Race 1

First event on Championships Finale race day sees the start of Jackpot 1. It should pay to follow the betting action closely, Gimmethegreenlight filly TOP SECRET is bred in the purple and could be the debutante to catch the eye. The trainer and jockey combination is hot. WITHOUT REMORSE should have every chance. She has run two good races in a row and has Richard Fourie in the irons. SECRET LIFE is improving and must be included. (Brendan Gaillard 1-2-11-10)

Race 2

Declarationofpeace colt STORMACT won’t have to improve much on a fair debut to open his account at the second time of asking. He ran on well to finish in the money on debut and should relish the distance. TIGER’S CAPTAIN is holding form and looking to get his consistency rewarded. He must have a big say having drawn against the outside of the track. LIFE IN COLOUR rates the dark horse. The well-bred son of Malmoos lacked extra after showing pace on debut but is open to any amount of improvement. Rafeef gelding WILD AS THE WIND could be the newcomer to be with. (Brendan Gaillard 10-1-8-4)

Race 3

GIMME SOME LUCK showed his field a clean pair of heels on debut over 1000m. The promising son of Gimmethegreenlight should prefer the 1100m. But this is a testing assignment. Buffalo Bill Cody colt THE BRONX BULL was only just touched off in the Grade 2 TAB SA Nursery and has improvement to come. GIMME A VODKA was beaten as favourite in that race but looks a bit better than that and needs to be taken seriously. SHERLOCK HOLMES has improved with each start and could be up to the task. TIME IS PRECIOUS has done little wrong as well and must have a say. (Brendan Gaillard 3-6-2-4)

Race 4

A lucrative P6 pool is expected, don’t miss out! GOOD DAY SUNSHINE is out to maintain her unbeaten record. The Vercingetorix filly impressed in both starts and could take home this Grade 3 after winning the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery last time out. But GET UP was beaten as favourite going down 0.90 lengths in the Nursery and will be out for revenge as she is 2kg better off with GOOD DAY SUNSHINE. The race doesn’t end there. LADY HARLEQUIN has improved with each start and could be dangerous at the weights. LANZAROTE and LOVE NOT WAR can only improve. (Brendan Gaillard 3-1-9-4)

Race 5

SHOOT THE RAPIDS and POETS WARRIOR are proven with unbeaten course-and-distance records, and both should remain competitive. The former has a enjoyed an ideal prep and was a wide-margin winner over track and trip when last seen on the Highveld, while the latter should strip fitter after a much-needed comeback. However, conceding weight (6kg and 4kg respectively) to maturing younger rival ENFLAME may prove a bridge too far, with this extended trip likely to unlock further improvement from the last-start 2850m Listed winner. Veteran NEBRAAS consistent ALADDIN’S LAMP complete the shortlist. (Brendan Gaillard 4-1-3-2)

Race 6

OLIVIA’S WAY ran with merit when 3rd in a course-and-distance WFA Grade 1 against male opposition earlier this month and a repeat of that performance back in same-sex company off and an unchanged mark should suffice. CALLMEGETRIX and MINOGUE are closely matched on the form of a recent clash in a 1600m Grade 1. The latter edged that meeting and is weighted to uphold that form on 1kg better terms. However, both have stamina doubts over this trip so could be vulnerable late on. Younger 3yo fillies CHARGE IT will enjoy cutting back in distance and should make their presence felt. (Brendan Gaillard 1-3-8)

Race 7

Stablemates FIRE ATTACK and ATTICUS FINCH are Grade 1 winners over this track and trip. The latter was a creditable 4th in course-and-distance WFA Grade 1 earlier this month and a repeat of that effort in his peak outing off an unchanged mark should see him resume winning ways. THE ULTIMATE KING (blinker strike!) and FIRE ATTACK are held on that form but have the means to get involved. Last-start winners CHOISAANADA and FIELD MARSHAL are at the peak of their powers and remain competitive off career-high marks. (Brendan Gaillard 2-1-5-3)

