Warren Lenferna

The first race on the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, 8th February, gets underway at 11:35pm, and it looks to be a two-horse race between Green Energy and Buffalo King Cody. Green Energy, for Adam Azzie and Serino Moodley, caught the eye on debut when finishing a close second at this venue. Buffalo King Cody is improving with racing and should provide plenty of cheek all the way home. He is from the visiting Tony Peter stable. A good race opens the meeting.

Race two, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, is at 12:05pm and the firm first pick is the Mike Miller-trained Japura. She is improving with racing experience and looks cherry-ripe for victory today.

Sovereign Gem is the selection to take first prize in the third race. She is trained by Alyson Wright and will be ridden by Keagan De Melo. This filly has been catching the eye and her last effort was very good — the one to beat.

Peach Melba and Past Is Prologue should fight out the finish of the fourth race on the card, with Peach Melba being the narrow first choice. Calvin Habib rides the filly for the first time.

There is a possible banker in the fifth from the Nathan Kotzen barn — Etzebeth. He caught the eye on debut, gets the best draw, tries extra distance, and meets an average field.

Salani Kahle has grabbed the attention of many as a very talented and progressive colt from the Gareth Van Zyl stable. He lines up in the sixth race but will start from the widest draw. His maiden win and post-maiden win have been ultra-impressive and he can be followed with great interest.

The seventh race over 1750m sees the horse drawn at gate one, French Trip, as the first selection. This son of Trippi ran an absolute cracker in the Michael Roberts Stakes last time and can be given serious each-way claims. He will get valuable weight off his back from claiming apprentice Mxolisi Mbutho, who partnered him last time.

Talking of the Michael Roberts Stakes, the winner of that race, Down By The River, lines up in the eighth and has every chance of following up. He impressed when trotting up and beating Queue Wing by nearly three lengths. Talented stayer King Pelles is the obvious danger and can be expected to serve up far more than he did in the Betway Summer Cup on the Highveld on the 29th of November. Amor Fati and Isivivane have strong place chances and must be included in most betting perms.

Races nine and ten are competitive, and it is advisable to include as many runners as the budget will allow.

All in all, another competitive but exciting day’s racing awaits at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. With ten races on offer, there are plenty of betting opportunities. Punt and play well!

Race 1: Preview: GREEN ENERGY (1) was good on debut and with natural progression, should win. In saying that, plenty of cheek can be expected from the raiding runner, BUFFALO KING CODY (6) He nearly won last time and will be a huge danger here. DOG SOLDIER (2) and BON APPETITE (3) could run well on debut – watch the betting trends as race time looms. (Warren Lenferna 1-6-2-3)

Race 2: Preview: JAPURA (6) is improving with racing and posting promising performances. She looks hard to beat. AMC ROY’S FANTASY (3) improved at the second time of asking and can go very close to getting it all right. MEKONG (8) and FORCE OF AIR (7) could place on debut. (Warren Lenferna 6-3-8-7)

Race 3: Preview: SOVEREIGN GEM (2) is showing signs of wanting to win. She is lightly raced, her last run excellent and is therefore the first choice. TIPPERARY (3) is taking time to win but is doing well and can be given serious each way claims. I just believe that Sovereign Gem might have more to offer in the improvement department. HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE (5) ran an improved race last time and surely has more to come – strong place chance. BELLIGERENT (8) can be forgiven for the last run – quartet chance. (Warren Lenferna 2-3-5-8)

Race 4: Preview: PEACH MELBA (9) has run two fair races thus far and now gets the services of the Whitehead yard regular rider, Calvin Habib. PAST IS PROLOGUE (8) caught the eye in the second run and should go very close to winning. An obvious inclusion for all bets. LUTHANDO (12) can improve on the debut run and could be the value for the places. SIYABAMBELELA (14) is one for the shortlist – first four claims. (Warren Lenferna 9-8-12-14)

Race 5: Preview: ETZEBETH (1) caught the eye on debut and faces a very weak field today and from gate 1 over the extra distance, should be hard to oppose. OWNER OF CREATION (8) is well tried but will not get much more of an easier opportunity at getting it all right and has obvious serious winning claims. QUINCY TIME (9) has a huge place chance and TASTE THE RAINBOW (2) could be the value for the quartet play. (Warren Lenferna 1-8-9-2)

Race 6: Preview: SALANI KAHLE (9) has won both his maiden and post maiden races in the manner of a very progressive and talented horse. Despite the deep draw, he should reel off the hat trick. BRUH (6) has ability and solid form – each way chance. GOTTA GO EDDIE (2) and ROYAL SWORD (3) are natural inclusions for trifectas and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 9-6-2-3)

Race 7: Preview: FRENCH TRIP (1) ran an absolute cracker in the Michael Roberts Stakes and on that run alone, is the firm first suggestion. He gets the ace gate so should have a smooth run in transit and the weight off will again be a help. The one to beat. CONTINENTALEXPRESS (3) won well last time and it would be no shock if he were to follow up – bright chance. ACTOR (5) has a place chance and if THE MIKADO (4) does not need the run, could finish in the first four. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-5-4)

Race 8: Preview: DOWN BY THE RIVER (2) put the Michael Roberts Stakes to bed with consummate ease and is confidently selected to follow up. KING PELLES (1) needs absolutely no introduction, we know he is good and it would be silly to ignore his chances – strong win chance. Ignore the last run. AMOR FATI (3) showed guts and determination when winning on the Highveld last time and will be a serious runner here. ISIVIVANE (4) bounced back to winning ways last time and should be right there at the finish. Big runner. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-3-4)

Race 9: Preview: DAWN SURPRISE (9) is in healthy red-hot form currently and showed guts and determination to win last time. She can follow up. DAISY ROCKER (1) is the interesting runner – she could be absolutely anything – watch and include. LITTLEBLACKGEM (4) is taking time for the next win but is ultra-consistent and a must for everything – big chance. RUBY CLAIRE (6) could represent some place value. (Warren Lenferna 9-1-4-6)

Race 10: Preview: FASCINATION (8) has solid form and is way better than her last run. SCARLET STARLET (11) was impressive on debut and could be anything and might well remain unbeaten after this race. Serious claims. MOSCOW MISS (10) is never far adrift the winners and can give a good account of herself. TLADI MOTHWANA (12) looks useful and has a bright chance. Include in all bets. (Warren Lenferna 8-11-10-12)

Ends

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!