South Africa’s richest graded stakes race, the R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, has attracted a high quality capacity field of 18 plus 2 reserves for the 126th renewal which will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 2 July.
The final field announcement and barrier gate draw was hosted by the big race sponsors at their Head Office in Umhlanga Rocks at a slickly organised festive function hosted by Hollywoodbets ambassador Carol Tshabalala and veteran Graeme Hawkins, and attended by leading horseracing and sporting personalities on Tuesday morning.
The event was broadcast on Supersport and on Racing 240, and was streamed live on the fast-growing KZN-based horseracing broadcast platform, GallopTV.
The 2022 renewal includes no real surprises after the big race panel had to convene to filter out 8 of the 28 final entries.
The line up on the first Saturday of July hosts a top notch nationally representative field of thoroughbreds from the yards of champion trainers and past Durban July winners.
Justin Snaith draws Pomp And Power’s gate (Pic -Candiese Lenferna)
Reigning SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith saddles 5 runners in his bid to win the Durban July for the sixth time.
The Snaith attack includes topweight and dual Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, as well as two past winners in the ‘old man’ Do It Again (2018,2019) and Belgarion (2020). The latter will be ridden by multiple champion record-breaking rider Piere Strydom, who returns from an injury enforced break to attempt to equal Anton Marcus’ record of five winners.
Strydom won the Durban July winners with London News (1996), Trademark (2021), Pomodoro (2012) and The Conglomerate (2016).
In the new generation of jockeys, Richard Fourie, who partners Cape Derby star Pomp And Power for Justin Snaith.is next best with 3 winners, in Legislate (2014), Do It Again (2019) and Belgarion in 2020. They were all trained by Snaith!
1st R2940000, 2nd R940000, 3rd R470000, 4th R230000, 5th R120000, 6th R60000, 7th R60000, 8th R60000, 9th R60000, 10th R60000
Hollywoodbets DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
Open to all Horses
WFA: 3yrs-2kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Aragosta | 53 | 118 | A | Warren Kennedy | Mike de Kock | |
| 2 | 2 | Do It Again | 58.5 | 126 | A | Aldo Domeyer | Justin Snaith | |
| 3 | 3 | Hoedspruit | 53.5 | 116 | A | Craig Zackey | Justin Snaith | |
| 4 | 4 | Linebacker | 58.5 | 126 | BA | Grant van Niekerk | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 5 | 5 | Puerto Manzano (ARG) | 55.5 | 120 | BA | Raymond Danielson | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 6 | 6 | Zapatillas | 53 | 118 | A | Luyolo Mxothwa | Brett Crawford | |
| 7 | 7 | Waterberry Lane | 53 | 117 | A | Keagan de Melo | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 8 | 8 | Pomp And Power | 53 | 118 | A | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith | |
| 9 | 9 | Jet Dark | 60 | 129 | A | Bernard Fayd’Herbe | Justin Snaith | |
| 10 | 10 | Safe Passage | 54.5 | 122 | A | Muzi Yeni | Mike de Kock | |
| 11 | 11 | Belgarion | 59.5 | 128 | A | Piere Strydom | Justin Snaith | |
| 12 | 12 | Sparkling Water | 53.5 | 116 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 13 | 13 | Kommetdieding | 60 | 129 | A | Gavin Lerena | HWJ Crawford/M Rix | |
| 14 | 14 | Red Saxon | 53 | 118 | A | *Rachel Venniker | Joe Soma | |
| 15 | 15 | Second Base | 54.5 | 118 | BAM | Kabelo Matsunyane | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 16 | 16 | Al Muthana (AUS) | 58 | 125 | A | Callan Murray | Mike de Kock | |
| 17 | 17 | Astrix | 56.5 | 122 | BA | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Paul Peter | |
| 18 | 18 | Flying Carpet | 53.5 | 116 | TBA | Calvin Habib | Sean Tarry | |
| 19 | 0 | Airways Law | 53 | 108 | A | Reserve 1 | Andre Nel | |
| 20 | 0 | Nebraas | 54.5 | 118 | BA | Reserve 2 | Sean Tarry | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,10,12,16) (2,3,8,9,11) (5,15) (18,20) | ||||||||
Multiple SA Champion and international ambassador Mike de Kock saddles a quartet of July runners, and will be keen to get back on to the illustrious honour roll, having last saddled the brilliant filly Igugu to win in 2011.
