David Thiselton

It is 34 years since a KZN-trained horse crossed the line first in the July and Gladatorian would be a fitting  horse to break KZN’s drought because trainer Stuart Ferrie was the long time assistant to Dennis Drier, who trained the clear cut 1992 winner Spanish Galliard.

Stuart was one of a number of Summerveld trainers who spoke about their yards’ chances on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

The Ricky Maingard-trained Space Walk was the last KZN horse to have won the big race, but he inherited the race 32 years ago in 1994 after Surfing Home was demoted from 1st place to 5th place for the interference he caused to Pas de Quoi.

There are five KZN-trained horses in this year’s renewal.

Gladatorian is the highest rated among them, while Peter Muscutt has two runners, Isivivane and I Salute You, Gareth van Zyl has King Pelles and Frank Robinson has Mocha Blend.

Gladatorian finished a decent seventh last year carrying joint-topweight of 60kg.

This time he has second topweight of 61,5kg under the new conditions of the race, but has a much kinder draw.

Stuart said, “I’m happy with the draw of 8, better than 16 last year. If he can be halfway down the field or a little behind halfway we will be happy.”

Gladatorian is known for his terrific turn of foot and finishing speed and has had a fine preparation into this year’s R10 million renewal.

Muzi Yeni rides.

Yeni has never won the July before, but has had a second, three thirds, two fourths and two fifths.

Stuart runs Town Crier in the first race over 1600m on the poly. He is four points higher for a win over course and distance last time. He was drawn in pole for the win and is drawn two now with Serino Moodley staying aboard.

Stuart said, “He’s got a nice chance.”

He runs yard favourite Capsaicin in the second race over 1600m on the poly. Stuart said this horse only knew too speeds on the training tracks, very slow and very fast. Unfortunately, he can’t be given relaxed workouts at a good pace because he just wants to take off. Whilst this is frustrating from a training perspective he compensates for it by trying his hardest in every race. From draw ten he is likely to take the lead. Stuart said Capsaicin also had “a nice chance.”

The Candice Bass-trained Viva’s Liberte (Vercingetorix) has been the most backed horse in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and not surprisingly considering how well he has been looking at Summerveld. Terry Fripp confirmed his well-being.

Fripp was asked to name the yard’s best runner on the day and he said it was Viva’s Liberte. He was confident the national champion jockey elect Craig Zackey would be able to settle him from draw nine.

Viva’s Liberte is at 6/1 together with Regulation, while Wish List and Note To Self remain the joint favourites at 11/2.

Louis Goosen has three runners on the day and said, “In The Amusnet Golden Slipper (over 1400m) we have Ferrari Flair, who ran third last time out in the Listed Amusnet Devon Air Stakes over this course and distance. She is drawn nicely again and Serino is back up on her and I definitely think she’s got an each-way chance.”

He continued, “In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe we have a very, very good horse, Erik Dubois. He’s a giant and I’m not quite sure I have done enough with him, but I think he has a big career ahead of him and I think he is a definite runner and at nice long odds. He is a nice each-way bet because he’s working exceptionally well, although one of the reasons for his long odds is his wide draw.”

He concluded, “In race 12 we have Captain’s Pride, it’s very difficult because we are drawn at Clairwood but are racing at Greyville, but she’s well and she will be running on strongly.”

Garth Puller runs Imperial Power in the 2nd race over 1600m on the poly, albeit from draw 11 out of 12, and said, “He enjoys the poly and has good form. Hlengwa rides and I am expecting him to kick on strongly in the finish. It’s very competitive, but I think he could get into the quartet.”

Royal Sword is drawn eight in the same race and Garth said, “He’s also not drawn too well and he’s a horse who likes to gallop a bit big, but I am expecting a nice run from him. I always thought the mile might be stretching him, but Richard Fourie got off him last time and said don’t be scared to even go 2000m. He’s a big galloper, so I’m hoping for a nice run.”

Garth runs Mohave Prince (Captain Of All) in the Listed Premier Gateway International Handicap over 1600m and said, “He has won five out of 12 and four out of his last five starts and he is only a three-year-old. I have skipped the big races, because they would have penalised him too much. He’s won his last two over a mile, but I do think a mile is on the sharp side for him. He will prefer 1800m to 2000m. But he is in fine form and  will give a good account of himself.”

