David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Durban July has come and gone, but its effect on the racing fan usually lingers and perhaps attracts a few more to take an interest in a sport rooted in history.

The dissection of the big race will last for weeks, but here are a few points to note:

South Africa’s chief handicapper Lennon Maharaj is often the best person to follow in the big race and he got it right again. Eight Of Eighteen was rated 129 and owing to there not being an older horse rated any higher than 127 he ended up 2kg well in when his weight was dropped to 57kg, the minimum weight for a three-year-old. So were there any horses who could then beat him? Yes there was only one horse, i.e the horse whose route into the big race had specifically involved avoiding the handicapper and that was The Real Prince. In his previous start he had finished a 1,35 length fourth to Gladatorian in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes and had he run in, instead of avoiding, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and finished the same distance behind Gladatorian he would have had to carry 2kg more in the July, and that was not even taking into account that he had to come from a wide draw in the Drill Hall.

The big question of course was whether The Real Prince would stay, considering the close up speed in his pedigree extending from his full brother, Equus Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince, through his Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint-winning dam Real Princess, and stamina only being found under his third dam. His second dam Pagan Princess was a sibling to middle distance-to-staying superstar Victory Moon as well as to champion stayer Kelly. But milers have won the July before, with 1991 winner Flaming Rock being the best example and the key appears to be the ability to relax and then fly home, while a slow pace also helps. Interestingly, Flaming Rock and The Real Prince ran identical times, a relatively slow 134,2 seconds. 

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer said The Real Prince had pulled up extremely well from Saturday, but although he would be entered in the Gr 1 Champions Cup, to be run in three weeks time on Gold Cup day over 1800m, he was more than likely done for the season. 

Justin Snaith’s disappointment at not adding a sixth Hollywoodbets Durban July to his CV was there for all to see in a video taken of him during the race. It must be gut wrenching to have the best horse in the race and still be denied despite the horse’s courage in the final stages. It is equally annoying for the purist to see comments on social media saying he is overrated. The truth is the Lancaster Bomber colt was easily the best performed horse in the race. He was 2,5kg worse off with weight for age than the winner, so officially performed 2.69 lengths better than him, and the only pair he was better off than weight for age with were topweights Gladatorian and Oriental Charm, with whom he was 1kg better off with weight for age than. He officially performed 3,82 lengths better than Gladatorian and 7,42 lengths better than Oriental Charm. Eight On Eighteen  ran on equal weight for age terms with Royal Victory and was worse off than weight for age with the rest of the field, so performance-wise he thrashed the field.

Royal Victory was the third best performed horse in the race, finishing fourth, 2,85 lengths behind Eight On Eighteen on weight for age terms. The Nathan Kotzen-trained five-year-old Pathfork gelding was strangely ignored by pundits and punters, drifting out to 33/1 at one stage, despite his consistency on the big stage. He ran on strongly from off the pace and also proved his Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallop antics had nothing to do with the blinkers, which he wore for the first time over a 2000m trip or beyond.

Muzi Yeni was aboard Royal Victory and must be wondering whether an elusive win in the big race will ever happen as he has now had one second, three thirds, two fourths and two fifths.

A question that has surfaced is whether Richard Fourie moved too early on Eight On Eighteen? Last year’s race was considered a crawl and was actually 0,56 seconds quicker than this year’s, so Fourie was probably justified in moving early, especially considering the winner is a full brother to the champion sprinter Gimme A Prince and in a crawl-sprint race would have had a good chance of outsprinting the opposition. In any case one of the moments of the day was the sportsmanship shown by Fourie in congratulating his good friend and fierce rival Craig Zackey after the finish. 

Horses that travelled from Johannesburg had won the last two Hollywoodbets Durban Julys, the Brett Crawford-trained pair Winchester Mansion and Oriental Charm, but in this year’s renewal, amazingly enough, the only eight horses that travelled for the race filled the last eight places. Apparently most of the horses that travelled from Jo’Burg were loaded in cold and rainy conditions, while Atticus Finch, who arrived at Summerveld six days before the event, suffered epistaxis in the race and the East Cape horse My Best Shot was perhaps not good enough.

