Six Hollywoodbets Durban July entrants are amongst the twelve runners carded for the 51st running of the stakes boosted R1,25 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
After being won for the past two renewals by the retired reigning SA Horse Of The Year, Rainbow Bridge, the 2022 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge has again attracted a high-quality field and is the final ‘golden ticket’ event for the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July, which is run three weeks later.
Outstanding Jet Dark bids to bounce back to best on Saturday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The sextet is headed by SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith’s dual L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, who will be partnered again by Smanga ‘Bling’ Khumalo. The son of Trippi came out after a break following his second behind Kommetdieding in the Cape Town Met, and was beaten 4,65 lengths when running from a wide draw in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes.
Former Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock had no luck in the running of the Drill Hall Stakes as he gamely chased Silver Operator home. The two meet again but Dean Kannemeyer has indicated that the son of Pomodoro will have to show up prominently on Saturday if he is going to take his chances in the big race on 2 July.
Jockey Muzi Yeni, who has won a Gr1 race on each of the past two weekends, goes for a unique hat-trick on Saturday when he rides MK’s Pride for Paul Peter and owner MK ‘Koos’ Nkale. The son of Willow Magic reverts to a preferred trip after running out of puff late in the Gr1 Premiers’ Champions Challenge last time out.
1st R781250, 2nd R250000, 3rd R125000, 4th R62500, 5th R31250
Hollywoodbets GOLD CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
For Horses at Weight-For-Age
WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Prince Of Fire | 58.5 | 110 | AM | Warren Kennedy | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 2 | 2 | Bingwa | 60 | 117 | BA | Kabelo Matsunyane | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 3 | 3 | Silver Operator | 60 | 119 | A | Craig Zackey | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 4 | 4 | Russian Rock | 60 | 118 | A | Keagan de Melo | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 5 | 5 | Al Muthana (AUS) | 60 | 122 | A | Richard Fourie | Mike de Kock | |
| 6 | 6 | Crown Towers (AUS) | 60 | 117 | AM | *Rachel Venniker | Justin Snaith | |
| 7 | 7 | Linebacker | 60 | 126 | BA | Grant van Niekerk | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 8 | 8 | Eden Roc | 60 | 111 | T A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Sean Tarry | |
| 9 | 9 | Jet Dark | 60 | 130 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Justin Snaith | |
| 10 | 10 | Supreme Warrior | 58.5 | 117 | A | Gavin Lerena | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 11 | 11 | Chimichuri Run | 60 | 115 | TBA | Calvin Habib | Sean Tarry | |
| 12 | 12 | Mk’s Pride | 60 | 122 | A | Muzi Yeni | Paul Peter | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,2) (3,7) (6,9) (8,11) | ||||||||
- The Hollywoodbets Durban July final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday 14 June.
- The big race weights will be published on the same day.
