Andrew Harrison

There is never a dull day in horse racing. Hollywoodbets Scottsville suffered a midweek deluge forcing a switch to Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Main race of the day, a B Stakes, was delayed as Henry Harvey bolted in the canter down and deposited Nicholas Patel on to the turf delaying the start for the waiting for the ambulance. Starting, Magic Surprise jumped awkwardly leaving Kabelo Matsunyane surveying his departing colleagues from the turf. Magic Surprise then surprised Callan Murray on Major Tommie who was making his challenge up the inside rail the loose horse cutting across his bows forcing him to snatch up.

S’Manga Khumalo made the most of his good fortune on Gareth van Zyl’s charge, leading all the way on the favourite Wild Justice and winning as he liked.

Son Of Rafeef appears to be more than just useful as he won a smart race to kick off the card. Yogas Govender’s colt caught the eye in his first two starts and was a tad unlucky last time out. However, he showed that there was plenty to build on as he whistled past race favourite Place Of Practice to win convincingly.

Lilac In Winter again proved that Cape Town form is generally stronger at this level than local as the filly won the second well from a wide draw. Terry Fripp does duty for the Candice Bass yard in KZN and he admitted that he was a little surprised at the win as she had not shown much although Summerveld is struggling with inclement weather.

In the third, Christmas Cactus gave notice that he is on the right track when shedding his maiden in smart form for Nathan Kotzen impressing title chasing Craig Zackey enough, declaring that he would like to stay with the ride in future.

Siphesihle Hlengwa is an under rated rider in anyone’s books and he rode a confident race on Garth Puller’s charge Agrado in the fourth. Well back in the early exchanges, Hlengwa picked is way through the light traffic and the gelding responded with a fine turn of foot to relegate the game seven-year-old Fate Of Fortune to the runner’s up box.

Mike Miller’s filly Warrior Royale has had her issues with the starting gates but all was forgiven as she behaved impeccably putting a useful fifth race field to bed in a matter of strides. Third behind the Gr1 winning filly Quickstepgal last time out and at the same time just behind Friday’s Flamboyant Stakes winner Ladyofdistinction, she started at rather generous odds, paying R7.70 on the nanny goat (tote).

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David Thiselton

The Alyson Wright yard are in flying form at present and not only lead the KZN Trainers Championship but also landed a Listed race at Turffontein Standside on Saturday with the well-related Gimmethegreenlight filly Charge It.

Meanwhile, the Listed Flamboyant Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday was also won by a well related filly, the Michael Roberts-trained Ladyofdistinction, while the gelding Imposing continued his transformation under Gareth van Zyl by winning the Listed Christmas Handicap, and in America on Friday the SA-bred champion One Stripe not only got back to winning ways at Gulfstream Park but also got close to a course record which has stood for twenty years.

The Wright-trained Varsfontein homebred Charge It is a full-sister to Surcharge, a Gr 1 winner in both South Africa and Australia, and after being backed in from 6/1 to 9/4 for the War Of Athena Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday she produced a fie turn of foot under Muzi Yeni to win the R225,000 event by 1,25 lengths from Soldier’s Eye and Gerbera. It was the Gimmethegreenlight filly’s fifth career start and her second win, but more importantly her first black type success. She had finished second in the Gr 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile at Turffontein Standside on Betway Summer Cup day at odds of 100/1 in her previous start and in the War Of Athena, as the only three-year-old in the contest, she carried 52,5kg off a 93 merit rating.

The main feature on the day at Turffontein was the Gr 3 Lebelo Handicap over 1000m, a race the Tony Peter yard were out to land for the third time in succession. They had the two favourites Taxi To The Moon and Pistol Pete and it was the former, an Oldlands Stud-bred four-year-old who gave the phenomenal Champion Sire Vercingetorix his second stakes winner of the weekend. Four-year-old gelding Taxi To The Moon was carrying 57kg off a 110 merit rating and saw off Truth (61.5kg) in a stirring battle for the line to win by 0,50 lengths and Pistol Pete (61,5kg) was a further 0,30 lengths back in third.

Earlier, the Non-Black Type Sophomore 1000 was won by the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm-bred What A Winter colt Constellation, who has now won four of eight starts. The filly Anchorage challenged late and looked likely to come second before trying to take a bite out of the winner, forcing Muzi Yeni to snatch her up and this handed second place to Charming Cheetah.

The meeting was cut short due to lightning with only seven of the ten races completed and the day’s winners included the Sean Tarry-trained 110-rated Vercingetorix filly Callmegetrix, who easily accounted for The Equator in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m, winning by 3,20 lengths under Mickaelle Michel, who has now had four wins since arriving in SA at the beginning of December.

In the Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday the lightly-raced four-year-old Michael Roberts-trained Vercingetorix filly Ladyofdistinction, who is a full-sister to KZN Horse Of The Year Gladatorian, produced a storming finish under Rachel Venniker to win by 0,25 lengths from Amelia’s Legacy with Forward Motion only beaten 0,35 lengths into third. Ladyofdistinction has now won four of seven starts and it was the first black type race she had contested.

