Turf Talk Newsletter – 24 June, 2025

Eighteen Runs And Lands A Fine Draw

Justin Snaith lands draw eleven which could well be the best draw to have in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Ante-post punters were left on tenterhooks until the last moment about the participation of the Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite Eight On Eighteen in the big race, so there were many sighs of relief around the country when his name appeared among the eighteen runners at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field and Draw ceremony in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring on Tuesday morning.

There were some surprised looks when his supplemented stable companion Underworld did not appear among the 18 runners, but it was revealed that he was a scratching as was his stable companion, Future Swing, who had been a top 18 incumbent on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

Lady fans were pleased that, unlike last year, there will be a female runner this year, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Rainbow Lorikeet.

Eight On Eighteen drew perfectly in stall eleven. This is the first barrier position in the second set of stalls and the wheels between the stalls create a big gap between that stall and stall ten, meaning there is a lot of room to manoeuvre in the early stages.

However, he probably won’t want to be too far back in a big 18 horse field, despite his exceptional turn of foot, so the draw could still present some problems for champion jockey Richard Fourie, who is bidding for a fourth win in the big race.

Justin Snaith is bidding for a sixth July win and his other pair did not fare as well with Okavango drawn 13 and Native Ruler in the widest barrier position of all, draw 18. Andrew Fortune at age 58 will become the oldest July-winning jockey if Okavango wins, beating the record of Piere Strydom, who won it as a 50-year-old in 2016.

Tristan Godden will be aboard Native Ruler.

The Nathan Kotzen team were happy in a sense with draw 17 for the dual Gr 1-winning stalwart Royal Victory as not only is his late daughter’s birthday on the 17th, but so is the birthday of part-owner Peter Victor’s late daughter and part-owner Sandy Arundel’s birthday is also on the 17th.

Michael Roberts was not happy with draw 15 for See It Again as it will be a problem to tuck in a horse who tends to start slowly.

Grant Cornwall, local part-owner of the Alec Laird-trained Atticus Finch, hoped for draw four to seven, so was pleased with draw four.

Terry Fripp, assistant to Candice Bass-Robinson, said to the latter he hoped to draw his favurite number of seven for Rainbow Lorikeet and he duly did so.

Both Glen Kotzen and S’Manga Khumalo were thrilled with On My Honour’s number three draw.

Last year’s winner Oriental Charm drew pole position to loud cheers, but some would say it is the worst draw as he will need to hold his position early and could burn energy. However, owner Greg Bortz is thrilled with the draw pointing at his good gatespeed and for a horse who tends to hang right he will be on the rail for free. Greg was not unhappy with the widest draw of all for Native Ruler as he can be a temperamental horse and will be out of the scrum.

The Fabian Habib team were not unhappy with handy to front-running sort Confederate’s draw of 14.

Kabelo Matsunyane was also happy with handy to front-running sort Purple Pitcher’s twelve draw.

The Andre Nel team were pleased with Selukwe’s draw of six.

Stuart Ferry would not have been displeased about Gladatorian’s wide draw of 16 as he likes to be left alone and he will be away from the scrum out there.

Sid Moodley was delighted with draw two for his Frank Robinson-trained charge Madison Valley.

Dean Kannemeyer would have been thrilled with The Real Prince’s draw of five, considering there is a bit of a question mark about this potential superstar’s stamina.

Mike de Kock will be out to land a sixth July and drew well in ten for the progressive three-year-old Immediate Edge.

The first East Cape runner since 2004, the Alan Greeff-trained My Best Shot, draw well in barrier position nine.

James Crawford will be attempting to land a third successive July for Crawford Racing and has two runners, defending champion Oriental Charm as well as Pomodoro’s Jet. The latter drew well in eight.

Litigation and Son Of Raj are the two reserves and there will have to be a scratching or scratchings before 8H15 next Friday for either of them to get in.

See the Hollywoodbets Durban Juy final field for 2025 below:

Greg Bortz Thrilled With Pole Position For Defending Champ

James Crawford’s assistant trainer Tim Woodruff draws pole position for the deending champion Oriental Charm to loud applause from onlookers. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Greg Bortz could make July history in a few ways on July 5 if he were to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July with either defending champion Oriental Charm or with progressive three-year-old Native Ruler.

Oriental Charm drew in pole position to loud cheers and although this is not a draw many like because it requires a horse to be used to some extent to hold position or otherwise be trapped too far back on the rail, Greg appeared to view it as a perfect draw for the James Crawford-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix colt.

He said, “So happy with the draw . Perfect for a horse that hangs right and has gate speed! Will be on the rail without using up energy to get there. Compare that to the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (where he was drawn nine and had to be ued up significantly to get to the rail in front).”

Greg’s Justin Snaith-trained three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Native Ruler is drawn on the opposite side of the barriers in position 18 of 18.

