Latest news with #JustinSnaith
The South African
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Durban July 2025: Full Guide with Race Predictions & Betting Tips
The Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 returns on 5 July with top contenders, style competitions, and betting tips that could make your day. The Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 is South Africa's most celebrated horse racing event, attracting over 50,000 racegoers for a day of thrilling competition and cultural celebration. Taking place at the iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, this Grade 1 handicap race will see 18 of the country's top thoroughbreds battle it out for a R5 million grand prize over a 2200m stretch. While the action on the track is world-class, the Durban July is a full-scale experience. The event features dazzling fashion shows, vibrant marquee villages, and a celebration of local flair under the official theme: 'Marvels of Mzansi.' The fashion competitions, like the Best-Dressed Marquee, create a runway as dazzling as the racetrack itself, celebrating local designers and attracting celebrities from across the country. We've crunched the latest odds and form data to bring you the most promising picks. Based on expert analysis, here are our top tips for race day: 💥 NAP Pick: Eight On Eighteen (7/4) Trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by Richard Fourie, this contender is in peak form. His 57kg weight and barrier 11 draw give him room to close strong. 🔒 NB Pick: Oriental Charm (5/1) Last year's winner returns under trainer James Crawford. His experience at Greyville and proven class make him a reliable bet for at least a podium finish. 🎯 Outsider to Watch: On My Honour (40/1) If you're after a long-shot with big payout potential, keep an eye on Glen Kotzen's gelding. His stamina could be a game-changer if the pace is fast. 🔢 Suggested Bets: For a calculated approach, consider an Exacta with Eight On Eighteen to win and Oriental Charm to place second. For a shot at a bigger payout, a Trifecta box including these two and On My Honour is a strong value bet. You can explore these exciting options and check the latest odds on Hollywoodbets. Betting is part of the fun, but always bet responsibly. Set a budget before you start and stick to it. Platforms like Hollywoodbets offer deposit limits and self-exclusion tools to help you stay in control. If you or someone you know needs support, the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation is there for you. As the title sponsor, Hollywoodbets offers one of the most comprehensive and exciting platforms for enjoying the race. New users can register now to explore the markets and take advantage of welcome offers specifically tailored for the Durban July. Experience the pinnacle of South African racing directly with the brand that makes it all happen. This article was written by: Tim Mirroman Tim Mirroman is a leading racing analyst and content strategist, specialising in South Africa's premier sporting events. His data-first approach to predictions has been featured in several sports betting publications. Tim is dedicated to providing bettors with clear, actionable insights to enhance their betting strategy for major events like the Durban July.
News24
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Exciting Hollywoodbets Durban July final field unveiled
All set for 5 July! A nationally representative field will line up on Saturday 5 July for the 129th renewal of the R5 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July, with the 2024 defending champion Oriental Charm jumping from the pole position gate. That was the news to emerge on Tuesday when the capacity field for the 2025 running, sponsored for the fourth consecutive year by Hollywoodbets, was proudly unveiled by Race Coast at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the historic home of Africa's Greatest Horse Racing and Social Event. History could be made for Champion jockey Defending champion Oriental Charm, now in the sole care of James Crawford, who will be saddling his first July runners for his own account, heads the weights, carrying 60kgs alongside two high-class hometown challengers in See It Again and Gladatorian. South African champion trainer Justin Snaith has three runners in his bid for his sixth Hollywoodbets Durban July victory. The Snaith attack is headed by the champion 3yo Eight On Eighteen, whose participation in the great race has been a talking point for two months. Record breaking SA Champion jockey Richard Fourie will partner Eight On Eighteen and bids for his personal fourth trophy in the 2200m contest. Chasing glory: Trainers ready to make history While the iconic Syd Laird leads the honour boards with 7 Durban July winners, Justin Snaith and Mike de Kock (in partnership with son Mathew), are both in line for a sixth trophy, which would place them in the heady realm of the late great Terrance Millard. Former dual SA champion jockey Warren Kennedy, returns from New Zealand to ride Highveld raider Confederate for Fabian Habib. Candice Bass-Robinson, who became the first lady trainer to lift a July trophy when Marinaresco won in 2017, enjoys the honour of saddling the only filly in the field, in Rainbow Lorikeet. As anticipation builds for Africa's greatest horse racing event, the announcement of the final field marks a key milestone in the countdown to the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Durban July tops bumper sports betting weekend
