Eight On Eighteen has earned top spot on the Hollywoodbets Durban July Log as published by the Racing Operator earlier today. There were eleven scratchings at the time of first declarations on Monday 12 May, including Grade 1 winner Fire Attack and Gold Bracelet (Gr 2) winner Red Palace – both due to setbacks in training – while Musical Score and WSB East Cape Derby winner, My Best Shot, were supplemented on Tuesday, 13 May by their respective trainers Lucky Houdalakis and Alan Greeff.

The panel comprising Justin Vermaak, Raf Sheik, Graeme Hawkins and senior handicapper, Lennon Maharaj, have positioned My Best Shot on the fringes of the top twenty, which reflects exactly what the final field would look like if the Hollywoodbets Durban July was run today.

The Log will be updated on 10 June, following the second declaration stage on Monday, 9 June. By then, the Daily News 2000 (Gr 1); Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Gr 1); the Woolavington 2000 (Gr 2) and Cup Trial (Gr 3) will have been run, the outcomes of which could impact the status of HDJ contenders.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July will be run on Saturday 5 July.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and York (UK) – 14 May 2025

David Thiselton

Two impressive winners over the weekend, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Musical Score and the Alan Greeff-trained My Best Shot, have been supplemented for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. 

Three-year-old gelding Musical Score beat some useful older horses over 1400m at Turffontein Standside in a  Pinnacle Stakes event on Sunday and will attempt to qualify for the July in the traditional Highveld pointer, the Jubilee Stakes over 1800m. He is by Oratorio and Lucky described progeny of this sire, based on his experience with the like of Viva Brazil and War Legend, as “chilled” horses who stay well. Furthermore Musical Score’s Captain Al dam Esteemal won up to 1800m and is a half-sister to Elusive Silva (Silvano), who won the Gr 2 Greyville 1900, the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m, the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m and he finished third in the July. 

Lucky said, “You can go up the divisions and if he comes out and wins the Jubilee comfortably and we think it’s a good enough performance then we can go (for the July). But if we’re not sure we don’t go. I don’t want to be a field maker.”

Musical Score was ironically bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, who have just announced the closure of their thoroughbred breeding operation.

He was bought for R450,000 at the Cape Racing Sales Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2023 and quickly proved to be a worthwhile purchase for Laurence Wernars as he won by 3,25 lengths over 1200m on debut in the first month of this season.

He has gone on to win four times from 1200m to 1600m in nine starts and was raised four points to 112 by the handicappers for Sunday’s win.

Houdalakis also has the promising Wild Intent involved in the July. The twice winner from 1200m to 1700m has finished narrow seconds in his last two starts in the Listed Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m and the Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m, so has relished the step up in trip and will have no stamina doubts. That is not surprising as this Gimmethegreenlight gelding is out of the Australian-bred Dylan Thomas mare Wild Ash, whose four wins included a Listed win over 2450m and two other wins over 2450m and 2600m respectively.

Lucky said, “He is a nice horse and is improving and we will run him in the Cup Trial and see how he fares and then make a decision about the July. If he can’t win that he won’t qualify.”

Meanwhile, Lucky revealed that Royal Force had suffered epistaxis from both nostrils on Sunday which explained his poor run. That was very disappointing for Lucky who said, “There is not much between Royal Force, Musical Score and Wild Intent and once Musical Score had beaten that field on Sunday I said ‘how far is Royal Force going to win by?'” He is one to watch when coming back from his epistaxis suspension. 

Meanwhile, Dyce is on the injury list and will not run again this season, but Lucky believed he would make a comeback later on.

He has retired Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner None Other after she refused to jump last time out. She has returned to the farm she was born and bred at, Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

Lucky also reserved special mention for his “soldier” Bob’s Your Uncle, a now six-time winner who has won his last two starts. 

He said, “If things go his way he is hard to get past because he doesn’t give up.”  

