18 of South Africa's best will contest the main event at Greyville on Saturday 6th July
Get key stats and form info on all of the Durban July runners here on our website
Jockeys line up in the parade ring prior to the Durban July. (Getty)
Durban July 2024 Runners Guide
SEE IT AGAIN
ROYAL VICTORY
WINCHESTER MANSION
DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE
COUSIN CASEY
GREEN WITH ENVY
FLAG MAN
WITHOUT QUESTION
SON OF RAJ
FUTURE PEARL
ARAGOSTA
MASTER REDOUTE
MERIDIUS
SHOEMAKER
FUTURE SWING
BARBARESCO
ORIENTAL CHARM
PURPLE PITCHER
The biggest race in South African horse racing takes place on Saturday, as 18 runners contest the 2024 renewal of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Here's our free guide through the runners in this year's Durban July, and a brief description of their form leading up to Saturday's main event.
2024 Durban July Runner By Runner Guide
SEE IT AGAIN
Jockey - Piere Strydom
Trainer - Mike Roberts
Age - 4
Weight - 60kg
Draw - 10
Odds - 4.55jf
Won the Cape Derby and the Daily News 2000 last year, before finishing a close second to Winchester Mansion in the 2023 Durban July. Beaten on his three starts in Group One company this term, but ran well over a mile in the Gold Challenge last month. Has been backed into joint-favouritism since that run, despite carrying a top-weight of 60kg.
ROYAL VICTORY
Jockey - Muzi Yeni
Trainer - Nathan Kotzen
Age - 4
Weight - 57kg
Draw - 1
Odds - 10.0
Won the Summer Cup on his final outing of 2023. Made it two-from-two over ten furlongs by beating Winchester Mansion in the Champions Challenge in April. Warmed up for his first tilt at the July with a third-place finish in the Gold Challenge. Should appreciate this step up in trip. Draw one can be tricky.
WINCHESTER MANSION
Jockey - Kabelo Matsunyane
Trainer - Brett Crawford
Age - 5
Weight - 56.5kg
Draw - 9
Odds - 16.67
The defending champion, having edged out See It Again to claim a thrilling victory in 2023. Hasn't won in three starts since, but did go close behind Royal Victory on his most recent start in the Champions Challenge. Carries 3.5kg more than last year, but cannot be discounted.
DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE
Jockey - Danny Muscutt
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Age - 5
Weight - 56.5kg
Draw - 16
Odds - 33.33
Won the Cape Guineas as a three-year-old. Claimed an overdue victory when scoring in the Cape Town Met under British jockey, Danny Muscutt in January. Disappointing when only fourth on his prep-run last month, but Muscutt travels over to renew their partnership on Saturday. Should see out the distance.
COUSIN CASEY
Jockey - S'manga Kumalo
Trainer - Sean Tarry
Age - 4
Weight - 56kg
Draw - 15
Odds - 20.0
Dominant as a two-year-old. Has struggled since, failing to win on any of his last 13 starts. Finished second on his two most recent outings over seven furlongs and a mile. Performances over longer distances suggest that this extended trip won't be to his advantage.
GREEN WITH ENVY
Jockey - Craig Zackey
Trainer - Dean Kannemeyer
Age - 3
Weight - 56kg
Draw - 5
Odds - 4.55jf
Will return to Greyville looking for his fifth victory in a row. Kicked off 2024 with victories in the Politician Stakes and the Cape Derby. Was cut to 6/4 for the Durban July after wins in the WSB Guineas and the Daily News 2000. Has drifted out to a more realistic price since. Remains a leading contender.
Jockey Kabelo Matsunyane rides "Winchester Mansion" on his way to the finish line to win the 2023 edition of the Hollywoodbets Durban July. (Getty)
FLAG MAN
Jockey - Serino Moodley
Trainer - Gareth van Zyl
Age - 3
Weight - 53.5kg
Draw - 17
Odds - 12.5
One of the more lightly-raced runners in the field, after just six lifetime starts. Went into the Daily News 2000 on the back of maiden, handicap and minor stakes victories. Got within a short-head of upsetting Green With Envy on his Group One debut, afterwhich he shot up the Durban July betting. He's interesting.
