Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Monday 29 June 2026. R10 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 22h00. Sport 11 Pool 1.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Pontefract and Windsor (UK) – 29 June 2026

Andrew Harrison

It is always satisfying for trainers and their staff when they get to the bottom of a difficult and hopefully talented individual so Dean Kannemeyer’s third winner on yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville racecard was the most significant for the yard as Hah Lah Lah showed his potential and a more mature racing attitude when winning the B Stakes over 1200m.

It was stable rider Craig Zackey’s fourth winner of the afternoon and he was full of praise for his mount who was recording his third win from just four starts.

Zackey said of Hah Lah Lah, “He shouldn’t be winning 12’s, he wants a mile, 1800m. He’s been a hard horse to deal with from a youngster with the gates and with his mouth. Last run back in a small field we tried to get him to switch off (he took a hold and never settled) but first thing when I got back here I asked Mr Kannemeyer what made the change and he said ‘I just found this bit’ and cantering down to the start I thought something’s working well.”

Zackey reiterated that Hah Lah Lah should not be winning 12’s as he is a Classic type of horse.

Smart Best Of All made a race of it as he was in contention all the way to the line but Hah Lah Lah was just warming up and he went past to win well.

Educator was Kannemery’s second winner and has always given the impression that she is better than her earlier form would suggest. Yesterday she scored a bloodless win in the Class 3, shouldering top weight in a field of useful fillies. Log-leading rider Zackey placed her in mid-field as Ovation Star set the fractions but the writing was on the wall a long way out. As Gavin Lerena’s arms starting to pump and wave and Zackey was sitting with a handful. The gap opened up like the Red Sea for Moses and Educator went through to win as she liked with Tomyris chasing hard to snatch second.

Back on the turf on a straight course, the first two races on the card for juveniles attracted maximum fields and form followers would do well to watch numerous replays as there was a lot to decipher and fill the black book.

The first was marred by a loose horse as replacement rider Athandiwe Mgudlwa came off Asgardian Queen at the jump and the filly was all over the place giving Callan Murray on the well fancied Dancing Party a nightmare ride as Asgardian Queen forced him to check badly on two occasion which may well have cost him the race. Mgudlwa was stood down for the rest of the meeting.

Zackey, riding a typical  race aboard the Kannemeyer trained Turn To The Law, waited his chance in the pack before setting sail to take the lead close home and win rather comfortably. The strapping filly Egolee made an eye-catching debut running into second with a few eye-catchers behind her.

Coast Of The Sun is a reserve runner in the Grade 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe next Saturday but unfortunately third reserve so unlikely to get a run, but his form was franked as Peter Muscutt’s strongly fancied Benny And Paul put plenty of daylight between him, Prized Possession with the balance of the field out with the washing. Prized Possession tried to make a race of it but two backhands were enough to galvanise Benny And Paul to streak away and win as he liked.

Sean Veale deputizing for Mgudlwa, made all the running on Red Hot Miss in the first leg of the PA, taking Darryl Moore’s filly to the front from the jump. Bai Yulu loomed dangerous a furlong out but once Veale asked for maximum, Red Hot Miss responded with an extra effort to hold on to her lead from Bai Yulu and Indignation.

The first leg of the Pick 6 was not run at any great pace but favourite Day Two was always in contention as Cool Wind finally went around some reluctant early runners. Zackey was quick to challenge in the straight and Gareth van Zyl’s gelding kept finding under his top weight to hold off Shiny Bob. However, he failed to keep a straight course, Day Two shifting out inconveniencing a number of runners notably Global Movement with Mickaelle Michel having to snatch up.

All 15 runners were spread across the track in the Class 4 over 1500m and with 100 m left to run all of 10 of the runners were in with a chance. However, apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto, currently second on the national apprentice log, got Tony Rivalland’s mare to pick it up over the final 50m to pull clear for the 50^th win of his career and now joins the big time as he now loses his claim.

Splash Of Love stayed on for second from Hop Hop Spinnekop who came from way back to snatch the minor placing.

There was a desperately close finish to the eighth. Apprentice Qiniso Ngcobo, hunting his first winner, got the ride on Louis Goosen’s reserve runner Don Querari and looked to have pinched a winning lead entering the final furlong. However, Sean Veale, deputizing for Andrew Fortune, got Street Outlaw to respond to reel in his rival and get the gelding’s nose down on the line.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Post Merchants will be one of the most interesting races on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, but the conditions of the race mean the highest rated horses are ostensibly slung in.

