
Khumalo’s Chance of a Second July Win

Turf Talk July Pen Pictures In Order Of Selection

Key Hollywoodbets Durban July Trainers' Quotes
Andre Nel’s Summerveld-based assistant trainer Byron Forster said at the Final Field Announcement Ceremony, where Airways Law was made first reserve (but he is now in the race after the scratching of Zapatillas), “He’s not a flashy horse at home and he’s racing fit. We’re not going to do too much with him into the race now. He is very unexposed and if he does get in as first reserve he will be one of the dark horses for people to consider. His last two runs over a bit of ground have shown he is looking for this sort of trip. I don’t see the 2200m being much of a problem.”
His jockey Gareth Wright confirmed he had a fine turn of foot.
Picture: Mike de Kock (Hollywoodbets)

Airways Law's Last Minute Acceptance Reminds Of Rich Strike
Airway’s Law snuck into the Hollywoodbets Durban July with just over an hour left to the deadline time for acceptance.
His connections must have resigned themselves to running in the consolation race by then considering the last time a reserve got into the big race, Camphoratus in 2019, the scratching happened ten days before the big race.
Rich Strike got into this year’s Kentucky Derby minutes after his trainer had been told to vacate his stable on the Churchill Downs back stretch and minutes before the deadline time.
He famously went on to win the Derby.
Airways Law would become the first July winner to have both a July-winning sire (Legislate) and July-winning grandsire (Dynasty).
Furthermore, he is out of a mare by Jet Master, who sired two July winners (Pocket Power and Pomodoro).
He has the pedigree and he has the looks.
He gives the impression he will relish the 2200m trip.
He is unexposed and nobody knows truly how good he is.
Could he provide a fairytale for trainer Andre Nel and owner Sabine Plattner?
His jockey Gareth Wright was ironically aboard Camphoratus too and having predicted before hand he would run past most of the field in the straight he duly did so, to finish in the all important 6th position, beaten just three lengths by Do It Again.
Picture: Airways Law with trainer Andre Nel’s Summerveld assistant Byron Forster (4Racing twitter).

Peter Muscutt Talks About His July Day Runners
Peter Muscutt has had a fine grounding having been “foreman” to one of the best trainers in the world, Chris Waller, at the time the latter was training the great Winx, and having been assistant also to the like of Brett Crawford.
He has some strong runners at the Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting tomorrow and went through all of them.
Race 5 (Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper) Bevies Delight (Vercingetorix): “She made a very promising debut in a winner’s race against colts where she was drawn 13 out of 14. She spent a lot of energy getting up and over and then still got trapped three deep. She was found wanting in the last furlong but she was not far off the winner in fifth place. She has progressed significantly since then and the step up to the 1400m will be ideal for her. She is potentially a very nice filly and although she is a maiden I don’t think she can be counted out of contention.”
Race 6 (Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe) Formagear (Querari): He made a very impressive debut when heading into the race underdone. He was just too smart for the field and accelerated very smartly to win with ease. The step up to 1400m is very much in his favour as well and with Striker Strydom aboard we going to get all the assistance from the saddle. I don’t really know how good he is but he deserves to take his chance.”
Race 6 Ocean Time (Time Thief): He ran a very promising race at Pietermaritzburg, finishing third in a Group 1 (Gold Medallion). He’s always looked like he’s going to go a bit further He’s in very good order heading in to what is a very competitive race but he’s obviously up with the best of them based on his previous start and he should be competitive on Saturday.”
Race 9 (Grade 2 Post Merchants) Isivunguvungu (What A Winter): Although running third last time (over 1100m) he didn’t produce quite the run I expected, but he did race without cover. He has an awkward draw to navigate, but with Grant van Niekerk on we will ride him more conservatively and hope he gets some cover early. I expect him to be charging late. We haven’t quite established whether he’s better over 1200m or 1000m. He possesses a lot of natural gate speed. There are limited opportunities over 1000m, so we are trying to teach him to settle properly and then finish his races off, which he did do in his previous two runs. He won very impressively at Pietermaritzburg sitting off them and he relaxed very well that day. So if he does the same tomorrow and switches off completely he will be charging late.”
Race 10 (Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap) Gentleman’s Wager (Oratorio): He was a very unlucky loser of the Cup Trial where he got badly hampered with a furlong to run. He picked himself up off the deck and still managed to run third, which was an exceptional performance. He’s in great order. He’s also got an awkward draw to overcome, but we won’t go forward with him, we’ll sit back. He has to be considered one of the leading lights in the race.”
Race 10: Tread Swiftly (What A Winter): He is at the top of his game at the moment. Unfortunately, the handicapper has been penalising him for running places, so he is up three pounds from his last win. He’s a very honest horse, so I expect him to run to the best of his form, but it is a very competitive field.
Race 10 Reserve runner Mr Gonzales (What A Winter): He has won his last two starts over 1400m with consummate ease. If he does manage to get a run I think he is the horse to beat.
Race 11 (XM MR86 Handicap) Conquer The Enemy (Vercingetorix): He made a very pleasing return to the races after a break, failing narrowly to win. He hasn’t gone beyond a mile up to now, but has always given every indication that a trip is going to be to his liking. It is a very competitive race, but he acts very well on the poly whereas some of the horses in the race I don’t think have been on the poly, so he’s going to be competitive.”
Race 11 Reserve runner Arumugam (Duke Of Marmalade): He is at the top of his game at the moment. He’s a very consistent honest horse and acts very well on the poly, so we’re certainly hoping go get a run.”
Picture: Formagear (Candiese Lenferna)

