David Thiselton

Crawford Racing will be out to achieve a treble in the Holywoodbets Durban July on Saturday. although James Crawford will officially become the youngest trainer at age 25 to win the big race since David Payne won it with In Full Flight at the age of 24 in 1972.

James is bullish about defending champion Oriental Charm and said, “He is doing very well, I could not be happier with him.”

He said about the Vercingetorix colt’s pole position draw, “He’s typically had to do a little bit more than the rest of the competition around him because of not having the best of draws. With his gate-speed and how he likes to dictate on his terms from the front of the field, I think the draw is absolutely perfect for him.”

He said about the defending champions’s form this season, “If you have to take him based on his last run (when a neck second in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m) that run was a prep. It was a race that he was fit enough to win, but he was always going to be a better horse after the race. I expected him to run well, but the manner in which he ran surprised everyone, including myself. His prep couldn’t have gone any better. His work at home has been awesome. I can’t fault him.”

The most significant aspect of is form this season is he has improved from a handicapper into a genuine weight for age horse.

In last season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July he only had to carry 53kg and was 5kg better off with weight for age than the topweight See It Again, who would have got closer than a 1,80 length fifth had he not been hampered late.

However, this season Oriental Charm won the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty, he finished a half-a-length second to Eight On Eighteen in the Gr 1 weight for age WSB Met, and he finished a neck second in the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King. He beat See It Again in both of those weight for age starts. 

Oriental Charm faces Met winner Eight On Eighteen on 1kg terms worse than weight for age on Saturday, so will have a tough task reversing form, but on the other hand the right-handed Hollywoodbets Greyville track suits him better than the left-handed Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, because he tends to hang to the right.

He hung right in the Met and that took him all the way to the outside rail. On Saturday, he will have the advantage of the inside rail the whole way around from pole position, so should make a bold bid of becoming the first since Do It Again in 2019 to carry topweight of 60kg to victory.

He is one of three joint topweights together with See It Again and Gladatorian. 

James said about the lightly raced six-year-old gelding Pomodoro’s Jet.

He said, “He’s doing very well, I really do like him. I don’t know if he’s quite good enough to beat Oriental Charm or Eight On Eighteen and I would have preferred him to have run in the Cup Trial going into this kind of race, but in saying that his work and his well-being at home has been really, really good.” 

Pomodoro’s Jet’s white blood cell count was sligtly high before the Cup Trial, not terribly high but high enough for James to not take a chance and run him.

He said about Pomodoro’s Jet’s stamina capacity, “Personally I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. He ran fifth in the consolation race last year by 3,50 lengths and for me he is twice the horse this year than he was last year.”

Pomodoro’s Jet has drawn eight and James said, “There’s a lot of speed around this year and there’s a lot of horses carrying bottom weight, so I’m sure there’s going to be quite a bit of a tussle to get into a good position and I think draw eight coupled with his good gatepeed will keep him away from the argy-bargy.”

James runs dual Gr 1 winner Fatal Flaw and Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas winner Mon Petit C in th Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes.

He said Fatal Flaw had not been herself when beaten 5,55 lengths in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes.

He added, “Her work was really good and everything else, but we’ve done a little bit of research and she wasn’t quite 100%, there was something amiss with her after her WSB Cape Fillies Guineas win. I think she’s a massive runner on Saturday. She had a more challenging prep into the Gr 1  Empress Club (which she won), because I had to re-acclimatise her and take a little bit of time with her after the Cape season. She did come right that final week going into the Empress Club, but she wasn’t by my standards and what I know about her at tip-top fitnes. I think her class carried her through. This time around she has had an absolutely great prep, so I think she’s a real force to be reckoned with in the Garden Province.”

He said about her draw of ten, “Obviously, a better draw would have been nice, but she’s got a lot of gate speed and I think she’ll be leading on her terms quite comfortably.”

He said about Mon Petit Cherie, “She is also flying at home. I had her fit enough to win the WSB Filllies Guineas, but she was always going to be a better horse after the race an she’s comfortably improved five to six lengths from that last run.”

