIC TABLE drifted alarmingly in the betting on debut but still finished an encouraging second and could confirm that promise by going one better with natural improvement expected, though HAMMER BLOW does have the form and experience to fight out the finish. Newcomer SPIRIT OF THE SEA won’t have to be special to pose a threat, especially if the market speaks in his favour.

RACE 2

Improving SHERIFF BILL BROWN relished the step up in distance when opening his account last time over 1400m and the extended 200m should unlock further improvement. However, he could find conceding 3kg to filly DOESYOURMOTHERKNOW a bridge too far. The latter wasn’t winning out of turn when shedding her maiden tag over 1400m and this trip could also be more to her liking. WHAT A WARRIOR and DEAR DOC have the form experience to make their presence felt. LONE HORIZON, capable of better than a disappointing last run suggests, and THE NAME OF DLADLA (engaged to run earlier) complete the shortlist.

RACE 3

PRINCESS OF ALL was returning from almost 4 months off when tiring late to finish second over course and distance recently. She would’ve tightened up with the benefit of that comeback run and will not have to improve much – if at all – to go one better. MASTER’S LADY has been costly to follow but has the form and experience to pose a threat. Stablemate SECRET LIFE and ELEGANT EDGE remain open to improvement so could fill the minor positions.

RACE 4

Veteran 10yo JET CAT was a good fourth at a higher level over this track and trip last time so a repeat of that effort off an unchanged mark could suffice. SERGEANT SOQRAT finished second in that race but subsequently lost his form in KZN so may enjoy being back on the Highveld. INAFIX and ORIENTAL BOUQUET are closely matched on that form so should be right in the mix. Class-dropper LILAC SNOW and hard-knocker ZOOMBOMBER also have the means to get involved. TIME WILL TELL and PALACE REVOLT have dropped in the ratings to a competitive mark so can make their presence felt too.

RACE 5

JUST THE TWO OF US bounced back to her best last time when winning over this trip at a higher level with cheekpieces fitted and a 4-point penalty may not be enough to prevent her from following up with the headgear retained. VANAKKAM, VERSACE ONTHETRACK and BOSUM BUDDY are held on that form but weighted to get closer. MYSTICAL MISS is consistent at this level and should be competitive too. RUSSIAN NOBILITY and EXECUTRIX return from lengthy absences but remain open to improvement so are others to consider.

RACE 6

LOVABLE has good recent form at this level and finished second over this trip off her current mark two starts back. She ought to play another leading role on current form and could emerge victorious with any improvement. BLINDFIRE, QUIET WINTER, WINGS OF KILDRA and returning CRYSTAL GROVE had excuses for disappointing last starts but could have a say if bouncing back to their earlier form. JAZZ PIANIST should strip fitter after a pleasing comeback run and must be respected off a reduced mark. TAKING A RISK finished ahead of that rival last time off her current rating so should have a role to play.

RACE 7

DIMAKO’S JET improved with blinkers fitted to win consecutive 1800m appearances, the latest over track and trip before a break. She carries a 4-point penalty on her return but remains competitive off a career-high mark. Stablemate PALACE DANCER fits a similar profile after bouncing back to her best with a last-start victory over course and distance with blinkers applied, and a 3-point penalty isn’t likely to halt her momentum. DOITWITHDIAMONDS and class-dropper SOLDIER’S EYE are closely matched on the form of a recent Grade 2 meeting and both should be more competitive at this level.

RACE 8

Progressive 3yo SCARLET O’HARA boasts solid form credentials at a higher level, albeit over 2000m. She races off a reduced mark in calmer waters so won’t need to improve to get back to winning ways. Consistent hard-knocker ROSY LEMON is competitive off her current mark and wouldn’t be winning out of turn after consecutive seconds. KORTVANDRAAD caught the eye when a fast-finishing third over 1400m last time and this extended trip could be more to her liking. Stablemate PALACE SCRIPT fits a similar profile so has to be respected. SURPRISE PARTY, PLAY WITH FIRE and APOSTROPHE aren’t taken lightly.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at York (UK) – 14 May 2026.

