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.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Carlisle (UK) – 24 June 2026

David Thiselton

The big question before the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw Ceremony at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday morning was whether the fancied entry Regulation, who had been single figures in the betting markets, would make the top 18 and connections and supporters were left on tenterhooks until the last minute as 17 horses were on the board without his name appearing.

The Justin Snaith-trained horse’s name then appeared, although the connections of the Erico Verdonese-trained Choisaanada must have feared the worst as the horses are revealed in weight order and when they went past the 58,5kg weight without his name appearing the writing was on the wall.

Choisaanada is merit rated 121, while Regulation is merit rated 106 and the latter is thus 1kg under sufferance.

However, considering Regulation beat Zeitz by 3,20 lengths when winning the Gr 3 Ownpay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and faces the latter on the same terms in the July he looks to have a chance of winning the race.

Choisaanada on the other hand, finished a neck ahead of The Ultimate King at level weights in the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes and Regulation beat the latter in the WSB 1900 by just over a neck when receiving 6kg. Regulation will only receive 4,5kg from The Ultimate King in the July, but would have received 6,5kg from Choisaanada, so that collateral formline would justify Regulation’s position in the final field.

Nevertheless, Choisaanada’s connections are likely to feel aggrieved as he was three positions ahead of Regulation on the final log.

On a brighter note the Australian-based sensation Zac Lloyd will be aboard Regulation. He will attempt to break the trend of his legendary father, the former Durban-based Jeff Lloyd, who finished third in this race no fewer than nine times without ever winning, although he did finish second in his last July ride in 2018. Regulation landed a plum draw of two.

There were no other contentious issues in the Final Field Announcement.

The race favourite is the James Crawford-trained Star Major who is part of a fairy tale story as the Querari colt will be ridden by French woman Mickaelle Michel, who travelled out here with the hope of riding winners and enjoying the experience but never in her wildest dreams would she have believed that she would be riding the favourite in South Africa’s greatest race just seven months after arriving.

James Crawford was assistant to his father Brett when they landed the July in successive years, 2023 and 2024, and will be out to win a first July under his own license.

Three-year-old Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner Star Major jumps from a well nigh perfect draw of four and will realise a long held dream for Durban-born part-owner Ravi Naidoo if he were to win the race. Ravi went close two years ago with Cousin Casey and will be hoping to go one better.

That 2024 race was of course won by Oriental Charm, who was part-owned by Greg and Gina Bortz and this year the couple part-own the Snaith-trained Native Ruler and they are sole owners of Regulation.

Greg was also Durban-born and another Durban-born owner who will be out to realise a long held dream will be Ravi Padayachee, the chief owner of the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles. Ravi pulled a draw of 17 for King Pelles.

Preshalin and Jayson Murugasa, owners of the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Aladdin’s Lamp, are also passionate Durban-born owners.

Mike de Kock has won five Julys before and will be out to win a first together with son Mathew and they will have to do it from the widest draw of all as Aladdin’s Lamp drew 18.

An interesting fact of the field is that following on from no female runners in the race in 2024 and only one last year, there are no fewer than five female runners this year and one reserve.

The two most fancied of them, Wish List and Mocha Blend, drew seven and 13 respectively.

Wish List will be one of five horses representing Justin Snaith, who will be out to win a sixth July. She will be out to give a first July win to Andrew Fortune, who will become the oldest jockey to win the race at the age of 59 if she does it. Fortune pulled his own draw of seven and was thrilled with it.

Among the Snaith-trained horses is the topweight Legal Counsel, who only just failed to become a Gr 1 wfa winner when pipped in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m last time and he also came second in Cape Town’s greatest race The Gr 1 wfa WSB Met over 2000m. He will be ridden by Callan Murray and is drawn well in five.

The locally-trained horses in the field are the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian, the Frank Robinson-trained Mocha Blend, the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles and the Peter Muscutt-trained pair I Salute You and Isivivane.

There are eight Cape-trained horses in the top 18 and five Highveld-trained horses and the two reserves are both Highveld-trained horses.

Tammy and Candice Dawson will be out to become the third female trainers to win the July and have the mare Minogue involved. She will be ridden by Gavin Lerena.

The 18 incumbent runners include five three-year-olds, nine four-year-olds, three five-year-olds and one six-year-old and the two reserves consist of a four-year-old and a three-year-old.

Three jockeys have been flown in to ride in the race, Zac Llloyd, Chad Schofield, who rides King Pelles, and Mark Du Plessis, who rides I Salute You.

