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.

RACE 1

A very open race. INDESTRUCTABLE was improving before a poor performance on the Polytrack. He can bounce back to score if the meeting stays on the grass. The same could also be said of HERE COMES JOHNNY. He returned from a break and was a disappointment on the Polytrack last time out. He was consistent before that on the turf. GREEN POINT has been a disappointment also on the Polytrack after threatening to win a race on the grass. ROYAL DAWN makes a local debut and could be a threat. MAGNUS THE GOOD, ALESIAN BEAU, TIPSY and AMERICAN GEM are all capable of making the frame.

RACE 2

A very weak race and anything is possible. EXPLOSIVE GIFT was very unlucky not to win his penultimate start. He was a bitter disappointment last time but could bounce back to score. Jockey Richard Fourie nearly got a victory out of battling maiden NIGHT IN JAPAN last week. He is not aboard her this time around but she is a threat once again. TOTAL ERUPTION is unreliable but is also quite capable of scoring at this low level. GUTSY BABY is improving and tries further so should be a danger. LYRICS AND SONGS and AM STILL WINNING are not reliable but can make the frame.

RACE 3

BLACKBERRY BREEZE seemed to need the last run. He is threatening to win and should make a bold bid at beating these rivals. SLIVER OF SUNSHINE clearly likes the Polytrack and there is always a chance this meeting, like many of late, will been switched to that surface. DISRUPTIVE and FLASH LIGHTNING are capable of better than their last runs would suggest. PYRO EDITION showed improvement last time out and his yard remains in good form. IM THE BUZZ is threatening to score and should contest the finish.

RACE 4

MADE TO MEASURE did a couple of things wrong when unlucky not to win on local debut. He should go one better this time. BURNING DESIRE makes a local debut and could be a lively danger. WALK RIGHT IN is not reliable but has a place chance. FONT is threatening to get out the maiden ranks and must be respected once again. WITCHING HOUR and TAKEMETOTHEMOON are capable of improvement and could make the frame.

RACE 5

A competitive handicap. The two-year-old form of the Eastern Cape will be tested in this as their representative, OBSIDIAN STAR, has some decent form behind Marchland. There are, however, some in-form elders set to take her on. ONCIDIUM has improved of late and arrives for this after an easy win. CHERRY OH BABY is consistent and can earn some more money. BABETTE’S FEAST makes a local debut but would not be a surprise winner. MORFELIHA has done well in the Eastern Cape and is clearly not out of it. VOLARE E MAMBO is not well drawn but can earn some money.

RACE 6

Probably the most open looking race on the card. The better-weighted runners have been out of form lately. MAKE BELIEVE has not been reliable but could win a race of this nature although does give weight away to her rivals. MY DEAR FRIEND has some good recent form and could give jockey Kendall Minnie a very rare winner. MYSTICAL BUTTERFLY has shown improvement on the Polytrack of late and has claims. HOT SAUCE is well weighted for this but has been a disappointment of late. The same can be said of another well weighted runner, ARASHI. IONA CASTLE and NORTH STAR and two others among many more who could score.

RACE 7

An interesting but open-looking race. STARS IN HEAVEN was caught a bit out of his ground last time and could go one better this course and distance. GUY GIBSON is not an easy horse to win with but he is talented and could contest the finish. ROMAN AGENT is clearly better than his last run would suggest and is course and distance suited. JOKER MAN is consistent and does duty for Richard Fourie. BLACK EGRET is hat-trick seeking after some well backed successes. CHAMPONELLE and NELSON BAY are capable of a surprise.

RACE 8

HONORINE’S GIMMIE has shown improvement of late and should make a bold bid at victory. GREEN PLANET fought on gamely for some course and distance success and is the main threat. REAL WAR has some fair recent form and could contest the finish. Stable companion TRAVEL MASTER has not won for some time now but Richard Fourie could do it for him. BOSNAY and FREE WORLD are in good shape and could earn some money.

Please Note that Fairview Scheduled for Friday 3 July 2026 Turf meeting has been moved to the Polytrack following inconsistent penetrometer Reading between 35 and 40. Distances remain the same.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Nottingham (UK) – 2 July 2026.