Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Redcar (UK) – 20 July 2025.

Andrew Harrison

After breaking her leg in an early morning accident, Rachel Venniker is back in action at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. She teams up with her ‘Gov’nor’ Michael Roberts in a number of races including the card opener where she will be aboard the Roberts-trained Black Frost.

The gelding has already had a few bites of the cherry but has shown some ability and was not far back on his poly debut last time out. He has run well on this course and Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance will help his cause.

Wendy Whitehead saddles Bourbon’s Beast  in opposition who started at long odds in both starts but was much improved last time out and the stable is in form. Mohave Prince was a modest fourth on debut at long odds but experience should bring him on. One to watch is Dean Kannemeyer’s regally bred Green Gateway who makes his debut. 

Zimbabwe-bred Chimes At Midnight has put in two promising efforts to date and was not far back in a strong maiden last time out. With a 4kg claimer up she should be competitive in the first leg of the PA. Main threat could come from Miss Kansas who made a smart debut over course and distance but ran well below form at her last start. She will have a big chance on her debut effort. Dream Decision raced green on debut on this course and should come on with the run while Queen Fenn  is consistent and can feature in this line-up.

First leg of the Pick 6 sees many in with chances. Glen Kotzen’s filly Catch A Penny has not been out of the money in nine starts and has gone close over this distance. She takes on males but should be thereabouts again. Next Of Kin was a beaten favourite at just his second start. He has shown up well in both outings and this trip should suit. Digital Asset was staying on gamely behind the highly rated Bruh last time out. He has improved with each outing and should feature. 

Flying South could provide the best bet on the card and Kotzen a quick double when he lines up in the Gallop Form Maiden over 1400m. The What A Winter filly has improved with every outing and was narrowly beaten last start. She steps up in trip but has the best of the draw in what appears to be a modest line-up. Miss Twinkle may be a threat as she raced green on debut but did find some market support. She is sure to come on with the outing. 

It gets a lot more difficult from here on. Pace will be key in a small field in the fifth, a C Stakes over 2400m. Lady My Lady is a lightly raced four-year-old who goes the trip for the first time. However, she only has 49kg to shoulder and was not far back at her last two. Escapologist is not the easiest but loves this course and distance and goes well for Cole Dicken. A repeat of her last effort will see her close again. Our Lady Fate is Robbie Hill’s only on the runner on the day. She steps up in trip but has had two promising warm-ups leading into the race. She should stay the trip and is one to follow in the market. Shiny Bob and Bad Medicine are others to consider.

Peter Muscutt saddles Lady Eleanor in the sixth. She is lightly raced but shows promise and although disappointing first up on the poly but has done well over course and distance. Vision To Achieve is in cracking form over course and distance but Paul Gadsby’s filly found Hot Pearl in a galloping mood last time out. Happy Analia gets firs time blinkers. She is holding form and her last win was over course and distance. The diminutive Hurricane Cat was much improved when winning first up with a tongue-tie. She is quick and has a chance again. 

In the seventh, Thesupernovastar was much improved with the blinkers removed and a repeat effort over course and distance should see him competitive. Beach Palace was two lengths back to Thesupernovastar when last they met but the apprentice has been replaced by Callan Murray. Similar sentiments go to stable companion Attaboy with Gavin Lerena replacing an apprentice. Sail To The Moon was in that same race but having his first outing for Yogas Govender after arriving from the Western Cape where the form generally pans out well in KZN. 

Mike Miller has three chances to round off the meeting but judged on jockey bookings Ethereal View could be the stable elect. She had it tough from a wide draw on the poly last start but has good form over this trip. Radu is holding form well and is back over what looks to be her optimum trip. Prom Queen has a wide draw to contend with but has come well of late and with some luck in running should contest the finish. The Miller-trained Skytrix also has a wide draw but has a 4kg claimer aboard and showed signs of her best form last time out. 

RACE 1

7 BLACK FROST   9 BOURBON’S BEAST   8 MOHAVE PRINCE   10 GREEN GATEWAY

Summary: BLACK FROST (7) has shown some ability and was not far back on his poly debut but has run well on this course. Rachel Venniker is back from injury with her 1.5kg allowance. BOURON’S BEAST (9) started at long odds in both starts but was much improved last time out and the stable is in form. MOHAVE PRINCE (8) was a modest fourth on debut at long odds but experience should bring him on. GREEN GATEWAY (10) is a regally bred debutante and one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 7-9-8-10).

RACE 2

1 CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT   6 MISS KANSAS   5 DREAM DECISION   8 QUEEN FENN   

Summary: CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1) has put in two promising efforts to date and was not far back in a strong maiden last time out. With a 4kg claimer up she should be competitive. MISS KANSAS (6) made a smart debut over course and distance but ran well below form at her last start. Big chance on her debut effort. DREAM DECISION (5) raced green on debut on this course and should come on with the run. QUEEN FENN (8) is consistent and can feature in this line-up. DI ROSA (9) has not been far back in her last five starts but is struggling. She was close-up on the poly at her last two. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-5-8-9).

RACE 3

5 CATCH A PENNY   8 NEXT OF KIN   6 DIGITAL ASSET   4 CARNIVAL PARK

Summary: Many in with chances. CATCH A PENNY (5) has not been out of the money in nine starts and has gone close over this distance. She takes on males but should be thereabouts again. NEXT OF KIN (8) was a beaten favourite at just his second start. He has shown up well in both outings and this trip should suit. DIGITAL ASSET (6) was staying on gamely behind the highly rated Bruh last time out. He has improved with each outing. CARNIVAL PARK (4) is another that has been improving all the while and the stable is in form. (Andrew Harrison: 5-8-6-4).

