The 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July wave is building for the traditional vibrant, spectacular celebration of fashion and action at the continent’s premier horseracing event on Saturday, July 6.

While the trainers, owners and jockeys are plotting and planning to ensure the top horses are in peak condition for the R5 million, 2 200m test of equine excellence, the country’s top  designers are making sure their creations reflect this year’s theme and wow the audience at South Africa’s premier annual showpiece of style.

On the track, Champions Season is well under way with the first meetings of “July Season” giving clues as to who will be the horses to watch at the Hollywoodbets Durban July, when the top-class field fight for the most prestigious title in South African racing.

The “Ride the Wave” theme was launched in late March and immediately provided fashion houses, designers, young creatives and the hospitality service providers with an opportunity to let their imagination run wild and explore the infinite possibilities flowing from the concept.

As always, the release of the theme started an immediate buzz in the fashion design community and the fashion programme, that is an integral element of Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, sprang into life.

The six stellar South African designers who will headline the fashion element at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Invited Designer Showcase presented by Durban Fashion Fair have been announced and have already produced some wonderful creations.

As the professionals are looking seaward for inspiration, the future stars are also preparing for the chance to make a name for themselves inside and outside the industry in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair. After a gruelling judging programme, the top 10 students from fashion design colleges and technikons across KwaZulu-Natal will be shortlisted. These elite young creators will be given the opportunity of a lifetime when they get to showcase their “Ride the Wave” designs alongside the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars and the invited designers.

This will take place at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience Preview Gala. The Top 10 Young Designers will then get to display their creations on raceday for the more than 50 000 adoring fans at the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The vibrant pre-race day fashion shows provide ample opportunity for the industry leaders to show off their ideas, allowing for the fashionistas and socialites to be inspired to build their own creations – ensuring that when the big day comes around, Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse will be a vibrant wave of colour and creativity.

Gold Circle confirmed earlier this month that racecourse entrance tickets at R230 are available through Ticketpro’s website (www.ticketpros.co.za) or select SPAR Payzone Kiosks nationwide. Tickets will also be sold from June 24 at the sales kiosk in Avondale Road at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on weekdays and race days in the weeks leading up to race day. Entrance tickets will be on sale on race day, but it is best to get your tickets before race day to avoid the queues at the entrances. On-site parking is also on offer at R170 per vehicle.

With the pandemic restrictions now a fading memory, the excitement and fervour of the racegoers grew in 2022 and 2023, and the hospitality suites are once again proving as popular as ever and look set to grow even more in 2024. The various marquee and suite hospitality areas in the infield Marquee Village and in the Grandstand provide plenty of entertainment for the socialites, and are perfect venues to socialize while taking in the on-course action.

Early indications are that this year’s event will continue the growth seen over the past couple of years and the variety and range of hospitality packages, at varying prices, are available for what once again promises to be arguably the country’s most memorable social and horseracing event.

Don’t miss the wave as it builds to a crescendo of colour, action and entertainment on July 6.

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Race 1

(2) Blueberry Blue (4) Extraction (11) Queen Of Jazz (12) Thread Of Life (6) First Wish

Open race. (2) Blueberry Blue has been making good progress and looks ready to run a cracker. 

(4) Extraction has been consistent in KZN and will make a bold bid for top honours so must be respected. (11) Queen Of Jazz has been racing well and is another with a winning chance. (12) Thread Of Life has scope to go well, she has never been far back and rates a winning chance. (6) First Wish must be respected as she comes from a yard who generally have them ready. Keep an eye for any market support. ( Devonne Govender 2-4-11-12-6) 

Race 2 

(6) Sundrop (7) Dumisani (2) Seaside Trip (3) Arabian Red (1) Havre De Grace

(6) Sundrop has been knocking on the door and could just crack that maiden win here with the claimer up. (7) Dumisani has been fancied in recent starts and seems to be holding form well so respect. (2) Seaside Trip has made progress since racing in the province and can go well. (3) Arabian Red cannot be ignored with Richard Fourie aboard so has to be thrown in despite the fact that the form doesn’t really jump out at you. (3) Havre De Grace is capable of much better and can feature here. ( Devonne Govender 6-7-2-3-1)

Race 3 

(8) Dawn Cloud (10) Master Of Defense (2) Petteia (3) Specmagic

(8) Dawn Cloudran extremely well in the last start and a bold showing can be expected. (10) Master Of Defense is capable of much better so must be included. (2) Petteia has been receiving market support so cannot be ignored. (3) Specmagic is never far back and can win this contest. ( Devonne Govender 8-10-2-3)

Race 4 

(6) Masked Vigilante (9) Single File (8) Guerra (14) Scampton

(6) Masked Vigilante was an easy winner in the last start and can make is back-to-back wins. (9) Single File is holding smart form and is a massive contender here. (8) Guerra has been extremely consistent and will make the frame. (14) Scampton was impressive in the last start and must be included in all bets. ( Devonne Govender 6-9-8-14-2-1-12)

