RACE 1

10 SOMMERSTERN   3 PLACE OF PRACTICE   8 SONG TO THE MOON   11 MAGMA MAGIC

Preview: Tough handicap. SOMMERSTERN (10) made a winning KZN debut in good fashion. He has a tricky draw and makes his poly debut which is a concern. PLACE OF PRACTICE (3) was a recent maiden winner but enjoyed the step up in trip and the poly track. SONG TO THE MOON (8) has consistent Cape form over further but is never far back and if taking to the poly he will be competitive. MAGMA MAGIC (11) has come well of late winning his last two and is unbeaten under Tristan Godden. If he takes to the poly he will be a factor. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-8-11).

RACE 2

11 IMPERIAL POWER   3 PLEASE BE TRUE   8 ROYAL SWORD   12 SUN DANCE KID

Preview: IMPERIAL POWER (11) is back on his favourite surface. He has consistent form and should feature in a wide open race. PLEASE BE TRUE (3) has some useful Cape form in good company. His last two starts were in the soft so the poly should suit. ROYAL SWORD (8) is a poly specialist and started favourite at his last three. SUN DANCE KID (12) has the widest draw but has excellent poly form and a 1.5kg allowance from the saddle. (Andrew Harrison: 11-3-8-12).

RACE 3

10 LA PULGA   12 OTTO LUYKEN   3 MAGIC VERSE   5 IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA

Preview: LA PULGA (10) showed up well in his local debut from a wide draw. He boasts smart Cape form. OTTO LUYKEN (12) is a past winner of this race. He showed his best form last time out. MAGIC VERSE (3) has made steady recent improvement and should be cherry-ripe. IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA (5) is holding form well and was narrowly beaten last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 10-12-3-5).

RACE 4

8 SHOOT THE RAPIDS  1 CURIOUS GIRL   10 AHEAD OF THE FACTS   12 VIHAAN’S BOMB

Preview: CURIOUS GIRL (1) goes this trip for the first time but stays well has the best of the draw and a light weight. AHEAD OF THE FACTS (10) has shown up well in two warm-ups on this course. He should be right there. SHOOT THE RAPIDS (8) stays well and is in mustard form. He should be involved in the finish. VIHAAN’S BOMB (13) won well to much weaker last time out but he stays well and also has a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 8-1-10-12).

RACE 5

7 ALICE B TOKLAS   3 ROYAL TIARA   2 TUDOR ROSE   10 OCEAN MISTRESS

Preview: ALICE B TOKLAS (7) won well first up over course and distance. She has a decent draw and can follow up. ROYAL TIARA (3) was second best behind Alice B Toklas when last they met but is likely to have come on from that run. TUDOR ROSE (2) took on males when shedding her maiden on debut. The blinkers go one from a handy draw. OCEAN MISTRESS (10) shows promise and will enjoy the step up in trip. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-2-10).

RACE 6

1 VIBE CHECK   10 KAZENOYONI   11 ST HARRY   7 RED SPICE

Preview: VIBE CHECK (1) has the best of the draw and is a strong front runner. He rates the one to eat. KAZENOYONI (10) was second best behind Vibe Check when last they met but expect a change of tactics coming from off the pace. PRAYERSANDPROMISES (12) was an easy winner when stepped up in trip. RED SPICE (7) may just have needed his last run. Up in trip but has smart Cape form. ST HARRY (11) returns from a break but shows promise and should put in a big effort. (Andrew Harrison: 1-10-11-7).

RACE 7

13 MOCHA BLEND   17 KING PELLES   4 STAR MAJOR   7 WISH LIST

  Preview: MOCHA BLEND (13) showed her class when winning the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup. She was getting weight from most but won with authority. She has had a faultless preparation and should put in a big run. KING PELLES (17) has a tricky draw to overcome but stays well and was at his peak this time last year. STAR MAJOR (4) is the best three-year-old in the country and comes off two cracking wins in the Guineas and the Daily News. He tends to come from a long way off the pace and will need some luck in running in an 18-horse field. WISH LIST (7) is at the top of the three-year-old fillies and is a class act. She won her last start from a seemingly hopeless position. (Andrew Harrison: 13-17-4-7).

RACE 8

10 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM   6 MON PETIT CHERIE   7 QUICKSTEPGAL   8 KEUKENHOF

Preview: DOUBLE GRAND SLAM (10) has a tricky draw to contend with as she tries for back-to-back Garden Province wins. She ran a cracked over a distance too short last outing and should go close again. MON PETIT CHERIE (6) just failed to catch QUICKSTEPGAL (7) when jumping from a wide gate. She has a better draw here and can turn the tables although it should be tight. KEUKENHOF (8) has been close-up to star filly Wish List at her last two and a win would not be out of order. (Andrew Harrison: 10-6-7-8).