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David Thiselton

There are 63 entries for the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July to be run on July 4 over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Champion trainer Justin Snaith, who is going for a sixth July win, led the way with ten entries headed by the WSB Cape Town Met and World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge winner See It Again. He also has last year’s July runner up Eight On Eighteen in his team as well as dual Gr 1 winner Wish List, the Met runner up Legal Counsel, the exciting Lucky Fish Cape Derby runner up Note To Self as well as Okavango, Happy Verse, Native Ruler, Regulation and Great Plains. Note To Self could be the one to side with, because this big son of Futura has a fine turn of foot and as things stand will have a nice galloping weight of 54kg, presuming the 130 rated See It Again will stand his ground and be allotted top weight of 62kg.

The race has new conditions with the difference between this year’s and last year’s being there is a 10kg spread as opposed to a 8kg spread; there are no maximum or minimum weights for three-year-old males or for three-year-old females or for older females, and there are no minimum weights for older males.

Rather it is just a straight handicap with the normal weight for age allowances, which in the case of a 2200m race taking place in the month of July is a 2kg weight for age allowance for the three-year-olds.

Mike de Kock has also won five Julys and will now be attempting to win one as a partner of his son Mathew. They have four entries headed by Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Jan Van Goyen, Gr 2 SA Derby winner Curious Girl, Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Splittheeights and the former Zimbabwean Triple Crown winner Buster Barnes. Of those Splittheeights looks to have some fine formlines and is potentially well weighted, although as things stand he is officially 2,5kg under sufferance off a 109 merit rating.

Dean Kannemeyer will be going for a fifth win in the big race, but last year’s winner The Real Prince is his sole entry.

Sean Tarry has won the July twice before and he has entered three horses, including Gr 1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire. The latter is officially 1,5kg under sufferance as things stand, an unusual occurrence for a Gr 1 winner, so he has to be considered potentially well weighted.

James Crawford now heads the yard who won the race twice in succession in 2023 and 2024 as his father Brett has relocated to Hong Kong.

James played a big part in both victories and has three entries, including the progressive pair Star Major and Reet Petite. They both have the perfect merit rating for a three-year-old as things stand, 114, because that means they come into the race with bottom weight of 52kg and they sneak into the handicap.

The other three trainers with entries who have won the race before are Alec Laird, Glen Kotzen and Candice Bass.

Laird has a big entry of six, headed by the Gr 1 winners Fire Attack and Atticus Finch. Fire Attack has had a disappointing season, but at his best he possesses a strong finish, so can’t be written off. Atticus Finch suffered epistaxis in last year’s race, but if things go well for him this former Betway Summer Cup winner has the class to be a threat, although he will have to carry a big weight of 60,5kg off his 127 rating as things stand.

Kotzen has entered the brave stayer Holding Thumbs, who will try his heart out.

Bass has three entries including the dependable Rainbow Lorikeet and the exciting three-year-old prospect Viva’s Liberte, the best of whom is unlikely to have been seen yet.

Another interesting entry is the Jackpot City Dingaans winner Trust, who was a narrow runner up in the SA Classic and he looks potentially well weighted off a mere 110 rating, which officially puts him 2kg under sufferance as things stand. He will be out to give July nearly man Larry Nestadt a first win in the big race and the other owners, Gary Player and the Lindsay Ralphs family, will also be trying to win the July for the first time.

The filly who only just missed landing the Triple Tiara, the Corne Spies-trained Hazy Dazy, is an entry.

KZN have plenty of entries headed by the Frank Robinson-trained Betway Summer Cup winner Mocha Blend, the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gr 1 Champions Cup winner Gladatorian,  the Gareth van Zyl-trained champion stayer King Pelles and his SA Derby runner up stablemate Salani Kahle, the Nathan Kotzen-trained stayer Shoot The Rapids and his improving stablemate Field Marshal, Peter Muscutt has three entries including I Salute You, Michael Roberts has entered the classy Ladyofdistinction and there are also entries from Darryl Moore and MJ Odendaal.

Devin Heffer, Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications manager, said, “It has been a privilege for us as a leading brand to be associated with this internationally acclaimed sporting event since 2022, and every year it just gets bigger and better. With the adjustment in the race conditions and a doubling of the prize money to a record new stakes pot, the first entries list is proof that the stars are aligned and  Hollywoodbets Greyville is set to live up to its label of the ‘Theatre of Champions’ on 4 July”.

• SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
• ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
• RADIO STAR: 95 to 107

• SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
• DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108