David Thiselton

Mickaelle Michel would never have believed in her wildest dreams when landing in South Africa last December that she would be aboard the favourite for South Africa’s greatest race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, just seven months later. However, she will have to defy 43 years of history even if ignoring the fact that she would become the first female jockey to ever win the big race.

Mark Sutherland was the last jockey to ride the winner of the July in his first ride in the great race and that happened in 1983 on the filly Tecla Bluff, who was the first of the great trainer Terrance Millard’s six July winners.

The previous jockey to achieve the feat was Leslie Mustard, who won on the Des Rich-trained Lightning Shot in 1977 in his first July ride.

Before Mustard one would have to go as far back as 1959 to find another case.

1959 was a historic year, because the Oppenheimer family had the first of their nine July wins either as owners, breeders, or both, as their homebred four-year-old Tiger Fish made amends for his short-head defeat the previous year, He was ridden to a convincing 2,25 length victory by Bennie Little in the latter’s first ever July ride.

Bennie was the grandfather of current jockey Chad Little.

Whilst the Oppenheimer family have a fine chance this year of making it a tenth July victory with their Frank Robinson-trained homebred filly Mocha Blend, an opportunity for history to repeat itself was missed when Holding Thumbs did not make it into the final field earlier this week as this Glen Kotzen-trained Vercingetorix gelding was bred by the Oppenheimer family and Chad Little was due to ride him.

It would have been Chad’s second career July ride, his first having been 21 years ago on Tyson who finished 11^th in the 2005 July.

Mickaelle will become only the second woman to have ridden in the iconic race.

Rachel Venniker made history when riding in the Hollywoodbets Durban July in 2024.

She might get a second ride in the big race this year as she is booked to ride the first reserve runner Choisaanada, an Erico Verdonese-trained horse who was somewhat controversially left out of the top 18 having been a top 18 incumbent on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

It was in fact the second time a Verdonese-trained horse who had been set to be ridden by Venniker was eliminated at the last minute as the Verdonese-trained Jimmy Don was 18th on the final log in 2023, but did not make the cut.

Rachel had been set to make her July debut in 2022, but suffered a concussion and whiplash injury after a freak starting-gate accident just five days before the big race.

When she did finally have a July ride two years ago it was aboard the outsider Hluhluwe, a three-year-old 40-1 chance trained by Justin Snaith,

and she finished a 5,35 length eleventh.

Venniker and Verdonese will be hoping there is a scratching before 08H15 on Friday July 3.

The July is not an easy race to ride in, so experience would be an advantage, but a professional of Mickaelle Michel’s standing would go in with plenty of meticulous homework and preparation having been done. July replays, for example, would be a valuable tool for a first-time rider in the race and there are plenty of current jockeys and ex-jockeys who would be willing to offer advice.

There will be many hoping the popular French jockey can make history in about ten days time on the fourth of July.

David Thiselton

Peter Muscutt spoke about the draws of one and fourteen for his two Hollywoodbets Durban July runners, Isivivane and I Salute You respectively, at Summerveld yesterday morning. He also gave feedback on his Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe runner St. Harry.

Isivivane jumped well from draw two last time out in the Gr 3 WSB 1900. Sean Veale managed to settle him in the box seat behind the pacemaker Trust. From there he ran on well down the inside to win the race by 0,60 lengths from Regulation.

Peter said about his pole position July draw, “It is probably a very good draw for him. It can be a bit of an awkward barrier if they miss the break or don’t manage to hold their position early, but he’s pretty sharp out of the gates. We would have to be positive on him and he should get a very cosy run in transit from that barrier.”

Isivivane is by Erupt (Dubawi), who won two Gr 1s over 2400m. He is out of a mare by Casey Tibbs, a Sadler’s Wells stallion who won two Listed races over 2000m. Furthermore, Isivivane’s dam Rodeo Sioux’s three wins included two over 2600m, one of them a Non-Black Type feature.

Peter said, “I have no doubt that 2200m is well within his compass.”

In I Salute You’s last race in the Gr  3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m he was drawn in pole position and after dwelling slightly at the break he sat on the rail but only had two horses behind him in the ten horse field. He moved outward coming around the final turn and ran on well to be a 0,70 length second giving the winner Zeitz 2,5kg.

He is 1kg better off with Zeitz from that run in the July, but this time has drawn wide in 14.

Peter said, “It’s a little bit awkward, but he is quite a versatile horse. He can sit with them or off them and he has got a turn of foot.

I Salute You is by Soqrat, whose three Gr 1 wins were over 1600m, but he did finish a narrow second with topweight in the Gr 1 Summer Cup over the tough Turffontein Standside 2000m trip and he finished third in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and a not disgraced 4,45 length 8^th in the July carrying second topweight of 59kg. I Salute You is out of a mare by speed influence Var and her two wins were over 1000m and 1200m, but both I Salute You and Taegan’s Champ have won over 1700m to 1750m trips.

