Please Note that Race 7 & 8 at Fairview has been abandoned due to bad weather conditions

RACE 1

(3) TAG AND RELEASE ran on well in his last start and looks sure to be in the firing line this time, big chance. (7) REDFORD made a decent debut and will be much sharper now after that experience, major contender. (1) RABDAN wasn’t beaten far behind Red Spice in his last start and isn’t a horse to ignore. (10) HAVOC is likely to improve after that decent enough debut run and is one to keep an eye on, he can get much closer. Watch the market for any support on unraced runners. (Devonne Govender 3-7-1-10)

RACE 2

This contest has some well-bred unraced runners hence it may pay to watch the market for any support.(4) ENTICEMENT has run well in both starts to date and should go very close here. (11) NOBODY’S PERFECT is likely to improve after a decent enough debut and needs to be respected. (12) POLAR EXPEDITION gets Richard Fourie aboard which speaks volumes. She was wasn’t beaten far on debut and with natural improvement to come she will need to be taken seriously. (6) WORLD OF SECRETS is another who is likely to improve after finishing 5 lengths behind the winner on debut, with the eye catching jockey booking of Keagan De Melo she needs to be included in all bets. (Devonne Govender 4-11-12-6)

RACE 3

(7) HEDRIVESMECRAZY ran a cracker in the last start and will be a huge contender here. (4) SICILY is holding consistent form and needs serious consideration, he will be right there. (6) MRS SHACKLETON is capable of getting into the placings. (2) RACHETTU is capable of better compared to the last start, he now drops to the 1000m trip should be in the mix. (Devonne Govender 7-4-6-2)

RACE 4

(1) FUTURE RED has been consistent and will be the firm first selection with Richard Fourie up, she does drop to the 1200m trip this time and a bold showing is expected. (5) BLUE LAGOON is knocking on the door and will be the main danger to the top selection. (7) BEFORE SUNRISE is making progress with every start and needs respect. (2) LUCY’S WORLD is making steady progress and will appreciate the extra 200 this time, don’t ignore. (Devonne Govender 1-5-7-2)

RACE 5

(3) WINTER PEARL is holding solid form overall, he showed plenty of determination when winning his last start and looks hard to beat. (7) JET A ONE was narrowly beaten by the top selection in his last start and should be right there once again. (4) FORT RED is a game 8 year old, he ran a cracker when finishing third in his last start and a repeat of that will see him finishing in the money once again. (6) BONNE BOUCHE is a very honest type and another good run can be expected with Damyan Pillay aboard. (Devonne Govender 3-7-4-6)

RACE 6

(5) LARK’S SONG ran well in her last start, she looks progressive and Andrew Fortune gets on extremely well with the daughter of Querari hence she is the top selection. (9) RED STATE is holding solid form and another decent run is expected. (2) BACKINTHEFASTLANE hasn’t been far in recent starts and can get much closer. (13) ELEGANT NOBLE is very capable on his day and certainly cannot be ignored despite the fact he drops in trip this time. (Devonne Govender 5-9-2-13)

RACE 7

(6) LYRICAL GANGSTER is holding solid form and will be the firm first choice, he ran a cracker in his last start and will go very close. (3) WINTER PIRATE has shown ability from day one, he won his maiden impressively and looks to have plenty more to come, based on that he could trounce this field. (4) TROIS SEPT HUIT won a gutsy race when exiting the maiden ranks and can go into larger perms. (2) PALACE GIFT gets well with Damyan Pillay and should be included into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 6-3-4-2)

RACE 8

(4) AMAYAH goes for three wins on the bounce and could certainly pull it off. She has a decent enough draw and another good run is expected. (6) GIRL MAGIC is another who is holding solid form and will attempt to reel off the hat-trick, she gets Andrew Fortune in the saddle hence she will be a strong contender. (9) APRICITY has a tough draw to deal with but ran well in her last start hence she can’t be ignored. (2) APRIL FOOLS’ DAY is horse that caught the eye when winning her maiden, she gets a good draw this time and it will be no surprise to see her run a cracker. (Devonne Govender 4-6-9-2)

RACE 9

(5) CHARLIE BUCKET came from a long way back when finishing second in the last start and should be a massive contender here from a good draw. (1) LOVE FROM AFAR ran well in his last start, from a top draw he will have to be included. (10) MERCENARY is holding form but does return after a slight break, he may run well fresh. (3) FERRYMAN was disappointing in his last start, he has scope to go well so cannot be ignored. (Devonne Govender 5-1-10-3)

Alistair Cohen

Nothing gets the pulses flowing more than opening a card and expecting exotic bets to pay handsomely. Largely good-sized fields on a standalone Saturday and a few puzzles to solve invariably means that some lucky punters could be in for a day to remember. All of those factors mesh at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today.

