Rugby8 Win Margin, Friday 16 May 2025 C/Over R60 247, Pool Closes at 19h00

Soccer10, Friday 16 May 2025 ADD-IN R 150 000, Pool Closes at 20h00, Sport 15 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million

Soccer6, Saturday 17 May 2025, ADD-IN R 75 000, Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 4 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R450 000

Soccer10, Saturday 17 May 2025 ADD-IN R 150 000, Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 16 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 1.7Million

Soccer ANY13Xtra, Saturday 17 May 2025, C/Over R200 000, Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 13 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool :R 500 000

Soccer 13, Saturday 17 May 2025, Pool Closes at 15h30, Sport 10 and Pool 1 One Winner GUARANTEED JACKPOT ALL 13 CORRECT JACKPOT POOL: R18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner)

Soccer4, Sunday 18 May 2025, ADD-IN R 25 000, Pool Closes at 20:45, Sport 19 and Pool 2, Estimated Pool: R100 000.

Eight On Eighteen has earned top spot on the Hollywoodbets Durban July Log as published by the Racing Operator earlier today. There were eleven scratchings at the time of first declarations on Monday 12 May, including Grade 1 winner Fire Attack and Gold Bracelet (Gr 2) winner Red Palace – both due to setbacks in training – while Musical Score and WSB East Cape Derby winner, My Best Shot, were supplemented on Tuesday, 13 May by their respective trainers Lucky Houdalakis and Alan Greeff.

The panel comprising Justin Vermaak, Raf Sheik, Graeme Hawkins and senior handicapper, Lennon Maharaj, have positioned My Best Shot on the fringes of the top twenty, which reflects exactly what the final field would look like if the Hollywoodbets Durban July was run today.

The Log will be updated on 10 June, following the second declaration stage on Monday, 9 June. By then, the Daily News 2000 (Gr 1); Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Gr 1); the Woolavington 2000 (Gr 2) and Cup Trial (Gr 3) will have been run, the outcomes of which could impact the status of HDJ contenders.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July will be run on Saturday 5 July.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and York (UK) – 14 May 2025

David Thiselton

Two impressive winners over the weekend, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Musical Score and the Alan Greeff-trained My Best Shot, have been supplemented for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. 

Three-year-old gelding Musical Score beat some useful older horses over 1400m at Turffontein Standside in a  Pinnacle Stakes event on Sunday and will attempt to qualify for the July in the traditional Highveld pointer, the Jubilee Stakes over 1800m. He is by Oratorio and Lucky described progeny of this sire, based on his experience with the like of Viva Brazil and War Legend, as “chilled” horses who stay well. Furthermore Musical Score’s Captain Al dam Esteemal won up to 1800m and is a half-sister to Elusive Silva (Silvano), who won the Gr 2 Greyville 1900, the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m, the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m and he finished third in the July. 

Lucky said, “You can go up the divisions and if he comes out and wins the Jubilee comfortably and we think it’s a good enough performance then we can go (for the July). But if we’re not sure we don’t go. I don’t want to be a field maker.”

Musical Score was ironically bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, who have just announced the closure of their thoroughbred breeding operation.

He was bought for R450,000 at the Cape Racing Sales Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2023 and quickly proved to be a worthwhile purchase for Laurence Wernars as he won by 3,25 lengths over 1200m on debut in the first month of this season.

He has gone on to win four times from 1200m to 1600m in nine starts and was raised four points to 112 by the handicappers for Sunday’s win.

Houdalakis also has the promising Wild Intent involved in the July. The twice winner from 1200m to 1700m has finished narrow seconds in his last two starts in the Listed Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m and the Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m, so has relished the step up in trip and will have no stamina doubts. That is not surprising as this Gimmethegreenlight gelding is out of the Australian-bred Dylan Thomas mare Wild Ash, whose four wins included a Listed win over 2450m and two other wins over 2450m and 2600m respectively.

Lucky said, “He is a nice horse and is improving and we will run him in the Cup Trial and see how he fares and then make a decision about the July. If he can’t win that he won’t qualify.”

Meanwhile, Lucky revealed that Royal Force had suffered epistaxis from both nostrils on Sunday which explained his poor run. That was very disappointing for Lucky who said, “There is not much between Royal Force, Musical Score and Wild Intent and once Musical Score had beaten that field on Sunday I said ‘how far is Royal Force going to win by?'” He is one to watch when coming back from his epistaxis suspension. 

Meanwhile, Dyce is on the injury list and will not run again this season, but Lucky believed he would make a comeback later on.

He has retired Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner None Other after she refused to jump last time out. She has returned to the farm she was born and bred at, Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

Lucky also reserved special mention for his “soldier” Bob’s Your Uncle, a now six-time winner who has won his last two starts. 