RACE 9

9 BUFFALO STORM CODY   8 SPEED MAN   1 KAALVOET   6 JERUSALEMA RAIN

Preview: BUFFALO STORM CODY (9) has a big weight and was narrowly beaten by JERUSALEMA RAIN (6) last time out.  He meets his rival on 4kg better terms and should turn the tables. The blinkers are back on. SPEEDMAN (8) has won four of his six starts and has a handy galloping weight. He has a fair draw and looks more than capable. KAALVOET (1) was a touch unlucky last run in the Gr2 Golden Horse, however, he got a hefty five-point jump in the handicap. (Andrew Harrison: 9-8-1-6).

RACE 10

5 GREEN GATEWAY   2 MOHAVE PRINCE   7 IMPOSING   14 JP’S PALACE

Preview: Wide open. GREEN GATEWAY (5) steps up to a mile but did finish strongly to win last time out with first time blinkers. MOHAVE PRINCE (2) has come good recently and his last win was over course and distance. He has a favourable draw. IMPOSING (7) was touched off by July runner Zeitz last time out. He has won over course and distance and has a fair draw. JP’S PALACE (14) has the worst of the draw but is never far back. With some luck in runner he will be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-7-14).

RACE 11

1 ANCHORAGE   3 BUTTERCUP BABY   6 ONE SMART COOKIE   11 MISS WORLD

Preview: ANCHORAGE (1) has improved in blinkers. If she takes to the poly from the best of the draw she will be a strong contender. BUTTERCUP BABY (3) took on much stronger from a tough draw last time out. Her last two wins were on the poly. ONE SMART COOKIE (6) is seldom far behind and should put in another honest run. MISS WORLD (11) has drawn wide but is seldom out of the money and is in good form. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-6-11).

RACE 12

12 CAPTAIN’S PRIDE   2 SCARLET STARLET   4 WHAT A STAR   9 THOUGHT CONTROL

Preview: CAPTAIN’S PRIDE (12) has a wide draw to contend with but has useful recent form and has done well on the poly. SCARLET STARLET (2) may just have needed her last run after making a winning debut. From a good draw she can feature. WHAT A STAR (4) is a poly specialist over course and distance and has a favourabe draw. THOUGHT CONTROL (9) has been knocking at the door and has shown up well in her last two over course and distance. (Andrew Harrison: 12-2-4-9).

Andrew Harrison

Race Coast are expecting the full house signs to go up at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning in anticipation of Africa’s greatest race, the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

On-course patrons will be treated to a carnival of entertainment but the real entertainment comes at 4pm as the 18 runners line up for the big race.

It is a competitive line-up and being a true handicap the theory is that all have an equal chance but the scratching of former ante-post favourite Star Major and The Ultimate King has opened up the race even more.

Mocha Blend’s win in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup was at long odds but those that had paid attention were not wholly surprised. Frank Robinson’s filly is a strapping individual and has always had a touch of class. Since her Summer Cup victory Robinson has steered clear of any races that would have affected her handicap rating and 56.5kg is a handy galloping weight where Legal Counsel shoulders top weight of 62kg.

Her two warm-up runs were just that, both over distances well short of her best and in both instances she was running on smartly at the death. She goes the extra 200m for the first time but she handled the tough Turffontein 2000m comfortably and with rider Tristan Godden riding with supreme confidence of late, Mocha Blend has a lot in her favour.

Gareth van Zyl saddles the stayer King Pelles who was at the peak of his powers last year and won the Gr3 Gold Vase over 3000m on the July card. It is well documented that most horses peak in yearly cycles and Van Zyl appears to have timed King Pelles preparation to a nicety.

Although last season’s wins all came over much further, Van Zyl has taken a similar route to Mocha Blend, running in races  seemingly short of his best. However, he has been showing a sharp turn of foot in his build-up, second to Okavango in the Gr3 King’s Cup over a mile and running on late behind Zeitz in a handicap over 1400m where he was giving his fellow July runner 6kg and although they meet on the same weight terms, King Pelles is tried and tested over the trip while Zeitz has yet to venture past 1800m.

The July would not be the same without a handful of Justin Snaith runners and he saddles five of the 18.  59-year-old Andrew Fortune has been a revelation in his comeback to the saddle and would dearly love to retire with a July notch in his gun handle. He has been working alongside Snaith in the mornings and earmarked the filly Wish List a long way back and is adamant that the filly is the best of the Snaith contenders.

After winning the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes followed by the Lucky Fish Cape Derby against the colts, she comes into the race off a string of four straight victories but not all have been plain sailing. She started at prohibitively short odds for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington and looked a beaten horse halfway up the straight. But somehow Fortune extracted extra from the filly and she snaffled the older Minogue on the line. Candice and Tammy Dawson’s mare is now 1kg better off but Snaith is a master at getting his runners to peak on the day and Wish List may well be able to come on enough to beat the weights.