Royal Mo Success At Turffontein Yesterday
Klawervlei Stud’s well performed young stallion ROYAL MO (Uncle Mo) came up with another smart looking first crop winner when his two-year-old son MO JIVE justified tote favouritism at Turffontein on Thursday.
In the process, the Stone Hill Stud-bred colt became the second winner, from just a handful of first-crop runners, for Royal Mo, with the latter also sire of the very exciting ROYAL AUSSIE.
Third and second on his first two starts respectively, MO JIVE was all the rage for Thursday’s Play Soccer 6,10 and 13 Maiden Plate (1450m) and duly lived up to expectations with a fluent win.
Under Denis Schwarz, the Fanie Bronkhurst-trained juvenile hit the front a long way from home, before powering away to score by a length and a half.
Out of the National Emblem mare ANTIGUA, Mo Jive races for owner Suzette Viljoen.
His sire Royal Mo has made a pleasing start with his first two-year-olds this season. To date, Royal Mo has been responsible for just nine runners thus far, with five having either won or finished in the money.
Winner of the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and third in the G1 Santa Anita Derby, Royal Mo is himself a son of outstanding sire UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) -sire of, among others, this season’s top US three-year-old, and G1 Belmont Stakes winner MO DONEGAL.
Picture: Mo Jive wins fluently at Turffontein Yesterday (JC Photos).

Quiz Competition Winners And Answers
In 1st place with 6 ½ points out of 10 is Shivan Singh from Durban – he has been awarded 4 x entry tickets to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
In 2nd place with 4 points is Riaan Ruiters from Robertson – he has been awarded 2 tickets.
Questions And Answers:
1. Who is the best performed horse in the history of the Durban July if the criteria used is the number of best performances at the weights.
Answer: Do It Again
2. Two horses, who are in the 18 horse final field plus two reserves, can this year become the first July winner to have a July-winning sire AND July-winning grandsire. Who are they?
Answer: Hoedspruit and Airways Law
3. Which sire has the best July record in history.
Answer: Silvano
4. Which July winners holds the record for the biggest margin of victory?
Answer: Riboville
5. Who holds the record time since the July was increased to 2200m in 1970.
Answer: Trademark
6. Who is the only person to have ridden, trained and owned July winners.
Answer: Syd Garrett
7. Which four horses in July history have crossed the line first but not been awarded official victory?
Answer: Jamaican Music, Gatecrasher, Surfing Home, Wylie Hall.
8. Which jockey in this year’s line up will be out to equal the record of most July wins.
Answer: Piere Strydom
9. Who was the youngest trainer to win the July.
Answer: David Payne (1972 24 years-old)
10. Who was the youngest rider to win the July?
Frank McGrath (1922 12 years-old)
Picture: Antony Grote (Gameplan Media).

Today’s Question
Who was the first thoroughbred to arrive in Natal (KZN)?
See Answer At The End Of Newsletter
Picture: Campanajo, winner of the first two July’s in 1897 and 1898.
Turffontein Standside Sunday July 3 Fields









Today’s Question Answer
The Ascot Stakes winner Mortimer was imported to Natal in 1857 by Charles Barter Of Karkloof.
In that same year an advertisement appeared in the Natal Mercury promoting a big race meeting to be held on July 16 and 17 in Durban, which was likely a forerunner to the July, whose inaugural running was on July 17, 1897.
Picture: The Greyville Vlei which stretched to Congella. Years later the Greyville Racecourse and Royal Durban Golf Club were built within this area of reclaimed land. (www.fad.co.za)



Hollywoodbets Durban July Broadcast Schedule













