Durban – On the eve of the launch of the 2025 Champions Season this coming Saturday, South African horse racing awoke to a brand new chapter in its history on the Workers’ Day public holiday today with the good news that the acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group (Hollywood/Hollywoodbets) has received the final stamp of approval of the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

In a transaction that dates back to the commencement of negotiations in 2023, and culminating in a Special General Meeting of Members in September of that year, KZN racing is set to benefit from a R500 million (and rapidly escalating) rescue injection by Hollywood in a seriously ambitious and committed plan to resurrect the failing industry in the richly culturally diverse province that has enjoyed a passionate following of the sport for well over a century. 

It is a reality that, given the combination of the prevailing economic climate and dramatic changes in the betting landscape, horse racing countrywide has languished in the doldrums for a large part of the 21st century. 

The move by Hollywoodbets is thus seen as the dawn of a new era of management and capitalisation, that will introduce a focus on the best utilisation of resources, while embracing a wider universal appeal that will keep pace with ever evolving modern entertainment trends, directed at a wider customer market.

The investment by Hollywoodbets is set to ensure job security for the estimated 6,000 people employed directly and indirectly by the industry and peripheral services in the province, and foster broader stakeholder interest and incentive for investment through the modernisation of facilities in venues and training centres, while also upgrading prize money, which has lagged over the past 30 years.

The operational aspect of the introduction of a new-look racing programme, coupled with incentives to promote racehorse ownership and boost field sizes, an important component of the key driver of improved betting turnovers, is already well advanced.

Whilst ownership transfers on 1 May, the investment began months ago. A huge leap of faith was required. Even before this final approval by the KZNERA, Hollywoodbets had confidently commenced its considerable investment. To date there has been extensive capital investment in facilities, which includes wide-scale renovation of buildings and equipment upgrades, as well as a revamp of the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack. Day-night racing has proved immensely popular in KwaZulu-Natal and a multi-million-Rand upgrade of the lighting facilities at the home of the historic Hollywoodbets Durban July, brings the Durban City racetrack on a par with leading night-racing venues internationally. To have delayed these essential projects until formal approval had been given would have resulted in none of the work commencing until after the Champions Season.

The Summerveld Training Centre is also set for major improvements. Plans are well advanced for an extensive capital injection that will result in material upgrade of stabling, Grooms accommodation, roofing, roads and other infrastructure. 

Hollywood CEO, Suren Rampersadh, welcomed the announcement and confirmed that it was now all systems go for the company’s game changing plans to revitalise a sport that enjoys a unique place in the hearts and minds of passionate locals and the whole Purple Team.

“We wish to reaffirm that we are fully committed to securing the future of the horse racing industry in KwaZulu-Natal and are privileged to be in a custodial position to carry the baton into what we firmly believe will be a bright and prosperous future for the sport and all stakeholders in the region and beyond. The investment that commenced some time ago will continue, with plans to change the face and broad appeal of the business that operates in one of the most exciting sports internationally, with a global reach of over 584 million households,” added Rampersadh. “This has been a long journey, and we are super-proud that our team has got it over the line. I am sure that our pride is more than matched by the relief and renewed enthusiasm of all stakeholders”.

The encouraging news comes in excellent time for the much-anticipated launch of the 2025 Champions Season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Three months of action-packed top-level horseracing will be headlined by the 129th renewal of the historic Hollywoodbets Durban July, which will be run over 2200m on Saturday 5 July 2025.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Redcar (UK) – 1 May 2025.

RACE 1     

10 VERSACE ONTHETRACK 2 CHERICHERILADY 4 HAWKSDALE 3 GIRL IN VERDITE

Preview: 10 VERSACE ONTHETRACK made a good debut and is drawn on the right side. 2 CHERICHERILADY is by Vercingetorix out of a Var mare. 4 HAWKSDALE  is by Erik The Red out of a HenrytheNavigator mare. 3 GIRL IN VERDITE is by What A Winter out of a Galileo mare. (David Thiselton 10-2-4-3)

RACE 2     

5 TIME WILL TELL 7 EIGHT HATS 2 CARNARVON 1 BINGO

Preview: 5 TIME WILL TELL has done well in all three starts and should be right there. 7 EIGHT HATS has run two good races and is drawn on the right side. 2 CARNARVON  is capable of improvement. 1 BINGO has run some fair races and should be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 5-7-2-1)