Heading the handicap is Legal Counsel who has it all to do with 62kg to shoulder. However, he comes into the race off a narrow loss to the smart Questioning over 1600m and arguably his best run to date was his second to See It Again in the WSB Cape Town Met. He has a good draw to help his cause.

Snaith has a further string to his bow in Native Ruler who comes off a comfortable win in the Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m. Keagan de Melo got a ‘feel’ for his July mount in that race and will know exactly what is under him.

Viva’s Liberte’s last win came over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville back in October last year but has been knocking at the door in useful company since. She comes in off the magical July weight of 53kg and can go back-to-back for owner Khaya Stables after their victory last year with The Real Prince.

The grey Zeitz will have plenty of supporters and comes off the back of two wins for Andre Nel. He has come to hand at just the right time and also comes into the race off a handy galloping weight. Against him is that he has not been the trip and the blinkers come off.

There is an international flavour to the race with Zak Lloyd, fresh from a win at Royal Ascot, French rider Mickaelle Michel, Chad Scofield and Mark du Plessis all in the mix. Interesting is that the two scratchings has seen the two women jockeys in the race.  Rachel Venniker has the ride on first reserve Choisaanada for Erico Verdonese who has his first runner in the race while Michel, who was down to ride ante-post favourite Star Major, got a ride through the back door after the scratching of The Ultimate King and she now partners rank outsider Curious Girl for Mike and Mathew de Kock.

The July is under-pinned by 11 other top class races that race into the night under lights in what promises to be a festive occasion.

For those not able to make the races, the day will be screened live on GTV, DStv 240 and SABC Sport.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chepstow and Sandown (UK) – 3 July 2026

David Thiselton

This year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, not only has the stake doubled to R10 million, but for the first time in many years it will be a straight handicap without any weight restrictions applying to horses of a certain age or gender.

The topweight is thus going to have a tougher task than usual as he carries 62kg and will have to give 10kg to the bottom weights, who carry 52kg.

The topweight is Legal Counsel and there are only two horses who are officially under sufferance, Regulation who is 1kg under sufferance and the second reserve runner Curious Girl, who came in after a second scratching and she is a whopping 6kg under sufferance.

Legal Counsel was a hair’s breadth away from being a Gr 1 WFA winner last time out when only just denied in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m and he was also runner up in the Gr 1 WFA WSB Met over 2000m. He has become a calm horse as he has matured and he will handle the razzmatazz of the day. He stays on well from handy positions. However, it will be a supreme weight carrying feat if he does it under Callan Murray, although his plum draw of five will help.

Regulation is well regarded and has put in some eye-catching performances in the past so was expected to qualify by winning the Gr 3 WSB 1900, but he was caught wide from a wide draw and worse was to come because when out to make amends in the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m he was caught wide from a wide draw again and then choked up. He has landed a plum draw so should now be able to produce his best and he could defy his handicap mark. However, the one concern is he has had a wind operation and Justin Snaith did mention a breathing issue after the July Gallops, although he added that the gelding had been clear winded on that particular day.

The original favourite Star Major was scratched and that left two three-year-olds, the gelding Note To Self and the filly Wish List as the joint favourites.

Note To Self is progressive but is a big rangy type and the question is whether he can quicken quickly enough at the top of the relatively short straight. He did look trimmer at the July Gallops and more mature, but he would still like the pace to be as searching as possible.

Wish List is a dual Gr 1 winner and will have come on from her last start. She is ultra tough and is “flying” at home and can make 59-year-old Andrew Fortune the oldest jockey in history to win the July. She has a great draw of seven and this nuggety daughter of former July winner Legislate should be staying on strongly.

Gladatorian is capable of a strong finish and significantly has drawn eight this year as opposed to 16 last year when not disgraced in a five length seventh. Last year there were no females in the race and he carried joint topweight of 60kg with the bottom weighted male older horse being on 54kg, and the bottom-weighted three-year-old male being on 53kg, while this year he carries second topweight of 61,5kg, so gets half-a-kilogram from the topweight and he has to give the bottom weights 9,5kg, so it could be argued he has a tougher task, but on the other hand the field doesn’t look as strong as it was last year.

Native Ruler has had a perfect preparation and struck as a classy customer when winning his last start over 2400m. He ran a fine race from a wide draw in last year’s race and jumps from draw ten this year under Keagan de Melo. He is merit rated only two points higher this year, so is a contender.

Mocha Blend has come in with a perfect preparation. She has run on in eye-catching fashion over shorter in her last two starts and this distance is her game. She should have come into her own too, so is a big runner, although her draw of 13 is tricky.