Coincidentally, De Kock saddles the only member of the fairer sex in the 2022 renewal in the Silvano daughter Sparkling Water, who races in the famous Wilgerbosdrift silks.
Former multiple SA Champion Sean Tarry has won the Durban July twice and his two-handed attack is headed by Gr1 Summer Cup hero Flying Carpet and champion stayer Nebraas, who is a reserve runner.
Defending champion Kommetdieding will again be ridden by Gavin Lerena and ‘lucky’ owner Ashwin Reynolds drew gate 13 for his star.
2021 Durban July winning owner Ashwin Reynolds raises a glass to the title defence
Milnerton trainer Dean Kannemeyer has won the Durban July three times and saddles Waterberry Lane who races in a partnership of the late Mike Rattray and his wife, Norma.
“I am pleased with the 7 draw. He is a very smart 3yo and nothing would mean more to me than to honour Mike Rattray’s memory and enormous investment in the sport by winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July. If we don’t have a ticket we don’t have a chance and it’s the race that we all want to win,” Kannemeyer told the Sporting Post.
SA Champion apprentice elect Rachel Venniker gets a big chance to show her mettle at her first Durban July engagement as she partners Gr1 SA Classic winner Red Saxon for veteran Turffontein conditioner, Joey Soma. In what could be an omen, the Soma 3yo drew the same 14 gate as his illustrious stablemate Got The Greenlight in 2021.
On Thursday morning the Hollywoodbets Greyville gates open at 06h30 as the Hollywoodbets Durban July class of 2022 will be put through their paces in the official public gallops at the Theatre Of Champions.
The whole family is invited to enjoy the visual spectacle of these magnificent thoroughbreds in the flesh. Premier coffee and pastries will be served.
The Winning Form and official Gold Circle racecard for the Hollywoodbets Durban July day racemeeting will be on sale at the Gallops on Thursday morning.
See the big race betting here!
The 2022 Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion theme is ‘Show Me The Honey’ – read more about it and how to join in the fun on Africa’s greatest day of horseracing by visiting www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za.
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43 comments on “Hollywoodbets Durban July – The Class Of 2022!”
Go striker your baby
These guys on tv who seem to forget horses’ names really annoy me. They’ll be like Justin’s horse or Erik’s horse, etc.
Why did Kannemeyer enter Cosmic Highway and Russian Rock initially I wonder ? Just to withdraw them. Both of them would have been big runners. How Russian Rock did not make the final field someone must please explain cause I just can’t see it ??? Cosmic Highway on the form is right on top of all these 3yo in this field and on his runs in the Cape distance would not have been an issue. Russian Rock on weights would have been almost best handicapped in this July.
Hi John
After Cosmic Highway’s KZN Guineas run, Dean opted to target him rather at the Golden Horse Sprint.
Russian Rock was eliminated – not withdrawn. He did run a cracker after traffic issues in the Drill Hall and stayed on doggedly in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. Maybe he was unlucky, but there are inevitably hard-luck stories.
Pomp And Power home and hosed!
Yeni will win good price
Then explain Second Baee ? Still waiting for the day someone can actually explain this log !!! But hell m8ght freeze over before that happebs… as for Cosmic Highway. Would have been a BIG r7nner over 2200, but then opts for sprinting and for a way smaller purse ??? and how did it go in the Golden Loom ??? It just does not make sense. Then it should never have been in the July noms. It turned 2nd last for home in Guiness and almost won… then back to sprints ???
Awesome field and interesting field, possibly a predictable field, non the less a competive and balanced field consisting of champion WP and wanna B Gauties,, especially after rugby inauguration.