WITHOUT QUESTION
Jockey - Rachel Venniker
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Age - 4
Weight - 54.5kg
Draw - 3
Odds - 25.0
Beat just two rivals home in the Durban July last season, having gone off at 9/1. Has endured a poor run of results since then, with a third-place finish in the Cape Town Met the best he's been able to muster. Well beaten twice since that surprise effort at Kenilworth. Hard to make a case for him.
SON OF RAJ
Jockey - Calvin Habib
Trainer - Tony Peter
Age - 4
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 12
Odds - 20.0
A strong stayer, who won the SA Derby convincingly in April 2023. No victory in eight starts since then and could only finish 12th in last year's Durban July. Bounced back with a narrow third in the Jubilee Stakes last month. Will still have to improve massively to get involved.
FUTURE PEARL
Jockey - Grant van Niekerk
Trainer - Sean Tarry
Age - 4
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 18
Odds - 16.67
The strongest stayer in the field, having won three Group Threes over two miles in 2023. Warmed up for the July with a victory in the tabGold Derby at Greyville three weeks ago. Carries plenty of weight over a trip that's shorter than ideal. Drawn widest of all in stall 18 too.
ARAGOSTA
Jockey - Marco van Rensburg
Trainer - Mike de Kock
Age - 5
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 7
Odds - 40.0
The most experienced horse in the field. Finished ninth behind Sparkling Water in the 2022 Durban July. Ended a 14-race wait for a victory when landing the Summer Stayers Handicap in December. Suffered seven defeats since then. Hard to say he's even well-handicapped.
MASTER REDOUTE
Jockey - Corne Orffer
Trainer - Andre Nel
Age - 5
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 14
Odds - 33.33
Has reached a career-high rating during his five-year-old campaign. Won the Peninsula Handicap as a 40/1 outsider in December, before following up in a Group Three over 14 furlongs. Ran on well for third in the WSB 1900 last time out. Stepping back up in distance will help. Has he got the class to land a July?
Double Superlative, ridden by Daniel Muscutt wins the Cape Town Met. (Getty)
MERIDIUS
Jockey - Athandiwe Mgudlwa
Trainer - Tony Peter
Age - 4
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 13
Odds - 50.0
The least-fancied runner in the field, despite winning the Group Three Jubilee Stakes on his most recent start. Struck in a Listed Handicap on his only previous run at Greyville last July. Well beaten on sole Group One start in the Champions Challenge. Looks to have plenty to find.
SHOEMAKER
Jockey - Diego De Gouveia
Trainer - Mike de Kock
Age - 4
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 6
Odds - 40.0
Beat Meridius to win a minor stakes race in March. Ran well in the Dolphin Cup Trial last month, following Oriental Charm home on second. Has come up well short when racing at Group Two level or above and has failed to land a blow in three major handicap appearances.
FUTURE SWING
Jockey - Richie Fourie
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Age - 4
Weight - 54kg
Draw - 4
Odds - 6.25
The shortest-priced of Justin Snaith's runners in the Durban July betting. Won the Algoa Cup and Chairman's Cup earlier in the season. Entered the Durban July equation by beating Oriental Charm in the WSB 1900 in May and that form has been boosted since. Dangerous contender under a lovely racing weight.
BARBARESCO
Jockey - Gavin Lerena
Trainer - J A Janse van Vuuren
Age - 3
Weight - 53.5kg
Draw - 2
Odds - 20.0
Has run six times already this year, winning a handicap in February and a Graduation Plate at Vaal in April. Ran on well to finish third behind Green With Envy and Flag Man in the Daily News 2000, on what was his first start at Greyville. Open to further progress.
ORIENTAL CHARM
Jockey - Juan Paul van der Merwe
Trainer - Brett Crawford
Age - 3
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 11
Odds - 8.33
Made a winning racecourse debut in September. Has run eight more times since then, scoring in a Class 4 before placing in both the Cape Derby and the WSB 1900. Enters his first Durban July on the back of an impressive win in the Dolphins Cup, the same trial that Winchester Mansion won 12 months ago. He's a player.
PURPLE PITCHER
Jockey - Philasande Mxoli
Trainer - Robyn Klaasen
Age - 3
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 8
Odds - 20.0
Unbeaten for Robyn Klaasen in 2023. Bounced back from a defeat in the Gauteng Guineas by landing both the SA Classic and the SA Derby in the spring. Drifted badly in the betting after a poor prep-run in the Jubilee Cup. Could bounce back over this longer trip.