The Alan Greeff-trained three-year-old Fire Away gelding My Best Shot has been ultra impressive, albeit in the lesser centre of the East Cape. He is the first horse to ever land the East Cape Triple Crown, which consists of three sophomore races over 1400m, 1600m and 2400m. In the Listed East Cape Derby on Friday he showed he will stay the July trip and he displayed his usual exhilarating turn of foot when coming from last to win by 5,25 lengths under regular pilot Richard Fourie.

My Best Shot and Musical Score have both entered the July market at 40/1 with World Sports Betting, while Wild Intent is a 25/1 chance. 

Graeme Hawkins

The well-supported favourite Empire State (11/10) ran out a supremely easy winner of the headliner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday, the Perfectly Placed Class 3 Handicap over 1100m. Billed as the seventh race on the programme, Empire State was having his first run since being gelded on 31 March and proved an armchair ride for Aldo Domeyer. His half-brother, Elusive Winter, cut out the early pace but Empire State moved in ominously approaching the final 200m and the 3yo son of Rafeef stretched away impressively to score comfortably. Gimmelightning stayed on to finish second narrowly in front of Nordic Chief and a tiring Elusive Winter.

The scratchings of Precocious and Inside Voice left the way clear for Electromagnetism (9/10) to get favourite backers off to a good start in the first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1200m. The 2yo daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and with Aldo Domeyer aboard, travelled sweetly throughout the race and Electromagnetism quickened up nicely when called upon for her effort. She hit the front approaching the final 200m and from then on the result was never in doubt, winning by more than two lengths in a time of 73,89 seconds.

South of France (14/10) topped the betting boards for the second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1200m, but she failed to quicken off a slow pace and finished a never-threatening third. Lowveld Lily (3/1) took the initiative some way out under Richard Fourie and the 2yo daughter of Legislate went on to score comfortably with the newcomer Viva La Vida filling the Exacta spot. The winner’s time was 74,81 seconds, just about 1 second (five lengths) slower than the opening race over the same track and trip.

The late money in the third race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, was for the Justin Snaith-trained Roland Garros who shortened from 7/1 to 7/2. Stepping up in trip from his 1100m debut, the 2yo son of Vercingetorix justified the market move, finishing off the race strongly under JP van der Merwe to collar Diamond Days (33/10) inside the final 50 metres. The favourite, Sierra Sagrada (15/10), proved a huge disappointment and was beaten out of the frame after being given every possible chance by Gavin Lerena.

The race time money again proved the most accurate guide in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1000m, as American Ultra, returning from an 11-month absence, shortened in the market from 8/1 to 33/10 and duly obliged under a good ride by Ossie Noach. Trained by the in-form Ricky Maingard, American Ultra accelerated smartly from the rear half of the field to win going away from Fleur de Ville (25/1) in a time of 59,66 seconds. Thingamabob (18/10) and Ruby Rex (2/1) made up the Quartet but better was expected from the pair in this limited field.

The nap of the day, Rhydian (9/10), delivered a workmanlike victory in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, but the run-of-the-race came from Eight On Eighteen’s juvenile half-brother Future Free on his race course debut. Outpaced for the first half of the race, Future Free began to respond to Fourie’s urgings and he ran on powerfully to claim third spot, only two lengths adrift of the winner. Rhydian’s stable companion Palancar came out second best and could pick up a race in the near future.

An upset looked on the cards in the sixth race, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1200m, with Timeline (12/1) running freely in front under a very light weight, but JP van der Merwe produced the Adam Marcus-trained Cold Breeze (7/2) with a sustained run against the inside rail to gain the upper hand over the final 50 metres. Red State (6/1) ran on steadily for third ahead of the well-backed Vivo Per Lei who was very one-paced in the closing stages.

The eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1500m, produced a thrilling three-horse war, with the pace-setting La Divina (6/1) just holding out Lady Look Alike (5/1) and Hunga Tonga (8/1) in a driving finish. La Divina quickened up smartly at the top of the stretch to put a few lengths on the chasing pack, but she was all out at the line under Corne Orffer to hold on by a diminishing margin. Hat-trick seeking Kleinzee failed to fire and finished at the rear of the compact field.