He also pointed to a recent line through Spumante Dolce which puts Mon Petit Cherie much closer to Fatal Flaw than she was in the Cape Fillies Guineas, where she was beaten 6,65 lengths.

James is bullish about Otto Luyken and Count Huhtikuu in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200.

He said Otto Luyken loved short run-ins and thinks if he could get within striking distance he will go close despite carrying topweight. He has always liked Count Huhtikuu and believes he is on the up and a big improver, so has a chance despite officially being under sufferance.

RACE 1

(3) GOLDEN GREY has been holding consistent form and will have a big chance in this line up however has had many chances. (4) FIZZLY BUBBLY is never far back and with the claimer up he will have a big say. (8) GENTEEL ran a cracker in the last start and must be respected. (1) BOMBER BAY is capable of making it into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-4-8-1)

RACE 2

(3) LAUGH TILL I CRY has been consistent and should go close based on that, she has a much better draw this time and is sure to run well. (1) MIDNIGHT MUSIC has scope to improve, she has run well on poly and will be a big challenger here. (4) JUST FOR U has been placing at big odds and will be in the firing line again however does have a tough draw. (6) WINTER’S DRAGON is never far back and can place, include in quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-1-4-6)

RACE 3

(5) NOTORIX ran a cracker in the last start hence he will be the firm first choice. (7) RAVILIOUS is never far back, he is capable of winning this and must be respected here. (3) WORDSWORTH is another who is racing well and is expected to go close for the in form yard of Cliffie Miller. (2) THING CALLED LOVE is capable of much better and can get a lot closer. (Devonne Govender 5-7-3-2).

RACE 4

(2) SMASHING won easily in the last start and be a massive contender here despite the tough draw. (5) SWEET JULIA was narrowly beaten in the last start and another big run is expected. (12) PITON DE NEIGE is holding solid form and must be respected here. (9) JET SET RUN has scope to go well and can be included into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-5-12-9).

RACE 5

(2) GREEN OKRA has never been far back and can win this on best form however has had many chances. (7) OPERA VERSE has run well on the poly and on best form is capable of winning this. (3) BROOKSIDER could represent some value here and must go into all bets, he has decent draw and shouldn’t be far if reproducing some of the earlier good runs on poly. (9) STAR TROOPER doesn’t have the best form on paper and is unreliable however he does have scope to improve and can be included into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-7-3-9)

RACE 6

(9) BRETTY won a gutsy race in the last start, she goes well on this track and another big run is expected. (10) COLORAMA is holding consistent form and will be a big challenger to the top selection. (5) COURAGEOUS has been holding form and will be in the firing line again. (1) ALADO’S HABIT won a good race when cracking her maiden, she has scope to go well and cannot be ignored here. (Devonne Govender 9-10-5-1)

RACE 7

(7) GUARDING THE WALL goes extremely well on the poly, his recent form is solid and a huge run is expected. (13) KING RAHUL is holding consistent form and gets the claimer up which brings him right into this contest. (1) A BIT CHILLY ran extremely well in the last start and will be in the firing line. (2) KING’S SAILOR placed at huge odds and could make the frame again if repeating that performance. (Devonne Govender 7-13-1-2)

RACE 8

(1) WALKONTHEWILDSIDE is holding solid form and will take some beating here. (8) THREE CHEERS was a gutsy winner in the last start and will be there again however takes on stronger now. (7) LADY ZULTANITE has been consistent and another decent run is expected however she will have to lift to beat the top selection. (9) DARLING HARBOUR is another who is never far back and can get involved again. (Devonne Govender 1-8-7-9)

David Thiselton

Gavin Lerena and Richard Fourie, who are two of the three protagonists in the thrilling chase for the national jockeys title, cut contrasting figures towards the end of Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting as the former spoke confidently about his Hollywoodbets Durban July rides, while the latter confirmed he was “feeling terrible” after being booked off his last few rides.

