The 129th renewal of the R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July at HWB Greyville tomorrow headlines a bumper 12-race card packed with opportunities to win huge amounts. A R2-million Pick 6 carryover will generate a final pool of over R15 million. The July (Race 7) is a World Pool event and TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger pools will total tens of millions with a R1-million Quartet carryover set to deliver a total pool of some R10 million. Plus there’s a R500,000 carryover to Jackpot THREE as day turns into night. There’s also the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in the UK on Saturday and the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday. Buckle up for an all-star racing weekend!
Alan Greeff has won two of the last four renewals of the R150,000 Walmer Handicap over 1800m, including the 2024 contest. He doesn’t have a runner in the class of last year’s facile winner Joy And Peace, but Master Of My Fate filly First Wish is no slouch and should go close. She is twice successful on the Polytrack, finished third and within eight lengths of Greeff’s Durban July runner My Best Shot in the Listed East Cape Derby, and has the services of Andrew Fortune. That is the best exposed form in the race.
There are three Listed races on this seven-race card, including Race 5 over 2000m. Andrew Balding and Colin Keane, whose runner Kalpana was just edged out in last week’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, will seek some consolation with three-year-old Dubawi colt Windlord. He was found wanting in two recent Group 1 races, but takes a sharp drop in class and looks up to the task.
Masterofmyuniverse and Colourful King look set to do battle in Race 10 over 1200m. Masterofmyuniverse steps into Class 2 after back-to-back wins and he’s trialled well enough between runs to suggest he can keep progressing. Colourful King is a smart three-year-old who lost no admirers with a narrow defeat on his first 1200m run. Back to Sha Tin presents a fresh test, but he’s heading the right way. Race 1 is off at 10:00.
Leg 1 (13:40): Race 4 – 3000m DURBAN GOLD VASE (G3)
The lighter-weighted contenders are significantly under sufferance against the high-rated stayers, which tilts the balance in favour of the top weights. We could see a repeat of the Grade 3 TAB Derby in which King Pelles stayed on gamely to beat Holding Thumbs (0.5kg better off), but last year’s runner-up Shoot The Rapids also comes into the picture. Nebraas, the 2021 winner, will beat them all at best, but is getting long in the tooth and may have lost some of his earlier zip. Future Swing tends to over-race and that may cost him again. Up-and-coming Ahead Of The Facts is probably the best outsider.
Leg 2 (14:20): Race 5 – 1400m SPLASHOUT GOLDEN SLIPPER (G2)
Unbeaten Green Diamond is a potential star on the strength of two stakes wins in male company. While she hasn’t raced around the bend and tries the trip for the first time, she’ll be a tough nut to crack. Also yet to taste defeat is Eastern Cape raider Anotherdanceforme, who also goes to the turn for the first time after winning impressively over shorter. With a Listed win and a Grade 3 success over the course and distance to her name, Quickstepgal cannot be ignored. She had heavily-backed Educator 3,70 lengths behind her when winning the Devon Air Stakes. That said, Dean Kannemeyer’s runner is highly thought of and will probably get much closer this time. Educator’s stablemate, Keukenhof, got into the money in a Grade 1 race last time.
Leg 3 (15:00): Race 6 – 1400m OMODA GOLDEN HORSESHOE (G2)
The winner of this race often comes from the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at HWB Scottsville, including last year’s winner Cosmic Speed. The best performer from this year’s Medallion is second-placed Charming Cheetah, who had Military Command, Intensity and I’m A Fireball behind him, and holds Tin Pan Alley on earlier form. But Robyn Klaasen’s colt has a deep draw to overcome, unlike Grade 1 Allan Robertson runner-up Elegantrix, a big and powerful filly who bypasses the Golden Slipper and is considered good enough to take on the colts. On exposed form, she has the easy beating of Malmesbury Missile who holds Yippee Kiyay, Tenjiku and Count Of Rouen. The unknown quantity is smart debut winner Aristocratic.
