Sixty-one entries from 28 stables were received at the initial nomination stage for this year’s R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2 200m on Saturday, 5 July.
In pursuit of his sixth “July” victory, Champion trainer Justin Snaith leads the way with 10 entries, including the multiple Grade 1-winning 3-year-old Eight On Eighteen and the very progressive Okavango.
Eight On Eighteen is likely to follow the traditional WSB Guineas (Grade 2)/Daily News (Grade 1) pathway into the Hollywoodbets Durban July, while Okavango could be seen next in the World Sports Betting 1900 on 10 May.
Empty-handed
Alec Laird has gone empty-handed since winning the 100th “July” with London News in 1996, but he has nominated the exciting Fire Attack, a 3-year-old son of Fire Away who landed his first Grade 1 success when taking out the Champions Challenge over 2 000m at Turffontein last month.
Laird has also entered this season’s Betway Summer Cup (Grade 1) winner Atticus Finch and Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) winner Parisian Walkway.
With “July” success very much a Laird legacy – Alec’s father Syd won the race seven times between 1961 and 1978, while cousin Charles saddled the 2007 victor Hunting Tower – Alec will be keen to land the honours in the 129th renewal of Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event.
Brett and James Crawford are on a hat-trick, having won in 2023 with Winchester Mansion and last year with Oriental Charm, and the latter has been nominated to defend his crown.
By the time race day comes around, James will be flying solo as father Brett will have left to take up his new challenge in Hong Kong.
Mike de Kock, now training in partnership with son Matthew, is also seeking his sixth “July” winner and the team holds five entries at this early stage, with the promising Immediate Edge possibly their leading contender.
It’s been more than a decade since Sean Tarry won back-to-back “July’s” with Pomodoro and Heavy Metal.
He has entered the SA Derby (Grade 1) winner Legend Of Arthur alongside last year’s runner-up Cousin Casey, who has been out of action for 10 months.
Let’s Go Now, Litigation and Hotarubi complete Tarry’s five entries and he will be hoping to make a serious bid for top honours come 5 July.
Tony Peter has entered The Equator (Ireland), an imported son of Galileo who was formerly trained by the legendary Aiden O’Brien.
The Equator won his maiden over 2 000m and was runner-up in his last two starts before being exported to South Africa.
Key dates
First Declarations: Monday, 12 May
First Supplementary Entries: Tuesday, 13 May
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