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New Paper
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Eight On Eighteen aims to be No.1 of 18
DURBAN Trainer Justin Snaith and owners Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert have taken the plunge. Their star colt Eight On Eighteen heads the list of 18 runners for the Grade 1 five million rand (S$360,000) Hollywoodbets Durban July to be run over 2,200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 5. The field announcement and barrier draw took place at a glittering function in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring where Eight On Eighteen drew 11. The son of Lancaster Bomber will make history should he win and become the first three-year-old to win the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met (2,000m) and the Durban July in the same year. All the signs are good with current South African champion jockey Richard Fourie hunting his fourth July win and Snaith his sixth. Eight On Eighteen's victory in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on May 24 was breathtaking as he made short work of many of the country's top three-year-olds. He was equally impressive in this year's Cape Town Met on Jan 25 when he took on and beat the country's top older horses at weight-for-age. The five-time winner has been set to carry top weight for a three-year-old male in 57kg, the highest since Abashiri lumped 59kg into 13th place behind The Conglomerate in 2016. While Eight On Eighteen is likely to start one of the shortest-priced favourites in the long history of the race, he will not be short of opposition. Current second favourite is last year's winner Oriental Charm, who goes into this year's race off an exceptional prep. The Vercingetorix five-year-old was beaten half-a-length by Eight On Eighteen in the Cape Town Met and now meets his younger rival on 5.5kg better terms. In his comeback run, he was touched off a head in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1,600m by reigning Equus Horse of the Year, Dave The King, on June 7. It would be an emotional win for James Crawford, who recently took over his father's string with Brett soon to ply his trade in Hong Kong. See It Again races in the same Jonsson pink, green and white silks as Eight On Eighteen and has his third attempt after finishing second to Winchester Mansion two years back and fifth last year behind Oriental Charm. Piere Strydom has been replaced in the irons by Raymond Danielson as Michael Roberts tries for a win as a jockey and trainer. 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 tries the July 2,200m trip for the first time. Also by Vercingetorix, Gladatorian is a horse with a smart turn of foot and will be charging at the leaders come the home straight. Another one who likes to charge late is The Real Prince. Dean Kannemeyer knows what it takes to train a July winner, successful with Dynasty, Eyeothetiger and Power King. The Real Prince has been brought along quietly and is sure to peak on the day. Royal Victory will have his supporters as Nathan Kotzen's charge has also had an ideal preparation. A winner of the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup (2,000m) and the Grade 1 Champions Challenge (2,000m) at Turffontein last season, he finished third in the July last year behind Oriental Charm. He was doing his best work late behind Dave The King in a warm-up over 1,500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last start and will strip at his peak. He has drawn 17. Highveld raiders are a little thin on the ground this year but their best chance could lie with Confederate. Relatively lightly raced by Fabian Habib, Confederate has won four of his nine starts but has never finished further back than second. The Fire Away four-year-old won the Grade 1 SA Classic (1,800m) on March 1, beating subsequent 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. Champion trainer Mike de Kock boasts a stellar record in this race and has now joined forces with his son Mathew. They have their first July runner together in the three-year-old and recent Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes (1,800m) 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 has drawn alongside Eight On Eighteen in gate 10. Snaith has two other runners in the race, namely Okavango and Native Ruler while Alec Laird pins his hopes on Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch. GOLD CIRCLE
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Eight On Eighteen: Aiming for historic win at the Hollywoodbets Durban July
Richard Fourie puts favourite Eight On Eighteen through its paces at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops on Thursday Image: Candiese Lenferna / Race Coast 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. 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 Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met and the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in the same year. Excitement builds in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring as Eight On Eighteen is confirmed for the R5-million Durban July. Image: Hollywoodbets Durban July Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 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. Horses enjoying their morning galloping session on a sunny winter morning, at the Shongweni horse stables. Image: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers 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 Gr1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr1 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 finished further back than second. He won the Gr1 SA Classic, beating subsequent Gr1 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 Gr3 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 Gr1 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 Greef 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 Deigo de Gouveia aboard. IOL
The South African
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: Latest ODDS ahead of Saturday's BIG race
We are now less than a week away from the 129th edition of Africa's greatest horse race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July to be held on Saturday, 5 July. The Grade 1 R5 million race at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 2 200m will go off at 16:00. RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 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 race. 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 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 Deigo de Gouveia aboard. Horse Draw Odds Eight on Eighteen 11 15/10 Oriental Charm 1 6/1 Immediate Edge 10 7/1 The Real Prince 5 25/2 On My Honour 3 16/1 Selukwe 6 16/1 See It Again 15 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 Purple Pitcher 12 40/1 Rainbow Lorikeet 7 50/1 Native Ruler 18 50/1 Reserve runners Litigation (19) SP Son Of Raj (20) 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
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: Final field confirmed
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. The 130th edition of the Grade 1 race over 2 200m will go off at 16:00. RELATED | Every previous Hollywoodbets Durban July winner since 1897 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 Deigo de Gouveia aboard. Horse Odds Weight Jockey Trainer Eight on Eighteen (11) 14/10 57 R Fourie J Snaith Oriental Charm (1) 11/2 60 J P v'd Merwe J Crawford Immediate Edge (10) 7/1 53 C Murray M/M de Kock See It Again (15) 25/2 60 R Danielson M Roberts The Real Prince (5) 14/1 56.5 C Zackey D Kannemeyer Gladatorian (16) 16/1 60 S Veale S Ferrie Selukwe (6) 16/1 54 S Moodley A Nel Royal Victory (17) 20/1 59 M Yeni N Kotzen Okavango (13) 20/1 54.5 A Fortune J Snaith Atticus Finch (4) 25/1 57 C Habib A Laird Confederate (14) 25/1 53.5 W Kennedy F Habib Native Ruler (18) 33/1 54 T Godden J Snaith Madison Valley (2) 33/1 54 G Lerena F Robinson My Best Shot (9) 33/1 53 C Maujean A Greeff On My Honour (3) 33/1 53 S Khumalo G Kotzen Purple Pitcher (12) 50/1 57.5 K Matsunyane R Klaasen Pomodoro's Jet (8) 50/1 55.5 A Mgudlwa J Crawford Rainbow Lorikeet (7) 50/1 53 D De Gouveia C Bass-Robinson Reserve runners Litigation (19) SP 54 Reserve 1 S Tarry Son Of Raj (20) SP 56 Reserve 2 T Peter 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.