Dean Kannemeyer has had four July winners and three of them have names related to royalty, Dynasty, Power King and The Real Prince, so when King Pelles and Chronicle King won the Durban Gold Vase and Omoda Golden Horseshoe respectively, omen watchers might have backed The Real Prince! 

Double Grand Slam proved herself the best filly in the land by winning the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province under Andrew Fortune, who provided the crowd with extra entertainment. It was a second win on the day for the legendary Gary Player, who also part-owns King Pelles, and Double Grand Slam increased the tally to 8-5 over her fierce rival Rascova. 

There will be many other points of debate in the aftermath of the country’s greatest race, which has been taken to a new level in the first year of the existence of Race Coast, which included many quality renovations to the course facilities and the use of the new state of the art LED floodlights for the night time races and for a spectacular light show. 

Andrew Harrison

Rain could play the leading role at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this afternoon given the torrential rains over the past week. The official going has been posted as heavy with pen readings of 33 so any further rain could scupper the meeting.

That said, trainer Piet Steyn obviously has the dreaded virus in his yard with three of his runners on the day withdrawn due to coughing. He had two runners – Gem King and Meu Capitano – carded for the Hollywoodbets.net A Stakes over 1100m that heads the card reducing the field to just five runners. 

Richard Fourie stays with Vaughan Marshall’s gelding Dumbledore who has won two of his last four starts. He was a touch unlucky last run in the  Winter Sprint when continually baulked for a run and with only four runners to get past this time around he could notch the fifth win of his career.

Kaiboy finished a neck ahead of Dumbledore when last they met and meet on the same weight terms. However, given Dumbledore’s traffic issues the tables should be turned.

Time For Orchids makes his debut for Marshall. She has been rested but is way better than her last run, given her form in top Highveld company prior to that.

Global State has his third run after a break for visiting Gavin Smith and although the Global View gelding does look held on current showings as he steps up in class, he only has 51kg to shoulder. 

That leaves Dean Street who won well over the course last time out for Lucinda Woodruff as he showed good pace and stayed on for the victory. However, he does have and extra 100m to travel in heavy going which could find him out.

Log-leading rider Gavin Lerena teams up with Red State in the second leg of the Pick 6. The filly takes on males but is Ricky Maingard’s only runner on the afternoon. Maingard has stepped her up to this trip for the first time and if she stays she can add to Lerena’s tally.

Rare Earth, another filly in the race, took a hold when stepped up in trip but has been improving all the time and can feature if Louis Mxothwa can get her to settle.

Justin Snaith’s colt In A Timely Manner was relatively easy to back on debut but finished off his race in professional fashion and can follow up in the Race Cape Hollywoodbets Class 5 over 1400m. As a son of Legislate he should enjoy the extra furlong.

But like likely rival Follow You Heart, also a winner last time out, she has also drawn wide on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tight winter track and both could benefit from some luck in running. The older Ozark could pay to include in all exotics. Paul Reeves’s gelding does appear to have improved in blinkers and is back over his optimum trip from a handy draw.

Many of the runners in the Champagne Syndicate Class 4 finished behind Swiatek over course and distance last time out so a study of the video replay could pay dividends. However, Oni San is 1kg better off with possible rival Rahhabba and can turn the tables. La Divina will have her supporters after a narrow win at her last outing and only getting a two-point raise in the handicap. All three have tricky draws to contend with that could leave the way open for the consistent Golden Angel who is drawn in pole with a handy weight and Glen Kotzen has dropped her back to what may be a more suitable trip. Course and distance specialist Dream Searcher is another to consider in bigger perms.

The seventh is a competitive sprint as many are in with strong chances. Lerena teams up with Lovers Lane who he has partnered before and was touched off last time out when up against stronger opposition. True Horizon gets the benefit of young Brevan Plaatjies and his 1.5kg claim and is also way better than her last two outings would suggest. She will go close on her best form. Shane Humby seldom saddles a runner unless he deems it to have some sort of chance. Bonne Bouche started her career in his Ashburton yard at the time but has since done the rounds. She has her first run back for Humby, his only runner on the day, and Grant Behr only his second ride of the afternoon.

