David Thiselton

Mickaelle Michel would never have believed in her wildest dreams when landing in South Africa last December that she would be aboard the favourite for South Africa’s greatest race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, just seven months later. However, she will have to defy 43 years of history even if ignoring the fact that she would become the first female jockey to ever win the big race.

Mark Sutherland was the last jockey to ride the winner of the July in his first ride in the great race and that happened in 1983 on the filly Tecla Bluff, who was the first of the great trainer Terrance Millard’s six July winners.

The previous jockey to achieve the feat was Leslie Mustard, who won on the Des Rich-trained Lightning Shot in 1977 in his first July ride.

Before Mustard one would have to go as far back as 1959 to find another case.

1959 was a historic year, because the Oppenheimer family had the first of their nine July wins either as owners, breeders, or both, as their homebred four-year-old Tiger Fish made amends for his short-head defeat the previous year, He was ridden to a convincing 2,25 length victory by Bennie Little in the latter’s first ever July ride.

Bennie was the grandfather of current jockey Chad Little.

Whilst the Oppenheimer family have a fine chance this year of making it a tenth July victory with their Frank Robinson-trained homebred filly Mocha Blend, an opportunity for history to repeat itself was missed when Holding Thumbs did not make it into the final field earlier this week as this Glen Kotzen-trained Vercingetorix gelding was bred by the Oppenheimer family and Chad Little was due to ride him.

It would have been Chad’s second career July ride, his first having been 21 years ago on Tyson who finished 11^th in the 2005 July.

Mickaelle will become only the second woman to have ridden in the iconic race.

Rachel Venniker made history when riding in the Hollywoodbets Durban July in 2024.

She might get a second ride in the big race this year as she is booked to ride the first reserve runner Choisaanada, an Erico Verdonese-trained horse who was somewhat controversially left out of the top 18 having been a top 18 incumbent on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

It was in fact the second time a Verdonese-trained horse who had been set to be ridden by Venniker was eliminated at the last minute as the Verdonese-trained Jimmy Don was 18th on the final log in 2023, but did not make the cut.

Rachel had been set to make her July debut in 2022, but suffered a concussion and whiplash injury after a freak starting-gate accident just five days before the big race.

When she did finally have a July ride two years ago it was aboard the outsider Hluhluwe, a three-year-old 40-1 chance trained by Justin Snaith,

and she finished a 5,35 length eleventh.

Venniker and Verdonese will be hoping there is a scratching before 08H15 on Friday July 3.

The July is not an easy race to ride in, so experience would be an advantage, but a professional of Mickaelle Michel’s standing would go in with plenty of meticulous homework and preparation having been done. July replays, for example, would be a valuable tool for a first-time rider in the race and there are plenty of current jockeys and ex-jockeys who would be willing to offer advice.

There will be many hoping the popular French jockey can make history in about ten days time on the fourth of July.

David Thiselton

Peter Muscutt spoke about the draws of one and fourteen for his two Hollywoodbets Durban July runners, Isivivane and I Salute You respectively, at Summerveld yesterday morning. He also gave feedback on his Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe runner St. Harry.

Isivivane jumped well from draw two last time out in the Gr 3 WSB 1900. Sean Veale managed to settle him in the box seat behind the pacemaker Trust. From there he ran on well down the inside to win the race by 0,60 lengths from Regulation.

Peter said about his pole position July draw, “It is probably a very good draw for him. It can be a bit of an awkward barrier if they miss the break or don’t manage to hold their position early, but he’s pretty sharp out of the gates. We would have to be positive on him and he should get a very cosy run in transit from that barrier.”

Isivivane is by Erupt (Dubawi), who won two Gr 1s over 2400m. He is out of a mare by Casey Tibbs, a Sadler’s Wells stallion who won two Listed races over 2000m. Furthermore, Isivivane’s dam Rodeo Sioux’s three wins included two over 2600m, one of them a Non-Black Type feature.

Peter said, “I have no doubt that 2200m is well within his compass.”

In I Salute You’s last race in the Gr  3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m he was drawn in pole position and after dwelling slightly at the break he sat on the rail but only had two horses behind him in the ten horse field. He moved outward coming around the final turn and ran on well to be a 0,70 length second giving the winner Zeitz 2,5kg.

He is 1kg better off with Zeitz from that run in the July, but this time has drawn wide in 14.

Peter said, “It’s a little bit awkward, but he is quite a versatile horse. He can sit with them or off them and he has got a turn of foot.

I Salute You is by Soqrat, whose three Gr 1 wins were over 1600m, but he did finish a narrow second with topweight in the Gr 1 Summer Cup over the tough Turffontein Standside 2000m trip and he finished third in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and a not disgraced 4,45 length 8^th in the July carrying second topweight of 59kg. I Salute You is out of a mare by speed influence Var and her two wins were over 1000m and 1200m, but both I Salute You and Taegan’s Champ have won over 1700m to 1750m trips.

Peter said, “With him too I have no doubt that the 2200 is going to be within his distance range.”

I Salute You’s big race rider Mark du Plessis lands in South Africa on Wednesday night next week.

Peter said, “Mark will get to sit on I Salute You on the Thursday morning and  then basically his work is done.”

Tristan Godden will likely be riding I Salute You at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops on Thursday morning this week.

