Do It Again Back As Hollywoodbets Durban July Entries Announced

A first entry of 60 of the cream of South Africa’s thoroughbred crop, including 17 individual Gr1 winners, has been received for the 127th renewal of the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July, which will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 1 July 2023.

A final field of 20, including two reserve runners, will be announced on Tuesday 20 June, and despite the local horse population under pressure, the 2023 entry of 60 is in line with the past five years which saw 69 entries in 2018, 49 in 2019, 52 in 2020, 53 in 2021 and 58 last year.

South Africa’s leading betting operator Hollywoodbets will sponsor the historic race for the second successive year, and after a dazzling show in 2022, an iconic renewal is on the cards.

Tickets are currently on sale.

Launched as a poem each year, the ‘Out Of This World’ fashion theme for the 2023 event hints at the stargates which transports one into a mysterious world far beyond our imagination.

Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event will feature a stellar line up of top equines, a star-studded cast of punters, celebrities and designers at play, coupled with entertainment and hospitality on a cosmic scale.

Dual winner Do It Again is set to make history if he wins it again at his sixth appearance (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

With the past two year’s winners in Sparkling Water (2022) and Kommetdieding (2021) having retired, Justin Snaith’s dual July winning hero Do It Again is the history seeking ‘senior’ of the class of 2023 at the age of 8. The son of Twice Over is one of nine entries from the powerful Justin Snaith yard, who, along with Mike de Kock, are bidding for a sixth success in the great race.

Lady trainers have a good record in recent times with Michelle Rix (2021) and Candice Bass-Robinson (2017) having played gamechangers in what has traditionally been a male dominated podium.

Three ladies have their first entrants this year with Summerveld conditioner Wendy Whitehead (Boundless Bash), Turffontein trainer Robyn Klaasen (Second Base) and Candice Dawson (Raiseahallelujah) hoping to maintain the trend.

Current favourite is Cousin Casey (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

In the Hollywoodbets ante-post betting market, the top class 3yo Cousin Casey tops the betting boards at 5/1, and two-time winner Do It Again available at 40/1. Early money suggests that Rascallion (8/1) and recent SA Classic winner Anfield’s Rocket (14/1) will be popular choices.

The competition for places will be tight and the winners of the undermentioned Grade 1 races in the current season will qualify automatically,  save that, where appropriate, Gold Circle reserves the right to request a public gallop to determine the well-being / fitness in the event that any of these winners have not raced within three months of the date of final declaration.

Given the timing of these races, this would practically speaking only apply to winners of events 1, 2 & 3:

• The L’Ormarins King’s Plate – won by Al Muthana
• World Sports Betting Cape Town Met – won by Jet Dark
• SplashOut Cape Derby – won by See It Again
• World Sports Betting SA Classic – won by Anfields Rocket
• Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic – won by Bless My Stars
• World Sports Betting SA Derby – won by Son Of Raj
• Premier’s Champions Challenge
• Daily News 2000
• Woolavington 2000
• Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge

Winners of the following races in the current season will enjoy preferential consideration for inclusion in the final Hollywoodbets Durban July field:

• Betway Gr1 Summer Cup -won by Puerto Manzano
• World Sports Betting Gr2 1900
• Gr3 Cup Trial

The Hollywoodbets Durban July timeline:

• First declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 8 May
• First supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 9 May
• Second declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 29 May
• Final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 13 June
• Weights will be published on Tuesday, 13 June
• Final Declaration close at 11h00 on Monday 19 June
• Final Field and Draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 20 June
• Public gallops (compulsory) will be held on Thursday, 22 June