If Pomp and power runs in the first 3 I’ll eat it
And no Anton Marcus
I agree with you John the qualifications criteria needs to be given clarity by Hollywood bets did my money first with cosmic then Russian and s few others Russian rock should have made to he final field ahead of hoedspurit and second base.
Thanks for the backup Craig. I know of a couple of punters whch feels the same…if this continue there will only be less and less punters left. Punters will just leave the sport.
Russian Rock is his own worst enemy. Refuses to settle. Fights his rider.
Pomp and Power catch if u can Al Muthana
No Anton Marcus? Does any know why? He has been riding Do It Again. Maybe he is not well?
Gary – Turf I would start sharpening my carving knife now if I was you. 😉
Great field. I think the winner will come from the runners carrying 53.5 kg or less.
Hi Geoff
We have been informed that Anton is not well.
Good luck to gold circle and partnership Hollywood bets for staging this prestigious event looking forward to the fashion entertainment and the big bonus the main race at 1400 hrs may the best horse and its stable win but overall racing for the day to b a winner Peter Govender gauteng
Hi Peter
The main race is at 16h00
Just some Advise on Antepost Betting. Be Careful to Put Antepost Money on July Horses. I Learned my Lesson on 3 Occasions. Horses that you Think will make the Final Field, get Scratched.
Testing for Vaughn sorry mr ed
Russian Rock has never been tried with blinkers ? Every time he settles… he performs at the highest level
SP will win the July….
Pomp and power Hoedspruit two horse race
It WL be a competitive race. Lots of the runners has a winning chance but I guess I will side with Linebacker.
Strawberry lane will destroy this field, watch the daily news it was a prep run
The July has always been a race making it difficult for the punters to win unless the favourite wins. I believe Linebacker has a great chance of winning the race followed by safe passage and hoedspruit.
oops, sorry ED, e mail probs, try again……….SP will win the July.
Frankie Zackey… Today’s Bipot pool 107k PA pool 217k and the P6 pool 388k it’s a absolute but absolute disgrace…. Your 1st race can’t start earlier than 12:30 the early start to our racing is killing our pools … wake up quickly guy’s
Safe Passage has a good Chance.
Frankie Zackey… 3 year old giving the 4 year old filly Sparkling Water weight no no no, I’ll be very surprised if my brother MDK can pull it off with Safe Passage… MDK will win the July with Sparkling Water,, direct and indirect lines she’s got most of the field dead,, then we have the other 3 year olds only receiving 0:5 KG sorry boys I can’t see it happening… My opinion the 4 year olds will dominate… quartets 12//2::3::18//F//F 12//F//2::3::18//F
a pity Nebraas did not get in.
He is better that some of the accepted horses.
In the accepted 18 horse field we have 9 Cape vs 9 Gauteng horses, evenly matched this year. The Gauteng ( and even the KZN!) horses have stepped up their game this year in the feature races, and it has not been a one way street for the Cape! I still think the class sits with CT and I think Kommetdieding and Waterberry Lane will fight it out.
Aragosta will chase SP home…….
Thats the other one Franky…..I am all over SP after seeing that kick but Argosta and Sparkling Water are my exacta’s…..I am chuffed for Pierre and expect a big run from Belgarion, otherwise I am listening very carefully…..
I think Mr ED should open a page where every1 can states there picks
Hi Daine
Will run a competition next week
Safe passage. Sparkling water.line backer. Aragosta.Do it again
Honestly if you follow the jockeys you will make money…kumalo,Richard,Bernard,Gavin,Strydom….
Proven winners,the winner will come from one of the above mention jockeys….but I am leaning towards pomp and power….
Thanks
Kommetdieding class and Waterbury Lane to fight it out
Andries smith
Safe passege and waterberry lane will fight it out
The best outsider this year is jet dark common go all the way and unfortunately kommetdieding is not going to do it again this year lol…
Belgarion is going to win strong feeling