Warren Lenferna

Let’s analyse the 7th Race on the card at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today, which is over 1250m at 4:20 PM. Racing resumes at the country course and there’s lots to look forward to.

Nine runners are set to go under starters’ orders, and there is solid form to talk about, as there should be in this class of race.

Kinda Wonderful went close in a Listed race on May 4th at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, finishing fourth behind Time For Love. She ran on powerfully in the closing stages. She is, however, returning from a 16-week rest. Legal Counsel won the KZN Breeders Mile last time out and returns home to the Cape. He seems a very progressive and exciting prospect, but clearly is better over a longer distance. Whatever happens today—win or lose—keep a close eye on this handsome Snaith-trained son of Legislate. Coastal Commander has been tested over this track and trip only once and passed with flying colours when winning. He has not been victorious for a while and, on current form, others are preferred for the top three places today.

Handsome Prince returns from a layoff since June 21st and might need a run or two to tighten up. He can but will need to improve on his current form to threaten. Boundless Energy has not blotted his copybook when it comes to this course and clearly has a liking for the circuit, as he is two for two here. However, he is returning from a rest and needs to build on his last four efforts. The Winter Lake is another coming off a layoff, and a long one at that, of 20 weeks. He brings Gqeberha form into the race and might find this opposition tough. That said, he has run with some fair sorts up the coast but still needs to raise his game for the win.

Here’s a filly from the Lucinda Woodruff barn that will have a huge chance of winning: Sohot Sowhat. She did well in the recent KZN season. She was victorious in her penultimate start, beating Wings Within Me at Hollywoodbets Greyville, and then was far from disgraced in a Grade 2. She finished only 1.75 lengths off Green Sapphire and, yes, only in eighth place, but the opposition was much tougher than what she meets today. She is taking on males but could be good enough to put them in their place. She is a massive chance despite making her course debut from an awkward starting gate. Dumbledore is probably the one they all have to fear the most. He ticks a lot of boxes, clearly runs for Richard Fourie, and relishes this track and trip. His overall form is consistent, and he finished 3rd behind Kaiboy over 1100m last time. He has a sparkling winning chance.

Let It Be Said, if not in too much need of his comeback run, can be very competitive. He is drawn widest of the nine participants but ran an encouraging race last time, finishing fourth just over two and a half lengths behind Sugar Mountain, who has since come out to win again.

The final selection for the penultimate race on the card is Dumbledore to get it all right, with Sohot Sowhat right there at the finish for the exacta position. If this filly were to topple the first choice, it would be no shock at all. Legal Counsel and Let It Be Said can fight it out for the minor place cheques.

RACE 1

5 BEAUTIFUL ONE has been rested for 64 days, she is a lovely looking filly with decent form, if she doesn’t need the run badly on Wednesday, she will go very close to winning. 4 LAYDELAY drifted in the market on debut, but she ran a great race behind Heritage Ridge on the 29th of July, she will love the step up in trip here from a good draw, watch her closely, she will make tons of improvement from her first start into her second start. 10 PLAYFUL JOULES ran a shocker on the 10th of July behind Wish List, she is much better than that poor performance, if she can beat the draw, and bounce back to her best form, she could certainly finish in the money. 8 REDLIGHT LANE is very well bred, jockey Andrew Fortune has been booked to ride this filly for champion trainer Justin Snaith, watch the market and watch her move down to the gates, she could be anything. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 4 – 10 – 8)

RACE 2

8 BALZI ROSSI has been rested for 64 days, he is a lovely colt, he ran a great race behind his stable companion last time from a wide draw, he is still improving with racing, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he will go very close to winning a race like this. 3 GREENCHOICE stayed on nicely for fifth on debut behind Sardinia Bay, he should love the step up in trip, from a decent draw, he could trouble them all in the finish. 2 SIRIANO ran a fair race behind Note To Self on the 22nd of July up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he is improving with every start, he should get the run of the race from a good draw, include him into all bets. 4 QUICKSMART finished just over six lengths behind the winner on debut, he is very well bred, watch for good improvement now that he goes around the bend for the first time. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 2 – 4)