He runs Sign Of Fate (Master Of My Fate) in the last over 1200m and said, “It might be a bit on the sharp side, but she did win her last start over this trip. She’s doing very well at home and has a good chance.”

Tony Rivalland runs Magma Magic in the first race on the poly over 1600m, although he has draw eleven out of 12. He goes for a hattrick and Tony said, “His form has been very good. He has actually won three out of his last four and ran a good place in between. He’s doing exceptionally well, but all of his form is on the grass. If it was on the grass I would be confident. On the poly I’m not so sure.”

Craig Eudey spoke on behalf of the Mike Miller yard and said, “Winter Games is very, very well ahead of the Listed Premier Gateway International Handicap and is probably our best runner on the day.”

“In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe we have Riff Raff Boy (Chimichuri Run), who is very well, and Steamy Windows (Master Of My Fate), who is also very well and is a very nice horse but he just has the draw to contend with.”

“We have Warrior Royale in the 11th and she is very well too and we seem to have got her problem of going into the pens right at the moment.”

RACE 1

10 SOMMERSTERN   3 PLACE OF PRACTICE   8 SONG TO THE MOON   11 MAGMA MAGIC

Preview: Tough handicap. SOMMERSTERN (10) made a winning KZN debut in good fashion. He has a tricky draw and makes his poly debut which is a concern. PLACE OF PRACTICE (3) was a recent maiden winner but enjoyed the step up in trip and the poly track. SONG TO THE MOON (8) has consistent Cape form over further but is never far back and if taking to the poly he will be competitive. MAGMA MAGIC (11) has come well of late winning his last two and is unbeaten under Tristan Godden. If he takes to the poly he will be a factor. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-8-11).

RACE 2

11 IMPERIAL POWER   3 PLEASE BE TRUE   8 ROYAL SWORD   12 SUN DANCE KID

Preview: IMPERIAL POWER (11) is back on his favourite surface. He has consistent form and should feature in a wide open race. PLEASE BE TRUE (3) has some useful Cape form in good company. His last two starts were in the soft so the poly should suit. ROYAL SWORD (8) is a poly specialist and started favourite at his last three. SUN DANCE KID (12) has the widest draw but has excellent poly form and a 1.5kg allowance from the saddle. (Andrew Harrison: 11-3-8-12).

RACE 3

10 LA PULGA   12 OTTO LUYKEN   3 MAGIC VERSE   5 IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA

Preview: LA PULGA (10) showed up well in his local debut from a wide draw. He boasts smart Cape form. OTTO LUYKEN (12) is a past winner of this race. He showed his best form last time out. MAGIC VERSE (3) has made steady recent improvement and should be cherry-ripe. IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA (5) is holding form well and was narrowly beaten last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 10-12-3-5).

RACE 4

8 SHOOT THE RAPIDS  1 CURIOUS GIRL   10 AHEAD OF THE FACTS   12 VIHAAN’S BOMB

Preview: CURIOUS GIRL (1) goes this trip for the first time but stays well has the best of the draw and a light weight. AHEAD OF THE FACTS (10) has shown up well in two warm-ups on this course. He should be right there. SHOOT THE RAPIDS (8) stays well and is in mustard form. He should be involved in the finish. VIHAAN’S BOMB (13) won well to much weaker last time out but he stays well and also has a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 8-1-10-12).

RACE 5

7 ALICE B TOKLAS   3 ROYAL TIARA   2 TUDOR ROSE   10 OCEAN MISTRESS

Preview: ALICE B TOKLAS (7) won well first up over course and distance. She has a decent draw and can follow up. ROYAL TIARA (3) was second best behind Alice B Toklas when last they met but is likely to have come on from that run. TUDOR ROSE (2) took on males when shedding her maiden on debut. The blinkers go one from a handy draw. OCEAN MISTRESS (10) shows promise and will enjoy the step up in trip. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-2-10).

