Race 1

9 EL COHETE ran a great race on debut, she was well supported in the market when finishing second behind Margate, with natural improvement expected from this filly, she will be hard to beat. 7 PEACE GARLAND has run two nice races in succession, she is clearly improving with every start, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this individual on Sunday, she can earn on her best form. 3 CHINWAG caught the eye late on debut when finishing fourth in the same race as El Cohete on the 30th of March, even though she wants further, she will be staying on strongly late, watch her closely at a decent price. 4 HURRICANE PAIGE looks progressive, she can sneak into the Quartet. (Brandon Bailey 9-7-3-4)

Race 2

7 SWIFT SERENITY will be hard to beat, her form of late is very good, this looks to be the perfect race for her to exit the maiden ranks. 5 RUBY REX has been rested for 210 days, in hope that she doesn’t need the run back from a lengthy break, she will be competitive on her current form. 1 MISS SMILEY caught the eye late at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 18th of March, she has run some decent races with the blinkers fitted, she has a place chance in this field. 3 TAKE THAT has been rested for 210 days, she ran a lovely race on debut when finishing just over three lengths behind Call Of The Karoo, if she doesn’t need the run after a long break, she will make them all work for victory, include her into all bets. (Brandon Bailey 7-5-1-3)

Race 3

4 CHANCE ENCOUNTER travelled like a winner when finishing second behind Bonelli on the 6th of April, he is consistent, and he tries hard, he will run a big race again from a neat draw. 1 ERIC LIDDELL finished fourth in the same race as Chance Encounter last time, he finished like a train on that occasion, he will be running on strongly late, watch him from a good draw. 2 RED DAWN has dropped even further in the ratings, the blinkers have been removed, he should finish amongst the places at a nice price. 8 SHOW OFF should be cherry ripe, he was doing some good work late behind Future Free at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 15th of April, he will love the step up in trip. (Brandon Bailey 4-1-2-8)

Race 4

5 PENTOLINA quickened up smartly to win a good race on the 1st of April, she was given five points for that impressive win, top jockey Richard Fourie knows this filly well, she will be just off the speed early, and she will be storming home late. 8 LARK’S SONG was heavily supported in the market when finishing second behind Backinthefastlane on the 18th of April, the yard thinks highly of this filly, she will go close to winning. 3 BENEATH THE CLOUDS just needed her last run after a small break, she will be much fitter going into this race on Sunday, if she gets away from the field at the right time, she will be competitive. 2 GIVEN TO FLY won a good race on the 25th of March, she was given five points for that win, the step up in trip should bring out further improvement, include her into all bets from a nice draw. (Brandon Bailey 5-8-3-2)

Race 5

3 QUEEN REGENT won the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes impressively on the 6th of April, she was given nine points for winning well, she will love the step up in trip to 1600m, on her current form, she has a big winning chance again. 5 SWIATEK has been rested for 64 days, she was terribly unlucky in the Grade 3 SplashOut Prix Du Cap on the 28th of February, she has a wonderful turn of foot late, if the gaps open at the right time, she will go mighty close to winning. 10 ROCCAPINA finished her race off beautifully behind Queen Regent on the 6th of April, unfortunately the wide draw here will make life tough for her, but she is classy and she has lots of ability, she can earn on her best form. 2 GIVE ME EVERYTHING needed her last run, she will improve tremendously. (Brandon Bailey 3-5-10-2)

Race 6

7 KALAHARI KING won impressively on debut, he looks special, the yard thinks highly of this colt, he will be hard to beat. 3 EARN THE WEEKEND quickened up beautifully to win just under the hands on debut, it was a messy race, and he still managed to win well, he looks progressive, watch him closely. 1 MARGATE won with tons in hand on the 30th of March, she has a beautiful action, even though this is a big jump in class for her, she could be anything, include her into all bets. 6 TAG AND RELEASE was heavily backed in the market when beating Redford in style on the 18th of April, he was out the gates like lightning when leading the field from start to finish, he can only improve. (Brandon Bailey 7-3-1-6)

Race 7

4 LA PULGA was given a terrific ride by jockey Aldo Domeyer on the 6th of April, he stayed on strongly up the lane to win a top race, even though he has gone up in the ratings, he will be right there in the finish again. 2 FUTURE FREE is well related, he won well at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 15th of April, he will love the extra 200m on Sunday, include him into all bets. 3 VIVA’S LIBERTE ran a cracker behind Jet Force on the 6th of April, he will be cherry ripe for this race, the 1800m trip looks ideal for this beautiful gelding, he can definitely win from a good draw. 7 TENPENNY never runs a bad race, he will keep them honest on his current form. (Brandon Bailey 4-2-3-7)

Race 8

6 CLARK GRISWOLD needed his last run back from a small break on the 21st of March, there is no doubt that he will be much fitter for this race, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be powering through the field late, watch him at a decent price. 4 FOLLOW YOUR HEART stayed on well for third behind Flying Finley on the 30th of March, he should enjoy the extra 200m here, on his best form, he has a big winning chance. 10 SOOTY is in great form, he is a lovely looking gelding with a great action, the yard is in good form, he will be competitive again. 2 KLIPTOWN could be the value horse in this tricky race, he is much better than his last run over 1400m, the drop in trip will bring him back to his best, include him into all bets. (Brandon Bailey 6-4-10-2)

