David Thiselton

Stuart Ferrie’s future plans for Gladatorian when he won the Gr 2 Post Merchants at the Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting two years ago would never have included the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but things have changed as much for the Vercingetorix gelding as they have for Hollywoodbets Greyville itself, remembering that his Post Merchants win was the last race on that day before the lights went out. 

There will be no chance of the lights going out this year with the magnificent rejuvenation Hollywoodbets have made to the racecourse, including state of the art LED lighting which can be turned on and off with the flick of  switch, and Gladatorian won’t need them anyway because the sun will still be out when he makes his bid for Hollywoodbets Durban July glory at 16H00.

Stuart said about the five-year-old’s well-being, “All is good, there have been no hiccups, everything has gone to plan.”

At the official Hollywoobets Durban July gallops Gladatorian flew home over the last 600m having been cantered under Sean Veale from the 1400m mark.

Stuart said, “He’s done his work now, that’s why he did a relatively hard piece of graft ten days out. He’d done nothing since the Gold Challenge, so he needed a piece of work down the straight.”

 He said about his draw of 16 out of 18, “Well a bad draw is a bad draw, but with the way he runs, it’s not a train smash. He’s never going to be in the first two anyway. We just need a bit of luck and being out there is probably better than drawing one or two.”

There is a stamina doubt with Gladatorian only due to his speed, but on pedigree there should not be a problem.

His sire Vercingetorix is by stamina influence Silvano and Vercingetorix himself won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 as well as the Gr 1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m at Meydan, plus a Gr 2 over that same trip at Meydan, and he finished second in the Gr 1 Dubai Duty Free over 1800 and third in the Gr 1 QEII Cup at Sha Tin over 2000m.

Gladatorian’s dam Harvard Crimson is by stamina influence Dynasty, who won the July, and she herself won a Listed race over 2000m.

Stuart has had experience in preparing July runners having been with Dennis Drier for many years in which time they prepared Beach Beauty and Lady In Black, who were both by Dynasty, to finish ninth and eleventh respectively without the race panning out well on either occasion. The yard also looked after the Stan Elley-trained Puntas Arenas when he finished second in 2015.

 Gladatorian is a solid 16/1 shot with the sponsor and is quietly fancied by a number of pundits.

He has a magnificent turn of foot and his late surge is particularly impactful, so if he does stay every inch of the 2200m he could get up late rather than just failing to do so as when a flying 0,35 length third in the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m last time out.

Stuart also has a chance of winning the Gr 2 Post Merchants again, this time with the Hollywood Racing-owned I Am Giant.

He said about the big five-year-old Querari gelding, “He needed that last run. He should be competitive, it looks very open, but some of the ones that ran in the Golden Horse Sprint have gone up in the weights.”

I am Giant is rated 116, which puts him at the top of the 112 to 116 merit rated band, which gives him a significant advantage. 

Sean Veale also rides him and he has a fair draw of seven out of 14.

Stuart also runs She’s A Machine (New Predator) in the first race over 1200m on the poly and Chelsea Flower (Flower Alley) in the 12th and last race over 1400m on the poly and Muzi Yeni and 4kg claimer Damyan Pillay ride from draw nine and two respectively.

He said She’s A Machine would be ridden a bit more positively this time and he felt she would “run well.”

He said Chelsea Flower had come down the merit ratings recently  and with a 4kg claimer up taking off a further few kilograms he felt she would also run well.

David Thiselton

Last season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July runner up Cousin Casey has been retired to stud.

He will be the first champion son of the boom sire Vercingetorix to stand at stud and that is fitting, because he helped put the remarkable sire well and truly on the map.

Vercingetorix had one Gr 1 winner in each of his first two crops and five in his third and it was Cousin Casey who stood tall for him as the only Gr 1 winner in his fourth crop.

Vercingetorix had begun establishing himself as probably a better sire than his legendary father Silvano, because he could not only produce top horses over classic distances, but it was also evident that his progeny had speed and precocity.

Cousin Casey was a sensational two-year-old who confirmed the above point.

After winning his maiden over 1400m third time out at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, he famously won three feature races on the trot at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m, the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m an the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. He beat Royal Victory by 0,90 lengths and 2,10 lengths respectively in the last two of those wins, displaying a magnificent turn of foot, and the latter went on to become a twice Gr 1 winner.

He started off his three-year-old career by winning the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup over 1600m, but unfortunately his career coincided with the great Charles Dickens otherwise he would no doubt have won more races.

Charles Dickens is closely related to the Glen Kotzen-trained 2009 Durban July winner Big City Life, so not surprisingly Kotzen picked him out and trained him for his fist two seasons.

After he had moved to Sean Tarry on the Highveld Cousin Casey continued to excel and this culminated in three Gr 1 runner up finishes in succession last season in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m, the Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200, where his magnificent turn of foot carried him within 0,25 lengths of victory, and the HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m.

