At Hollywoodbets Durbanville today, Lovers Lane has been consistent for months without getting the elusive third career win under the belt. Craig Zackey climbs aboard with is a huge scoop for the connections. He is exposed at this level which does not get much weaker in Cape Town but he is due a reward. His profile and recent form suggests that he will be bang in the hunt and with some luck, he could gain a morale-boosting victory. He did his best work late last time to finish fifth, just over a length behind Hiawatha Goldberg.

Act Of Grace and Kliptown are the unexposed runners in the race who could have more to give in the future. They are three-years-old and they could take a step forward against this tried and tested competition. Both are worth keeping an eye on.

Brown and Piechulek combine with the already mentioned Hiawatha Goldberg in race 7 over 1000m. Most of his career saw him compete over much further but since Brown dropped him back to sprints, he has come alive. After winning his penultimate run, he was not disgraced last time behind Worldly just over a week ago. If they do not run him off his feet on what should be a fast-running track, he must have a winning chance.

Gimme The Power is back to a sprint in race 1 over 1250m after fading out of contention over 1400m last time she was seen. That could be key to her chances under JP van der Merwe. This is an open maiden so she has only 55kg to shoulder. There is little to get excited about in this event bar first timer, Kituba. Gimme The Power might have her best chance yet.

Mercenary stands out as the best bet on the card in race 2 over 1600m, a far higher quality event than the one that precedes it. He was desperately unlucky not to finish closer two starts back when he ran into traffic behind Chance Encounter. His last start set him on the right track when she finished second behind Backinthefastlane who had a light weight over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He is making steady progress through his career and he looks set to get the job done under Keagan de Melo.

Greek Heiress is overdue a win and she is a candidate to win race 3 over 1600m. Her good runs have not come in sparkling company but this is a race which will not take much winning. She has always given the impression that there is something to unlock and blinkers seem to have brought her closer since she tried them two starts back. She is not foolproof but she should get close if she does not win. Log-leading Craig Zackey takes the ride. Who Is She and Beautiful One are considered as her main threats. 

Leif Erikson has needed time to come to hand after a slow start to his career and he could be ready to win in race 4 over 2000m. His best run was his last when he finished fourth behind Fast And Free over this distance at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He has 55kg on his back with Keagan de Melo. From his last start, runner-up Eric Liddell has won with ease. Everything points towards him being a lively chance. Phantom Man and Spanish Verse are not discounted.

Tothemoonandback has been banging at the door finishing second in his last two runs behind horses better than who he faces in race 5 over 2000m. Horses who beat him in his last two runs have either tasted feature races since or been at that level in the past. Master Of Paris and Gentleman Joe had his number in his last two runs. He comes from an in-form yard of Des McLachlan which bodes well. He must have every chance of going one better.

There are a few with chances in race 8 over 1250m. Eisteddfod is an interesting runner because she has always shown to be capable of stepping up a level or two as time goes on. Zackey is aboard. A lot of respect is given to William’s Woman who had no luck in running last time. She is back at the course where she won her maiden while True Horizon and Wyze Declaration are backing up from wins and they could also have more to come with their confidence up.

David Thiselton

There were only eleven horses still standing their ground in the Gr 1 wfa WSB Met before the barrier draw ceremony, which was set to take place at the Racing Pavilion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last evening.

Of the six yards still involved only two have won the big race before, Justin Snaith and Sean Tarry.

Justin Snaith will be out to equal Mike Bass’s record of winning the Met for four years in a row.

Bass won it three years in a row with the legendary Pocket Power from 2007 to 2009 and then with Pocket Power’s full sister River Jetez in 2010.

Snaith won it with Jet Dark in 2023, with Double Superlative in 2024 and with Eight On Eighteen in 2025.

Eight On Eighteen defends his crown this year.

If he wins it Snaith would obviously have done his four in succession with three different horses as opposed to Bass doing it with two horses.

Snaith will have achieved the remarkable feat of doing four in a row with four different horses if any of See It Again, Sail The Seas, Native Ruler, Okavango or Legal Counsel win the big race.

Richard Fourie will ride Eight On Eighteen, Andrew Fortune is on See It Again, Muzi Yeni is on Sail The Seas, JP van der Merwe is on Native Ruler, Callan Murray is on Okavango and Aldo Domeyer is aboard Legal Counsel.

