There was a collective sigh of relief around the gathered crowd in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring when the name of Eight On Eighteen was read out by Graeme Hawkins as being among the 18 runners for the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Trainer Justin Snaith was always cagey about whether his star colt would take his place in the line-up given that he would carry top weight for a three-year-old of 57kg the highest since Abashiri lumped 59kg into 13th place behind The Conglomerate in 2016.
But Snaith and owners Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert have taken the plunge and Eight On Eighteen will make history should he win and become the first three-year-old in history to win the Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met and the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in the same year
Eight On Eighteen is also likely to start one of the shortest priced favourites in the 129-year history of the race and his chances were further enhanced when he was drawn 11 in the 18-horse field.
James Crawford has two runners in the race, last year’s winner Oriental Charm who drew pole position and Pomodoro’s Jet who drew 8. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father’s string with Brett now plying his trade in Hong Kong.
See It Again races in the same Nick Jonsson silks as Eight On Eighteen and has his third attempt after finishing second to Winchester Mansion two years back and an unlucky fifth last year behind Oriental Charm. He pulled a wide draw of 15.
Stuart Ferrie sends out his first July runner in the hard-knocking Gladatorian. A fast-finishing third behind Dave The King and Oriental Charm in the Gold Challenge, he pulled a wide gate of 16.
Dean Kannemeyer knows what it takes to train a July winner, successful with Dynasty, Eyeofthetiger and Power King and The Real Prince drew gate 5.
Royal Victory will have his supporters but Nathan Kotzen’s charge drew deep at 17. However, he is a winner of the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr1 Champion Challenge at Turffontein and finished third in the July last year behind Oriental Charm.
Fabian Habib has his first July runner in Confederate. Relatively lightly raced the gelding has won four of his nine starts but has never finishing further back than second. He won the Gr1 SA Classic beating subsequent Gr1 Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack and will be ridden by two-time South African and current New Zealand champion jockey Warren Kennedy who has made the trip to ride in the race. He drew gate 14.
Mike de Kock has a stellar record in this race and has joined forces with his son Mathew. They have their first July runner together in the three-year-old and recent Gr3 Jubilee Stakes winner Immediate Edge. He carries bottom weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg and has won four of his six starts to date. He drew alongside Eight On Eighteen in gate 10.
Snaith has two other runners in the race, namely Okavango and the one-time winner Native Ruler. Okavango will be ridden by Andrew Fortune and drew 13 while Tristan Godden will have to navigate Native Ruler from gate 18.
Alec Laird and jockey Calvin Habib pin their hopes on Gr1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch who drew favourably in 4.
Andre Nel was first up to do the draw for Selukwe and came out with gate 6. Serino Moodley will be doing the honours on Selukwe.
Alan Greef will fly the colours for the Eastern Cape with his star performer My Best Shot who has a midfield draw of 9.
Local owner Sid Moodley has his first July runner in Madison Valley and he drew gate 2 for his trainer Frank Robinson.
Rainbow Lorikeet is the only filly in the race and Candice Bass Robinson’s runner drew well in 7 and will have Deigo de Gouveia aboard.
Race Coast