In the final race of the afternoon, Golden Tatjana and The Charleston both started their careers in promising fashion. It may just have been a case of preciosity triumphing over their rivals at the time as the form of both have tailed off since. Golden Tatjana’s merit rating has plummeted from a high of 97 to today’s 69 but with Hollywoodbets July winning jockey Craig Zackey aboard and a handy weight she could get back to winning ways. The Charleston has dropped from a 98 to 83 and with a forward showing last time out and Plaatjies taking an extra 1.5kg off her back, a third win could be on the cards.

RACE 1

8 ROCKANROLLIN made a pleasing debut up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 21st of May, he was very green early, and managed to stay on nicely late behind Follow Your Heart, he is exceptionally well-bred, watch for sharp improvement, he can certainly win a race like this. 11 BLACK EAGLE made massive improvement from his first run into his second run, he ran a lovely race behind his stable companion last time, he ran third and was only beaten just under three lengths by Saudi Cat, he is clearly getting better and better with racing, include him into all bets. 12 DAY IN DAY OUT ran a much better race behind Spirit on the 12th of June, he caught the eye late when staying on really well over 1000m, if he can build on that performance now stepping up in trip again to 1200m, he could finish amongst the places. 3 MARCUS AURELIUS ran a terrific race on debut, he was unfancied in the market, but he stayed on nicely to finish just under three lengths behind the winner, he should make the necessary improvement, watch him closely, he can definitely earn some money for the connections . (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 11 – 12 – 3)

RACE 2

4 WISH LIST ran a lovely race on debut behind Paralegal on the 12th of June, she ran third and was only beaten just under one length in a thrilling finish, if she has made the improvement back at home, she will be very difficult to beat in this race. 1 PRECOCIOUS drifted in the market last time, it was her first start over 1400m when she was beaten just over three lengths by Take It As Red, she is much better than that performance, watch for major improvement now that she drops back in trip. 10 QUEEN REGENT ran a much better race behind her stable companion on the 12th of June at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she ran third and was beaten just under two lengths at the wire by Clair De Lune, if she can build on that performance, she will have a good winning chance. 7 PLAYFUL JOULES has been rested for 65 days, she has been well tried in the maiden ranks, on her best form, she could sneak into the places again with jockey Muzi Yeni. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 1 – 10 – 7)

RACE 3

4 MEU CAPITANO has been rested for 114 days, his form of late over ground has been very good, the 1100m trip is absolutely no concern at all, if he doesn’t need the run after a long break, he will be hard to beat in a race like this. 5 KAIBOY ran a great race behind Arctic Wizard on the 12th of June up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he ran second and was only beaten one length in quite a competitive race, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he will certainly be right there in the finish on his best form. 2 GEM KING ran a fair race over 1600m in the Winter Mile behind Sugar Mountain, this race looks to be a better trip for him, he can mix it up with some of the best sprinters in the land on his day, watch him closely at a decent price, he will run a cracker. 1 DEAN STREET caused a major upset on the 21st of June, he won really well at a big price, unfortunately he was given six points for that win, which will make life tougher for him now, but he is clearly in a good space at the moment and his chances must be respected. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 2 – 1)

RACE 4

5 RED STATE has run some fair races of late in competitive open maidens, her last run in particular behind Meg’s Legacy was very good, she was drawn poorly and still managed to stay on nicely to finish just over four lengths behind the winner, she should love the step up in trip to 1700m on Tuesday, include her into all bets, she must have a huge winning chance in a race like this. 8 RARE EARTH ran a much better race behind Ocotillo on the 12th of June, it was her first run over ground and she ran a decent race finishing just over two lengths behind the winner, she now steps up in trip to 1700m, watch for further improvement from this filly. 6 LUCKY THIRTEEN has been well tried in the maiden ranks, this doesn’t look to be the strongest race on paper, with some luck in running, she could sneak into the places. 7 NOT WANTED has taken a bit of time to mature, he was well placed in running by the apprentice last time when finishing just over six lengths behind Ariovistus, he is still learning to race this individual, if he can build on his last performance, he will be right there in the money. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 8 – 6 – 7)

