David Thiselton

A Middle Stakes race over 1600m and a MR100 handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m are the two highlights of the Turffontein Standside meeting today.

In the Middle Stakes event Bacchus should appreciate the step back down in trip to 1600m having finished 2,5 lengths behind the useful Claw last time over this trip. He has subsequently come down to a merit rating of 98 and under the conditions of this race he is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. S’Manga Khumalo is in good form and gets the ride. Command Pilot has come down to a reasonable merit rating of 93 and he was beaten 4.4 lengths by Claw when they last met, so there should not be much between him and Bacchus, considering he has a better draw than he had when facing Claw. Presley is a capable sort who is distance suited. He beat Command Pilot last time by 0.3 lengths, but is now half-a-kilogram worse off. He  has a wide draw to overcome. Willow Express can never be ignored over this trip and he is one of the many joint best weighted runners. He has a fair draw and a featherweight of 52kg. Jury’s Out is drawn in pole in his second run after a three-and-a-half month layoff and he will be a big runner with Gavin Lerena up if he is at his best.

In the MR100 Handicap over 1160m Miss Argonaut looks to be a promising sort and can make it three wins from five starts for an in form combination of Mike and Mathew de Kock and Callan Murray. Flight Of A Condor looks to be useful and is on the way up and she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight, although the low draw could be a slight concern. Blizzard Snow in fine form and has an effective 2kg claimer up as Savannah Valjalo  carries 2kg overweight. One Fell Swoop has been a touch disappointing, but has run some good races recently and with Lerena up can be in the shake up. Komati River has run behind some useful sorts recently and can’t be discounted. Famous Lady can also be in the shake up if finding her best form. Stars and Bra’s could be thereabouts if bouncing back.

In the first leg of the P6, Monkey Puzzle had some useful form in Cape Town and could be a contender if bouncing back from his poor last two runs.

Amandla Ngawethu has shown some signs of ability and could be a runner here. Best candidate is a half brother to three-time winner Symphony of Light. Echoes of War is by Rafeef out of an unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare who is a half-sister to a Gr 3-placed horse by Jet Master. Lannyboy made a fair debut and could earn here. 

In the fifth race Golden Aspen has a chance if able to repeat his last start. Blindfire won quite well in the maidens and in this line-up could do well off an 80 merit rating. Oriental Bouquet has come down to a competitive mark, but she has become unreliable. Global Thunder has the form to be a contender. Valieva will be a big runner if able to overcome a possibly unfavourable low draw.

In the sixth race Dual Prophecy is a half brother to See It Again and has always looked promising, so after a good last run he might now be ready to put his best foot forward. Molotov Cocktail won second time out and being by Danon Platina out of Nother Russia, who was top class from 1600m up to this 2000m trip, he is an interesting runner. Flag Bearer was caught wide last time out under an apprentice and can make amends from pole position under Calvin Habib. Volte Face could be in the shake up if reproducing his last start. Storm Ahead could also be a contender here if bouncing back to his best over a more suitable trip.

In the last race Prime Venture has some useful Cape Town form and should be effective over this trip off a probably supressed merit rating, considering the superior class of horse in Cape Town. Birthright has plenty of ability and should be right there from a plum draw. The Playboy Bomber is on the up and has the form to be a contender, but does have to overcome a tricky draw. King of Numbers has the form to be involved, but has to prove he stays this trip. Bloomington is drawn in pole and is always difficult to ignore.

In the first leg of the PA Heavenly Good is by Heavenly Blue and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Player. Comic Artist is by Master of My Fate and is a half-sister to four-time winner Tobacconist. Babette’s Feast is a half-sister to the Listed winner Secret Identity. Those three first-timers could be the ones to side with because there is not much form to go on here. Iconic Winter made a good debut, but was then off for a year and will need to improve on her comeback effort. Cyber Spirit has shown some signs of ability. 

In the first race and first leg of the Bipot Matcha Mint has been knocking on the door and from a good draw should be right there. Stampede Ahead made a fair debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, although she was due to run on Thursday. Daisy Jones ran well last time and should be in the shake up. Rejuvenate has some good form and should also be thereabouts. Scarlett Heart has some fair form and with Piere Strydom up should be a runner too.

RACE 1     

2 MATCHA MINT 6 STAMPEDE AHEAD 1 DAISY JONES 3 REJUVENATE

Preview: 2 MATCHA MINT has been knocking on the door and from a good draw should be right there. 6 STAMPEDE AHEAD made a fair debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, although she was due to run on Thursday. 1 DAISY JONES ran well last time and should be in the shake-up. 3 REJUVENATE has some good form and should also be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 2-6-1-3)

RACE 2     

7 HEAVENLY GOOD 4 COMIC ARTIST 3 BABETTE’S FEAST 2 ICONIC WINTER

Preview: 7 HEAVENLY GOOD is by Heavenly Blue and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Player. 4 COMIC ARTIST is by Master Of My Fate and is a half-sister to four-time winner Tobacconist. 3 BABETTE’S FEAST is a half-sister to the listed winner Secret Identity. 2 ICONIC WINTER made a good debut but was then off for a year and will need to improve on her comeback effort. (David Thiselton 7-4-3-2)

RACE 3     

2 MONKEY PUZZLE 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU 3 BEST CANDIDATE 5 ECHOES OF WAR

Preview: 2 MONKEY PUZZLE had some useful form in Cape Town and if able to put his last two runs behind him he is a candidate in this uninspiring field. 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU has shown some signs of ability and could be a runner here. 3 BEST CANDIDATE is a half-brother to three-time winner Symphony of Light. 5 ECHOES OF WAR is by Rafeef out of an unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare who is a half-sister to a Gr 3-placed Jet Master mare. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-5)

