Race 1
Race Summary: Hollywoodbets Durban July Day has arrived - Bet with TAB, MASSIVE POOLS are expected, and Jackpot 1 starts in Race 1. It is an exciting race to start as many have claims and the Exacta, Trifecta and Quartet should be rewarding to catch. WINGS OF JOSEPHINE ran a decent race on her poly debut and is expected to build on the effort now trying 1200m. POURSOMESUGARONME has come to hand at the right time, winning impressively and can follow up. HAPPY ANALIA has been doing well and her form lines are strong. She jumps from gate No 1. SUMMER WINTER, SHE'S A MACHINE and ETHEREAL VIEW must be included.
Selections:
#6 Wings Of Josephine, #10 Poursomesugaronme, #2 Summer Winter, #1 Happy Analia
Race 2
Race Summary: The first of two BiPots - get your bets on timeously. PRINCESS HANNAH sets the standards as she has 5 wins from 6 runs on the Poly and has won over 1000m and 1200m but a wide draw is a worry. Lightly raced MISS LADYATERIX could be the dark horse. She wasn't disgraced from a wide stall last time and hasn't drawn badly on her Poly debut. THAT'S MY BABY showed a decent field a clean pair of heels when coming back to best and may also be ready. PINK PIGEON recently won a gutsy race so should be fighting fit and could overcome her wide gate. BEVIES DELIGHT is better than her last effort. Tough.
Selections:
#10 Princess Hannah, #5 Miss Ladyaterix, #7 That's My Baby, #12 Pink Pigeon
Race 3
Race Summary: Stay involved with TAB's Place Accumulator on July Day, as always a healthy pool can be expected. Highly regarded Galileo colt THE EQUATOR is making his local debut and could show what he is made of on the big day. JOHNNY THE THIEF has a very good record, having won four out of his last five and could take the next step up in class with another courageous effort. Not only did OTTO LUYKEN take classy three-year-old Garrix to the wire but then went on to beat him. If in the same mood he could take home this Grade 3. COUNT HUHTIKUU's Highveld form is proving to be strong. More can fight it out.
Selections:
#4 The Equator, #8 Johnny The Thief, #11 Otto Luyken, #13 Count Huhtikuu
Race 4
Race Summary: The start of MEGA P6 bet - and a whopping R15 MILLION Pool is expected! Many are tested over the marathon trip but there are also proven stayers in the hunt. KING PELLES ran out a convincing winner of the Grade 3 Tote Derby beating HOLDING THUMBS and gives the impression he will get the extra. HOLDING THUMBS ran a gutsy race while hurt and could be ready for a big effort. SHOOT THE RAPIDS is proven, he can go one better after finishing second to stablemate Madison Valley last year. FUTURE SWING needs things to go his way, he can be involved. AHEAD OF THE FACTS may have it in him.
Selections:
#3 King Pelles, #5 Shoot The Rapids, #13 Holding Thumbs, #12 Future Swing
Race 5
Race Summary: One of the races of the day. QUICKSTEPGAL (draw 8), ANOTHERDANCEFORME (draw 9) and Highveld champion filly GREEN DIAMOND (draw 10) have all set the tracks alight with their performances and are now meeting one another for the first time, so who will take the Slipper? Grade 2 winner GREEN DIAMOND has sprinted well but should appreciate the distance. QUICKSTEPGAL has track experience having won the Devon Air Stakes over the course and distance. ANOTHERDANCEFORME is unbeaten in four starts back home. More can improve. An attractive pool is expected for Jackpot 2, so don't miss out!
Selections:
#10 Green Diamond, #8 Quickstepgal, #9 Anotherdanceforme, #2 Captains Envy
Race 6
Race Summary: Exciting field for the Grade 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe and it looks a wide-open contest. MALMESBURY MISSILE enjoyed the extra taking home the Gatecrasher Stakes over the course and distance and should run another forward race. TIN PAN ALLEY ran out a facile winner when stepped up in distance. He looks to have the speed to overcome his wide draw. Gold Medallion runner-up CHARMING CHEETAH should prefer the trip but has drawn even wider. INTENSITY wasn't far behind him in the Grade 1, is bred to relish the trip and rates as one of the dark horses along with easy debut winner ARISTOCRATIC.