RACE 5

9 FOLLOW YOUR HEART won impressively on the 21st of May, the form of that race has worked out well, he looks to be very talented this individual, and he will love the step up in trip, if he can beat the draw on Tuesday, he will be hard to beat. 7 FIRINGONALLENGINES won a gutsy race up the straight over 1200m on the 12th of June, he was given two points for that victory, he will race up on speed, and there is no doubt that he will keep fighting all the way to the line, include him into all bets. 10 IN A TIMELY MANNER quickened up to win his debut like a very smart horse, even though he drifted in the market, he won with absolute ease, he will love the step up in trip to 1400m on Tuesday, he could be anything, watch him closely, he will be running on strongly. 11 MELA STRENGTH unfortunately draws poorly again, he will be doing some good work late, on his best form and with some luck in running, he could sneak into the places at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 7 – 10 – 11)

RACE 6

1 GOLDEN ANGEL ran a fair race behind Strawberry Thief on the 21st of May, she ran fifth and was beaten just over three lengths by the winner, she has dropped even further in the ratings, she has dropped in trip, and she gets a good draw, this looks to be a golden opportunity for this filly to get back into the winners box. 11 LA DIVINA was given a great ride by jockey Pierre Corne Orffer on the 13th of May, she was gutsy and managed to fight them off to win a super race, she was given two points for that victory, if she can beat the draw without doing work early, she will have a good winning chance again. 9 SUPREME FATE finished like a train last time behind Swiatek, she really caught the eye late when finishing fourth, she is still improving with racing, with some luck in running, she will be right there in the finish. 10 ONI SAN has run some decent races of late, her last run on the 1st of June was very good behind Swiatek, she could certainly finish in the money, its a tricky race, you will need to go wide. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 11 – 9 – 10)

RACE 7

4 LOVERS LANE ran a cracker behind Firingonallengines last time, Trainer Paul Reeves and his team have done a wonderful job with this gelding, he looks to be in such a good space at the moment, this seems to be a nice race for him, if he can bring that last run to the track again on Tuesday, he will be hard to beat with jockey Gavin Lerena. 10 GRAVITY has run two great races in succession, he can be slow into stride early, and then he runs on powerfully late, include him into all bets, he certainly has a good each way chance in this race. 7 CHAMPAGNE MAC finished five lengths behind his stable companion on the 21st of May, he tries hard, at this level, he always has a money chance. 5 TAMBOURINE MAN has been rested for 83 days, ignore his last run completely, Craig Zackey knows this individual well, if he doesn’t need the run badly from a small break, he could easily win a race like this. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 10 – 7 – 5)

RACE 8

6 PEACE OF MIND went down narrowly last time behind Pink Pigeon, she is an absolute speed ball, unfortunately she was given two points for running second last time, but she is very fast and she really enjoys the 1000m trip, she will be hard to beat in the lucky last. 3 THE CHARLESTON ran a much better race on the 12th of June, she ran third in the same race as Peace Of Mind behind Pink Pigeon, at the weights with the apprentice taking off 1.5kgs, she must have a good winning chance, include her into all bets. 7 INSIDE VOICE won her maiden well on the 25th of May, she showed good speed and still managed to kick strongly off that, even though she will need to improve even further to win again, she definitely has ability and must be respected. 9 LHASA bounced back to form in a big way last time, she ran a lovely second behind Champagne Kisses, if she can bring that run to the track on Tuesday, she can certainly finish in the money. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 3 – 7 – 9)

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ayr and Ripon (UK) – 7 July 2025

David Thiselton

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer and Lady Christine Laidlaw’s racing manager Jehan Malherbe splashed out a Sale-topping price of R2.7 million at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2013 for a filly called Real Princess and it paid the ultimate dividend on Saturday when Real Princess’s son The Real Prince gave Kannemeyer his fourth Hollywoodbets Durban July victory, Lady Laidlaw her second and Craig Zackey his elusive first.

Real Princess has provided Lady Laidlaw’s small breeding operation, Khaya Stables, with a magnificent future as she has also produced the three-time Gr 1-winning Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince and also Gr 3 winner Gimmie’s Countess, both by Gimmethegreenlight and full siblings to The Real Prince.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July didn’t go as planned last season for the Kannemeyer-Khaya Stables team as their SplashOut Cape Derby-winning colt Green With Envy was raised to 127 after winning the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, meaning he had to carry 56kg in the July, and as Craig Zackey revealed in the July winner’s enclosure on Saturday,  “Green With Envy did not have the best of preps after the Daily News, he got injured and it felt like I was carrying the world on his shoulders and the pressure just got to both of us.”

