Hollywoodbets Durban July
Horse-by-Horse Guide
Hollywood Racing-owned Erupt 4yo Isivivane exploded through late under Sean Veale to win the R500 000 World Sports Betting Gr3 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, who coincidentally also bred Hollywood Racing’s Gr1 speedster Isivunvungu, Isivivane is a son of Erupt (Dubawi), who won at Gr1 level over 2400m. His dam is the three-time winning Casey Tibbs mare Rodeo Sioux, who herself won up to 2600m
Regulation was an eyecatching winner of the 2025 R350 000 Ownpay Gr3 Peninsula Handicap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Bred by Alec Foster, the Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith owned Regulation is a 2026 HWB Durban July contender. A three-parts brother to trainer Justin Snaith’s Durban July winner Belgarion, Regulation is out of the Acatenango mare Riva.
Legal Counsel registered the biggest win of his career when he won the 2025 R350 000 Gr3 Cape Mile under a beautifully judged front-running ride by Callan Murray for Justin Snaith. Justin Snaith labelled the winner a horse ‘who does everything right and has stayed under the radar. He remains a summer season feature prospect and will take his place in the 2026 LOrmarins Kings Plate. Legal Counsel is by the 2013/14 SA Horse Of The Year Legislate (Dynasty) is out of the Silvano mare Imperial Wish. He races for Jonathan Bloch, Etienne Braun, Tony Cotterell and the Stonebridge family.
Corne Spies-trained Hazy Dazy has won six of her first eight starts, including the Grade 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile on Betway Summer Cup Day, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Classic. She was bought for only R37,000 from the late breeder/owner, David Makins, and races for the partnership of Rob Macnab, Stergio Poriazis, Xander Spies, Vikash Sobaren, Dhiresh and Chantelle Dasrath and Diveshen Vauapuri. She is by Summerhill Equestrian’s stallion Act Of War out of Rabbedoe, who was also trained by Spies. Hazy Dazy is the only Triple Tiara contender for the 2026 series.
Wish List (Legislate – Wind Chill) produced a stunning performance to win the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes (1800m) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on January 10, 2026. Ridden by 58-year-old veteran Andrew Fortune, the 3-year-old filly secured a “Win and You’re In” spot for the Breeders’ Cup. Wish List showed immense class and courage, coming from behind to win the R1 million contest. She showed similar resolve with a big win against the colts in the Grade 1 splashout Cape Derby, becoming the first filly to win the race in the 21st century. A proper thoroughbred, she went on to beat the best fillies of her generation in the Grade 2 2026 WSB KZN Fillies Guineas. Unstoppable, she followed that winning the Grade 2 Lucky Fish Woolavington, and has been installed favourite for the 2026 HWB Durban July. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Wish List, a R700 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, races for Jonathan Bloch and Nancy Hossack.
11-time winner, Gladatorian, is one of the stalwarts of South African racing. He is game and versatile, having beaten star sprinter Thunderstruck in the Grade 2 Merchants and major contender See It Again in the Drill Hall Stakes. He ran on powerfully in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge over 1600m, and acquitted himself well when only five lengths off The Real Prince in the Durban July. He also won the HKJC Champions Cup (Grade 1) over 1800m, and is being prepared for the major races in the 2025/6 Cape Summer. He will take his place in the 2026 LOrmarins Kings Plate. Gladatorian is trained by Stuart Ferrie.
Late bloomer, Viva’s Liberte (Vercingetorix), finished third in the 2025 Grade 1 Cape Derby and fourth in the 2026 Grade 1 Daily News. He is a strong 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July prospect for Candice Bass and Khaya Stables.
Native Ruler earned a high merit rating as a result of two good runs to star colt Eight On Eighteen. He is a talented horse in his own right, but as a one-time winner up against the big guns in the HWB Durban July of 2025, faces a stiff task. He is a horse that will probably win a Graded feature and is one for the notebook. He races for the partnership of Greg Bortz, Gina Goldsmith, Mukund Gujadur and Rikesh Sewgoolam.
Note To Self (Futura) finished second to Wish List in the 2025 Cape Derby and is one of the favourites for the 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July. He is trained by Justin Snaith.