Selections:
#4 Aristocratic, #10 Tin Pan Alley, #6 Malmesbury Missile, #8 Intensity
Race 7
Race Summary: The 'DURBAN JULY' QUARTET is expected to sail to R10 Million and is an exciting bet to get involved in. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN could add yet another Grade 1 trophy to his haul after amazing performances in the Met, Derby and Daily News. A wide draw shouldn't faze him. But 2024 winner ORIENTAL CHARM has drawn in gate one and could be hard to peg back again. CONFEDERATE has shown himself to be one of the best around but needs things to go his way. IMMEDIATE EDGE and SELUKWE have been impressive and can be included along with SEE IT AGAIN, GLADATORIAN, MY BEST SHOT, MADISON VALLEY and ON MY HONOUR.
Selections:
#11 Eight On Eighteen, #1 Oriental Charm, #14 Confederate, #10 Immediate Edge
Race 8
Race Summary: DOUBLE GRAND SLAM and RASCOVA finished third and fourth in 2024 respectively when expected to fight it out. The pair are two of the best older fillies around and have taken turns beating each other. After proving a bit unlucky in a Grade 1 sprint last time DOUBLE GRAND SLAM could get back on song. RASCOVA should take it to the wire for her new yard. Rested MON PETIT CHERIE won the KZN Fillies Guineas beating SPUMANTE DOLCE and it could get close again. The latter was second to Eight On Eighteen in a Grade 1 straight after. Frontrunner FATAL FLAW can win a third Grade 1 if ready.
Selections:
#9 Double Grand Slam, #6 Rascova, #10 Fatal Flaw, #11 Spumante Dolce
Race 9
Race Summary: Good field for the Grade 3 Post Merchants, it is also the start of Jackpot 3. O'TENIKWA is proving to be a smart sprinter. He must rate a big chance after finishing runner-up in the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint. But KING OF THE GAULS and TRUTH ran solid races and weren't far of him and both are weighted to turn the form around. BUFFALO STORM CODY and MAI SENSATION (draw No 1) are serious sprinters that should go close too. Evergreen CRUISE CONTROL has a say. Champion sprinter WILLIAM ROBERTSON has his work cut out from a wide stall but must be respected. It doesn't stop there.
Selections:
#4 O'Tenikwa, #9 Buffalo Storm Cody, #2 Truth, #10 King Of The Gauls
Race 10
Race Summary: NARINA TROGON won this race last year. He is back in good form having run second in the WSB 1900 behind Selukwe but he will have his work cut out from draw No 14. I SALUTE YOU showed guts to win the Sledgehammer beating Selukwe and he should relish the drop in distance. ZEITZ could be the one with improvement to come. He made good progress to finish not far off in the Grade 3 Dolphins Cup Trial on his return. UNDERWORLD finished ahead of him then when only just beaten by Madison Valley. He must go close from gate No 1. CLAW has been impressing on the Highveld and could up his game further.
Selections:
#4 Zeitz, #5 Claw, #1 Underworld, #6 I Salute You
Race 11
Race Summary: DAWN TILL DUSK makes his local debut on the back of a cracking effort. The form has been franked by Please Be True and he could be well placed. But a wide draw is a concern. SPIRIT OF LEVANA could be ready to give of her best after not finishing far off last time. She can take advantage from draw No 1. MASTERSHIP is again racing after a rest but has fair Highveld form and is not to be taken lightly especially as he has also drawn well. MAKAZOLE raced in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 last time, watch out for him. RICH FOLKS HOAX and KITCHAKAL have claims as well.
Selections:
#10 Dawn Till Dusk, #1 Spirit Of Levana, #2 Mastership, #12 Makazole
Race 12
Race Summary: OPEN HIGHWAY ran a fair race on local debut and the form line has been franked with El Dante coming out to win since. If taking to the surface he should have every chance. DECEPTION PASS won in style the only time he raced at Greyville and having drawn well must be in with a chance. MASTEROFTHEDESERT would be deserving after running a decent 1200m sprint from a wide draw on local debut. He has won over the 1400m at home in the Western Cape. If ROLLO THE VIKING overcomes his draw he can feature. He put in another bold bid against a decent field last time. More are capable of fighting it out.
Selections:
#1 Open Highway, #5 Masterofthedesert, #11 Rollo The Viking, #3 Deception Pass
Best Win: #11 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN
Best Value Bet: #4 ZEITZ
Best Longshot: #4 ZEITZ