RACE 6

1 VIBE CHECK   10 KAZENOYONI   11 ST HARRY   7 RED SPICE

Preview: VIBE CHECK (1) has the best of the draw and is a strong front runner. He rates the one to eat. KAZENOYONI (10) was second best behind Vibe Check when last they met but expect a change of tactics coming from off the pace. PRAYERSANDPROMISES (12) was an easy winner when stepped up in trip. RED SPICE (7) may just have needed his last run. Up in trip but has smart Cape form. ST HARRY (11) returns from a break but shows promise and should put in a big effort. (Andrew Harrison: 1-10-11-7).

RACE 7

13 MOCHA BLEND   17 KING PELLES   4 STAR MAJOR   7 WISH LIST

  Preview: MOCHA BLEND (13) showed her class when winning the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup. She was getting weight from most but won with authority. She has had a faultless preparation and should put in a big run. KING PELLES (17) has a tricky draw to overcome but stays well and was at his peak this time last year. STAR MAJOR (4) is the best three-year-old in the country and comes off two cracking wins in the Guineas and the Daily News. He tends to come from a long way off the pace and will need some luck in running in an 18-horse field. WISH LIST (7) is at the top of the three-year-old fillies and is a class act. She won her last start from a seemingly hopeless position. (Andrew Harrison: 13-17-4-7).

RACE 8

10 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM   6 MON PETIT CHERIE   7 QUICKSTEPGAL   8 KEUKENHOF

Preview: DOUBLE GRAND SLAM (10) has a tricky draw to contend with as she tries for back-to-back Garden Province wins. She ran a cracked over a distance too short last outing and should go close again. MON PETIT CHERIE (6) just failed to catch QUICKSTEPGAL (7) when jumping from a wide gate. She has a better draw here and can turn the tables although it should be tight. KEUKENHOF (8) has been close-up to star filly Wish List at her last two and a win would not be out of order. (Andrew Harrison: 10-6-7-8).

RACE 9

9 BUFFALO STORM CODY   8 SPEED MAN   1 KAALVOET   6 JERUSALEMA RAIN

Preview: BUFFALO STORM CODY (9) has a big weight and was narrowly beaten by JERUSALEMA RAIN (6) last time out.  He meets his rival on 4kg better terms and should turn the tables. The blinkers are back on. SPEEDMAN (8) has won four of his six starts and has a handy galloping weight. He has a fair draw and looks more than capable. KAALVOET (1) was a touch unlucky last run in the Gr2 Golden Horse, however, he got a hefty five-point jump in the handicap. (Andrew Harrison: 9-8-1-6).

RACE 10

5 GREEN GATEWAY   2 MOHAVE PRINCE   7 IMPOSING   14 JP’S PALACE

Preview: Wide open. GREEN GATEWAY (5) steps up to a mile but did finish strongly to win last time out with first time blinkers. MOHAVE PRINCE (2) has come good recently and his last win was over course and distance. He has a favourable draw. IMPOSING (7) was touched off by July runner Zeitz last time out. He has won over course and distance and has a fair draw. JP’S PALACE (14) has the worst of the draw but is never far back. With some luck in runner he will be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-7-14).

RACE 11

1 ANCHORAGE   3 BUTTERCUP BABY   6 ONE SMART COOKIE   11 MISS WORLD

Preview: ANCHORAGE (1) has improved in blinkers. If she takes to the poly from the best of the draw she will be a strong contender. BUTTERCUP BABY (3) took on much stronger from a tough draw last time out. Her last two wins were on the poly. ONE SMART COOKIE (6) is seldom far behind and should put in another honest run. MISS WORLD (11) has drawn wide but is seldom out of the money and is in good form. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-6-11).

RACE 12

12 CAPTAIN’S PRIDE   2 SCARLET STARLET   4 WHAT A STAR   9 THOUGHT CONTROL

Preview: CAPTAIN’S PRIDE (12) has a wide draw to contend with but has useful recent form and has done well on the poly. SCARLET STARLET (2) may just have needed her last run after making a winning debut. From a good draw she can feature. WHAT A STAR (4) is a poly specialist over course and distance and has a favourabe draw. THOUGHT CONTROL (9) has been knocking at the door and has shown up well in her last two over course and distance. (Andrew Harrison: 12-2-4-9).