Only five jockeys in the race have won a July before, with Richard Fourie having three wins to his name, while each of Gavin Lerena, Kabelo Matsunyane, JP van der Merwe and last year’s winning rider Craig Zackey have won the big race once apiece.

 The weight structure this year has topweight at 62kg and bottom weight at 52kg and for the first time in many years it is just a straight handicap without any allowances or limitations.

There is only one horse in the top 18 who is officially under sufferance and that is Regulation, who is 1kg under sufferance, although the second reserve runner Curious Girl will be 4kg under sufferance if she gets in.

With a stake that doubles from last year to R10 million it is going to be a humdinger!

RACE 1

NEW DAY made good late progress on debut. That experience should have done her the world of good and she is the one to beat. ETERNAL SPIRIT is knocking on the door and should be right there at the finish. AMERICAN PETAL fell on debut but was not disgraced when fourth last time out so could earn. KITANA’S JOY showed some improvement last time out and has a place chance. PROSPER’S GIRL and SKIP THE LINE are capable of improvement.

RACE 2

A very open looking race. GIMMETHEGOLD is in good shape and could be ready for a winning turn. KALEESH CYBORG returns from a break and a change of trainer. He tries the Polytrack and could be a real threat. LOVE FROM AFAR makes his local debut after changing trainers and would not be a surprise winner. WALK RIGHT IN ran well on local debut and should have more to offer. RIP WHEELER, GREEN POINT and JAZZ AWAY are all capable of getting into the mix as well.

RACE 3

An interesting and open leg of the Pick 6. LOTUS SILK is probably the best horse in the race but her best form has been on the grass. She may still win this. LADY BOMBER returns on the surface of her best form and has claims. HAZE AND SMOKE is better than her last run and could make all the running. NORTH STAR and DUPONT EMERALD have ability and should be included in all Pick 6 permutations. TOO LATE MY MATE was not disgraced on local debut and has a winning chance. DESERT CLOUD is a lot better than what she showed last time out and is another to consider.

RACE 4

MADE TO MEASURE had seven starts without winning on the Highveld. She has been consistent of late and perhaps the change to the Polytrack will get a victory out of her. MATTER OF TRUST makes her local debut and improvement should be forthcoming. SALAGADOOLA is not reliable but can contest the finish. FLEUR DE VILLE seems better than a modest last run and could improve. GUTSY BABY and CAUGHTUBYSURPRISE have improved and could earn. EXPLOSIVE GIFT looked a very unlucky loser last time out and could go one better.

RACE 5

THIS OR THAT was an impressive debut winner. The second that day is a more than useful yardstick so this filly cold have races in hand. DANCING IN WINTER has a place chance this course and distance. MIDNIGHT MUSIC has struggled of late but might earn minor money. MY AMI BEACH showed improvement last time out and could place. POWER OF TIGER quickened nicely to win on local debut and could have more to offer. BENEATH THE MOON has a difficult draw to overcome but might play a role. VOORSMAAKIE is yet another that can get involved.

RACE 6

FRENCH FLAME was a very easy winner on this surface last time out. From a good draw he may follow up. RAVILIOUS has had a very good season and could contest the finish yet again. CHERRY OH BABY likes the Polytrack and is clearly not out of it. DAS GUTE and EL ROMIACHI are not reliable but are capable of scoring. CHARLIE MALONE is often in the placings and can earn. BLAME IT ON ME is better than his last run and can bounce back to win. PALANCAR and HOSPICES DE BEAUNE are two others that are worth considering for large Pick 6 perms.

RACE 7

ONCIDIUM is not reliable but she has been in good form of late and could score. CAPTAIN’S JET needed her local debut. She is capable of winning at this low level. ARABIAN RED has won four times on this surface and does have Richard Fourie in the irons. ALEX MILLER is consistent but is battling to win. That can also be said of FLOWER FESTIVAL. SAY A WISH makes her local debut and tries the Polytrack. NAUTICAL LANDING, RED LHASA and CHRONICLESOFNANIA are all capable of earning.

RACE 8

WILD FIG is very consistent. He is, however, battling for a second win. From a good draw Richard Fourie will give him every chance. TRIP TO PEACE won on local debut and could have more to offer. ALADO’S PRIDE was unlucky last time out and can earn. GARDEN SUN and DONNY’S BOY are in good shape and can make the frame again. SAN QUINTIN and MONT TREMBLANT are recent winners that could trouble the judge. DARLING GIRL has won her last two starts and could complete a hat-trick.