The R350 000 2025 City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes over 1800m unearthed a progressive gem in the shape of the Plattner-raced grey, Zeitz, who made short work of his ten opponents. He went on to win the Listed Prermier Gateway International Handicap on 2025 HWB Durban July Day. His most significan success came on 7 June, 2026, when he beat a quintet of Hollywoodbets Durban July entries to win the R300 000 Betgames Gr3 Cup Trial, and was then supplemented himself. A R625 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the Maine Chance Farms-bred Zeitz is a brother to The Grey King and is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Aussie-bred Redoute’s Choice mare, Zappy Choice. He races for Sabine Plattner and is trained by Andre Nel.
Despite some eye-catching top-level performances, Frank Robinson trained filly, Mocha Blend, was a 100-1 shot in the 2025 Betway Summer Cup, a race she won for Jessica and Steven Jell. Raced by Mauritzfontein, the winner was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Mocha Blend is a daughter of Ideal World (Kingmambo) out of the one-time winning Silvano mare, Mocha Special. Robinson said that Mocha Blend would probably not contest features in the Cape Summer, but that he will be eyeing other big prizes for this smart filly in 2026.
Sandown Stud’s resident stallion Soqrat celebrated a maiden stakes winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when Peter Muscutt’s progressive 3yo I Salute You won the R225 000 World Sports Betting Listed Sledgehammer. Raced in partnership by Tony Zackey, Edward Abraham, Tim Herdon, Saira Nattar & Trinisha Pillay, he was bred by Shadwell Stud and is by their former Equus Champion 2yo Soqrat (Epaulette) out of the two-time winning Var mare, Varachino. I Salute You also won the Listed 2025 Darley Arabian and is a 2026 HWB Hollywoodbets Durban July contender.
Popular owner Gerald Sadlier loves his home-bred filly, Olivias Way, a tough customer who gives of her best and is not easily intimidated. She won at Grade 3 level (Yellowwood Handicap), finished fourth to Legend Of Arthur in the SA Derby and then won the G2 TAB Igugu Stakes with a game performance. She finished second with a great run in the 2025 Betway Summer Cup. Olivias Way is trained by Roy Magner.
A winner of the Glorious Goodwood Gr3 Chairman’s Cup on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day in January 2025, Gareth van Zyl saddled the 4yo Drakenstein-bred King Pelles to a good win in the R350 000 Tote Gr3 Derby at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday, 14 June. He went on to two more excellent wins in the 2024/5 season. He captured the Grade 3 Gold Case on HWB Durban July Day, and followed that with a success in the Grade 3 Gold Cup. He received Equus Champion Stayer of the 2024/5 season. Raced in partnership by Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom:Ravi Padayachee), Messrs D MacLean, G J Player & N V Parmanand, King Pelles was purchased for R475 000 off the BSA National Yearling Sale. Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a son of the champion farm’s late stallion Duke Of Marmalade out of the four-time winning Galileo mare, Grail Maiden (AUS).
Aladdin’s Lamp produced a sparkling performance to win then TAB Gr3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on 7 June, 2026. Mike and Mathew de Kock will be supplementing Aladdin’s Lamp to the 2026 R10-million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July. Bred by Varsfontein Stud, he is a son of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) out of the five -time winning Judpot mare, Little Genie. A R625 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, he was originally based with Kumaran Naidoo in KZN, and then Brett Crawford, before transferring to the De Kocks.
Choisaanada is a colt by Querari out of Musaanada, by Redoutes Choice, and he is doing justice to his nice pedigree. He won his second start by more than 12 lengths, won again in handicap company and then rattled off three successive feature wins to bag the 2025 Highveld Winter Series. He is trained by Erico Verdonese for Isabella Lombard and Mr Brian Jossel. He will race in the 2025 Charity Mile as a prep into the Betway Summer Cup.
Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Curious Girl scored a unaway victory in the R150 000 non black-type Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m at Turffontein on 14 March 2026, stamping herself her as a genuinely progressive staying type. She became the first filly in 109 years to win the Grade 2 SA Derby, on 2026 Champions Day. Bred by Riyo Stud, Curious Girl is a daughter of Futura (Dynasty), out of the Ideal World (USA) mare Idaho. Purchased for R160 000 by Hollywood Racing at the 2024 BSA National Yearling Sale, She has the blood to stay all day.