RACE 3     

8 BLUE QUARTZ 10 MIGHTY EAGLE 6 MIRROR FLECTION 7 GREEN STREET

Preview: 8 BLUE QUARTZ went close over 1200m last time and on pedigree should relish the step up in trip so can do well from a good draw. 10 MIGHTY EAGLE has run two fair races and should be involved in the finish with Gavin Lerena aboard. 6 MIRROR FLECTION made a fair debut from a tricky draw and could earn here from another tricky draw. 7 GREEN STREET has been a bit expensive to follow to date but is capable of earning another cheque. (David Thiselton 8-10-6-7)

RACE 4     

10 TRIED AND TRUE 8 MOUNTAIN HIGH 5 PALACE DANCER 2 CAPE LIGHTS

Preview: 10 TRIED AND TRUE has been disappointing in her last few starts but the drop in trip might suit and she has a nice draw. 8 MOUNTAIN HIGH has a fair draw and should be right there. 5 PALACE DANCER is in fine form and is distance suited but does have a tough draw to overcome. 2 CAPE LIGHTS is capable of earning in this line up. (David Thiselton 10-8-5-2)

RACE 5     

3 SAFE SPACE 2 SALUTE THE FLAG 4 SHINTO SHRINE 5 SPRING TRADITION

Preview: 3 SAFE SPACE is about six points higher in the merit ratings and has a tough draw, but won well last time and could repeat. 2 SALUTE THE FLAG has gone close over this trip before so should be in the shake-up with Piere Strydom up. 4 SHINTO SHRINE is in fair form and has a plum draw over an ideal trip. 5 SPRING TRADITION has another go at 1600m and might now be ready to stay this trip but he does have a wide draw. (David Thiselton 3-2-4-5) 

RACE 6     

2 TO THE RESCUE 11 INSTANT ATTRACTION 6 ARLINGTON ACTION 5 FLAMBOYANT FLYER

Preview: 2 TO THE RESCUE  is a progressive sort who should do well here although he does have a tricky draw. 11 INSTANT ATTRACTION won well in the maidens over this trip and off a reasonable 72 merit rating could be in the shake-up. 6 ARLINGTON ACTION is distance suited and should be right there. 5 FLAMBOYANT FLYER is capable of earning in this field. (David Thiselton 2-11-6-5)

RACE 7     

2 CYMRIC 3 YAMADORI 4 SILVER TUDOR 5 PASSAGE OF POWER

Preview: 2 CYMRIC has plenty of ability and the form of his last win has been franked. 3 YAMADORI is in good form and has drawn on the right side. 4 SILVER TUDOR enjoys this course and distance and should be running on late from a nice high draw. 5 PASSAGE OF POWER is capable of being in the shake-up here. (David Thiselton 2-3-4-5)

RACE 8     

9 WAR OF KINGDOMS 2 SECRET CHORD 6 LEGENDARY 10 PRINCE OF KILDARE

Preview: 9 WAR OF KINGDOMS has good form and runs off a reasonable merit rating but does have a tricky draw of two to overcome. 2 SECRET CHORD also has a tough draw but is in fine form and should be in the shake-up. 6 LEGENDARY is drawn on the right side and after a fair run first time out the maidens could earn here. 10 PRINCE OF KILDARE is capable of being in the shake-up here. (David Thiselton 9-2-6-10)

Durban – The R750 000 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (Gr2) over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 3 May, the traditional curtain raiser to Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal, has attracted a quality field of twelve horses, including last year’s winner Royal Aussie. Trained by Justin Snaith, Royal Aussie will be partnered by charismatic Andrew Fortune and from a decent draw, the 5yo son of Royal Mo will have every chance of defending his crown.

Cousin Casey, runner-up in last season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July (Gr1) and HKJC Champions Cup (Gr1), makes his first appearance since then but faces a tough challenge from the worst of the draw. He did also run second behind Royal Aussie in the 2024 IOS Drill Hall Stakes and is very much at home at the City track. Raymond Danielson has been announced as See It Again’s jockey for Champions Season and the pair will jump from a handy draw. Gladatorian also flies the flag for the local contingent and the classy Stuart Ferrie inmate should make a bold bid for top honours.

Lucinda Woodruff has made a flying start to her Champions Season campaign and Café Culture, winner of the 2024 Post Merchants, will be looking to take full advantage of pole position. The Real Prince, a fluent winner of the Jet Master Stakes, is highly regarded by Dean Kannemeyer and will be doing his best work late while the Vaughan Marshall-trained 4yo Questioning, who is very game and super consistent, is not without a chance of troubling his rivals here. It all adds up to a very competitive and exciting renewal of the IOS Drill Hall Stakes.

