DURBAN — Sixty-one entries from 28 stables were received on Friday 25 April at the initial nomination stage for the 2025 R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July (Gr1) over 2200m on Saturday 5 July.
In pursuit of his sixth “July” victory, Champion trainer Justin Snaith leads the way with ten entries, including the multiple Grade1-winning 3-year-old Eight On Eighteen and the very progressive Okavango.
Eight On Eighteen is likely to follow the traditional WSB Guineas (Gr2)/Daily News (Gr1) pathway into the Hollywoodbets Durban July, while Okavango could be seen next in the World Sports Betting 1900 on 10 May.
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 2000m at Turffontein last month.
Laird has also entered this season’s Betway Summer Cup (Gr1) winner Atticus Finch and Gauteng Guineas (Gr2) 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 (Gr1) winner Legend Of Arthur alongside last year’s runner-up Cousin Casey, who has been out of action for ten 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 (Ire), an imported son of Galileo who was formerly trained by the legendary Aiden O’Brien. The Equator won his maiden over 2000m and was runner-up in his last two starts before being exported to South Africa.
First Declarations: Monday 12 May 2025
First Supplementary Entries: Tuesday 13 May 2025
Full entry list for 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July
HORSE, AGE/SEX, MR, TRAINER
EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (3C) 127 Justin Snaith
SEE IT AGAIN (5G) 127 Michael Roberts
FIRE ATTACK (3C) 126 Alec Laird
ORIENTAL CHARM (4C) 125 Brett/James Crawford
ROYAL VICTORY (5G) 125 Nathan Kotzen
COUSIN CASEY (5H) 125 Sean Tarry
BARBARESCO (4G) 124 J A Janse van Vuuren
PURPLE PITCHER (4C) 123 Robyn Klaasen
GLADATORIAN (5G) 123 Stuart Ferrie
ATTICUS FINCH (5G) 121 Alec Laird
PARISIAN WALKWAY (3G) 121 Alec Laird
FIERY PEGASUS (3F) 119 Joe Soma
RED PALACE (4F) 119 Dean Kannemeyer
SPUMANTE DOLCE (3F) 119 Mike/Mathew de Kock
SON OF RAJ (5G) 119 Tony Peter
CONFEDERATE (3G) 118 Fabian Habib
THE REAL PRINCE (4G) 118 Dean Kannemeyer
PACAYA (6G) 118 Justin Snaith
POMODORO’S JET (6G) 118 Brett/James Crawford
LEGEND OF ARTHUR (3C) 117 Sean Tarry
FUTURE SWING (5G) 117 Justin Snaith
MADISON VALLEY (4G) 117 Frank Robinson
WILD INTENT (3G) 116 Lucky Houdalakis
BEATING WINGS (4F) 116 Stuart Pettigrew
MUCHO DINERO (5G) 115 Justin Snaith
MAGIC VERSE (4G) 114 Justin Snaith
WITHOUT QUESTION (5G) 114 Justin Snaith
LET’S GO NOW (4F) 113 Sean Tarry
LITIGATION (6G) 113 Sean Tarry
SAIL THE SEAS (3C) 112 Justin Snaith
OLIVIA’S WAY (3F) 112 Roy Magner
HOTARUBI (4G) 112 Sean Tarry
SHOOT THE RAPIDS (4G) 112 Frank Robinson
RAINBOW LORIKEET (4F) 111 Candice Bass-Robin
JOY AND PEACE (4F) 111 Alan Greeff
CAPE EAGLE (7G) 110 Andre Nel
THE EQUATOR (IRE) (4C) 110 Tony Peter
MARAUDING HORDE (4G) 108 Mike/Mathew de Kock
ON MY HONOUR (3G) 108 Glen Kotzen
HOLDING THUMBS (4G) 107 Glen Kotzen
MY SOUL MATE (4F) 107 Candice Dawson
INDIAN OCEAN (5M) 107 Mano Pandaram
NARINA TROGON (5G) 106 Michael Miller
THUNEE PLAYA (4C) 105 Mano Pandaram
SELUKWE (5G) 103 Andre Nel
I SALUTE YOU (3C) 103 Peter Muscutt
INFINITE WONDER (7G) 103 Mano Pandaram
NATIVE RULER (3G) 103 Justin Snaith
IMMEDIATE EDGE (3G) 101 Mike/Mathew de Kock
NAVAJO NATION (4G) 101 Weiho Marwing
REGENERATION (3F) 100 Robbie Hill
KAMENSKY (3G) 99 Roy Magner
WINTER GAMES (4G) 98 Michael Miller
CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL (4F) 98 Mike/Mathew de Kock
ZEITZ (3C) 97 Andre Nel
LA PULGA (3G) 96 Candice Bass-Robin