Peter said, “With him too I have no doubt that the 2200 is going to be within his distance range.”

I Salute You’s big race rider Mark du Plessis lands in South Africa on Wednesday night next week.

Peter said, “Mark will get to sit on I Salute You on the Thursday morning and  then basically his work is done.”

Tristan Godden will likely be riding I Salute You at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops on Thursday morning this week.

Peter has one other runner on July day, the exciting Australian-bred St. Harry, who is a son of Harry Angel (Acclamation).

He runs in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Peter said, “He is drawn eleven, but he is a very good horse. He hasn’t run since Cape Town. I have given him as much time to mature as possible. He has got a devastating turn of foot, so we can ride him conservatively from the eleven barrier. He’s an exciting horse for the future, so we don’t want to overdo things with him as a two-year-old, but he has developed and furnished very well since his last race and if he runs to his work he should be a factor on July day.”

RACE 1

MOLTEN ROCK has run well in defeat against useful opposition over this trip so sets the standard on the strength of that form and in receipt of weight from male counterparts KWAITO and returning (as a gelding) THEODORE ROOSEVELD. Well-bred SUMMERFEST warrants respect, as does well-related newcomer VISION OF GOLD who is worth a market check on debut.

RACE 2

SNAP YOUR FINGERS was a beaten favourite in a 2yo winners’ race last time but needs only to repeat the performance of her debut to atone back in maiden company. SAVARA’S PRINCESS and returning SWORD OF LIGHT have the form and experience to trouble the youngster. However, a bigger threat will likely come from fellow juvenile EMPRESS OF PEACE who showed signs of improvement in blinkers last time and races with the headgear retained.

RACE 3

Runner-up in all 3 sprint appearances, PERIODIC TABLE won’t need to improve much for the step up to this trip to open his account. Youngster HIGHWAY CODE, whose experience around the turn stands him in good stead, has shown enough to keep the selection honest. BEACH WALKER, BRAVE WAAM, CUZZIE and TWELFTH OF NEVER have the form and experience to make their presence felt. SILVER COMET and PROWLER could also get into the picture if improving over this extended trip. Watch the betting on 5yo Irish-bred newcomer MISSION TO MARS, a son of prolific European sire Sea The Stars.

RACE 4

BLOOMINGTON ran on from a long way back when a fast-finishing 2nd in a similar 1450m contest last time off the same mark under the same rider. A repeat of that performance over the extra 150m should suffice. Hard-knockers SIX OF ALL and MICHAEL FARADAY appear held but are closely matched on that form. The selection finished behind GOLDEN ASPEN in his penultimate start so the latter could pose the biggest threat. Consistent BAY EMPIRE, blinkered THE MIGHTIEST and versatile COMMANDER OF ALL also have earning potential.

RACE 5

MOUNT DARWIN has filled the runners-up berth in both starts at this level off his current rating, and he was most unlucky not to have won last time so a repeat of that performance should see him end a 684-day wait for another victory. Consistent hard-knocker ROSY LEMON is proven in this grade and would not be winning out of turn either. ITSNOWORNEVER, BLOOD OF EDEN and MILITARY MOVES are competitive off their current marks so could get into the picture.

RACE 6

OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW, NEVER NEVER LAND and filly AQUARIUS are closely matched on the form of their 2 April meeting in a stronger 3yo handicap over track and trip, but the latter is better off at the weights so could be worth siding with. Top-weight FATHER CHRISTMAS has solid form while bottom-weight LONGSWORD is dangerous to discount off a career-low mark. HEAL AND SOUL and UNSOLVED RIDDLE are others to consider in larger exotic-bet permutations.

RACE 7

MISS FANTASTIC confirmed the promise of her debut 3rd by winning last time over 1200m, running on from the rear of the field to get the upper-hand late. On the evidence of that performance, she is open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip so it could pay to follow her progress. Last-start winner WINDS OF GRACE remains competitive under a 3-point penalty but familiar foe FISH HAWK is weighted to turn the tables and could pose more of a threat to the selection with improved fitness on her side. PRINCESS KEIRA, FAIR PROPOSAL, UTSAAH and REECE’S WISH can also get into the picture.

RACE 8

USHOULDBEDANCING had legitimate excuses last time in a 2yo Grade 3 over 1100m and is capable of a lot better than that performance suggests. She made a winning debut over this trip and remains open to improvement so deserves another chance. Older male rivals LONELY AS A CLOUD, TIME WILL TELL and READY SET FIRE have the form and experience to trouble the youngster, as do DUCHESS ZAHRA, MAGIC CARPET RIDE and hard-knocker ORIENTAL BOUQUET.

