The Equator (Ire) winning for Aidan O’Brien over a mile and two furlongs at Leopardstown. (Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos))
The 129th edition of Africa’s greatest horse race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, has attracted an entry of 61.
The big South African names are all there and are joined also by a former Aidan O’Brien-trained import called Equator (IRE), which adds further intrigue to the big race this year.
The Equator had an Official Rating in Britain and Ireland of 107 and the NHA have given him a merit rating of 110.
It is believed he was imported by leading Highveld owner Willem Ackerman and breeder Nigel Riley, and is now based with the Tony Peter yard.
The 4yo Leopardstown maiden winner ran fourth in a Gr3 and fifth in a Gr2 in the UK.
His is a three parts brother to Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, Lake Victoria (Frankel) and has clearly been imported as a stallion.
Eight On Eighteen is an entry, but the Snaith yard have indicated stallion duties are also a priority for him so his more important targets are the WSB Guineas, the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr 1 Champions Cup.
Snaith, seeking a sixth July win, has the most entries, ten in all.
Mike de Kock has joined forces with his son Matthew and his yard are also seeking a sixth July win. They have five entries including Vercingetorix filly Spumante Dolce, who is a three-parts sister to the yard’s 2022 July winner, Sparkling Water.
Brett and James Crawford will be going for a third successive July and have two entries, including defending champion Oriental Charm, who is the joint favourite with the sponsor together with Eight On Eighteen.
The 61 entries include 13 females, so there is unlikely to be a repat of last year in which there were no female runners, the fist time that had happened for years.
The total number of 61 entries compares to 58 entries received in 2024, 60 in 2023, 68 in 2022, 53 in 2021, 52 in 2020, 49 in 2019, and 69 in 2018.
Here are the entries:
The Hollywoodbets Durban July timeline:
- First declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 12 May.
- First supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 13 May
- Second declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 9 June
- Final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 17 June, on which date the weights will be published.
- Final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 24 June.
- A final field of 20 horses will be carded (18 + 2 Reserves)
- The Reserves to be scratched by 08h15 on Friday 4 July. Elimination will be at the sole and unfettered discretion of Gold Circle.