 Vercingetorix claimed the Hollywoodbets Durban July exacta with Oriental Charm and Cousin Casey last year and has four of his sons in the line up this year.

Sean Tarry said about Cousin Casey, “Cousin Casey is a brilliant specimen, well conformed, especially considering he is a Vercingetorix. He has an impressive depth of girth, and great hind quarter, perfectly balanced…. almost creating the illusion that he is compact despite his 16.2 hands. He was always resplendent in an exceptional coat, relished his work, and over term, his form can never be questioned. Last season in KZN, he was a revelation in distances from 1400 to 2200m. A versatile champion who will be an asset to our stud book.”

RACE 1

3 BELLA BOOP BOOP 2 PARIS FUN 1 CYBER SPIRIT 5 MADAME POMPADOUR

Preview: 3 BELLA BOOP BOOP  carries a nice galloping weight over an ideal trip. 2 PARIS FUN also has a good galloping weight and from draw 2 she can build on her last run when finishing close up to a promising short. 1 CYBER SPIRIT has some fair form but tries a step up in trip she is not sure to get. 5 MADAME POMPADOUR could earn her if producing her best under top work rider Sam Mosiah. (David Thiselton 3-2-1-5)

RACE 2     

1 FOLLOW THE MASTER 3 HEROIC ACT 2 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE 6 ALAKANANI

Preview: 1 FOLLOW THE MASTER  ran well last time when stepped up to 2,000 meters and should enjoy this further step up in trip. 3 HEROIC ACT has run well twice over 2000m  in his last three runs and should enjoy this further step up in trip. 2 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE had shown some fair form over staying trips but needs to bounce back. 6 ALAKANANI has finished close up over this trip before. (David Thiselton 1-3-2-6)

RACE 3     

5 TRIP TO STATES 4 MISS TAKES 3 ROYALE JACKET 1 AFTERBURN

Preview: 5 TRIP TO STATES ran a decent race last time over 1,200 m and has very much inform0 Gavin Lerena up over a trip which he should enjoy. 4 MISS TAKES  has some good form in the context of this race and should also be in the shake-up. 3 ROYALE JACKET also has the form to go close here. 1 AFTERBURN could earn her if reproducing his penultimate start. (David Thiselton 5-4-3-1)

RACE 4     

1 CURTISS CONDOR 4 ETHICAL 2 FLIGHTLIGHT 3 GIFT OF ROYAL

Preview: 1 CURTISS CONDOR has been a little bit costly to follow but with Lerena up over an interesting step up in trip he might get it right this time.4 ETHICAL has the form to be involved if able to overcome a tricky draw. 2 FLIGHTLIGHT is drawn well and should relish this trip on pedigree. 3 GIFT OF ROYAL can earn you if repeating his last start. (David Thiselton 1,4,2,3)

RACE 5     

1 DOUGLAS DRAGON 2 BANHA BRIDGE 7 TEO TORRIATTE 8 CHABAL

Preview: 1 DOUGLAS DRAGON has been knocking on the door and gets another good opportunity over a suitable distance. 2 BANHA BRIDGE is an honest sort who can be involved if overcoming a wide draw. 7 TEO TORRIATTE also has a wide draw but the step up to a trip he has won over before should suit. 8 CHABAL  ran well over 2,000 meters in his penultimate start and he might enjoy the step up and trip here. (David Thiselton 1-2-7-8)

RACE 6     

10 ORIENTAL BOUQUET 2 GLOBAL THUNDER 1 THE NAVY LARK 3 TWENTYTWENTYVISION

Preview: 10 ORIENTAL BOUQUET was at one stage thought to be top class so has been disappointing overall but she has found her place off a lowly merit rating and should go close in this race. 2 GLOBAL THUNDER should be right there if able to repeat her last start. 1 THE NAVY LARK can never be ignored over this minimum trip as a horse with plenty of pace. 3 TWENTYTWENTYVISION can be in the shake-up if repeating his last start. (David Thiselton 10-2-1-3)

RACE 7     

6 ICHACHA 5 ENFLAME 3 LAST CAR TO PASS 2 BEYNAC

Preview: 6 ICHACHA disappointed first time out of the maidens in a feature but back in this company should be involved. 

5 ENFLAME won well on the Maidens and starts off in a reasonable 79 merit rating. 3 LAST CAR TO PASS is knocking on the door and should be right there.  2 BEYNAC ran well last time over 1,800 meters and could also earn over this trip. (David Thiselton 6-5-3-2)

RACE 8     

5 PALACE PRINCE 1 SAIL THE SKY 4 AFTER HOURS 6 SNEAK PREVIEW

Preview: 5 PALACE PRINCE  won well in the Maidens and could follow up off a reasonable merit rating. 1 SAIL THE SKY could earn her if bouncing back to his best. 4 AFTER HOURS is an honest sort who could be involved in the finish. 6 SNEAK PREVIEW could be in the money if producing her best. (David Thiselton 5-1-4-6)

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chepstow and Thirsk (UK) – 2 July 2025.