RACE 3

9 BEACH VERSE has unfortunately drawn wide for this Maiden Plate on Wednesday, she has run two great races in succession, there is no doubt that she will love the step up in trip to 1500m, if she can beat the draw, she will take lots of beating. 12 WAIT FOR ME finished like a train last time behind Wander Dune, she was terribly green early, and then really caught the eye late to finish just over seven lengths behind the winner, watch for further improvement from this filly now that she is trying further. 4 LOUI’S STAR never runs a bad race, she is honest and she tries hard, on her best form, she will have a good place chance again in this field. 10 SPECIAL GLAMOUR will need to improve quite a bit to win this race, if she can build on her recent performances, she could sneak into the Quartet. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 12 – 4 – 10)

RACE 4

1 WHAT A FORTUNE quickened up in great fashion to win a super race last time, he was given five points for that victory, even though he has gone up in the ratings and the weights, he will be right there in the finish from a good draw. 8 KATSU has been rested for 71 days, he is very consistent, on his best form, he certainly has a good winning chance. 7 CAPTAINS ALLIANCE has been rested for 64 days, he won a terrific race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 24th of June, the yard thinks highly of this colt, if he doesn’t need the run and he can beat the tricky draw, he could have a massive winning chance again. 9 BLIND DATE finished like a rocket to win his maiden in style on the 10th of July, the form of that race has worked out well, he will appreciate the step up in trip, include him into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 8 – 7 – 9)

RACE 5

5 PLEASE BE TRUE was very unlucky in his last start behind Captain West, he unfortunately found lots of traffic in the home straight, once the gaps eventually opened up for him, he absolutely took off to run a great second, he is a smart gelding with tons of potential, he will take lots of beating. 8 SAN PEDRO was only beaten just under two lengths by Captain West on the 26th of July, he was well supported in the market with the blinkers fitted, if he can bring that performance to the track again on Wednesday, he will go close. 1 BOOGIEFIED never runs a bad race, he is extremely honest and his form is solid, even though this is a big jump in class for him, he should run a good race from a neat draw. 2 INNAMORARE won a good race at Fairview Racecourse on the 11th of July, he was given three points for that victory, watch him closely, he should be amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 8 – 1 – 2)

RACE 6

5 WEHAVEASITUATION finished full of running last time behind Lavender Bay, she was a long way back when they turned for home, and she quickened up smartly to run second, she is very consistent, if she gets the right run in transit in this race, she will be very hard to beat. 9 LAVENDER BAY won a very good race on the 26th of July, she travelled smoothly and she gave a lovely winning kick inside the last 200m, she was given three points for that win, if she can beat the tricky draw, she will be right there in the finish again. 2 LADY SPRINGFIELD ran a much better race behind Elegant Noble on the 15th of July, if she can build on that performance, she will run a cracker from a good draw. 7 TAP SHOES ran a super race last time with the blinkers fitted, she ran third and was only beaten just under one length by Lavender Bay, the blinkers stay on and jockey Aldo Domeyer sticks with this filly, she could be some decent each way value in a tricky race. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 9 – 2 – 7)

RACE 7

8 DUMBLEDORE absolutely loves it here at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he is way above average with some strong sprinting form, if he can get himself into a good position turning for home, he will be hard to beat. 7 SOHOT SOWHAT has been rested for 81 days, she is a decent filly with lots of ability, she will be switched off early from a tricky draw, but she will be flying at them late, include her into all bets. 2 LEGAL COUNSEL has been rested for 66 days, he won the Breeders Mile very well on the 22nd of June at Hollywoodbets Greyville, even though this trip is on the short side for him, he is a lovely horse with a great action, he could stay on and fill the places with jockey Andrew Fortune in the saddle. 9 LET IT BE SAID has been rested for 113 days, he will need lots of luck in running from a wide draw, but he is packed with class and ability, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he could surprise them all. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 7 – 2 – 9)

RACE 8

9 MIDWAY ran a great race behind Saint Brigid on the 29th of July, he finished second in a driving finish, he should enjoy the drop in trip to 1400m on Wednesday afternoon, if he can beat the tricky draw early, he will take lots of beating in this race. 4 MELA STRENGTH finished his race off nicely behind Turbo Twenty on the 13th of August, he ran fourth and was only beaten three lengths at the wire, he now gets a good draw, and he gets the services of champion apprentice Brevan Plaatjies, watch him closely, he will run a massive race. 7 ISCHYRO has been rested for 71 days, he has run some decent races of late, even though he can be a tricky ride, he could certainly trouble them all in the finish. 3 OZARK could be the value in this difficult race, he gets a good draw, he has dropped in trip to 1400m, and he continues to slide in the ratings, on his best form, he can win a race like this quite easily. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 4 – 7 – 3)

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Lingfield and Ripon (UK) – 26 August 2025

David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Durban July is always the highlight of the South African horseracing season, but as it is a handicap the winner often doesn’t get an Equus Award.