RACE 4

1 FLYING SOUTH   6 MISS TWINKLE   10 SKIPPER O’MALLEY   12 SNEEUWITJIE

Summary: FLYING SOUTH (1) has improved with every outing and was narrowly beaten last start. She steps up in trip but has the best of the draw in what appears to be a modest line-up. MISS TWINKLE (6) raced green on debut but did find some market support. She is sure to come on with the outing. SKIPPER O’MALLEY (10) has shown some ability and has a fair money chance. SNEEUWITJIE (12) gets first time blinkers and a light weight. She can surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-10-12).

RACE 5

9 MY LADY FATE   3 ESCAPOLOGIST   6 OUR LADY FATE   2 BAD MEDICINE

Summary: Not an easy race where pace will be key in a small field. LADY MY LADY (9) is a lightly raced four-year-old who goes the trip for the first time. However, she only has 49kg to shoulder and was not far back at her last two. ESCAPOLOGIST (3) loves this course and distance and goes well for Cole Dicken. A repeat of her last effort will see her close again. OUR LADY FATE (6) steps up in trip but has had two promising warm-ups leading into the race. She should stay the trip and is one to follow in the market. SHINY BOB (4) won well last time out and has a 4kg claimer aboard while BAD MEDICINE (2) is better than his recent form would suggest. (Andrew Harrison: 9-3-6-4).

RACE 6

7 LADY ELEANOR   5 VISION TO ACHIEVE   1 HAPPY ANALIA   6 HURRICANE CAT

Summary: LADY ELEANOR (7) is lightly raced but shows promise. She disappointed first up on the poly but has done well over course and distance. VISION TO ACHIEVE (5) is in cracking form over course and distance but found Hot Pearl in a galloping mood last time out. HAPPY ANALIA (1) gets firs time blinkers. She is holding form and her last win was over course and distance. HURRICANE CAT (6) was much improved when winning first up with a tongue-tie. She is quick and has a chance again. (Andrew Harrison: 7-5-1-6).

RACE 7

3 THESUPERNOVASTAR   4 BEACH PALACE   7 SAIL TO THE MOON   6 ATTABOY

Summary: THESUPERNOVASTAR (3) was much improved with the blinkers removed and a repeat effort over course and distance should see him competitive. BEACH PALACE (4) was two lengths back to Thesupernovastar when last they met but the apprentice has been replaced by Callan Murray. Similar sentiments go to stable companion ATTABOY (6) with Gavin Lerena replacing an apprentice. SAIL TO THE MOON (7) was in that same race but having his first outing for Yogas Govender after arriving from the Western Cape where the form generally pans out well in KZN. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-7-6).

RACE 8

4 ETHEREAL VIEW   5 RADU   11 PROM QUEEN   10 SKYTRIX

Summary:  Mike Miller has three chances here but judged by jockey bookings ETHEREAL VIEW (4) could be the stable elect. She had it tough from a wide draw on the poly last start but has good form over this trip. RADU (5) is holding form well and is back over what looks to be her optimum trip. PROM QUEEN (11) has a wide draw to contend with but has come well of late and with some luck in running should contest the finish. SKYTRIX (10) also has a wide draw but has a 4kg claimer aboard and showed signs of her best form last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-11-10).

Soccer13 Sunday 20
July 2025. Carryover R4 416 338. R6.5
Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 11 Pool 1.

Durban, South Africa – The countdown has begun! The 129th edition of Africa’s premier horse racing and social spectacular, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ), is set to take place on Saturday, 5th July 2025, at the iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. As the most anticipated fixture on South Africa’s racing calendar, the event seamlessly blends world-class horse racing with high fashion, entertainment, and a memorable social experience.

Staying true to the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi,” this year’s racing extravaganza promises an iconic line-up of South African talent, featuring a diverse array of artists set to captivate all attendees throughout the day. The national anthem will be beautifully performed by one of the country’s leading songstresses – look out for the reveal in May. With these performances, the thousands of attendees expected at Hollywoodbets Greyville will have a memorable experience. Stay tuned for the full artist line-up. All ticket holders can look forward to a day filled with live entertainment that will be talked about for years to come, as this year’s HDJ celebrates Mzansi’s vibrant spirit. 

Tickets for this outstanding event are now officially on sale via Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.za). Priced at R230 for general admission, your ticket grants access to a day of thrilling racing action, live entertainment, fashion showcases, gourmet food experiences, and an array of engaging activations from event partners. For added convenience, onsite parking is available for R170 per vehicle.

For those seeking an elevated experience, the VIP hospitality packages provide exclusive access to luxurious enclosures, premium viewing areas, and top-tier catering. These options can be explored on the official event website (www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za). Please note that VIP hospitality packages do not include general admission tickets, which must be purchased separately via Ticketpro.

This year’s theme, “Marvels Of Mzansi”, was unveiled in late February, marking the official commencement of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience, presented by Durban Fashion Fair. The fashion programme includes the much-anticipated HDJ Young Designer Award, showcasing the best up-and-coming talents from KwaZulu-Natal. The winners will share the spotlight with the HDJ Invited Designers and DFF Rising Stars at the HDJ Fashion Preview Gala, set to take place at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in late June.

Racing enthusiasts can also look forward to the announcement of the first official entrants on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. With last year’s champion, Oriental Charm, emerging as the early ante-post favourite, excitement is already building. 

Secure your tickets today and experience Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July!