Latest news with #Selukwe
The South African
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: Here's who will WIN
We are now 48 hours away from the 129th edition of Africa's greatest horse race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be held on Saturday, 5 July at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The R5 million Grade 1 race over 2 200m is scheduled for 16:00. The race was rocked by a late scratching on Tuesday morning when Michael Roberts's See It Again was withdrawn due to an abnormal blood count. See It Again was at the time of his scratching the joint fifth favourite at 16/1. First reserve runner, Litigation, from the Sean Tarry yard has taken the place of See It Again and will jump from gate 15 with Grant van Niekerk aboard. So which horse will cross the line first – that's the big question. Eight On Eighteen from the Justin Snaith yard will be tough to beat if things go his way. And that's a big 'if'. The Hollywoodbets Durban July has thrown up a number of shock results, especially by horses drawn wide out. Eight On Eighteen will be doing his best work late in the race. Whether he's able to catch those horses who would have bolted from the gates nearest the rail, especially with Hollywoodbets Greyville's short final straight, remains to be seen. Defending champion Oriental Charm figures as the main danger and is drawn in pole position, but there are concerns over a lack of race fitness. Those looking for outsiders and a bit of value shouldn't look past, in no particular order, My Best Shot, Selukwe, Gladatorian and The Real Prince – if the distance doesn't prove a factor. Eight On Eighteen My Best Shot Selukwe Oriental Charm The Real Prince Horse Draw Odds Eight on Eighteen 11 14/10 Oriental Charm 1 7/1 Immediate Edge 10 7/1 The Real Prince 5 25/2 On My Honour 3 14/1 Selukwe 6 16/1 Gladatorian 16 16/1 Madison Valley 2 20/1 My Best Shot 9 25/1 Royal Victory 17 25/1 Atticus Finch 4 33/1 Pomodoro's Jet 8 33/1 Okavango 13 33/1 Confederate 14 33/1 Litigation 15 40/1 Purple Pitcher 12 40/1 Rainbow Lorikeet 7 50/1 Native Ruler 18 50/1 Reserve runner Son Of Raj SP Odds correct as at the time of publishing 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.
The South African
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: Updated ODDS after key scratching
We are now just days away from the 129th edition of Africa's greatest horse race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be held on Saturday, 5 July. The R5 million Grade 1 race at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 2 200m will go off at 16:00. RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 The race was rocked by a late scratching on Tuesday morning when Michael Roberts's See It Again was withdrawn due to an abnormal blood count. See It Again was the joint fifth favourite at 16/1. First reserve runner, Litigation, from the Sean Tarry yard will take the place of See It Again and will jump from gate 15. Litigation will be ridden by Grant van Niekerk. Horse Draw Odds Eight on Eighteen 11 14/10 Oriental Charm 1 7/1 Immediate Edge 10 7/1 The Real Prince 5 25/2 On My Honour 3 14/1 Selukwe 6 16/1 Gladatorian 16 16/1 Madison Valley 2 20/1 Royal Victory 17 25/1 Atticus Finch 4 33/1 Pomodoro's Jet 8 33/1 My Best Shot 9 33/1 Okavango 13 33/1 Confederate 14 33/1 Litigation 15 33/1 Purple Pitcher 12 40/1 Native Ruler 18 50/1 Rainbow Lorikeet 7 66/1 Reserve runner Son Of Raj SP Odds correct as at the time of publishing 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.
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Selukwe proving patience is a Plattner virtue
Late developer Selukwe has galloped into the Durban July picture. A new video on YouTube takes viewers on a visit to Plattner Racing's Rondeberg training stables in Western Cape. While enjoying the sight of thoroughbreds galloping on magnificent tracks through the West Coast fynbos, or walking on the nearby Atlantic Ocean beach sands, you can listen to trainer Andre Nel explaining the equine philosophy of the woman who made it all possible: Sabine Plattner. 'The horse's welfare is paramount; that takes precedence over everything,' explains Nel, who is private trainer to Plattner. 'Racing is almost a byproduct of what we do here,' adds Nel, gazing bemusedly at the idyllic setting. Plattner – a horse-lover from her earliest days in post-war Germany – frowns on pushing youngsters to perform and has been known to forego major juvenile races and even three-year-old Classics if necessary. As this promo video was being posted to the internet by Cape Racing, a real-life example of the virtue of patience was unfolding thousands of kilometres away at Greyville racecourse in Durban. Selukwe, a five-year-old bred at Plattner's La Plaisance Stud farm in George – 20km down the road from Fancourt golf estate owned by her family – was raising eyebrows by trouncing a classy field in the WSB 1900m. Impressive progression Selukwe was not rushed as a youngster, racing nine times in his first year on the track – with a modest return of one win. Not looking much of a prospect, he was shipped off to Nel's satellite yard in KwaZulu-Natal in search of a change of fortune. Up the coast, under the care of assistant trainer Byron Foster, the penny dropped – as they say in the classics. Since getting his second win – at Scottsville in May 2024 – he has not been out of the prizemoney in 12 outings, culminating in Saturday's Grade 3 triumph. No burnout or staleness there. In his winning interview, Foster said of Selukwe: 'His progression has been very impressive. To say he was going to win a group race nine months ago, you'd have probably said we were off our heads.' He added: 'We've always said, once he gets the pace we'll see a true reflection of his acceleration.' Indeed, it was acceleration – from the back of the field off a wide draw – that so impressed onlookers. And this followed a front-running victory in the recent UmThombothi Stakes in which he effortlessly sped away from rivals at the death. Durban July prospect Such a turn of foot wins Hollywoodbets Durban Julys, so it's a good job the gelding is already nominated for South Africa's premier race, which takes place in eight weeks' time. Saturday's winning odds of 16-1 indicate how unrealistic that nomination looked to punters last week. On the question of the July, the assistant said such decisions were made by Nel and Plattner. When July first declarations closed on Monday morning, Selukwe and Nel stablemate Zeitz were among the 49 names standing their ground. Last week bookmakers were happy to give 250-1 on Selukwe to win the July. On Monday morning the price was 25-1.