Snaith holds a world record of eight winners at a single meeting, which he achieved on Met day in 2016.

He will have a chance of breaking that record at this year’s Met meeting, because he contests every one of the races and has a total of 43 runners in all at the meeting.

Sean Tarry won the Met with Alastor in 2005.

Gavin Lerena will be riding Tarry’s runner this year, Cosmic Speed.

Lerena is one of only four jockeys in this year’s race who have won the Met before.

Richard Fourie, JP van der Merwe and Aldo Domeyer are the other three.

There might only be eleven runners, but this year’s Met will be a true championship race.

Eight On Eighteen gets a chance to avenge his defeat to The Real Prince in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, a race in which he faced the latter on terms 2,5kg worse than weight for age.

He has since been defeated by The Real Prince in the Gr 1 wfa L’Ormarins King’s Plate over 1600m, but that was over a distance short of his optimum and it was his first run since the July too, so he likely needed it.

The Real Prince was defeated on wfa terms in a middle distance race after the July, when Gladatorian beat him narrowly in the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m.

See It Again was in third place behind that pair in that race and was a narrow third to The Real Prince in the King’s Plate, while Gladatorian was finishing fast in the King’s Plate and should enjoy the easy 2000m of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

So the weight for age clashes of Gladatorian, The Real Prince and See It Again has its latest renewal and Eight On Eighteen joins the fray alongside the like of Garrix and Sail The Seas.

The Piet and Elbert Steyn-trained Garrix went close in the Gr 2 Ridgemont Green Point before possibly running a flat race in the King’s Plate. He finished like a train in the Green Point and should be mature enough to step up to 2000m having won the Gr 3 Legal Eagle Stakes as a Three-year-old last year before failing by a shorthead in the Listed Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m.

Sail The Seas beat Eight On Eighteen and Cosmic Speed in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas and he was a close fourth in the King’s Plate. Over 2000m he was beaten only 1,50 lengths by Eight On Eighteen in last year’s Gr 1 SplashOut Cape Derby.

Native Ruler and Okavango are capable of running good races, although their tasks at wfa level are tougher than they have had in the races they have done well in.

The Tony Peter-trained The Equator has a tougher task than he had in the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup, which is a handicap, and he has a tough task with Okavango on their meeting in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Premier Trophy. However, the best might not yet have been seen of him.

Legal Counsel has never run over 2000m before but has won over 1800m and he gallantly stayed on in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate despite having gone fast early fractions.

Cosmic Speed has never tried 2000m before but stayed on well for fifth in the King’s Plate.

The Real Prince is trained by Dean Kannemeyer and it is one of the most surprising facts in SA racing that this prolific big race winner is yet to win the Met.

Gladatorian is trained by Stuart Ferrie, who has only had his license for just under three years, but he has vast training experience having worked in the like of Dubai and the USA and he was for many years assistant trainer to the masterful Dennis Drier at Summerveld.

RACE 1

2 GIMME THE POWER ran a fair race behind Kubu on the 17th of December, she was beaten just over five lengths, the drop in trip is key for this filly on Wednesday, she should get every chance from a good draw, this is not a strong open maiden event, if she brings her best form to the track, she will have a big winning chance in this field. 4 STELLAR GUIDANCE ran a great race on debut, she was beaten just over three lengths by Wyze Declaration on the 17th of December, she drops in trip, and she has a neat draw, with natural improvement expected from this filly, she will go close. 13 MEGHAN’S DIAMOND ran a lovely race for second behind Cutie Patootie on the 24th of December, the bad draw here will make it tough for her, if she gets some luck in running, she will go very close to winning. 1 KITUBA is well-bred, she has a good draw, and she has the services of top jockey Andrew Fortune, watch the market closely. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 4 – 13 – 1)

RACE 2

12 PRAIRIE DAWN had absolutely no luck last time, he stayed on well for second behind Sommerstern on the 3rd of December, if he gets some luck in running from a poor draw here, he will go close to winning. 4 MERCENARY ran a great race for second behind Backinthefastlane on the 4th of January, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be running on strongly late, include him into all bets. 1 MONTESSORI ran a much better race behind In Motion on the 24th of December, he stayed on well for third, from a good draw, his chances must be respected. 5 SENDAI has been rested for 74 days, he improved nicely to finish second behind Konnichiwa on the 8th of November, if he can build on that performance, he can definitely finish amongst the places in this field. (Brandon Bailey: 12 – 4 – 1 – 5)