Race 8

BUFFALO STORM CODY could hardly have been more impressive when running away with the 1000m Grade 1 Computaform Sprint 3 weeks ago, but he is even better over this extended trip and boasts an unblemished course-and-distance record. He is slung in under the conditions and weighted to confirm his superiority over WILLIAM ROBERTSON, ZIYASHA, MOUNT PINATUBO and TRUTH. Recent hat-trick scorer THE SPECIALIST, familiar foes THE LAST DUKE and JERUSALEMA RAIN, as well as CHARMING CHEETAH are others with earning potential. (Brendan Gaillard 1-2-5-6)

Race 9

A very competitive looking race and not too many can be left out of the Pick 6 this leg. GREEN DIAMOND likes this track and has already won three times for jockey Craig Zackey so appears the one to beat. RODEO DRIVE found it tough last time out in Grade 1 company but can bounce back and be a threat to these rivals. WHISTLE THAT TUNE needed her last run and should improve. CHROME TOURMALINE was caught out of her ground last time and would not be a surprise winner. DESTINY OF FIRE returned to form with a solid win but may not like a soft track. Trainer Tony Peter has three entrants for this and the best of them could be PERFECT MIRACLE who beat some of these rivals last time out. (Brendan Gaillard 6-4-10-8)

Race 10

A very open race. ANCHORAGE returns from a short break but is talented and has claims at a victory. ALPINE JET is knocking at the door and should be right there at the finish yet again. BRIGHT AND BRAZEN has struck form with two solid handicap wins and could have more to offer. JUST THE TWO OF US is consistent and can make the frame once again. VANAKKAM was good over this course and distance last time out and is clearly not out of it. BOSUM BUDDY is usually competitive and is another to consider. (Brendan Gaillard 1-2-3-4)

Race 11

A decent race with some bang in-form runners. FIRE STORM has won twice in just 4 starts and continues to improve. He does look the one to beat. DARK SILVER does not always show his best form but can earn some minor money. Of his two stable companions, IDEAL SUMMER needs to improve to score but PALACE ATTACK is rarely too far behind and could play a minor role. HUEHUETENANGO returns from a break but has won his last two starts and must be respected for that. KAMBATI completed his hat-trick in good style and is clearly not out of it. PRINCE OF KILDARE and FORCE PUBLIQUE are better than their most recent runs and can get involved with the finish. GIMMETHESPOTLIGHT won a maiden last time out and could have more to offer. (Brendan Gaillard 1-4-6-9)

David Thiselton

The Championships Finale takes place today at Turffontein Standside, having been postponed from Saturday, and there are four Gr 2s and three Gr 3s to look forward to as well as the Gold Bowl, which is now a Listed race having once been an iconic Gr 1 event, such has been the concentration on speed over stamina in world racing in recent decades.

In the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m the Tony Peter-trained dual Gr 1 winner Buffalo Storm Cody should stamp his status as the highest rated thoroughbred in training in South Africa at present. The merit rated 132 horse is 4kg better off than any other runner and has Richard Fourie up. If there is a bias on this track it usually favours the high draws and he has drawn 12 out of 12.

William Robertson is the joint second-best weighted horse and will not only enjoy the slight step up in trip from his disappointing run in the Computaform Sprint, where he was beaten 4,55 lengths by Buffalo Storm Cody, but he can possibly be ridden a bit less handy than he was there too.

Cosmic Speed is interesting because he has not run in a sprint for close to 18 months, but he had a fine record over sprints and he has a nice high draw of nine under leading rider Craig Zackey.

Mount Pinatubo ran a good fifth in the Computaform Sprint and has a nice high draw here over a step up in trip he should enjoy.

Truth has speed and the ability to kick on and should earn from draw six.

The Specialist has won his last three starts and this once high profile horse is on his way back.