Andrew Harrison

The revamped Hollywoodbets Greyville poly track received favourable reviews after the first meeting on the surface with runners able to lead or come from behind with little kick-back which was a bugbear on the older surface.

But punters face a trappy card when racing resumes on the poly today which could see some healthy dividends given the right play.

Star In Motion looks a bright bet in the card opener with a run under his girth he could prove a little more experienced ahead of Glen Kotzen’s trio seemingly headed by debutante That’ll Be The Day judged on jockey bookings. Doug Campbell’s gelding George’s Magic is the most experienced in the field and has shown some ability. He can improve on his last effort where he took on some promising opposition. 

In the second, Malshana Mou has put in two smart showings over shorter for Tienie Prinsloo. She has drawn well and can go one better although she does face a competitive field. Louis Goosen’s filly Kali Bwana was a beaten weak favourite last run although she has put in two improved efforts. She took on winners last run. Scandalize is a Cape raider who has put in two modest efforts to date but likely to make good improvement over this trip. Alannah has a tricky draw to contend with but has made steady improvement and is tried over the trip. 

Justin Snaith can get the PA off to a winning start when he saddles Noodsberg who was probably in need of her last run after returning from a break. She meets some useful older runners but does look to have more to come. Gary Rich has two competitive runners in English Primrose and Dawn Surprise. Judged on jockey bookings Dawn Surprise could be the pick but English Primrose is back on her favourite surface where she has finished runner-up in her last four outings on the poly. 

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky handicap. Silky Jet takes on males but has useful Highveld form over the trip and should be competitive. King Bavarian has consistent local form and a handy galloping weight. The Alyson Wright stable is in form. Storm Ahead is the only runner for visiting trainer Fanie Bronkhorst and his gelding has improved at his last two and his apprentice rider has been replaced by Calvin Habib. Basie Raakvat has been knocking at the door and stays the trip well and could upset for MJ Odendaal.

Dean Kannemeyer could hold the key with his two runners in the fifth. Dancing On A Cloud ran well below expectations first up after his comfortable maiden win. That was in soft ground and he can make amends or at least put in a better showing. Stable companion Uzwano  was much improved in blinkers last run behind Okavango who is due to run in the Gr2 WSB 1900 on Saturday. Landseer showed up well first run back from a break and can improve back on the poly and his stable companion Faire Advantage returns from a lengthy break but won his last two over course and distance. 

The sixth is a wide open handicap. Fireburst got a hefty five-point rise in the handicap for her last win but she finished well to get her head in front and could possibly follow up. The Mightiest shows some promise and was a good second last time out for which she got a three-point rise in the ratings. Greenhouse was not far back in her first local outing and Kabelo Matsunyane replaces the inexperienced apprentice from a plum draw. 

Blue Holly could prove to be one of the better bets on the card. Glen Kotzen’s filly is smart and although her best recent form has been over a furlong shorter she has a light weight and a handy draw. Rich Folks Hoax was narrowly beaten first up in KZN and is now 0.5kg better off with Quandary who beat her last time out. She does have the better draw but there should again be very little between the two. Icy Blast is never far back and was a narrow winner last start. She boasts some fair form to stronger. 

In the eighth, Cotton Ron has been a soldier for Louis Goosen and has been coming down the ratings. His apprentice rider has been replaced but he is consistent and has a plum draw. There She Goes does not have the best of draws but has been banging on the door on the Highveld. The poly should suit and she looks a big threat. Purple Powahouse is always game and has not been out of the money in his last five starts. He has the widest draw to contend with but expect another honest effort. 

Icy Eleanor can round off the meeting given that she can improve on her last start. She was given a lengthy break after her debut win and was close-up after a break of nearly a year. Diyarani returns from a break and has her first run for Nathan Kotzen. She shed her maiden on the poly and should feature. Prinsloo has two competitive runners in Happy Analia, a narrow winner last start but consistency rewarded, and Rugger Lover who is now 1kg better off with Icy Eleanor for just under a length beating. The draw and some expected improvement from Peter Muscutt’s runner could see the result confirmed.