Andrew Harrison

Race Coast are expecting the full house signs to go up at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning in anticipation of Africa’s greatest race, the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

On-course patrons will be treated to a carnival of entertainment but the real entertainment comes at 4pm as the 18 runners line up for the big race.

It is a competitive line-up and being a true handicap the theory is that all have an equal chance but the scratching of former ante-post favourite Star Major and The Ultimate King has opened up the race even more.

Mocha Blend’s win in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup was at long odds but those that had paid attention were not wholly surprised. Frank Robinson’s filly is a strapping individual and has always had a touch of class. Since her Summer Cup victory Robinson has steered clear of any races that would have affected her handicap rating and 56.5kg is a handy galloping weight where Legal Counsel shoulders top weight of 62kg.

Her two warm-up runs were just that, both over distances well short of her best and in both instances she was running on smartly at the death. She goes the extra 200m for the first time but she handled the tough Turffontein 2000m comfortably and with rider Tristan Godden riding with supreme confidence of late, Mocha Blend has a lot in her favour.

Gareth van Zyl saddles the stayer King Pelles who was at the peak of his powers last year and won the Gr3 Gold Vase over 3000m on the July card. It is well documented that most horses peak in yearly cycles and Van Zyl appears to have timed King Pelles preparation to a nicety.

Although last season’s wins all came over much further, Van Zyl has taken a similar route to Mocha Blend, running in races  seemingly short of his best. However, he has been showing a sharp turn of foot in his build-up, second to Okavango in the Gr3 King’s Cup over a mile and running on late behind Zeitz in a handicap over 1400m where he was giving his fellow July runner 6kg and although they meet on the same weight terms, King Pelles is tried and tested over the trip while Zeitz has yet to venture past 1800m.

The July would not be the same without a handful of Justin Snaith runners and he saddles five of the 18.  59-year-old Andrew Fortune has been a revelation in his comeback to the saddle and would dearly love to retire with a July notch in his gun handle. He has been working alongside Snaith in the mornings and earmarked the filly Wish List a long way back and is adamant that the filly is the best of the Snaith contenders.

After winning the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes followed by the Lucky Fish Cape Derby against the colts, she comes into the race off a string of four straight victories but not all have been plain sailing. She started at prohibitively short odds for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington and looked a beaten horse halfway up the straight. But somehow Fortune extracted extra from the filly and she snaffled the older Minogue on the line. Candice and Tammy Dawson’s mare is now 1kg better off but Snaith is a master at getting his runners to peak on the day and Wish List may well be able to come on enough to beat the weights.

Heading the handicap is Legal Counsel who has it all to do with 62kg to shoulder. However, he comes into the race off a narrow loss to the smart Questioning over 1600m and arguably his best run to date was his second to See It Again in the WSB Cape Town Met. He has a good draw to help his cause.

Snaith has a further string to his bow in Native Ruler who comes off a comfortable win in the Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m. Keagan de Melo got a ‘feel’ for his July mount in that race and will know exactly what is under him.

Viva’s Liberte’s last win came over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville back in October last year but has been knocking at the door in useful company since. She comes in off the magical July weight of 53kg and can go back-to-back for owner Khaya Stables after their victory last year with The Real Prince.

The grey Zeitz will have plenty of supporters and comes off the back of two wins for Andre Nel. He has come to hand at just the right time and also comes into the race off a handy galloping weight. Against him is that he has not been the trip and the blinkers come off.

There is an international flavour to the race with Zak Lloyd, fresh from a win at Royal Ascot, French rider Mickaelle Michel, Chad Scofield and Mark du Plessis all in the mix. Interesting is that the two scratchings has seen the two women jockeys in the race.  Rachel Venniker has the ride on first reserve Choisaanada for Erico Verdonese who has his first runner in the race while Michel, who was down to ride ante-post favourite Star Major, got a ride through the back door after the scratching of The Ultimate King and she now partners rank outsider Curious Girl for Mike and Mathew de Kock.

The July is under-pinned by 11 other top class races that race into the night under lights in what promises to be a festive occasion.

For those not able to make the races, the day will be screened live on GTV, DStv 240 and SABC Sport.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chepstow and Sandown (UK) – 3 July 2026