He said, “If things go his way he is hard to get past because he doesn’t give up.”  

The Alan Greeff-trained three-year-old Fire Away gelding My Best Shot has been ultra impressive, albeit in the lesser centre of the East Cape. He is the first horse to ever land the East Cape Triple Crown, which consists of three sophomore races over 1400m, 1600m and 2400m. In the Listed East Cape Derby on Friday he showed he will stay the July trip and he displayed his usual exhilarating turn of foot when coming from last to win by 5,25 lengths under regular pilot Richard Fourie.

My Best Shot and Musical Score have both entered the July market at 40/1 with World Sports Betting, while Wild Intent is a 25/1 chance. 

Andrew Harrison

The revamped Hollywoodbets Greyville poly track received favourable reviews after the first meeting on the surface with runners able to lead or come from behind with little kick-back which was a bugbear on the older surface.

But punters face a trappy card when racing resumes on the poly today which could see some healthy dividends given the right play.

Star In Motion looks a bright bet in the card opener with a run under his girth he could prove a little more experienced ahead of Glen Kotzen’s trio seemingly headed by debutante That’ll Be The Day judged on jockey bookings. Doug Campbell’s gelding George’s Magic is the most experienced in the field and has shown some ability. He can improve on his last effort where he took on some promising opposition. 

In the second, Malshana Mou has put in two smart showings over shorter for Tienie Prinsloo. She has drawn well and can go one better although she does face a competitive field. Louis Goosen’s filly Kali Bwana was a beaten weak favourite last run although she has put in two improved efforts. She took on winners last run. Scandalize is a Cape raider who has put in two modest efforts to date but likely to make good improvement over this trip. Alannah has a tricky draw to contend with but has made steady improvement and is tried over the trip. 

Justin Snaith can get the PA off to a winning start when he saddles Noodsberg who was probably in need of her last run after returning from a break. She meets some useful older runners but does look to have more to come. Gary Rich has two competitive runners in English Primrose and Dawn Surprise. Judged on jockey bookings Dawn Surprise could be the pick but English Primrose is back on her favourite surface where she has finished runner-up in her last four outings on the poly. 

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky handicap. Silky Jet takes on males but has useful Highveld form over the trip and should be competitive. King Bavarian has consistent local form and a handy galloping weight. The Alyson Wright stable is in form. Storm Ahead is the only runner for visiting trainer Fanie Bronkhorst and his gelding has improved at his last two and his apprentice rider has been replaced by Calvin Habib. Basie Raakvat has been knocking at the door and stays the trip well and could upset for MJ Odendaal.

Dean Kannemeyer could hold the key with his two runners in the fifth. Dancing On A Cloud ran well below expectations first up after his comfortable maiden win. That was in soft ground and he can make amends or at least put in a better showing. Stable companion Uzwano  was much improved in blinkers last run behind Okavango who is due to run in the Gr2 WSB 1900 on Saturday. Landseer showed up well first run back from a break and can improve back on the poly and his stable companion Faire Advantage returns from a lengthy break but won his last two over course and distance. 

The sixth is a wide open handicap. Fireburst got a hefty five-point rise in the handicap for her last win but she finished well to get her head in front and could possibly follow up. The Mightiest shows some promise and was a good second last time out for which she got a three-point rise in the ratings. Greenhouse was not far back in her first local outing and Kabelo Matsunyane replaces the inexperienced apprentice from a plum draw. 

Blue Holly could prove to be one of the better bets on the card. Glen Kotzen’s filly is smart and although her best recent form has been over a furlong shorter she has a light weight and a handy draw. Rich Folks Hoax was narrowly beaten first up in KZN and is now 0.5kg better off with Quandary who beat her last time out. She does have the better draw but there should again be very little between the two. Icy Blast is never far back and was a narrow winner last start. She boasts some fair form to stronger. 

In the eighth, Cotton Ron has been a soldier for Louis Goosen and has been coming down the ratings. His apprentice rider has been replaced but he is consistent and has a plum draw. There She Goes does not have the best of draws but has been banging on the door on the Highveld. The poly should suit and she looks a big threat. Purple Powahouse is always game and has not been out of the money in his last five starts. He has the widest draw to contend with but expect another honest effort. 

Icy Eleanor can round off the meeting given that she can improve on her last start. She was given a lengthy break after her debut win and was close-up after a break of nearly a year. Diyarani returns from a break and has her first run for Nathan Kotzen. She shed her maiden on the poly and should feature. Prinsloo has two competitive runners in Happy Analia, a narrow winner last start but consistency rewarded, and Rugger Lover who is now 1kg better off with Icy Eleanor for just under a length beating. The draw and some expected improvement from Peter Muscutt’s runner could see the result confirmed.