Race 9

9 MYSTIC INFERNO won like a smart filly in the making at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 1st of April, this will be a massive test for her on Sunday, she looks extremely progressive, there is no doubt that she can win again. 3 TRUE HORIZON was given a good ride by the apprentice to win nicely at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 18th of March, she was given three points for that win, on her current form, she will be super competitive. 8 FINAL CALL stayed on well for second in a tough race on the 1st of April, the blinkers have been fitted to this well-bred filly, she will be right there in the finish again, watch her late. 7 BLUE LAGOON finally got it right on the 18th of April, she beat Scandalize impressively, she can only improve now that she has the confidence to win races. (Brandon Bailey 9-3-8-7)

Half of the eight runners accepted for the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today hold entries for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. A few years back, Marinaresco nearly scooped Africa’s Greatest Race taking this quiet route through Cape Town’s wet winter. He was trained by Candice Bass when he went a place better a year later in 2017. Bass saddles Viva’s Liberte who is quietly of the same profile.

Viva’s Liberte has not had the most ideal 2026. He was gelded at the end of last year and he was asked to take a less-than-ideal stance of one run before the Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000m in late February. He acquitted himself well against horses who are of high ability but had far better preps when he finished three lengths behind Wish List in third. A neat effort after a freshen up saw him run an admirable race behind Jet Force in the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile at this course a month ago.

He should be peaking now. He has always given the impression that he would develop over time. He could also have a few pounds hidden away from the handicapper long-term. If he is to be taken seriously by the Hollywoodbets Durban July panel, he needs to start winning soon. There would be no better place to start. Craig Zackey is walking on water at the moment. He is carded to take the ride.

La Pulga, Otto Luyken and Tenpenny also hold entries for the 4 July showpiece. Tenpenny has been expertly placed by trainer Paddy Kruyer and he could also have some wriggle room with the handicapper. He finished ahead of Viva’s Liberte by a short head in the Variety Club Mile but he finds himself 0,5kg worse off. With that said, Tenpenny is certainly more suitable to the extra 200m on offer.

La Pulga is a real trier and he should not be too far away. He is often on the coattails of Tenpenny. Serino Moodley takes the ride for Bass. He might need to do more to show his credentials for Grade 1 level but he runs above himself and must be respected.

Peace Garland has put together two nice runs to date and she looks set to get the job done in race 1 over 1200m. She has been beaten by less than two lengths in both starts to date behind some seemingly promising two-year-olds. Richard Fourie takes the ride for Vaughan Marshall. To the eye, she might be most effective over further. She is a half-sister to Francel Ethel. She also finishes her races with a flourish. But she is going about things the right way.

Swift Serenity is a professional maiden but she is popping to win. From 11 runs, she has placed seven times including runner-up the last twice. She looks like she might have found the right field in race 2 over 1000m. She has a good, fluent stride, hopefully she can last for more than 950m which is her Achilles heel.

Signor Dante could represent some value in race 3 over 1800m. He has found some progressive three-year-olds too good in his last three runs including Future Free who runs in a Grade 3 later in the card and Note To Self who is given a chance in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He is deceptively lightly raced with only 12 career starts under his belt and he could have a little more to offer.

Lark’s Song has finished runner-up in her last two runs and she looks set to go a place better in race 4 over 1800m. She is well related, a sister to Rainbow Lorikeet. She is also low mileage having only her seventh career start on Sunday. Andrew Fortune takes the ride for Andre Nel.

A chance is taken on Swiatek in the Listed Ladies Mile, race 5 on the card. She loves this trip with her career best coming against the brilliant Double Grand Slam over this course and distance. She has always been considered slightly better at Hollywoodbets Durbanville but she is a really tough filly who gives her best. After her triumph over Double Grand Slam, she was forced to run in races which might have been too tough for her. This is not a slam dunk but she is more than capable of seeing off her rivals.

Kalahari King has been one of the most impressive two-year-olds thus far. He runs in the Grade 3 Winter Nursery over 1200m. He looks a consummate professional when he took the above average Aquae Calidae off the bit and turned him over by 1,25 lengths. He was wise and fluent. The talk is that he would be fun to follow in a few months’ time.

Sooty comes from the in-form Paul Reeves yard and even though he makes life tough for himself, he could get his nose in front when he runs in race 8 over 1200m. His last three runs read two narrow losses and one narrow win. That is the nature of the beast. He is not the easiest to follow and have maximum faith in but he has the numbers to make a huge case for him.

Final Call is on the up and she looks a level above the opposition she is running with in race 9 over 1200m. She is getting the hang of things and the slow burn seems ready to ignite. When she won her maiden, she beat nothing of substance but she has seemingly strengthened up and gone about things the right way. Serino Moodley rides for Candice Bass.

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.