Zeitz looks to be on the up and is the choice of many a pundit. He has a nice galloping weight of 53kg. Draw 12 is tricky and an indication of the stamina doubt he has is that the blinkers have been removed.

King Pelles has a good turn of foot and is effective over this trip. He has had a fine preparation and carrying 59kg is not out of it. His draw of 17 will be viewed as tough by some but in the July wide draws have been doing well in recent times.

Minogue stole a march in the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 field and nearly held on. This is tougher and she will not be able to dictate on her own terms here and she also has a tough draw over a trip she has not been over before. However, she put up one of the most eye-catching July gallops, striding out powerfully.

The Ultimate King has been scratched.

Isivivane is drawn in pole and jumps well and is strong, so should be able to hold his position. He has a chance on the form of his WSB 1900 win and on pedigree he should relish this step up in trip.

Hazy Dazy went close to landing the Triple Tiara, but her run in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville is off putting as she was beaten 11,40 lengths and has a tougher task with the three-year-old males who beat her as she does not get a gender allowance here.

Aladdin’s Lamp is on the up and caught the eye with his Jubilee win and also put in one of the most eye-catching July gallops. He carries only 53kg and is in with a chance of giving the De Kock yard a sixth July victory, although he will have to do it from the widest draw of all.

Viva’s Liberte tends to take a bit of a hold which blunts his finish, but if getting covered up and relaxing he could earn from draw nine. The yard are confident of a big run and he is probably the most backed horse in the field since the final field announcement.

Olivia’s Way should enjoy the trip but as one who often runs on too late it will be tough from draw 15.

I Salute You is weighted to reverse form with Zeitz and put in an eye-catching official gallop. However, it won’t be easy from draw 14.

Choisaanada comes in as first reserve and will give Rachel Venniker, who became the first woman to ever ride in the July, the opportunity to be the first to win it. He has some good Highveld form and stretched out superbly in his official July gallop. He travels for the first time and is high in the weights which will make it tough.

The Gr 1 SA Derby winner Curious Girl has an ultra-tough task at the weights, but comes off a good run over 2400m. She is still maturing and would likely prefer further.

The selections Wish List to beat Gladatorian with Native Ruler and Mocha Blend next best and Isivivane and Aladdin’s Lamp could take the 5^th and 6^th places respectively.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 TAB Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m is the headliner at Turffontein Standside on Sunday and the exciting prospect Errol Flynn could make another step towards a likely Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup long-term target.

The Master Of My Fate gelding bounced back from his Gr 1 SA Classic flop, for which he had genuine excuses, with two impressive victories over 1600m in which he put daylight between himself and the opposition. He now has another chance to prove he stays this trip. He should get stamina from his sire and although his dam was by sprinter What A Winter the latter can throw some stamina and in this case the mare’s two wins were over 1400m and 1600m respectively. He has a fair draw of five in the eight horse field and Keagan de Melo is up.

Copper Eagle ran a fine second in the Gr 3 Jubilee over 1800m and if the winner Aladdin’s Lamp does well in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, then it will enhance his chances here, although he has a tricky draw of six.

Chronicle King has some class and should stay the trip, so has a shout from draw four under Gavin Lerena.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Spirit Of Gabz is the form choice, but has a wide draw. The dangers could be Dear Doc and Snowblade, who are both well drawn.

In the fifth race over 1160m the one to beat in an uninspiring race could be Campo Formio, who wasn’t disgraced on debut behind a fair sort. WhatsdamatterwithU has been well beaten in all his starts but has faced quality opposition and has not been totally disgraced. Pole Position is a first-timer by Gimmethegreenlight out a Var mare who has produced  a couple of horses rated higher than a 100, so he could be a threat from a nice high draw.

In the sixth race over 1800m Hawkbill will enjoy the trip and is the selection in a wide open event with just six runners. Putting the whole field in the Pick 6 might be the way to go.

In the eighth race over 1160m the in-form pair Taxi To The Moon and African Pride could fight it out, with preference for the latter because he is on the up, while Taxi To Moon is likely using it as a preparation race for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

In the ninth over 1400m Master Christmas is well drawn in three and should make a bold bid over a suitable trip. The fillies Kensal Green and Warning Sound, if she takes her place after running on Thursday, could be the chief dangers.

In the third race over 1400m Within Reach is the form choice. Impressive won in taking style over this trip last time and although officially having a hard task at the weights with Within Reach on their last meeting she looks to be on the up.

In the second race over 2400m Enflame has tremendous Highveld staying form and can carry topweight to victory from pole position under Gavin Lerena.

In the first over 1160m Irish Wilma can go close if able to reproduce her penultimate start.

In the tenth over 1600m the progressive War Reporter can continue on his winning ways from a plum draw.