One horse who catches the eye is Spirit Of Levana in race 8 over 1500m. She could start at a reasonable price. A once Grade 1 raced two-year-old, she totally lost her way, perhaps due to the fact that the handicapper might have gripped her from settling at her level or perhaps she simply did not train on. After a long time of patience and a rating drop of 26 points, life seems to be back on her side. Trainer Glen Kotzen has brought her towards winning form.

She won her penultimate run which came at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. She quickened from last and she easily accounted for Noon Day Gun by 0,75 lengths in a course which was running fast. Her last run came over 1800m and that is probably the end of her range. She was never a threat.

In November Spirit Of Levana ran 4,9 lengths behind Regulation who is towards the top of the boards for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. That run alone must bring her into the equation. The biggest kicker is that she is ridden by Bavish Soodoo who rode her to victory when she saluted in her penultimate effort. He clearly got a tune out of her and the quiet, balanced ride seemed to have worked wonders. His 2,5kg claim has her carry only 53kg.

My Only Weakness hails from the in-form yard of Adam Marcus. Her form suggests that she is ready to win having produced a fourth, third and second in her last three efforts. She jumps out of draw No 1 which will help her cause to no end. The best version of this filly would make her the horse to beat. Calvin Habib is carded to take the ride. He has been doing most of the Marcus duty lately.

Girl Magic is certainly no pushover and she seeks a hat-trick of wins after looking rather moderate at the start of her career. She seems to be going from strength-to-strength and interestingly, Andrew Fortune takes the ride. He has a good knack with a few in this race including the useful Hunga Tonga who must have claims. One needs to respect the decision of Fortune to step aboard Girl Magic. Perhaps the handicapper has not reached her yet.

There are three evident chances in race 1 over 1200m and it will take a serious first timer to win. Tag And Release has demonstrated a superb turn of foot in his two starts to date and he could be ready to step up and exit the maidens. He was all at sea on debut but he still found a late flourish to finish second before he found some impressive youngsters in his second start when he finished fourth behind Kalahari King. Tag And Release has run his races in a pleasing manner finding his feet late after initial signs of greenness. Corne Orffer rides for Greg Ennion.

Enticement should blistering pace on debut when she finished second behind Grapes Of Wrath before a flat run at her second attempt when she crossed the line in third. It seems like she has found the right event in race 2 over 1000m. As opposed to a race earlier, she could be vulnerable to a debutante but she brings the best form to the equation.

It is so refreshing that apprentice races are more common around the country. The first of three comes in race 3 over 1000m. Sicily must have a huge winning chance. He does not bring formlines that make headlines having run nicely in some weak races but this is perhaps weaker than who he has run against. Breven Plaatjies is back in Cape Town after a few months in the wilderness and he has found himself with a good book of rides. He steps aboard for Lucinda Woodruff.

There are four evident chances in race 4 over 1200m. In order of preference, Lucy’s World, Blue Lagoon, Future Red and Scandalize make a good impression and they all have the numbers to suggest a win is around the corner. Lucy’s World might just have a slight amount more improvement to come. She is a two-year-old so disclaimers apply about whether she is physically ready to take on her elders who have claims but she has made a good impression in her two runs to date.

The second apprentice race is not strong. Bonne Bouche is given the narrow verdict in race 5 over 1200m. Her last start showed a pleasing second behind True Horizon over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Young Damyan Pillay seems to have a knack around the tracks in Cape Town and he is carded to ride. Crucially, he rode her last time and familiarity can make such a difference in apprentice races.

A chance is taken on Elegant Noble in race 6 over 1800m. If he was drawn better than gate No 13, he would be a banker but his task is made complicated. He has Richard Fourie aboard which helps his cause. Trainer James Crawford has done wonders with this horse. Not long ago, his career seemed in tatters but a near two-year break has given a win and plenty of pleasing performances. In late January, he finished fourth, 4,55 lengths behind Note To Self over 2000m. Note To Self is hyped as a Hollywoodbets Durban July contender.

Winter Pirate is a two-year-old with some promise. He runs in the final apprentice event, race 7 over 1000m and he gets Blaine Marx-Jacobson in the irons. If he can turn over these older horses, he has a very bright future. He accounted for Tag And Release last time over this course and distance. If Tag And Release wins earlier, it will enhance any confidence in Winter Pirate.

There are a good few chances in race 9 over 1400m. If Charlie Bucket settles in running, he could get an overdue reward for consistency. He has been his own worst enemy but so have some of his rivals. Ferryman could have won on debut if he was wiser. His second run was flat. Mercenary has found traffic problems more often than not otherwise he would be running away from maiden opposition. A lovely race to end.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and Newbury (UK) – 17 April 2026.

David Thiselton

 

The Hollywoodbets Durban July first entries are on Monday the 20th of April and “July Fever” will begin building from the first entries announcement on Wednesday April 22 until the big race on July 4.

 

One of the annual questions is whether any July records will be broken.