RACE 4     

2 MISS ARGONAUT 7 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR 6 BLIZZARD SNOW 1 ONE FELL SWOOP

Preview: 2 MISS ARGONAUT looks to be useful and can make it three wins from five starts. 7 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR also looks to be a useful sort and can continue to progress. 6 BLIZZARD SNOW is in fine form and has an effective 2kg claimer up as Savanna Valjalo carries 2kg overweight.  1 ONE FELL SWOOP has been a touch disappointing but has run some good races recently and with Lerena up can be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 2-7-6-1) 

RACE 5     

7 GOLDEN ASPEN 8 BLINDFIRE 11 ORIENTAL BOUQUET 6 GLOBAL THUNDER

Preview: 7 GOLDEN ASPEN went close last time and can win with a repeat. 8 BLINDFIRE won quite well in the maidens and in this line up could do well off an 80 merit rating. 11 ORIENTAL BOUQUET has come down to a competitive mark. 6 GLOBAL THUNDER has the form to be a contender. (David Thiselton 7-8-11-6)

RACE 6     

3 DUAL PROPHECY 1 MOLOTOV COCKTAIL 5 FLAG BEARER 4 VOLTE FACE

Preview: 3 DUAL PROPHECY is a half-brother to See It Again and is coming to hand so should do well over a suitable trip. 1 MOLOTOV COCKTAIL won well second time out and being by Danon Platina out of Nother Russia, who won the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m twice and went close in the Gr 1 Champions Challenge over 2000m, he could stay this trip under Gavin Lerena. 5 FLAG BEARER was caught wide last time out with an apprentice up and can make amends from pole position under Calvin Habib. 4 VOLTE FACE could be in the shake up if reproducing his last start. (David Thiselton 3-1-5-4)

RACE 7     

2 BACCHUS 5 COMMAND PILOT 7 PRESLEY 10 WILLOW EXPRESS

Preview: 2 BACCHUS has some class and could bounce back over the trip of his last win off a reduced merit rating. 5 COMMAND PILOT has ability and has come down to a reasonable merit rating. 7 PRESLEY should be running on and has a chance. 10 WILLOW EXPRESS can never be ignored over this suitable trip. (David Thiselton 2-5-7-10)

RACE 8     

12 PRIME VENTURE 3 BIRTHRIGHT 7 THE PLAYBOY BOMBER 5 KING OF NUMBERS

Preview: 12 PRIME VENTURE has some useful Cape Town and should be effective over this trip off a probably compressed merit rating considering the superior class of horse in Cape Town. 3 BIRTHRIGHT has plenty of ability and should be right there from a plum draw. 7 THE PLAYBOY BOMBER is on the up and has the form to be a contender but does have to overcome a tricky draw. 5 KING OF NUMBERS has the form to be involved but has to prove he stays this trip. (David Thiselton 12-3-7-5)

Soccer6 Saturday 12 July 2025. ADD-IN R75 000. Pool Closes at 21h00.Sport 5 Pool 2. Estimated Pool: R400 000.

Soccer13 Saturday 12 July 2025. Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1. R18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner).

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 12 July 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1. Estimated Pool: R 250 000.

Soccer4 Sunday 13 July 2025. ADD-IN R25 000. Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 19 and Pool 2. Estimated Pool: R100 000.

Soccer13 Sunday 13 July 2025. Carryover R1 609 224. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 11 Pool 1. R4 Million (All-13-Correct Pool).

Durban, South Africa – The countdown has begun! The 129th edition of Africa’s premier horse racing and social spectacular, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ), is set to take place on Saturday, 5th July 2025, at the iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. As the most anticipated fixture on South Africa’s racing calendar, the event seamlessly blends world-class horse racing with high fashion, entertainment, and a memorable social experience.

Staying true to the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi,” this year’s racing extravaganza promises an iconic line-up of South African talent, featuring a diverse array of artists set to captivate all attendees throughout the day. The national anthem will be beautifully performed by one of the country’s leading songstresses – look out for the reveal in May. With these performances, the thousands of attendees expected at Hollywoodbets Greyville will have a memorable experience. Stay tuned for the full artist line-up. All ticket holders can look forward to a day filled with live entertainment that will be talked about for years to come, as this year’s HDJ celebrates Mzansi’s vibrant spirit. 

Tickets for this outstanding event are now officially on sale via Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.za). Priced at R230 for general admission, your ticket grants access to a day of thrilling racing action, live entertainment, fashion showcases, gourmet food experiences, and an array of engaging activations from event partners. For added convenience, onsite parking is available for R170 per vehicle.

For those seeking an elevated experience, the VIP hospitality packages provide exclusive access to luxurious enclosures, premium viewing areas, and top-tier catering. These options can be explored on the official event website (www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za). Please note that VIP hospitality packages do not include general admission tickets, which must be purchased separately via Ticketpro.

This year’s theme, “Marvels Of Mzansi”, was unveiled in late February, marking the official commencement of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience, presented by Durban Fashion Fair. The fashion programme includes the much-anticipated HDJ Young Designer Award, showcasing the best up-and-coming talents from KwaZulu-Natal. The winners will share the spotlight with the HDJ Invited Designers and DFF Rising Stars at the HDJ Fashion Preview Gala, set to take place at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in late June.

Racing enthusiasts can also look forward to the announcement of the first official entrants on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. With last year’s champion, Oriental Charm, emerging as the early ante-post favourite, excitement is already building. 

Secure your tickets today and experience Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July!