David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Durban July final field panellists have had their task made easier by a spate of significant scratchings from the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The Justin Snaith-trained Sail The Seas was number three on the first Hollywoodbets Durban July log, but has had some issues.

He was scratched on Monday morning alongside his log incumbent stablemate Pacaya, who was number 18 on the first log, but whom ran disappointingly in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

A big scratching on Monday was last year’s runner up Cousin Casey, who was tenth on the July log, and his absence from the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on Saturday indicates he must have an issue. 

Fiery Pegasus was number 12 on the July log and was scratched a while ago.

Mike and Matthew de Kock have likely signalled their intent to go for the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes with the crack filly Spumante Dolce, who was 13th on the July log, by scratching her on Monday.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Gr 1 SA Derby runner up Wild Intent, who was number 15 on the July log, also failed to fire in the Cup Trial and true to what Lucky had said about not just wanting to be “a field maker”, he was duly scratched on Monday morning alongside his stablemate Musical Score, who was a disappointing sixth in the Gr 3 4Racing Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on Sunday at Turffontein Standside.

A surprise scratching was the Roy Magner-trained Olivia’s Way. She was among the horses on the outside looking in on the first log having won the Gr 2 TAB Igugu Stakes to add to her Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic second and Gr 1 SA Derby fourth. She finished a cracking second in the traditional July pointer, the Jubilee Stakes on Sunday, so would likely have been a strong consideration for the final field.

The Sean Tarry-Let’s Go Now ran disappointingly in the Jubilee and was also scratched on Monday.

Scratched earlier were Parisian Walkway, Marauding Horde and Shoot The Rapids, who were all among the outside looking in horses on the fist log.

Another Snaith-trained scratching on Monday morning was Regulation, who was 4,5kg under sufferance in the Cup Trial and could only plug on steadily from a position backward of midfield. This Legislate gelding is a three-parts brother to July winner Belgarion and is one to watch next season as he is progressive and is likely to blossom as a four-year-old just as Belgarion did.

Other July entries who could not enhance their chances in the Cup Trial were Hotarubi, Zeitz and Winter Games and they are all among the July scratchings.

Navajo Nation could only manage fifth in the Jubilee and is among the July scratchings.  

Son Of Raj was among the horses outside of the log looking in and in he did not enhance his chances of making the July final field, for the third time in succession, by finishing a 3,75 length seventh in the Jubilee.

Pomodoro’s Jet was number 20 on the July log and was scratched from the Cup Trial, but he still remains among the big race entries.

Purple Pitcher was a well beaten 7,60 ninth in the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, but this 122-rated twice Gr 1 winner was number seven on the log on the back of his consistently top class middle distance performances at Turffontein, so he should be safe.   

There are actually only 29 horses still standing their ground for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The horses who were outside of the top 18 of the first July log and who definitely enhanced their chances of moving into the top 18 over the weekend were the respective Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial and Gr 3 4Racing Jubilee Stakes winners, Madison Valley and Immediate Edge.

My Best Shot won over 2000m at Fairview on Friday, his sixth successive easy win and he should either be in the final field or be right on the edge of it.

On My Honour ran a good 0,35 length third in the Cup Trial and might be considered for the final field considering he is a three-year-old who carried 59kg, meaning he was running on 1.5kg terms worse than weight for age with Madison Valley, so he actually performed better than him. 

Litigation was not disgraced in a 1,75 length fourth in the Cup Trial.

The horses who are realistically still in contention for the top 18 in order of preference by the writer are:

Eight On Eighteen

Oriental Charm

Gladatorian

See It Again

Royal Victory

Confederate

Atticus Finch

Legend Of Arthur

Madison Valley

Purple Pitcher

Selukwe

The Real Prince

Okavango

Native Ruler

My Best Shot

Immediate Edge

Mucho Dinero 

Rainbow Lorikeet

On My Honour

Future Swing

Litigation

Pomodoro’s Jet

Beating Wings

Magic Verse

Holding Thumbs

Joy And Peace

Son Of Raj

The Equator

Thunee Playa

NB the above is not an official Hollywoodbets Durban July log.