RACE 9

CATFISH was an impressive course-and-distance winner of his last start and, such was the manner of that performance, the 6-point penalty may not be enough to prevent him from following up. LOVABLE won her only start over this track and trip. She arrives with the form and experience to fight out the finish but concedes 3.5kg to the improving 2yo selection. HAMMER BLOW and EL ZANI are also distance suited sprinters with the means to make their presence felt. BLINDFIRE and GUNBOAT complete the shortlist.

Soccer6 Friday 26 June 2026. Carryover R 100 000. Estimated Pool: R 500 000.  Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 5 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Friday 26 June 2026. ADD-INN R 200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 million.  Pool Closes at 20h45. Sport 20 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 27 June 2026. ADD-INN R 200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 million.  Pool Closes at 20h00. Sport 15 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 One winner GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 27 June 2026. R17 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 27 June 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R250 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Following further rain at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the gradual deterioration of the track, as well as having consulted with the senior jockeys and a handful of trainers, a decision has been made to move Saturday’s meeting 27 June to Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Races 3 and 4 will now be 1250m.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Carlisle (UK) – 24 June 2026

David Thiselton

The big question before the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw Ceremony at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday morning was whether the fancied entry Regulation, who had been single figures in the betting markets, would make the top 18 and connections and supporters were left on tenterhooks until the last minute as 17 horses were on the board without his name appearing.

The Justin Snaith-trained horse’s name then appeared, although the connections of the Erico Verdonese-trained Choisaanada must have feared the worst as the horses are revealed in weight order and when they went past the 58,5kg weight without his name appearing the writing was on the wall.

Choisaanada is merit rated 121, while Regulation is merit rated 106 and the latter is thus 1kg under sufferance.

However, considering Regulation beat Zeitz by 3,20 lengths when winning the Gr 3 Ownpay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and faces the latter on the same terms in the July he looks to have a chance of winning the race.

Choisaanada on the other hand, finished a neck ahead of The Ultimate King at level weights in the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes and Regulation beat the latter in the WSB 1900 by just over a neck when receiving 6kg. Regulation will only receive 4,5kg from The Ultimate King in the July, but would have received 6,5kg from Choisaanada, so that collateral formline would justify Regulation’s position in the final field.

Nevertheless, Choisaanada’s connections are likely to feel aggrieved as he was three positions ahead of Regulation on the final log.

On a brighter note the Australian-based sensation Zac Lloyd will be aboard Regulation. He will attempt to break the trend of his legendary father, the former Durban-based Jeff Lloyd, who finished third in this race no fewer than nine times without ever winning, although he did finish second in his last July ride in 2018. Regulation landed a plum draw of two.

There were no other contentious issues in the Final Field Announcement.

The race favourite is the James Crawford-trained Star Major who is part of a fairy tale story as the Querari colt will be ridden by French woman Mickaelle Michel, who travelled out here with the hope of riding winners and enjoying the experience but never in her wildest dreams would she have believed that she would be riding the favourite in South Africa’s greatest race just seven months after arriving.

James Crawford was assistant to his father Brett when they landed the July in successive years, 2023 and 2024, and will be out to win a first July under his own license.

Three-year-old Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner Star Major jumps from a well nigh perfect draw of four and will realise a long held dream for Durban-born part-owner Ravi Naidoo if he were to win the race. Ravi went close two years ago with Cousin Casey and will be hoping to go one better.

That 2024 race was of course won by Oriental Charm, who was part-owned by Greg and Gina Bortz and this year the couple part-own the Snaith-trained Native Ruler and they are sole owners of Regulation.

Greg was also Durban-born and another Durban-born owner who will be out to realise a long held dream will be Ravi Padayachee, the chief owner of the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles. Ravi pulled a draw of 17 for King Pelles.

Preshalin and Jayson Murugasa, owners of the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Aladdin’s Lamp, are also passionate Durban-born owners.

Mike de Kock has won five Julys before and will be out to win a first together with son Mathew and they will have to do it from the widest draw of all as Aladdin’s Lamp drew 18.

An interesting fact of the field is that following on from no female runners in the race in 2024 and only one last year, there are no fewer than five female runners this year and one reserve.

The two most fancied of them, Wish List and Mocha Blend, drew seven and 13 respectively.

Wish List will be one of five horses representing Justin Snaith, who will be out to win a sixth July. She will be out to give a first July win to Andrew Fortune, who will become the oldest jockey to win the race at the age of 59 if she does it. Fortune pulled his own draw of seven and was thrilled with it.

Among the Snaith-trained horses is the topweight Legal Counsel, who only just failed to become a Gr 1 wfa winner when pipped in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m last time and he also came second in Cape Town’s greatest race The Gr 1 wfa WSB Met over 2000m. He will be ridden by Callan Murray and is drawn well in five.

The locally-trained horses in the field are the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian, the Frank Robinson-trained Mocha Blend, the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles and the Peter Muscutt-trained pair I Salute You and Isivivane.