In the Gr 2 TAB Colorado King Stakes over 2000m Fire Attack is 2,5kg under sufferance with stablemate Atticus Finch on official ratings but he has the class to prevail from pole position under Richard Fourie. A line can be draw through his Premier’s Champions Challenge run as it panned out terribly when he was forced out wide and began over-racing. Fourie should have him settled and he can bounce back to his best with a strong finish. Field Marshal is 7,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, but he is on the up and has Zackey up from draw two so should make a bold bid. Atticus Finch is top class on his day, but has had epistaxis before and is none too reliable. Choisaanada won well last time and gave the impression he would enjoy this trip and he will be out to put his hand up for a place in the Hollywoodbets Durban July field. The Ultimate King has ability but will need to improve on his Champions Challenge run.

In the Gr 2 Igugu Stakes over 2000m Minogue has a lot of class and was not only close up in the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m but should also stay this trip on pedigree being by Vercingetorix out of a Go Deputy mare who won over 1900m. Olivia’s Way went close in the Betway Summer Cup over course and distance and has a chance from draw four. Callmegetrix has some good form but this Vercingetorix filly is out of a Kabool sprinter, so there could be a stamina doubt.

In the Gr 2 Camelia Stakes over 1160m Whistle The Tune has a nice high draw and should be right there. Rodeo Drive has speed and class and should make a bold bid. Green Diamond ran a cracker in the Gr 1 wfa Computaform Sprint over 1000m and will enjoy this trip too, so should be right there.

In the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m Gimme Some Luck won by eight lengths on debut and the form has been franked. Time Is Precious is on the up and can go close to making it a hat-trick, despite having to carry 2kg more than the other runners. Sherlock Holmes is improving and could earn here.

In the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m Get Up should make a bold bid as she is a well bred sort and is 2kg better off with Good Day Sunshine for a 0,90 length beating plus she has the advantage of Craig Zackey up.  Good Day Sunshine has to give the others 2kg but looks up to it and can go close to remaining unbeaten in three starts. Love Not War looks capable of improving and can earn.

In The Listed Gold Bowl over 3200m Shoot The Rapids bolted in by 9,50 lengths the last time he ran over course and distance and can give weight away here and still win. Enflame is on the up and is a threat receiving 6kg from Shoot The Rapids. Aladdin’s Lamp is in good form and should be in the top three too. Poet’s Warrior was well beaten by Enflame and Aladdin’s Lamp last time over 2850m , but he can be dangerous from the front and has pole position this time. Mo Ment ran well below par the last two times he ran in staying events, but he might well have benefited from a rest followed by two races over shorter and if at his best he could be dangerous from the front.

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

David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions have been finalised and the final field panellists might be in for an interesting evening before the Final Field And Barrier Draw Ceremony, whilst the three-year-olds look to be on the back foot at present.

There will be a longer handicap this year with a 10kg spread in the weights from a topweight of 62kg down to a bottom weight of 52kg.

Furthermore, it will just be a straight handicap, unlike recent July conditions in which there was a maximum and minimum weight for certain age groups and genders.

If the final field happens to have a spread that is less than 10kg, the topweight will still be 62kg. If, for example, there is a weight spread of 7kg among the entries, then the bottom weight will be 55kg.

If the topweights are scratched after the setting of the weights, then the new topweight will be dragged up to 62kg. For example if the topweight after scratchings is 60,5kg, it will be dragged up to 62kg and after the rest of the field have been dragged up the bottom weight will become 53,5kg.

The final field will not necessarily be chosen by merit rating order.

Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing and Bloodstock of Race Coast, said, “There will be a final field selection panel like before and merit rating will be a leading aspect, but the panel will also take current form and distance suitability into account etc.”

In recent years the final field panellists have not had it too tough as the field was cut up before the final field announcement, with a lot of horses being scratched due to the recognition by the connections they do not have much chance, either due to the weights not favouring them or due to them being off form – the final declaration fee could have, in those cases, been considered a waste of money.