Leg 4 (16:00): Race 7 – 2200m Hollywoodbets DURBAN JULY (G1)
The great race has once again drawn a typically competitive field with 18 runners set to face the starter and at least half of them carrying genuine claims. But all roads inevitably lead to star three-year-old Eight On Eighteen. The question is simple: do you bank on him and build your day around him or risk overcomplicating what could be a straightforward outcome? Here is the case for the favourite: While no three-year-old has won this race carrying more than 56kg in the last 58 years, Eight On Eighteen is arguably in a class of his own, being the first three-year-old in history to come into the July with Grade 1 wins in the Cape Derby, the Cape Met and the Daily News. Jockey Richard Fourie, who won the race on Legislate, Belgarion and Do It Again, indicated that Eight On Eighteen is one of the three best he has ridden. Fourie also believes that six months after the Met, Eight On Eighteen is better and stronger and that, rising four, he is not weighted out of contention at all. Among his dangers, last year’s winner Oriental Charm has had only one prep run as opposed to two last year and The Real Prince has an explosive turn of foot but hasn’t raced beyond 1600m. Selukwe showed impressive acceleration when winning the Greyville 1900, but may need more than 4kg from Eight On Eighteen to beat his younger rival. Immediate Edge is out at the weights with several others and while he is potentially a few lengths better than his rating, may find all of Atticus Finch, My Best Shot and Royal Victory hard to beat. Confederate ran to a higher mark than his current MR 118 when beating Fire Attack in the SA Classic but has stamina doubts. Gladatorian is expected to be running on late and is a must for the carryover Quartet. There has also been strong ante-post support for On My Honour, but for Eight On Eighteen this is his race to lose.
Leg 5 (17:00): Race 8 – 1600m RIDGEMONT GARDEN PROVINCE STAKES (G1)
The collateral form lines drawn through classic races for fillies and other major features over the last two seasons suggest another head-to-head contest between the talented arch-rivals Rascova and Double Grand Slam. Tactics and race-riding will determine the outcome. Other good fillies with chances are Mon Petit Cherie, Fatal Flaw and Spumante Dolce but Rascova and Double Grand Slam should suffice for the Pick 6.
Leg 6 (17:40): Race 9 – 1200m POST MERCHANTS (G3)
There is going to be good value here about Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Outlaw King. He is held by Truth, Cruise Control, O’Tenikwa and King Of The Gauls on their runs to Tenango in the Golden Horse Sprint, but has O’Tenikwa and King Of The Gauls well held on previous form. This is Outlaw King’s third run after a rest and he’s a serious contender. Battle-hardened and highest-rated William Robertson always has a chance, Buffalo Storm Cody is unbeaten in three runs since being gelded and useful Questioning hasn’t made the trip from Cape Town for the scenery.
* SUGGESTED R450 (25%) PICK PERM (Leg1 Race 4 @ 13:40):
Leg 1: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13
Leg 2: 5, 8, 9, 10, 11
Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13
Leg 4: 11
Leg 5: 6, 9
Leg 6: 5, 9, 10, 12, 13
* SUGGESTED R420 (50%) QUARTET PERM Race 7:
Banker 11 x 1/4/5/6/9/10/16/17 x 1/4/5/6/9/10/16/17 x FIELD.
* SUGGESTED R272 JACKPOT THREE PERM (Leg 1 Race 9 @ 17:40):
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13
Leg 2: 3, 10
Leg 3: FIELD (1-17)
Leg 4: 3
Six-year-old gelding The Star looks poised to add another victory to his impressive local record when he contests Race 5, a 1020m Class 4A event at Kuala Lumpur.
Since making a winning local debut in October last year, The Star has quickly climbed through the ranks, notching four wins and three placings from seven Malaysian starts. He was especially dominant in his most recent outing - a commanding 5.50-length win over 1100m at this track three weeks ago. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Fire Attack had an interruption to his training programme and missed his chance to run in the Durban July, but trainer Alec Laird said in a recent interview that his colt was not certain to see out 2200m anyway, and that the Champions Cup on Gold Cup Day was a better option. Fire Attack is one of the highest-rated runners in the country and won’t be too far off a peak in his warm-up run, the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m (Race 7). Choisanaada counts the scalps of two July runners Immediate Edge and Confederate among his recent trophies, but even if he several lengths better than his rating, he will have a bit to find with Laird’s ace runner.