Race 5 

(8) Puerto Plata (1) Painite (2) Magical Midlands (4) Then In Focus

(8) Puerto Plata is holding form and looks to have a massive winning chance. (1) Painite is highly rated by the yard and must be respected. (2) Magical Midlands was game in the last start and can deliver once again. (4) Then In Focus is very capable and cannot be ignored. ( Devonne Govender 8-1-2-4)

Race 6 

(1) Official Secret (7) Woman’s World (8) Public Benefit (9) Gideon’s Daughter

(1) Official Secret is very capable on her day and will have a massive winning chance as she is reunited with Richard Fourie. (7) Woman’s World ran a top race in the last start and must be respected. (8) Public Benefit is holding form well and will be right there. (9) Gideon’s Daughter has a big finish and can fly late. ( Devonne Govender 1-7-8-9)

Race 7 

(8) Splicethemainbrace (1) Happy Holly (3) Can’T Say No (7) Be Merry

(8) Splicethemainbrace looks to be a very smart horse and will take some beating. (1) Happy Holly has been holding excellent form and will be right there as she always is. (3) Can’T Say No is racing very well and can make the placings. (7) Be Merry is a maiden taking on some decent horses and will have to be very good to make her presence felt. ( Devonne Govender 8-1-3-7) 

Race 8 

(6) My Best Shot (3) Destiny’s Angel (8) Wind Sock (2) Gunsmoke

(6) My Best Shot is holding form and will be the firm first selection. (3) Destiny’s Angel is never far back and can get much closer. (8) Wind Sock is knocking on the door and will win soon. (2) Gunsmoke is very capable here so respect. ( Devonne Govender 6-3-7-2)

Race 9 

(7) Symbol Of Love (10) Captain Tik Tok (9) Great Melody (3) On The Road Again

(7) Symbol Of Love is very capable on her day but can be unreliable. (10) Captain Tik Tok is holding consistent form and will be right there. (9) Great Melody ran extremely well in the last start and must be included. (3) On The Road Again has the Richard Fourie factor and must go in. ( Devonne Govender 7-10-9-3)

David Thiselton

The Justin Snaith-trained WSB Met winner Double Superlative might well be making an audacious attempt to become only the eighth horse in history to have won both the Met and the July.

It was generally believed the five-year-old Twice Over entire had been retired to stud but his owner, Durban-based businessman and prolifically successful racehorse owner Nick Jonsson, has revealed otherwise.

Jonsson said, “We were thinking of sending him to stud and there wasn’t really enough support to get me excited about it. So, he is sound and he had a bit of a break after the Met and Justin put him back in training and we thought, ‘Let’s have a go.’ He is a fantastic horse. He is only lightly raced, he’s only had 13 starts and is a five-year-old, nearly six. He is enjoying his racing too and is in a good space.”

Double Superlative is entered in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, but is likely to avoid it in favour of running in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on June 15.

Jonsson said, “He is ready for the Gold Challenge, but we’re not sure we’re going to run him there. We’ve entered him just in case we change our minds. We’ve entered him in a Pinnacle for the 15th, which we think is a better race for him, and then he’ll run in the July.”

Jonathan Snaith, who plays a big role in Snaith Racing’s success, said, “Double Superlative is particularly well. He loves his training and his racing and is such a happy horse right now. Depending on his performance and fitness level, the connections will make a decision either on the Hollywoodbets Durban July or the Champions Cup.”

Jonsson confirmed this outlook by saying, “He is in a good space but of course he hasn’t run since the Met, he’s got to have a warm up, let’s see how he goes.”

However, he is clearly keen to run him in the big one to the extent he has even contacted his Met rider Daniel Muscutt to take the ride. The response from the latter was positive.

Jonsson continued, “He is obviously well weighted in the July. He will get 4kg from See It Again and as things stand he will only be giving Green With Envy half-a-kilogram. So he’s in a good place in the weights if he runs, but that’s our plan, to run him in the July.” 

Jonsson concluded, “We will supplement when we want to, their is no big rush. I think he is obviously a big runner at that weight if he runs, and at this stage we plan to run him, and I have got Daniel Muscutt to ride him. He’s going to come out and ride him and let’s see if we can do the double.”

The seven horses to date to have won both the Met and the July have been Hussein in the 1920s, Yataghan and Politician in the 1970s, London News in the 1990s, Pocket Power in the first decade of the millennium, Igugu in the second decade of this millenium and Kommetdieding this decade.

Jonsson will be out to win his third July and have his second individual July winner.

His first July winner was the dual July-winning legend Do It Again, who is by the unfashionable sire Twice Over.

Having failed narrowly to win the big race last year with Twice Over colt See It Again, Jonsson will soon have six July entries this year, See It Again, Double Superlative, Mucho Dinero, Triple Time, Without Question and Hluhluwe.  

Amazingly the first four of those mentioned above are all by Twice Over. Nick Jonsson is obviously not among the many who have snubbed Twice Over. 

See It Again and Double Superlative will both have massive chances and Mucho Dinero could also be a sneaker if bouncing back to his best.