The Boks are also in action on Saturday, while the Fifa Club World Cup is nearing its conclusion in the US. Get ready for a super sporting weekend — to kick off the super sporting month of July. For anyone who likes a spot of betting on 'The Game', it is a bonanza of action with a multitude of profit possibilities across a variety of sporting codes. The iconic Durban July at Greyville on Saturday afternoon tops the bill. Africa's most famous and popular horse race is an annual showpiece that 'stops a nation' and even has millions of non-racing fans and one-a-year bettors trying their luck. It will be the 129th running of the historic race, a Grade 1 event over 2200m with R5-million in prize money for successful owners. For punters, the money is even better. The Pick 6 exotic bet alone is likely to amass a pool of R15-million – entry for which can be accessed via the Betway website or the TAB site. The July is also a designated World Pool event, with punters around the globe betting into single, co-mingled Tote pools and building enormous pots for wagers such as Win, Exacta, Swinger and Quinella. Betway account holders get in quick! Three-year-old star Eight On Eighteen is a hot favourite to win champion trainer Justin Snaith a sixth July victory and his regular jockey Richard Fourie a fourth. The wonder colt has been backed down to 14-10 on some bookmakers' boards – but good news for Betway account holders is that he was available at double that on the Fixed Odds section of the online betting site on Monday afternoon: 28-10. Get in quick! A Top 4 placing for Eight On Eighteen was fantastic value at R1.25 at the same time. One of the delights of betting with a bookmaker is the 'Multi' option – sometimes known as the All-To-Come – which allows punters to bespoke tailor their multi-leg bets. A single bet can combine combinations of Wins and Places, with the multiplier effect boosting odds to dizzy heights. As mentioned, the sporting fan's cup runneth over at the weekend. In addition to the Durban July, there's the following: • Springboks vs Italy rugby Test in Pretoria • Tour de France starts in Lille • British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone • The BMW International Open golf in Germany • The John Deere Classic golf in the US • Continuation of the Fifa Club World Cup in the US • Continuation of the Women's Euro Football Championship.
IOL News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Justin Snaith chases sixth Durban July winner after Eight On Eighteen drawn promising stall 11
South African champion racehorse trainer Justin Snaith will be in the hunt for his sixth Hollywoodbets Durban July winner. | RACE COAST As South Africa's champion trainer, Justin Snaith, chases his sixth July win, one of his entries Eight On Eighteen, has secured a promising stall eleven draw, something that could significantly influence the horse's chances of claiming victory in this prestigious event. Eight On Eighteen, the Drakenstein-bred son of the late War Front champion, Lancaster Bomber, features prominently in a competitive 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July field of 18 horses for Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, July 5. The anticipation surrounding the Hollywoodbets Durban July is palpable as the big day on Saturday, July 5, draws nearer. Featured prominently among the top contenders is the Justin Snaith-trained Eight On Eighteen, who has secured a promising stall eleven draw—something that could significantly influence the horse's chances of claiming victory in this prestigious event. However, Snaith's other two entries were not as fortunate in the draw. Okavango will have to navigate from stall thirteen, while Native Ruler faces the challenge of the widest barrier, stall eighteen. This year's Durban July will have female representation in the event. Rainbow Lorikeet, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, is the sole female runner this year, contrasting with last year's notable absence of female competitors. While Eight On Eighteen's draw may seem advantageous, his handler Richard Fourie, who is eyeing a fourth win in this iconic race, must carefully manage the early stages, particularly in avoiding being boxed in among the wide field. In a surprising twist, veteran jockey Andrew Fortune, at the age of 58, could make history if he guides Okavango to victory, potentially becoming the oldest July-winning jockey, surpassing Piere Strydom's record set in 2016. The draw luck varied among other competitors as well. The powerful duo of Royal Victory and See It Again are grappling with tougher positions; Royal Victory will launch from draw 17 while See It Again faces the challenges of draw 15, which is known to be unfavourable for horses that tend to start slowly. Meanwhile, local owner Grant Cornwall expressed satisfaction with his horse Atticus Finch's excellent draw of four. Rainbow Lorikeet's assistant trainer, Terry Fripp, was overjoyed with the ideal draw of seven—a number he cherishes. Both Glen Kotzen and S'Manga Khumalo celebrated the favourable draw of three for On My Honour. Last year's champion, Oriental Charm, elicited cheers for drawing pole position, yet some suggest this may impose a burden of early energy expenditure. Nevertheless, owner Greg Bortz remains optimistic about the draw's potential, especially with the horse's remarkable gate speed. The stakes are high not just for the horses and their connections but also for viewers who relish the excitement of each race, knowing that positions drawn can often dictate fortune on the track. The only uncertainty that remains is how the dynamics of the draw will play out as they thunder down the last furlong.