The highest rated horse in the land, the 132-rated twice Gr 1-winning sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody, is thus very well in at the weights, and second best in is Dave The King, who is the most interesting runner, followed by Tenango and Princess Of Gaul, who are joint third best in.

The race has merit-rated band conditions with one key difference.

Usually the horses that are higher rated than the highest band are allotted half-a-kilogram for every point they are above that highest band.

However, the highest band in this case reads “122 or more … 62kg”.

That band would normally read 122 to 126 and under the normal rules for merit-rated band events Buffalo Storm Cody would be carrying 65kg as he is six points higher than the top rating of the highest band. So, he is ostensibly 3kg well in carrying 62kg.

Dave The King would normally be carrying 63kg, but carries 62kg, so is 1kg better off than normal, but is 2kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

Tenango is merit rated 126, so he is top of what the band would normally be, but is officially 3kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

Equally well treated with the latter is the crack filly Princess Of Gaul, who is 114-rated but gets a 2,5kg gender allowance.

The worry about Buffalo Storm Cody is that he might be using it as a preparation for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, which he appeared to do last year because last year he only ran a 1,65 length fourth in this race carrying 56kg, meaning he was 5,5kg better off than weight for age with the highest rated runner, and he then came out and won the weight for age Mercury Sprint over the same course and distance by 1,60 lengths. Interestingly he jumped from draw 9 in the Mercury, the same draw he has in this year’s Post Merchants. This horse does appear at his best around the turn. Richard Fourie up is a bonus.

Dave The King is interesting, because although his best form is over a mile and middle distances he went at a blistering gallop in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. It was a ridiculous pace, but he displayed his speed around the turn in that race as he went through the first 400m in a time just 1,7 seconds slower than the pacemaker and the winner of the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m. He has had four starts over 1200m in his career and won three of them easily and his only loss was when returning from a layoff and having a seasonal reappearance preparation run and running just 2,65 lengths behind former Post Merchants winner, the now 127-rated Gladatorian. Dave The King has drawn seven which should give him room to go to the front if quick enough and the latter is actually a concern, because of course leading over 1200m is a different ball game to leading over 1600m.

Tenango ran a good 1,95 length seventh in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint, where he carried topweight. That should have brought him on for this race and he has a plum draw of five. Keagan de Melo is contracted to part-owner Laurence Wernars and takes the ride here having not ridden him in the Golden Horse. He will likely be all out to win this race as the Mercury will be a lot tougher, although he did show his class and course and distance suitability by finishing a fine second in the latter race last year, despite jumping from draw 13. Tenango looks to be a massive runner.

Princess Of Gaul is also a big runner carrying just 55,5kg and jumping from draw three under Craig Zackey. She won the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over course and distance last year in just her second career start. Last time out she showed he class over this trip by finishing just 2,60 lengths behind Asiye Phambili and Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint. If the latter pair were in the Merchants they would likely be the two favourites so with Princess Of Gaul beaten by that margin under weight for age conditions and now being 4kg better off than weight for age conditions with the first three mentioned she should also be a massive runner.

Cafe Culture is a former winner of this race, but is officially 4kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody and has a tough draw of 13, but he should be kicking on if managing to find cover in a handy position.

One of the joint topweights is the 122-rated Outlaw King, who is thus officially 5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody. However, he is ultra courageous and often defies the official weights, as he did when a 1.05 length third in the Cape Flying. His last run in the Golden Horse is best ignored as he stumbled at the start.

Cats Pajamas is also rated 122 and has a fine course and distance record and was just a 1,75 length fourth in the Mercury last year. However, he has the widest draw of all.

Speedman is rated only 105 and carrying 54kg is officially 6kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is an up and coming sort who could prove better than rated, so he is the dark horse.

One Eye On Vegas was third in the Golden Horse and finds himself officially 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is a progressive sort with speed and class so should be running on from draw 11.

Jet Force is also a classy sort who could surprise dropped down in trip. He is 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo, but is well drawn.

Jerusalema Rain beat Buffalo Storm Cody by a neck in the Gr 2 Senor Santa over 1160m, but is now 4kg worse off.

The ones mentioned are the ones who make the most appeal and the selection is Buffalo Storm Cody to beat Tenango with Princess Of Gaul, Speedman and Jet Force next best.

(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/.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Saturday 4 July 2026. Net Pick 6 Carryover R2 Million. Estimated Pool: R15 Million. Race 4 off at 13h40.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Saturday 4 July 2026. Net Quartet Carryover R1 Million. Estimated Pool: R10 Million. Race 7 off at 16h00.

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!