Lerena’s one winner on Sunday followed a five-timer on Saturday and with Fourie and Zackey also each having one winner on Sunday the situation is now Lerena on 243 wins achieved at a strike rate of 25.26%, Fourie on 239 at 25.16% and Zackey on 236 at 17.57%.

Lerena said about the championship race and whether he would travel to all centres, including the East Cape, from now onward, “It’s not easy to get rides. Durban hasn’t been very kind to me the last couple of weeks either, but we’ll ride wherever we can. it’s still a long month to go, but I’m just enjoying the racing and enjoying the competitiveness of it and may the best man win.”

Lerena has some fine rides on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

in the big one he rides the Frank Robinson-trained Madison Valley.

Gavin said, “His gallop was very good. He’s sound, he feels very well and he’s very fit, so I am looking forward to riding him with 54kg”

The Clifton Stud-bred Mambo In Seattle gelding has some good formlines as his Betway Summer Cup run puts him ahead of Royal Victory, See It Again and Atticus Finch at the weights in the July.

However, Gavin was asked whether he felt the Hollywoodbets Greyville 2200m was too tight for the rangy Madison Valley and whether the straight was too short and he replied, “Not really, I mean he’s won most of his races at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He’s got the stamina, he ran very well in the Gold Cup last year and  obviously he’s coming off a win in the Cup Trial (1800m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville. It’s always nice to be coming off a win..

In the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, his mount Rascova meets her arch rival Double Grand Slam with the tally currently at Double Grand Slam seven and Rascova five.

Gavin first of all revealed that despite Rascova having only had the one run since joining the Sean Tarry yard after her win in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes on WSB Met day, she had never  been out of work. She will therefore be fit enough.

He said, “It was a good run last time at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m). It got a bit tight that last 100m, so she didn’t really round her race off. But she’s doing nicely. It’s a competitive field. It’s always her and Double Grand Slam and now you’ve got the three-year-olds coming through. So, it’s going to be an exciting race.

In the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper, he rides the Tarry-trained Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery and Gr 3 TAB Protea Stakes winner Green Diamond, albeit from a tricky draw of ten in the 1400m contest.

He said, “Not the greatest of draws, but a very good filly. She’s an exciting ride for the day. I think she will enjoy the step up in trip, it’s all about getting her in a good rhythm and she’s got a great finish on her.” 

In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m he rides the Gr 2 Corne Spies-trained filly Elegantrix, who was runner up in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m last time to the unbeaten Direct Hit, and he said, “She’s well drawn and beat the boys in her penultimate start (in the Gr 3 TAB Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m. It was a great run last time just in behind Direct Hit. The boys are getting bigger and stronger, but she’s very game and I think she’ll enjoy the 1400m.”

In the Gr 3 Post Merchants over 1200m, Gavin rides the Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody from draw nine and he said, “He’s jumping from an awkward gate. His last two wins were down the straight, but I think he’s a much better horse around the turn, so I think he’s going to be a big runner.”

In the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase he rides the crack Frank Robinson-trained stayer Shoot The Rapids, who has to carry joint topweight of 60kg from draw five.

He said, “it’s never easy to carry 60kg over those type of trips, but he’s always stayed well and obviously he was up alongside Madison Valley in the Gallops, so I’m hoping it all goes well.”

In the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 he rides the Tarry-trained Litigation and he said, “it was a great fourth last time in the Cup Trial (1800m). He has a lot of weight to shoulder, but in saying that it was a very good last run from him and he’s come on from that run. The only thing that doesn’t really suit is there’s a lot of speed in the race and he almost wants to dictate, so we’re going to have to play the race by ear and hope it works out for him.”

In the Listed Premier Gateway International Handicap over 1600m, Gavin rides the Justin Snaith-trained Underworld from pole position and he said, “I think he is a big runner over the mile, he’s probably better suited to the mile. The only thing is it’s a handicap and he’s got to give away quite a bit of weight.”

Please note that betting is now OPEN for the Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford and Musselburgh (UK) – 01 July 2025.