However, the winner will remain in racing fans’ memory banks forever, so in the season’s aftermath some space should be allocated to this year’s winner The Real Prince as well as to trainer Dean Kannemeyer, jockey Craig Zackey and owner-breeder Lady Christine Laidlaw.

The first ingredients a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner needs is class.

Lady Christine Laidlaw as well as her racing manager Jehan Malherbe and trainer Dean Kannemeyer must all take bows for that score.

Malherbe and Kannemeyer identified The Real Prince’s mother Real Princess (Trippi) and Laidlaw was willing to splash out a Sale-topping R2.7 million to secure her.

She has been a wonderful broodmare, as is well documented, and she was named Equus Champion Broodmare at this year’s awards.

The trio also identified Gimmethegreenlight as the stallion to send Real Princess to and Laidlaw boarded her mares at the top class and professional Varsfontein Stud, where Real Princess and her foals were always going to get the best care money can buy.

The next ingredient for a July winner is to be well handicapped and Kannemeyer and Malherbe ensured that would be the case by putting The Real Prince away afer his eye-catching running on fourth in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

That decision also included their belief that the horse would stay the 2200m trip of the July and, despite not many pundits agreeing with them on that score, they were ultimately proven correct. Sufficient stamina capacity is a vital ingredient of a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.

Their decision to not have a race for nearly three months in the build up to the July also entailed the horse having a particularly good trainer and Kannemeyer proved it again by winning his fourth Hollywoodbets Durban July, despite having to get the horse fit enough only through the tracks and facilities of Summerveld and having the official July gallop as the finishing touch.

Luck is one of the biggest ingredients and the first bit of luck for The Real Prince was that he landed a low draw of five, which was going to be a bonus for a horse who had proven speed but was not proven over further than a mile.

He would need to be able to relax from a long way out and that draw gave him a good chance to do so.

It is usually essential to be within striking distance turning into the short 450m straight in the July, because there are no bad horses in the July.

Even with a strong pace, making up a lot of ground on top horses at this course is very difficult as was shown in 1987 when Model Man never looked like catching Bush Telegraph despite an incredible effort to do so.

Even a champion like Dynasty needed to be not more than three lengths back at the top of the straight to catch another champion in Yard-arm.

A horse thus needs adequate gate-speed and early pace.

The Real Prince broke on terms and his early pace proved to be a valuable asset.

Of course an essential ingredient is a good jockey and Craig Zackey made a crucial move early. He eased a touch and was able to dive behind the two horses drawn three and four and he then used The Real Prince’s early pace to secure the rail just behind the horses drawn one and two, Oriental Charm and Madison Valley.

However, the next bit of luck that played out was the slow pace set by Oriental Charm.

Off a faster pace The Real Prince might have been shuffled further back than he wanted to be as Madison Valley is not normally a handy type.

Furthermore, The Real Prince’s sprinting speed was going to be a big asset in the dash for home off this slow pace.

A good temperament is another asset and The Real Prince relaxed beautifully under Zackey, who is known for his good hands.

The jockey and luck play a big part in the straight.

A split second decision must be made on which route to take to the finish and that can be the difference between winning and losing.

The luck factor is that the gaps must open at the right time.

Zackey made the wise decision to switch off the rail coming up the hill towards the straight.

It was going to be important to get a clear run in the relatively short straight off that slow pace and a dream gap opened, allowing Zackey to switch The Real Prince all the way to the outside of the leading vanguard.

He had fresh air in front of him as early as the 400m mark.

The next essential is the horse must have a good turn of foot (acceleration), followed by the ability and courage to stay all the way to the line.

The Real Prince has an exceptional turn of foot and this enabled him to fetch the favourite Eight On Eighteen by the 200m mark.

He then had the resolve and the stamina capacity to see off the fight back of Eight On Eighteen, although the bit that probably played the biggest part in that eventuality was him being well handicapped. He was 2,5kg better off then weight for age with Eight On Eighteen and hence the latter, who was also a three-time Gr 1 winner over 2000m, put in a better performance on paper and was a deserved winner of the Equus Middle Distance Champion award.

When looking at all the factors that are involved in winning the country’s most iconic horse race, it is little wonder that it has the reputation of being an enormously difficult race to win.