RACE 3

5 WHO IS SHE ran a much better race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 17th of December, she was beaten just over two lengths by Wyze Declaration, she will love the step up in trip to 1600m on Wednesday, include her into all bets. 3 RARE EARTH stayed on well for fourth behind Silver Salute on the 24th of December, her form of late is very good, there should be no excuses for this filly from a neat draw, on her best form, she can definitely win a race like this. 7 GREEK HEIRESS never runs a bad race, she was beaten just over five lengths in the same race as Rare Earth on the 24th of December, even though she carries a big weight for this open maiden event, she will be right there in the finish. 12 AMAYAH has been rested for 108 days, she was a touch disappointing behind Red Beryl on the 5th of October, she was beaten just over three lengths by the winner, if she gets some luck in running from a bad draw here, she will have a big winning chance, watch her closely. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 3 – 7 – 12)

RACE 4

1 PHANTOM MAN ran a great race for third behind Fast And Free on the 10th of December, he stays well, and he has a good draw, there is no doubt that he will go very close to winning. 3 WALOYO YAMONI has run two excellent races in succession, he stayed on nicely for third behind Backinthefastlane on the 4th of January, he should love the step up in trip to 2000m on Wednesday, on his current form, he definitely has a winning chance. 10 SPANISH VERSE ran a fair race behind In Motion on the 24th of December, he was only beaten just over three lengths at the line, he should improve now that he steps up in trip. 6 LEIF ERIKSON stayed on well enough for fourth behind Fast And Free on the 10th of December, he might be able to sneak into the places on his best form. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 3 – 10 – 6)

RACE 5

6 TOTHEMOONANDBACK has run two great races in succession, he caught the eye late for second behind Gentleman Joe on the 4th of January, even though he carries top weight for this race on Wednesday, he stays well, and he tries hard, he will go close to winning. 3 BEER WITH THE BOYS ran a lovely race for second behind Wehaveasituation on the 17th of December, he should be cherry ripe for this race, the 2000m trip will be no problem at all for this gelding, include him into all bets. 7 MIDWAY is much better than his recent start, he finished seven lengths behind Wehaveasituation last time, the 2000m trip is a concern, if he settles early, he might be able to sneak into the places. 1 GOLD INDEX was only beaten just over one length by Devil A Saint on the 24th of December, he gets the services of jockey Rene Piechulek, and he has a good draw, he should be there amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 3 – 7 – 1)

RACE 6

2 THE NIGHT FERRY caught the eye late for second behind Devil A Saint on the 24th of December, he likes to be on speed, he has a good draw, and he drops in trip to 1400m, there should be no excuses for this gelding on Wednesday, he will go close to winning. 1 KLIPTOWN won a good race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 26th of November, he is a good looking colt with lots of ability, he should love the step up in trip to 1400m, from a neat draw, he can definitely win again. 3 LOVERS LANE never runs a bad race, he was only beaten just over one length by Hiawatha Goldberg on the 21st of December, he now steps up in trip to 1400m, he should be there amongst the places on his best form, watch him closely. 10 ISCHYRO stayed on nicely for fourth behind Kebonalesedi on the 3rd of December, he has dropped even further in the ratings, if the gaps open at the right time for this gelding, he might be able to sneak into the places at a big price. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 1 – 3 – 10)

RACE 7

4 BONNE BOUCHE ran a much better race behind Hiawatha Goldberg on the 21st of December, she ran fourth and was only beaten just over one length at the line, she has dropped even further in the ratings, the yard is in great form at the moment, if she gets away from the field at the right time, she will be hard to fetch late. 5 CHAMPAGNE MAC stayed on well for third behind Digby on the 4th of January, he is in great form at the moment, at this level, his chances must be respected, include him into all bets. 3 GRAVITY has run three nice races in succession, he drops in trip to 1000m, and he gets the services of top jockey Richard Fourie, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be running on strongly late. 1 HIAWATHA GOLDBERG finished just over one length behind Worldly on the 13th of January, he gets a good draw for this race on Wednesday, in hope that the run hasn’t come too soon, he should be right there in the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 3 – 1)