The R750 000 World Sports Betting Guineas (Gr2) over 1600m has attracted a small but brilliant line-up with dual Grade 1 winner Eight On Eighteen going head to head with Fire Attack and Cosmic Speed. Both Eight On Eighteen and Fire Attack may now prefer a tougher test of stamina which could open the door for Cosmic Speed to add to his excellent victory in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m in March. Eight On Eighteen is rated marginally ahead of Fire Attack and Cosmic Speed by the handicappers but Justin Snaith’s exciting 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber has bigger fish to fry in the coming months. Sail The Seas and Cats Pajamas are progressive 3yo’s and can get into the mix.

A full field lines up for the R500 000 WSB Fillies Guineas (Gr2) over 1600m and the race has a wide open appearance. Green Sapphire brings solid form into the race but has a tricky draw to overcome whereas the highly-rated VJ’s Angel will jump from pole position. VJ’s Angel will need to put an inexplicably bad run in the Empress Club Stakes (Gr1) behind her but, judged on her best form, she is certainly one of the leading lights and is very much course suited. Oxalis Gold has done no wrong recently and will appreciate stepping up in trip while sparingly-raced stable companion, Spumante Dolce, has the class and quality to be a major player here. 

Racing gets under way at 11:40 on Saturday with the running of the annual World Sports Betting “Dash” over 400m which always proves a hit amongst on-course fans. Ten runners will face the starter and another thrilling display of pure speed is anticipated.

Andrew Harrison

If Sunday’s three-year-old features at Hollywoodbets Scottsville  were a dress rehearsal for Saturday, May 31, they were more like scattering the pieces of a thousand piece puzzle than providing any solid pointers to the possible outcomes of the Gr1 Gold Medallion or the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Some mitigation was that the going was posted as soft and the usual ‘highway’ up the inside rail appeared to be a touch softer than the rest of the track.

When Corne Spies raids Hollywoodbets Scottsville it is always worth taking notice and the fact that he decided to let Elegantrix take on what looked to be a strong contingent of males in the Gr3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes should have rung some warning bells.

Spies has always rated his filly in spite of drawing blanks in two Highveld features but on Sunday she showed plenty of pace under Gavin Lerena and kept finding to the line to hold off a determined challenge from Good For You with the blinkered Malmesbury Missile a well-beaten third.

Favourite Military Command showed early pace before dropping back while both I’m A Fireball and Fortress Of Fire seemed to show an aversion to the ground on the inside rail. All three runners were subject to veterinary scrutiny but nothing untoward was detected.

Quickstepgal is a filly with a lot of class about her. She was all over the place on debut, finishing down the field behind Polar Light, but smashed them second time out, strolling home by nearly six lengths. That transformed into an excellent victory in the Gr3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes and Tienie Prinsloo will surely have her sights set for the Allan Robertson. 

Game in defeat was the strapping Mike Miller-trained grey Captain’s Envy who pushed the winner all the way to the line and the extra 100m of the Allan Robertson will be right up her alley. 

Disappointments in the race were Wild Wild Green and Keukenhof. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly showed early pace before fading out of it and Wild Wild Green, who went off favourite, never got in a blow. Both fillies raced up the inside rail and both jockey’s reporting something amiss and not persevering. The course vets found nothing out of the ordinary.

Mai Sensation rounded off the afternoon features as JP van der Merwe threaded Lucinda Woodruff’s filly through the traffic to catch the smart Asiye Phambili a few jumps before the line. It was an excellent win by Mai Sensation as she had it all to do getting past horses with the field bunching up the centre of the track as they shifted away from the inside going. It was also a superb effort from Asiye Phambili, back with Duncan Howells after a successful Cape raid, who gave the winner all of 8.5kg and Sean Veale getting this reins tangled. The two will possibly meet again in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint which is run at WFA so there will be a big turn around in the weights. 

Earlier in the day a gamble on the Andre Nel-trained O’Tenikwa was landed, albeit by the narrowest of margins. Supported in from an opening call of 16-1 to start 33-10, it was a three-way dash to the line with O’Tenikwa squeaking home a nose ahead of the tremendously game and consistent Fastnet Filly with Luhamba Phambili a further short-head back in third.

Favourite Teflon Man may well have been another victim of the going as he failed to quicken with stable companion Outlaw King finishing fourth. A runner who may be worth following is fifth-placed King Of The Gauls  who showed vast improvement on his Cape form. With this run under his girth a crack at the Gr2 Golden Horse must be on the cards.