Greg said, “Obviously the widest draw of all. Not sure it is the worst draw for him, though. He is not a front runner, so we would be giving him a chance anyway. Who knows – wide draws sometimes allow horses to stay out of the crazy scrums, especially if you are going to drop out. For most horses, 18 is the worst draw. For Native, who can be temperamental, it forces us to drop him out. Whether he is good enough to run on, we shall see. But I don’t mind the draw.”

If Native Ruler does win Greg and his partner Gina Goldsmith will become the fifth owners to win the July in successive years with two different horses following J Osler in 1900 and 1901 with part-owned Verdant Green and outright-owned Apollo, FW Murray in 1912 and 1913 with Lombard and Caged Bird, Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in 2010 and 2011 with the part-owned Bold Silvano and the part-owned Igugu and Chris van Niekerk in 2012 and 2013 with Pomodoro and Heavy Metal.

Oriental Charm, on the other hand, will become the seventh horse to win two Julys if he does it and the sixth to defend his crown.

Oriental Charm’s jockey JP van der Merwe will be out to become only the fifth jockey in history to win the July in successive years, joining C MacDonald (1900, 1901), Syd Garrett (1919, 1920), Anthony Delpech (2010, 2011) and Richard Fourie (2019, 2020).

Oriental Charm’s trainer James Crawford will be out to win the July for a third year in succession for Crawford Racing, although Justin Snaith has also achieved this feat with Do It Again winning in successive years in 2018 and 2019 and Belgarion winning in 2020.

Fred Murrray holds the record of four successive Julys from 1910 to 1913.

If Native Ruler wins it will be Justin Snaith’s sixth July victory, one short of the all time record of seven held by Syd Laird, but equal with the great Cape trainer Terrance Millard, who dominated the race from 1983 to 1990.

Tristan Godden gets only his second July ride on Native Ruler, his first having been on the Andre Nel-trained Capoeira in the 2020 lockdown July.

Oriental Charm has been priced up with the sponsor at 6/1 second favourite and Native Ruler is a 33/1 chance.

Kotzen And Khumalo Delighted With Draw Three

Glen Kotzen was delighted after drawing three for On My Honour. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

The Glen Kotzen-trained On My Honour is possibly the best value in the Hollywoodbets Durban July at 33/1 with the sponsor, because on certain formlines he comes out better than horses who are shorter than him in the betting and he also drew a plum barrier position of three.

S’Manga Khumalo said, “I put a leg over him this morning and he is in a great, great, great space. Obviously, flying from Jo’Burg to come and put a leg over him and finishing up a beautiful morning like this with a draw of three is great. He is a big horse, a big striding horse and I think him having such a nice draw like this as a young horse, I am pleased. I think the last time I had a good draw was with Heavy Metal. Listen, there is still more to be done. Let’s see how he does his gallops on Thursday and then we can take it from there. He is a marvellous horse and also to Mr. Wernars and other partners, I think they will be chuffed with the draw.”

Kotzen said, “I am delighted with the draw. We are there for nothing. We can control the pace. If they are going fast, we can give him a bit more of a chance. If they are going slowly he will be in the right place. He is quite an easy horse and he is a tough horse. If you ask him to jump and go, to hold your position, he will be able to do that and still come back to you. Some horses, when they do that, they don’t like to settle. He is a true professional and is a tough horse. Off that galloping weight and that draw, be careful.”

Kotzen believed that when people cottoned on to his good formlines he would shorten in the betting.

Kotzen won the big race in 2009 with Big City Life, while Khumalo is going for a third July victory having won with the Sean Tarry-trained Heavy Metal in 2013 and with the Mike de Kock-trained Sparkling Water in 2022.

Female Team Lands The Draw The Assistant Trainer Wanted

Rainbow Lorikeet will be the only female in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and has landed a good draw of seven. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Candice Bass-Robinson became the first female trainer to win the Durban July when successful with Marinaresco in 2017 and in this year’s Hollywooodbets Durban July she is appropriately the trainer of the only female in the race, the Wilgerbosdtift and Mauritzfotein-bred four-year-old Querari filly Rainbow Lorikeet.

Assistant trainer Terry Fripp did the draw and said afterwards about landing the barrier position of seven, “My morning was pretty smooth until I got to the parade ring and had to go and pull a ticket. I wasn’t nervous about getting into the final field, because if a filly was going to get in she was the one who deserved a spot. Her run in the Woolavington 2000 was top class, she suffered slight interference late and was still not disgraced. I think she has peaked at the right time for the race and I couldn’t be happier with the draw. It was actually an omen. I said to Candice last night seven is my favourite number and out popped number seven!”

Rainbow Lorikeet is out of Silvano mare Nightingale, who won the Gr 1 Majorca Stakes for Bass-Robinson in 2017 before finishing a 0,75 length fourth to Marinaresco in the July.