However, with the longer handicap, there are going to be more horses who still have form chances on paper.

Looking at last year’s July for example, third-placed Selukwe was rated 111 and had to carry 54kg due to the condition that the minimum weight for an older male was 54kg. He was thus 2kg under sufferance with the 127-rated topweights, both older horses, and he was 4kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horse, the 129 rated (nett 125-rated) Eight On Eighteen, who was set to carry 57kg despite being the highest merit rated horse in the race due to a condition that three-year-old males could not carry more than 57kg.

In last year’s race Oriental Charm carried 60kg, Eight On Eighteen carried 57kg and Selukwe carried 54kg.

Under this year’s conditions the weights for those three horses would have been: Oriental Charm 62kg, Eight On Eighteen 61kg and Selukwe 54kg. Selukwe would have been 2kg and 4kg better off with Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen respectively under today’s conditions.

He would have been 2kg better off with the winner The Real Prince too and, on paper, would have been beaten 0,30 lengths instead of by 2,65 lengths.

There could theoretically have been a horse who would have been even more favoured by today’s conditions than the 111-rated Selukwe example.

Using last year’s race under today’s conditions, an older horse who had been rated 107 would sneak into the handicap under today’s conditions.

A 107-rated older horse last year would have had to carry 54kg, 6kg less than the topweight, but under today’s conditions it would have only had to carry 52kg, which would be 10kg less than the 62kg topweight.

Therefore, there are theoretically going be a lot more horses standing their ground at the time of the final field selection process this year, because a lot more of them will have chances of winning on paper than would have been the case under the old conditions.

Furthermore, with stakes of R10 million up for grabs there will be less cases of horses being scratched due to the  connections deeming them to be off form. They might still want to take their chances.

The difficulty for the panel will come in deciding whether a lower rated horse is deemed to have better recent form or better distance suitability than a higher rated horse.

For argument sakes let’s assume that we go back to last year and there are still many horses standing their ground until the bitter end. After the top 17 are selected, according to the last log and current form, let’s assume the next two horses are the 115-rated Madison Valley and the 120-rated The Real Prince.

The Real Prince is rated five points higher than Madison Valley, but he has never run a race beyond 1600m before.

Madison Valley on the other hand finished a close fourth in the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and in his final run before the July he won the traditional July pointer, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

Which one are they going to put in the all important 18th slot?

Such a scenario is going to have much more chance of happening this year.

Although it has been said that weight avoidance tactics are going to be used this year, those who do take that route are probably going to run a bigger risk of not qualifying than ever before.

Now on to the three-year-olds.

Eight On Eighteen was held in high regard last year and came into the race 2kg well-in, according to official merit ratings, and yet he was not able to win the race.

Under today’s conditions he would have had to carry 61kg, effectively 2kg more.

So it was tough last year for a top, top three-year-old who was favoured by the old conditions.

How tough will it be for good-but-not-great three-year-olds under the new conditions, considering there is no maximum weight for them and no minimum weight for older horses?

Likewise it will be tough for females.

Furthermore, this year’s three-year-old crop are arguably overrated off their current merit ratings.

For example, Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire could not win the Wolf Power 1600 against older horses when 2kg under sufferance off a 102 merit rating (effectively a 106 merit rating), yet he is now rated 120. There will be cries of “but the handicapper is clueless” when looking at that, but those who do say that are clueless themselves, because the handicapper rates a race on that race, not on past races, and Tin Pan Alley had earned his 117 rating by beating older horses and Grand Empire had then beaten him. Furthermore, Grand Empire was likely not at his peak for the Wolf Power with the Triple crown series looming.

Nevertheless, the overall impression is the current three-year-old male crop is not shining and it is questionable whether any of them have properly earned a rating of 120 or above.

It could well be an older horse July, but on the other hand there is an impressive unexposed horse like Note To Self among the three-year-olds and more such types might emerge.

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is going to be more intriguing than ever!

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.