Zackey added, “The pressure is now well off!”

Kannemeyer and Malherbe also carried that bad memory with them and so when sitting down after The Real Prince’s eyecatching fourth from off the pace in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes back on May 3, they decided to avoid any chance of more kilograms being added on to his July weight by skipping the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

It seemed a massive gamble, because he looked one of the main contenders for that prestigious weight for age race and he is not only a full-brother to a champion sprinter, but he had never gone further than 1600m before. Furthermore, his mother Real Princess won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint for Kannemeyer and in her six career victories the furthest was over 1400m.

Dean recalled, “Jehan and I saw Real Princess at the Sale, she was magnificent and we said, ‘There is just one lot for us this Sale and we must put our heads down and buy her.'”

He added with emphasis, “She was bred to go at least a mile.”

She was out of Pagan Princess, who was one of Klawervlei’s best broodmares. Pagan Princess was only a one-time winner, but she was by champion stallion and stamina influence Fort Wood and was a half-sister to the Al Mufti middle distance-to-staying superstar Victory Moon and also to a champion stayer in Kelly.

Dean said that deep down he was confident The Real Prince would stay the July trip and not only due to the stamina further down his pedigree. He pointed at how easily he had won his only start over a mile back in February and added, “He also switches off completely and has a helluva turn of foot. He is also a completely different type to Gimme A Prince, who is a bull of a horse.”

He recalled Jehan questioning him at their meeting, “He said to me ‘Can you get him fit enough, having had just one run in the Drill Hall on Guineas day and then two months later having to run him over 2200m?’ I said, ‘Yes I can do it. I’ve got the facilities at Summerveld, I’ve got the grass tracks, I can do it, I can strip him. Many people doubted that, but the job was done.'”

There were some who were unimpressed with The Real Prince’s official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallop, but Dean was not concerned and said, “I thought his gallop was good. He doesn’t over exert himself back home.”   

Dean watched the race on Saturday from a private suite and said, “Everything went his way (from a good draw of five). In any race you need a lot of luck and the July is a rough race. He got himself in the most perfect position and he was just beautifully switched off, lob, lob, lob, he came into the straight, waited, waited, and moved out, moved out, he was lucky to get out and he then followed Richard Fourie’s horse ahead (the hot favourite Eight On Eighteen who had rounded horses and stolen a march at the top of the straight). 300m out I felt he was coming to get him now and then they were locked together and he put his head in front.”

The three-year-old Eight On Eighteen fought back courageously and looked to actually put his head back in front momentarily, but it was The Real Prince who had the momentum and he gave multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight his first Hollywoodbets Durban July victory and had denied trainer Justin Snaith a sixth July win.

Dean revealed, “I was in the company of a lot of friends and owners in the private suite and they said, ‘You’ve got it!'”

“I saw the slow motion replay and then I said, ‘Let’s go down and get the trophy.'”

Beaten 2,65 lengths into third was the Andre Nel-trained WSB 1900 winner Selukwe, while the consistent Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory was strangely completely ignored in the betting and drifted out to 33/1 at one stage, but ran on strongly to finish a 2,85 length fourth. The Frank Robinson-trained Madison Valley ran a fine 3,15 length fifth and the Snaith-trained Native Ruler overcame the widest draw of all to finish a 3,95 length sixth.

Jehan Malherbe thanked Varsfontein Stud, who board Lady Laidlaw’s mares and added, “It was a great training feat and always when the jockey wins you say great ride.”

Lady Laidlaw was unable to be on course, but was on the phone to Jehan before he had reached the winner’s enclosure.

The trio of Kannemeyer, Malherbe and Lady Laidlaw have had a huge amount of Gr 1 success, despite her only buying or sending Dean a total of three horses per year.

Dean’s first July win was in 2003 with Dynasty, then with Eyeofthetiger in 2006 and then for Lady Laidlaw with Power King in 2015.

On Saturday the King and Prince theme was bolstered when the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles won the Durban Gold Vase and the Candice Dawson-trained Chronicle King won the Omoda Golden Horseshoe.

It was indeed a day for royalty and a weight-carrying plan had come together and denied the likely Equus Horse Of The Year, Eight On Eighteen, a unique feat of winning both the Met and July as a three-year-old.