RACE 8

4 EISTEDDFOD ran a fair race behind Dream Searcher on the 4th of January at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she finished just over three lengths behind the winner, the drop in trip is key for this filly on Wednesday, she definitely has a winning chance in this field. 5 TRUE HORIZON won a super race on the 4th of January, it was a great ride by jockey Muzi Yeni, she was given three points for that impressive win at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, with no weight on her back for this race on Wednesday, she must have a good chance of winning again. 8 WYZE DECLARATION quickened up smartly to win a lovely race on the 17th of December, she drops in trip for this Class 5 event, if she gets some luck in running from a tricky draw, she will trouble them all in the finish. 6 WILLIAM’S WOMAN finished just over five lengths behind Supreme Fate on the 6th of December, she is a decent filly, the drop in trip and the apprentice claim will help her chances, watch her closely at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 8 – 6)

David Thiselton

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be a milestone one with the prize money doubled to R10 million and with a longer handicap introduced as the topweight will be upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

It will fittingly fall on the 30th anniversary of the centenary July, which turned out to be one of the greatest of all Julys as it was won by the legendary Alec Laird-trained London News, who went on to put South African racing on the map by winning the QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

The renowned South African wildlife painter Henk Vos released his celebrated work, the Painting Of The Century, depicting a century of July winners, after the July’s centenary running.

The iconic painting now hangs in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Alec Laird actually ordered one of the prints of the painting before it was completed as the print had the first of his great Uncle Syd Garrett’s five July winners on the left and the greatest of his father’s record seven July winners, Sea Cottage, was in the centre.

The right hand side just had a blank with a silhouette of a horse, because Vos did not know yet which horse he was going to paint there.

Alec, who trained out of Randjesfontein on the Highveld, related, “He hadn’t made up his mind what horse he was going to put in the last panel (the 20th panel) and he even said to me ‘I would like you to win the July because I would like to put you as the last painting.’ With about a year to go I said to him I’m not going to make it.’”

However, fate then had it that London News not only became the 14/10 favourite for the 100th running of the July, but he was also saddle cloth number 20, being the only three-year-old in the field and the bottom weight.

Piere Strydom recalled, “I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there.”

London News duly won the race and Alec, London News and Piere Strydom are now at the forefront of the famous painting’s 20th panel and the horse is fittingly carrying the no. 20 saddle cloth.

The London News story starts at the National Yearling Sale of 1994.

Alec recalled big owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee’s chief aim at that Sale was to buy a yearling by their own 1987 July winner, Bush Telegraph.

Alec recalled Harmony Forever being his number one choice at that Sale.

However, he remembered London News being “a nice horse.”

He added, “On the first day a Bush Telegraph colt called Mr Newspaperman went for about R300,000. London News looked more athletic and Jean Jaffee actually said to me, ‘What about this one?’ On the first day they didn’t get a horse, the second day they didn’t get one and the more they asked me about London News the nicer he got, because I was otherwise going to go home without a horse!”

The Jaffees managed to secure London News.

Alec recalled, “He was a light youngster and even as a three-year-old was quite light. He didn’t show immediately, but we always had the feeling that he would be a nice horse when he matured.”

In fact, London News made a particularly inauspicious debut, beaten no fewer than 16,5 lengths under Anton Marcus in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal on June 6, 1995.

However, he got better and better and when he smashed the Greyville 2000m course record, which still stands today, in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, he had won six out of eleven starts including the Dingaans and two middle distance Gr 1s.

Piere Strydom was aboard for the Daily News 2000 too.

He reflected on the 1996 July, the first of his four victories in South Africa’s greatest race, “London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight (having led) I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on.”

Alec added, “Mike Rattray had invited me to watch in his box because it was on the line and he won by a neck but my eyes wouldn’t believe it because there was so much pressure. I wanted to see the number up!”

Alec described the emotion of being on the honour roll together with his late record-breaking seven-time July-winning father Syd.

In fact his extended family is comfortably the most prolific July-winning family in history with his grandfather Alec winning one as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett winning two as a jockey and three as a trainer, his father Syd winning a record seven as a trainer, and the cousins Dennis Drier, Alec Laird and Charles Laird each winning one July apiece – a total of 16 for the July dynasty.