A ten-times champion jockey of France, Christophe Soumillon has been engaged to ride Mike de Kock’s Safe Passage in what will be the Belgian’s first Hollywoodbets Durban July ride.
Christophe Soumillon (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Soumillon produced a sensational maiden SA Gr1 strike earlier this year on WSB Met Day down at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for the Slack family and Mike de Kock when Desert Miracle beat SA Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom in the prestigious Majorca Stakes.
“Christophe will be jetting in on Friday 30 June and back out again after races on Saturday. He will be looking for a few other plum rides. We hope to have another ride or two available earlier in the day,” said Mike de Kock.
Candice Bass-Robinson’s Trip Of Fortune was the only supplementary entry as the gate closed on the 2023 renewal of the R5 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July.
The Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and IOS Drill Hall Stakes winner will now carry topweight if he runs on 1 July.
He is something of a suprise considering he has never been tried beyond a mile and is one of a potential 5 Drakenstein flagbearers in the final line-up.
Whatever happens over the next week, the big race selection panel have some serious soul searching and hard decisions to make!
A final field of 20, including 2 reserves, can be declared. There are 30 still in contention.
| 0 | 0 | Trip Of Fortune | 60 | 127 | TBA | Candice Bass-Robinson | ||
| 0 | 0 | Zapatillas | 59.5 | 126 | A | …………… | Brett Crawford | |
| 0 | 0 | Pomp And Power | 58 | 123 | A | …………… | Justin Snaith | |
| 0 | 0 | Puerto Manzano (ARG) | 58 | 123 | BA | Keagan de Melo | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 0 | 0 | Safe Passage | 58 | 123 | A | Christophe Soumillon | Mike de Kock | |
| 0 | 0 | Rascallion | 57.5 | 122 | A | …………… | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 0 | 0 | Do It Again | 57 | 121 | BA | …………… | Justin Snaith | |
| 0 | 0 | Rain In Holland | 56.5 | 120 | BA | …………… | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | 0 | Second Base | 56.5 | 120 | BAe | …………… | Robyn Klaasen | |
| 0 | 0 | See It Again | 56.5 | 124 | BA | …………… | Michael Roberts | |
| 0 | 0 | Cousin Casey | 55.5 | 122 | A | …………… | Glen Kotzen | |
| 0 | 0 | Dave The King | 55.5 | 122 | A | Craig Zackey | Mike de Kock | |
| 0 | 0 | Nebraas | 55 | 117 | TBA | …………… | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | 0 | Silver Darling | 55 | 117 | BA | …………… | Justin Snaith | |
| 0 | 0 | Time Flies | 55 | 117 | CA | …………… | Brett Crawford | |
| 0 | 0 | Without Question | 54.5 | 120 | A | …………… | Justin Snaith | |
| 0 | 0 | Aragosta | 53.5 | 114 | A | …………… | Mike de Kock | |
| 0 | 0 | Billy Bowlegs | 53.5 | 118 | A | …………… | Alec Laird | |
| 0 | 0 | Electric Gold | 53 | 103 | A | …………… | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | 0 | Flying Bull | 53 | 103 | A | …………… | Glen Kotzen | |
| 0 | 0 | Future Prince | 53 | 96 | A | …………… | Brett Crawford | |
| 0 | 0 | Jimmy Don | 53 | 116 | A | …………… | Erico Verdonese | |
| 0 | 0 | King Regent | 53 | 103 | A | …………… | Glen Kotzen | |
| 0 | 0 | Pacaya | 53 | 110 | A | …………… | Justin Snaith | |
| 0 | 0 | Raiseahallelujah | 53 | 99 | A | …………… | Candice Dawson | |
| 0 | 0 | Son Of Raj | 53 | 115 | BA | …………… | Weiho Marwing | |
| 0 | 0 | Union Square | 53 | 114 | BA | …………… | Mike de Kock | |
| 0 | 0 | Winchester Mansion | 53 | 112 | CA | …………… | Brett Crawford | |
| 0 | 0 | Bless My Stars | 52 | 109 | A | …………… | Sean Tarry |
- Final Declarations close at 11h00 on Monday 19 June.
- Final Field and Draw announcement will take place on Tuesday 20 June.
- Public gallops (compulsory) will be held on Thursday 22 June.