There are eight Cape-trained horses in the top 18 and five Highveld-trained horses and the two reserves are both Highveld-trained horses.

Tammy and Candice Dawson will be out to become the third female trainers to win the July and have the mare Minogue involved. She will be ridden by Gavin Lerena.

The 18 incumbent runners include five three-year-olds, nine four-year-olds, three five-year-olds and one six-year-old and the two reserves consist of a four-year-old and a three-year-old.

Three jockeys have been flown in to ride in the race, Zac Llloyd, Chad Schofield, who rides King Pelles, and Mark Du Plessis, who rides I Salute You.

Only five jockeys in the race have won a July before, with Richard Fourie having three wins to his name, while each of Gavin Lerena, Kabelo Matsunyane, JP van der Merwe and last year’s winning rider Craig Zackey have won the big race once apiece.

 The weight structure this year has topweight at 62kg and bottom weight at 52kg and for the first time in many years it is just a straight handicap without any allowances or limitations.

There is only one horse in the top 18 who is officially under sufferance and that is Regulation, who is 1kg under sufferance, although the second reserve runner Curious Girl will be 4kg under sufferance if she gets in.

With a stake that doubles from last year to R10 million it is going to be a humdinger!

David Thiselton

The all important Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw Ceremony will happen at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

The final field panellists, consisting of chairman Raf Sheik (Race Coast), Lennon Maharaj (NHA Chief Handicapper), Aveen Sewpersad (Race Coast), Kurt Felix (Race Coast), Gabriel Soma (4Racing) and Luciano Passerini (4Racing), will have had the unenviable task yesterday (Monday) of choosing 18 runners plus two reserves from the 25 horses still standing their ground.

They would have been helped by the late scratching yesterday of the fancied Happy Verse as he was a top 18 on the log incumbent.

The scratchings of Tenpenny and Shoot The Rapids yesterday would not have been of much help as they were outside the top 20 on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log and at most the only impact they would likely have had on the final field selection process would have been consideration for one of the two reserve positions.

The anomaly this year is that one of the most fancied runners in the betting market is the Justin Snaith-trained Regulation, despite him only having been 20^th on the final Hollywoodbets Durban July log and having a lowly merit rating of 106, which would mean he would be 1kg under sufferance carrying 52kg if he is a runner in the big race.

The Legislate gelding was fancied to book his place in the July by winning the Gr 3 WSB 1900, but he was caught wide from a wide draw and could only manage a 0,60 length second.

He was then fancied to make amends in the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial, but he was once again caught wide and he then reportedly choked up. His unplaced run there dented his chances of a place in the final field.

In his favour is that when winning the Gr 3 Ownpay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in December he beat top 18 on the July log incumbent Zeitz by 3,20 lengths when receiving only 1kg and then when finishing an unlucky third in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Premier Trophy over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January he beat Zeitz at level weights by 1,55 lengths and beat another top 18 July log incumbent, Native Ruler, by 2,35 lengths at level weights.

Furthermore, he beat top 18 incumbents The Ultimate King and Native Ruler in the WSB 1900, although he was receiving 6kg from The Ultimate King and 8kg from Native Ruler and only beat them by a quarter of a length and 1,35 lengths respectively.

Zeitz reversed form with Regulation when winning the Cup Trial and Regulation was also beaten by Listed Sledgehamnmer winner Field Marshal in the Cup Trial. The latter still stands his ground in the July.

The problem is which horse would Regulation leapfrog if it was decided to put him in?

The 19th position on the last log was the Gr 3 Jubilee winner Aladdin’s Lamp and he deserves a place as the winner of a traditional July pointer race and he is also in the handicap off his 110 rating carrying 53kg.

The next horse above Regulation on the log in 18th position was Minogue, who has placed a narrow second in her last two races, which were both Gr 2s over 2000m.

However, Regulation has won a stakes race this season, while Minogue has never won a black type race in her career, although she has many stakes places to her name including a Gr 1 runner up finish.

Other horses who have not had stakes wins this season despite some good placed efforts are Choisaanada (17th on the log), I Salute You (15th), Olivia’s Way (14th), Viva’s Liberte (11th), King Pelles (9th), Note To Self  (7th) and Gladatorian (6th).

If winning a stakes race is a key criteria then Regulation must have a chance.

It is always a tough decision for the final field panellists and there are always those who either feel disappointed or aggrieved.

However, the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw ceremony is when the famous “July Fever” really kicks into overdrive.

It is a hugely anticipated event by the South African racing community and trainers, owners, jockeys, breeders, grooms, punters and bookmakers will be on tenterhooks when the ceremony starts at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning, with the final field tension being followed by the barrier draw tension.

Please note: Turffontein scheduled for Tuesday 30 June meeting has been moved to Monday 29 June 2026.