David Thiselton

Crawford Racing will be out to achieve a treble in the Holywoodbets Durban July on Saturday. although James Crawford will officially become the youngest trainer at age 25 to win the big race since David Payne won it with In Full Flight at the age of 24 in 1972.

James is bullish about defending champion Oriental Charm and said, “He is doing very well, I could not be happier with him.”

He said about the Vercingetorix colt’s pole position draw, “He’s typically had to do a little bit more than the rest of the competition around him because of not having the best of draws. With his gate-speed and how he likes to dictate on his terms from the front of the field, I think the draw is absolutely perfect for him.”

He said about the defending champions’s form this season, “If you have to take him based on his last run (when a neck second in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m) that run was a prep. It was a race that he was fit enough to win, but he was always going to be a better horse after the race. I expected him to run well, but the manner in which he ran surprised everyone, including myself. His prep couldn’t have gone any better. His work at home has been awesome. I can’t fault him.”

The most significant aspect of is form this season is he has improved from a handicapper into a genuine weight for age horse.

In last season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July he only had to carry 53kg and was 5kg better off with weight for age than the topweight See It Again, who would have got closer than a 1,80 length fifth had he not been hampered late.

However, this season Oriental Charm won the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty, he finished a half-a-length second to Eight On Eighteen in the Gr 1 weight for age WSB Met, and he finished a neck second in the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King. He beat See It Again in both of those weight for age starts. 

Oriental Charm faces Met winner Eight On Eighteen on 1kg terms worse than weight for age on Saturday, so will have a tough task reversing form, but on the other hand the right-handed Hollywoodbets Greyville track suits him better than the left-handed Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, because he tends to hang to the right.

He hung right in the Met and that took him all the way to the outside rail. On Saturday, he will have the advantage of the inside rail the whole way around from pole position, so should make a bold bid of becoming the first since Do It Again in 2019 to carry topweight of 60kg to victory.

He is one of three joint topweights together with See It Again and Gladatorian. 

James said about the lightly raced six-year-old gelding Pomodoro’s Jet.

He said, “He’s doing very well, I really do like him. I don’t know if he’s quite good enough to beat Oriental Charm or Eight On Eighteen and I would have preferred him to have run in the Cup Trial going into this kind of race, but in saying that his work and his well-being at home has been really, really good.” 

Pomodoro’s Jet’s white blood cell count was sligtly high before the Cup Trial, not terribly high but high enough for James to not take a chance and run him.

He said about Pomodoro’s Jet’s stamina capacity, “Personally I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. He ran fifth in the consolation race last year by 3,50 lengths and for me he is twice the horse this year than he was last year.”

Pomodoro’s Jet has drawn eight and James said, “There’s a lot of speed around this year and there’s a lot of horses carrying bottom weight, so I’m sure there’s going to be quite a bit of a tussle to get into a good position and I think draw eight coupled with his good gatepeed will keep him away from the argy-bargy.”

James runs dual Gr 1 winner Fatal Flaw and Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas winner Mon Petit C in th Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes.

He said Fatal Flaw had not been herself when beaten 5,55 lengths in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes.

He added, “Her work was really good and everything else, but we’ve done a little bit of research and she wasn’t quite 100%, there was something amiss with her after her WSB Cape Fillies Guineas win. I think she’s a massive runner on Saturday. She had a more challenging prep into the Gr 1  Empress Club (which she won), because I had to re-acclimatise her and take a little bit of time with her after the Cape season. She did come right that final week going into the Empress Club, but she wasn’t by my standards and what I know about her at tip-top fitnes. I think her class carried her through. This time around she has had an absolutely great prep, so I think she’s a real force to be reckoned with in the Garden Province.”

He said about her draw of ten, “Obviously, a better draw would have been nice, but she’s got a lot of gate speed and I think she’ll be leading on her terms quite comfortably.”

He said about Mon Petit Cherie, “She is also flying at home. I had her fit enough to win the WSB Filllies Guineas, but she was always going to be a better horse after the race an she’s comfortably improved five to six lengths from that last run.”

He also pointed to a recent line through Spumante Dolce which puts Mon Petit Cherie much closer to Fatal Flaw than she was in the Cape Fillies Guineas, where she was beaten 6,65 lengths.

James is bullish about Otto Luyken and Count Huhtikuu in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200.

He said Otto Luyken loved short run-ins and thinks if he could get within striking distance he will go close despite carrying topweight. He has always liked Count Huhtikuu and believes he is on the up and a big improver, so has a chance despite officially being under sufferance.