The South African
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: ALL the TRAINERS with runners
The list of trainers who have horses in the 129th renewal of the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 5 July makes for interesting reading. The Grade 1 race over 2 200m will go off at 16:00. Top Cape Town-based trainer Justin Snaith has three horses in the race, including current favourite Eight On Eighteen. Snaith's other two other runners are Okavango and the one-time winner Native Ruler. James Crawford has two runners in the race, last year's winner Oriental Charm who drew pole position, and Pomodoro's Jet who drew eight. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett now plying his trade in Hong Kong. No other trainer has more than one entrant in the final field of 18 horses. Sydney Laird – 7 : (1961, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1978) Terence Millard – 6 : (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990) Mike de Kock – 5 : (2001, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2022) Justin Snaith – 5 : (2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020) RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 Horse Trainer Eight on Eighteen (11) Justin Snaith Oriental Charm (1) James Crawford Immediate Edge (10) Mike/Mat de Kock See It Again (15) Michael Roberts The Real Prince (5) Dean Kannemeyer Gladatorian (16) Stuart Ferrie Selukwe (6) Andre Nel Royal Victory (17) Nathan Kotzen Okavango (13) Justin Snaith Atticus Finch (4) Alec Laird Confederate (14) Fabian Habib Native Ruler (18) Justin Snaith Madison Valley (2) Frank Robinson My Best Shot (9) Alan Greeff On My Honour (3) Glen Kotzen Purple Pitcher (12) Robyn Klaasen Pomodoro's Jet (8) James Crawford Rainbow Lorikeet (7) Candice Bass-Robinson Reserve runners Litigation (19) Sean Tarry Son Of Raj (20) Tony Peter NOTE: Barrier draw in brackets There was a collective sigh of relief within the gathered crowd in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring when the name of Eight On Eighteen was read out by Graeme Hawkins as being among the 18 runners for the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday, 5 July. Trainer Justin Snaith was always cagey about whether his star colt would take his place in the line-up, given that he would carry top weight for a three-year-old of 57kg – the highest since Abashiri lumped 59kg into 13th place behind The Conglomerate in 2016. But Snaith and owners Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert have taken the plunge and Eight On Eighteen will make history should he win and become the first three-year-old in history to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met and the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in the same year Eight On Eighteen is also likely to start one of the shortest priced favourites in the 129-year history of the race and his chances were further enhanced when he was drawn 11 in the 18-horse field. James Crawford has two runners in the race, last year's winner Oriental Charm who drew pole position, and Pomodoro's Jet who drew eight. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett now plying his trade in Hong Kong. See It Again races in the same Nick Jonsson silks as Eight On Eighteen and has his third attempt after finishing second to Winchester Mansion two years back and an unlucky fifth last year behind Oriental Charm. He pulled a wide draw of 15. Stuart Ferrie sends out his first July runner in the hard-knocking Gladatorian. A fast-finishing third behind Dave The King and Oriental Charm in the Gold Challenge, he also drew a wide gate of 16. Dean Kannemeyer knows what it takes to train a July winner, successful with Dynasty, Eyeofthetiger and Power King, and The Real Prince drew gate five. Royal Victory will have his supporters but Nathan Kotzen's charge drew deep at 17. However, he is a winner of the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Grade 1 Champion Challenge at Turffontein and finished third in the July last year behind Oriental Charm. Fabian Habib has his first July runner in Confederate. Relatively lightly raced, the gelding has won four of his nine starts but has never finishing further back than second. He won the Grade 1 SA Classic, beating subsequent Grade 1 Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack, and will be ridden by two-time South African and current New Zealand champion jockey Warren Kennedy who has made the trip to ride in the race. He drew gate 14. Mike de Kock has a stellar record in this race and has joined forces with his son Mathew. They have their first July runner together in the three-year-old and recent Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes winner Immediate Edge. He carries bottom weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg and has won four of his six starts to date. He drew alongside Eight On Eighteen in gate 10. Snaith has two other runners in the race, namely Okavango and the one-time winner Native Ruler. Okavango will be ridden by Andrew Fortune and drew 13 while Tristan Godden will have to navigate Native Ruler from gate 18. Alec Laird and jockey Calvin Habib pin their hopes on Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch who drew favourably in four. Andre Nel was first up to do the draw for Selukwe and came out with gate six. Serino Moodley will be doing the honours on Selukwe. Alan Greeff will fly the colours for the Eastern Cape with his star performer My Best Shot who has a midfield draw of nine. Local owner Sid Moodley has his first July runner in Madison Valley and he drew gate two for his trainer Frank Robinson. Rainbow Lorikeet is the only filly in the race and Candice Bass Robinson's runner drew well in seven and will have Diego de Gouveia aboard. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