Peter has one other runner on July day, the exciting Australian-bred St. Harry, who is a son of Harry Angel (Acclamation).

He runs in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Peter said, “He is drawn eleven, but he is a very good horse. He hasn’t run since Cape Town. I have given him as much time to mature as possible. He has got a devastating turn of foot, so we can ride him conservatively from the eleven barrier. He’s an exciting horse for the future, so we don’t want to overdo things with him as a two-year-old, but he has developed and furnished very well since his last race and if he runs to his work he should be a factor on July day.”

RACE 1

MOLTEN ROCK has run well in defeat against useful opposition over this trip so sets the standard on the strength of that form and in receipt of weight from male counterparts KWAITO and returning (as a gelding) THEODORE ROOSEVELD. Well-bred SUMMERFEST warrants respect, as does well-related newcomer VISION OF GOLD who is worth a market check on debut.

RACE 2

SNAP YOUR FINGERS was a beaten favourite in a 2yo winners’ race last time but needs only to repeat the performance of her debut to atone back in maiden company. SAVARA’S PRINCESS and returning SWORD OF LIGHT have the form and experience to trouble the youngster. However, a bigger threat will likely come from fellow juvenile EMPRESS OF PEACE who showed signs of improvement in blinkers last time and races with the headgear retained.

RACE 3

Runner-up in all 3 sprint appearances, PERIODIC TABLE won’t need to improve much for the step up to this trip to open his account. Youngster HIGHWAY CODE, whose experience around the turn stands him in good stead, has shown enough to keep the selection honest. BEACH WALKER, BRAVE WAAM, CUZZIE and TWELFTH OF NEVER have the form and experience to make their presence felt. SILVER COMET and PROWLER could also get into the picture if improving over this extended trip. Watch the betting on 5yo Irish-bred newcomer MISSION TO MARS, a son of prolific European sire Sea The Stars.

RACE 4

BLOOMINGTON ran on from a long way back when a fast-finishing 2nd in a similar 1450m contest last time off the same mark under the same rider. A repeat of that performance over the extra 150m should suffice. Hard-knockers SIX OF ALL and MICHAEL FARADAY appear held but are closely matched on that form. The selection finished behind GOLDEN ASPEN in his penultimate start so the latter could pose the biggest threat. Consistent BAY EMPIRE, blinkered THE MIGHTIEST and versatile COMMANDER OF ALL also have earning potential.

RACE 5

MOUNT DARWIN has filled the runners-up berth in both starts at this level off his current rating, and he was most unlucky not to have won last time so a repeat of that performance should see him end a 684-day wait for another victory. Consistent hard-knocker ROSY LEMON is proven in this grade and would not be winning out of turn either. ITSNOWORNEVER, BLOOD OF EDEN and MILITARY MOVES are competitive off their current marks so could get into the picture.

RACE 6

OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW, NEVER NEVER LAND and filly AQUARIUS are closely matched on the form of their 2 April meeting in a stronger 3yo handicap over track and trip, but the latter is better off at the weights so could be worth siding with. Top-weight FATHER CHRISTMAS has solid form while bottom-weight LONGSWORD is dangerous to discount off a career-low mark. HEAL AND SOUL and UNSOLVED RIDDLE are others to consider in larger exotic-bet permutations.

RACE 7

MISS FANTASTIC confirmed the promise of her debut 3rd by winning last time over 1200m, running on from the rear of the field to get the upper-hand late. On the evidence of that performance, she is open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip so it could pay to follow her progress. Last-start winner WINDS OF GRACE remains competitive under a 3-point penalty but familiar foe FISH HAWK is weighted to turn the tables and could pose more of a threat to the selection with improved fitness on her side. PRINCESS KEIRA, FAIR PROPOSAL, UTSAAH and REECE’S WISH can also get into the picture.

RACE 8

USHOULDBEDANCING had legitimate excuses last time in a 2yo Grade 3 over 1100m and is capable of a lot better than that performance suggests. She made a winning debut over this trip and remains open to improvement so deserves another chance. Older male rivals LONELY AS A CLOUD, TIME WILL TELL and READY SET FIRE have the form and experience to trouble the youngster, as do DUCHESS ZAHRA, MAGIC CARPET RIDE and hard-knocker ORIENTAL BOUQUET.

RACE 9

CATFISH was an impressive course-and-distance winner of his last start and, such was the manner of that performance, the 6-point penalty may not be enough to prevent him from following up. LOVABLE won her only start over this track and trip. She arrives with the form and experience to fight out the finish but concedes 3.5kg to the improving 2yo selection. HAMMER BLOW and EL ZANI are also distance suited sprinters with the means to make their presence felt. BLINDFIRE and GUNBOAT complete the shortlist.

Soccer6 Friday 26 June 2026. Carryover R 100 000. Estimated Pool: R 500 000.  Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 5 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Friday 26 June 2026. ADD-INN R 200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 million.  Pool Closes at 20h45. Sport 20 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 27 June 2026. ADD-INN R 200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 million.  Pool Closes at 20h00. Sport 15 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 One winner GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 27 June 2026. R17 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 27 June 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R250 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

 

Following further rain at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the gradual deterioration of the track, as well as having consulted with the senior jockeys and a handful of trainers, a decision has been made to move Saturday’s meeting 27 June to Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Races 3 and 4 will now be 1250m.