 

Andrew Fortune could become the oldest jockey to ever win the race, with the oldest to date probably being Piere Strydom who was 50 years old when winning on the Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate in 2016.

 

The record for the youngest jockey can never be broken.

 

Frank McGrath was just 12 years old when winning the July in 1922 on the J Gard-owned and trained Collet.

 

Allan “Snowy” Reid was both the last apprentice and last teenager to ride a July winner when successful on the Fred Rickaby-trained Naval Escort in 1969.

 

Both records could potentially be equalled by leading apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto.

 

Blaine Marx-Jacobson’s current momentum makes him the favourite for the apprentice title, but only one of the records is available to him as he is already 20 years old.

 

The record for the youngest trainer cannot be broken this year as David Payne was just 24 years old when sending out the great In Full Flight to win the July in 1972.

 

Payne to this day regards In Full Flight as the best he has ever trained and a coincidence is that he lives in New South Wales in Australia, because In Full Flight’s sire was called New South Wales.

 

Payne also became the youngest to ever both ride and train a July winner, having ridden the Brian Cherry-trained Chimboraa to victory in 1968.

 

He joined Syd Garrett, who rode Goldwing and Pamphlet to victory in 1919 and 1920 respectively, before training all of Full Dress (1930), Sadri II (1941) and Left Wing (1960) to win the great race.

 

Bert Abercrombie later joined that elite club as winning rider on the Ralph Rixon-trained Jamaican Music in 1976 before training Bush Telegraph to win the race in 1987.

 

Current trainers in South Africa who have won a July as a rider include Garth Puller, Michael Roberts and Robbie Hill.

 

The record for most wins as a rider can’t be challenged this year.

 

Anton Marcus is the only one to have had five July wins and the trio on four wins are no longer riding i.e. Piere Strydom, Anthony Delpech and the late Harold “Tiger” Wright.

 

Richard Fourie could join that trio as he has had three wins.

 

The record for most wins as a trainer, held by Hall Of Fame trainer Syd Laird, cannot be caught this year either.

 

Justin Snaith and Mike de Kock have both had five July wins and can join the late great Terrance Millard on six wins, although De Kock has a joint-operation these days with son Mathew.

 

Dean Kannemeyer will be going for a fifth July win and his charge The Real Prince will be out to become the seventh dual winner and sixth back-to-back winner.

 

Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables owned The Real Prince and will be going for a third victory as an owner, which is well short of the record of six July wins as an owner held by Bridget Oppenheimer, three of them in partnership with her husband Harry.

 

The Oppenheimer winners as owners were Tiger Fish (1959), King Willow (1965), Principal Boy (1975), Spanish Galliard (part-owned 1992), Greys Inn (2004), Hunting Tower (2008).

 

Of those winners the Oppenheimers bred all of them except for Spanish Galliard.

 

Harry and Bridget’s daughter Mary Slack bred the 2003 winner Dynasty and owned the 2022 winner Sparkling Water, which she bred in partnership with her daughter Jessica Jell. Jessica Jell bred the 2017 winner Marinaresco.

 

So that is a total of nine July winners for the Oppenheimer family either as owners-and-breeders or as owners or breeders.

 

Mary and Jessica can add to that record this year operating under the banner of Wilgerbosdrift Stud and Mauritzfontein Stud respectively.

 

The most prolific July-winning extended family is the Laird family.

 

Alec Laird, still training today, belongs to this July-winning dynasty. He has won it once himself as a trainer with London News (1996); his grandfather, also called Alec Laird, won it once as a jockey in 1911 on Nobleman; his great-uncle Syd Garrett won it twice as a jockey and three times as a trainer as mentioned earlier in this article and he also owned all three of the winners he trained; Alec’s Hall of Fame father Syd Laird won the big race a record seven times as a trainer with (Kerason (1961), Colorado King (1963), Java Head (1966), Sea Cottage (1967), Mazarin (1971), Yataghan (1973) and Politician (1978)); Alec’s cousins Dennis Drier and Charles Laird won it once apiece as trainers with Spanish Galliard (1992) and Hunting Tower (2007) respectively. That is 16 July wins for the family dynasty in total and 18 if Dennis Drier’s father-in-law trainer John Breval is included (King Willow (1965), Principal Boy (1975)).

 

Alec could add to the dynasty’s success this year as the trainer of the like of Gr 1 winners Fire Attack and Atticus Finch.

 

The Real Prince won last year after a 62 day layoff, the longest layoff for a winning horse since Sun Tor was off for 161 days before winning the July in 1934.

 

The record in this respect is likely held by the 1929 winner Gifted as this import from England only got off the boat on January 20 and the July was his first run in the country.

 

See It Again will be having his third run in the July this year, well short of his half-brother Do It Again’s record six appearances which included two wins, one third and three fourths. Do It Again was the best performed horse at the weights in his first four Julys, second best performed in his fifth appearance and the best-performed in his final appearance. He is undoubtedly the greatest July horse in history.