In the Christmas Handicap over the same trip Imposing sat in a handy position under S’Manga Khumalo and shot clear early in the straight and never looked like stopping. The Lammerskraal Stud-bred six-year-old Visionaire gelding carried 54kg off a 96 rating and beat Isivivane by two lengths with Capsaicin beaten 2,80 lengths into third. Imposing has now had five starts for Gareth van Zyl for four wins.

In the KZN Championship Wright is on 23 wins in KZN  this season at a strike rate of 13,29% after yesterday’s meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville, although she has had 24 wins overall in the season.

Reigning KZN Champion trainer Gareth van Zyl is on 21 wins for the season in KZN and also in contention are Andre Nel and Dean Kannemeyer on 16 wins while Mike and Mathew de Kock and Stuart Ferrie have 15 wins apiece.

Over at Gulfstream Park in America on Friday the Drakenstein Stud-bred One World colt One Stripe represented Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam in an Optional Claiming Race over a mile on the turf. The four-year-old was going to be hard to beat as the winner of two of South Africa’s most prestigious miles, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and with the weights looking to be set such that the four-year-olds received two pounds from the older horses. However, One Stripe had not had any luck in his first two runs in America, both in Gr 1s, while both rides were criticised, so he was a bit under a cloud and hadn’t convinced the locals of his quality. He was thus allowed to start at 5/2 while Judge Davis, who had won four ordinary races in 26 starts, was the 8/5 favourite. However, One Stripe was at last given a good ride and was able to show them what he was made of. Jumping from draw seven of seven Hall Of Fame jockey John Velazquez found a beautiful position in midfield in a one out position with cover.  One Stripe swept around them on the final turn, keeping Judge Davis in a pocket momentarily, and he then romped to a 5,25 length victory. The track record set by Mr Light on January 3, 2005, more than 20 years ago is 1 minute 31,41 seconds and One Stripe stopped the clock in 1 minute 31,81 seconds, just 0,4 seconds shy of the record under a hands and heels ride. He will be treated with a lot more respect next time out!

RACE 1

(6) GREY WARRIOR has been holding his form well and will have a big chance here. (3) CITY OF PORT LOUIS has been consistent in the province, he has a top draw and will be a huge challenger. (4) MONT TREMBLANT hasn’t been far in recent runs and can get closer. (1) TWO FOR THE BOYS can improve and get much closer, include in quartets. (Devonne Govender 6-3-4-1).

RACE 2

(1) LANA VIEW has been consistent, she is overdue for the win and will have every chance here. (9) POTENZA made good progress in her last start and can build on that over the extended trip of 1600m. (6) SALAGADOOLA hasn’t been far and can get into the placings. (5) RED LHASA is another who can get into the quartets so include in larger perms. (Devonne Govender 1-9-6-5).

RACE 3

(10) ROCKIE BLUE ran a cracker on debut, looks tough to beat. (2) PRICELESS TREASURE is holding solid form and has a decent chance. (4) MISSOURI FLAME now races over the 1200m trip, she could go well here. (8) DYNASTY’S LAST ran a cracker in the last start and will be a big runner, a must include for the Pick 6. (Devonne Govender 10-2-4-8)

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RACE 4

(4) CHERRY OH BABY is in good form and rates a strong winning chance, she has a decent draw with Richard Fourie up. (5) CHEEKY CRANBERRY won on debut and could be just about anything, she needs to be respected. (6) HAPPY WIVES ran well in her last start and can get into the action. (2) SMASHING won a gutsy race in the last start and must go in again. (Devonne Govender 4-5-6-2).

RACE 5

(1) WORLD PHAROAH is holding form, his last win was gutsy hence he is the top choice. (2) CADENZA was an impressive maiden winner and has scope to go well. (11) XPLICIT CONTENT is knocking on the door however has a tough draw. (6) KING RAHUL is capable of much better and that last run is best ignored, he can bounce back. (Devonne Govender 1-2-11-6).

RACE 6

Open race. (3) ONE TOO MANY is racing well, he ran second in his last two starts at big odds but is capable of running a big race here. (5) WARRIOR OF ROYALTY is holing solid form and is another with a strong wining chance here. (4) WAROFDYNAMITE has shown good form in the province and needs serious consideration. (1) KINGS AGAIN is another who has been consistent and will be in the mix. (Devonne Govender 3-5-4-1).

RACE 7

(1) MY BEST SHOT packs plenty of class and will be the top selection here, he had a tough draw in the Betway Summer Cup when finishing in 11th position. He will make his presence felt in a big way. (2) ZATARA MAGIC is another with plenty of class and will challenge the top selection all the way to line, he loves to race handy and will be dangerous here. There are many with form in this contest however they will need to lift to get past the top two selections. (3) BINGWA is a very honest type and can run into the placings here. (5) LANCIAFIAMME has always been rated by the yard and can run into the placings, one to watch. (Devonne Govender 1-2-3-5).

RACE 8

(4) SILVONIAN is holding consistent form and looks to have a big winning chance in a competitive line up. Calvin Habib knows him well and he is expected to go close. (3) FRENCH FLAME is another who is in good form and will be a big danger to the top selection. (8) DAS GUTE is capable of a big finish on his day, he has been holding good form and is another in with a chance. (6) KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is always in the mix and won’t be far. (Devonne Govender 4-3-8-6).

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.

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!