Silvano is the most successful sire in July history, with Marinaresco being one of his five winners.

Apart from his 2015 July trifecta, he also got the exacta in 2017, first and third in 2013 and first and third in 2022, while his son Vercingetorix sired the 2024 winner.

It augurs well for Rainbow Lorikeet that she is out of a July-performing Silvano mare.

She is currently a 50/1 shot with the sponsor and will be ridden by Diego De Gouveia, who had his first ride in the big race last year on the Mike de Koc-trained Shoemaker, who had to be eased out of the race, so he will be hoping for better fortune this year.

Atticus Finch Jumps From A Plum Hollywoodbets Durban July Draw

Lyrical owners lead in Atticus Finch after he had won the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup. (JC Photos).

The Alec Laird-trained Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch has drawn well in barrier position four for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Part-owner Grant Cornwall had said beforehand he would like to draw between four and seven, so it worked out well.

He said, “I think it is a great draw. All my partners put a bit of pressure on me, they said ‘You have got to go and get us a draw, you are the local boy.’ For me there was a bit of pressure, but thank goodness, I think four is a decent draw. It could have been worse. I think for a horse that pretty much goes forward and races handy, it gives us a chance.”

It has been an amazing season for Cornwall and partners Gary Basel and Lance Clark as they are also part-owners in the Highveld Horse Of The Season, the Laird-trained Fire Attack.

Cornwall, Basel and Clark own Atticus Finch together with PJ Gregory.

It will be a first July runner for Grant and that will be something of a dream come true, espcially as he owns a box at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Laird will be going for a second July win, 29 years after he won the centenary renewal with London News.

Calvin Habib had his first July ride in 2019 and this will be his fifth July ride. He is yet to get a place and will be hoping to change that statistic on July 5.

As Atticus Finch storms down the straight he is sure to be getting massive support from Grant’s box.

The Varsfontein Stud-bred five-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding Atticus Finch is a 25/1 shot with the sponsor.

Royal Victory Lands A Significant Draw

Trainer Nathan Kotzen with his daughter and assistant trainer Natasha Culverwell and part-owner of Royal Victory, Peter Victor. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Draw 17 might not be the greatest draw to have in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but it is a significant numbr for the connections of Royal Victory.

The 17th is the birthdate of trainer Nathan Kotzen’s late daughter, it is also the birthdate of part-owner Peter Victor’s late daughter and it is the birthdate of part-owner Sandy Arundel.

Nathan said, “I am not too concerned about the draw. Obviously, we would like to have been drawn in the top ten. Seventeen is not to bad, I suppose, and there is a bit of a story behind the number with all the birthdays.”

Royal Victory finished third last year and might have got closer had Muzi Yeni been able to go for his run down the inside.

He ran off a 125 merit rating last year and carried 57kg and this year he runs off the same mark and carries 59kg.

Last year he was 2kg worse off than weight for age when compared to the winner Oriental Charm and this year he is 1kg better off than weight for age with him, so he will have a fine chance of reversing the 1,40 length beating.

Royal Victory settles well and has a good turn of foot and he looks to be good value at 20/1 with the sponsor.

Matsunyane Not Unhappy With Draw 12 For Pitcher

Owner Stincky Pooe draws 12 for his charge Purple Pitcher. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Kabelo Matsunyane won the Hollywoodbets Durban July in his third ride in the great race in 2023 on the Brett Crawford-trained Winchster Mansion and in his fifth ride, on the Robyn Klaasen-trained dual Gr 1 winner Purple Pitcher, he has draw 12 to negotiate.

He said, “We have done a good prep with him. The draw is not the worst of draws. I think I can work with draw 12 and I am just looking forward to the day. Hopefully, I can overcome the draw with ease and he can be in the best position to run a good race. As a front runner you prefer to be a bit out. If you have a low draw and you come out a bit sluggish they can cover you too quickly. With the outside draw, you can just take your time and try to overcome it. Obviously, it is not the easiest of draws. You can end up making your horse do too much early. It is a catch-22 situation … you just have to work smart with it.”

Purple Pitcher finished a 10,25 length 14th last year from draw eight under Philasnde Mxoli.

That was Klaasen’s second tilt at the big race.

She finished a fine fifth with Second Base in her July debut in 2023.

Today's Question

Who are youngest and oldest jockeys to win the July?

Picture: The picture gives a clue to the answer

FIELDS, Wednesday, 25 June

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly

Today’s Question Answer

Frank McGrath was just 12 years old when riding Collet to July victory in 1922.

Piere Strydom is likely the oldest to ever win the big race as he was 50 years old when winning on the Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate in 2016.

McGrath’s record will never be beaten but 58 year-old Andrew Fortune, who rides the Justin Snaith-trained Okavango, could possibly break Strydom’s record this year.