The field has been confirmed for the 2022 Durban July
South Africa's most famous race will take place at Greyville races on Saturday 2nd July
Defending champion, Kommetdieding and Jet Dark head the weights
Favourite Safe Passage has been drawn in stall ten
Expired
(Getty Images)
The final field has been confirmed for the 2022 running of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Journalists, media personalities and connections of this year's runners gathered at Greyville races on Tuesday, as the draw was made for this year's Durban July. Kommetdieding returns to Greyville to try and defend his crown. Gavin Lerena will take the ride once again and owner, Ashwin Reynolds drew gate 13 for his stable star.
Here's the full draw for the 2022 Durban July, a look at the weights this year's field has been allotted and a quick glance at the latest betting.
2022 Durban July Draw
Stall
Name
Jockey
Trainer
1
Aragosta
Warren Kennedy
Mike de Kock
2
Do It Again
Aldo Domeyer
Justin Snaith
3
Hoedspruit
Craig Zackey
Justin Snaith
4
Linebacker
Grand van Niekerk
Vaughan Marshall
5
Puerto Manzano
Raymond Danielson
J A Janse van Vuuren
6
Zapatillas
Luyolo Mxothwa
Brett Crawford
7
Waterberry Lane
Keagan de Melo
Dean Kannemeyer
8
Pomp And Power
Richard Fourie
Justin Snaith
9
Jet Dark
Bernard Fayd’Herbe
Justin Snaith
10
Safe Passage
Muzi Yeni
Mike de Kock
11
Belgarion
Piere Strydom
Justin Snaith
12
Sparkling Water
S’manga Khumalo
Mike de Kock
13
Kommetdieding
Gavin Lerena
HWJ Crawford/M Rix
14
Red Saxon
Rachel Venniker
Joe Soma
15
Second Base
Kabelo Matsunyane
J A Janse van Vuuren
16
Al Muthana
Callan Murray
Mike de Kock
17
Astrix
Juan Paul van der Merwe
Paul Peter
18
Flying Carpet
Calvin Habib
Sean Tarry
Reserves
19
Airways Law
Reserve 1
Andre Nel
20
Nebraas
Reserve 2
Sean Tarry
They say a wide draw is a big negative in the Durban July. However, Belgarion and Kommetdieding came from stalls 17 and 18 respectively to win the last two seasons, so connections of Al Muthana, Astrix and Flying Carpet - drawn widest of all - won't be too concerned.
Aragosta has drawn the rail in stall one. Do It Again, Hoedspruit and Linebacker have handed kind inside draws. Pomp And Power, Jet Dark and current favourite, Safe Passage were placed in stalls eight, nine and ten, with Belgarion and Sparkling Water on their immediate outside.
2022 Durban July Weights
Name
Weight (kg)
Rating
Jet Dark
60
129
Kommetdieding
60
129
Belgarion
59.5
128
Linebacker
58.5
126
Do It Again
58.5
126
Al Muthana
58
125
Astrix
56.5
122
Puerto Manzano
55.5
120
Safe Passage
54.5
122
Second Base
54.5
118
Hoedspruit
53.5
116
Sparkling Water
53.5
116
Flying Carpet
53.5
116
Aragosta
53
118
Zapatillas
53
118
Pomp And Power
53
118
Red Saxon
53
118
Waterberry Lane
53
117
Kommetdieding will carry seven kilos more on his back this year, having followed victory in this great race with a win in the Cape Town Met in January. Jet Dark has won the Queen's Plate and placed in both the Met and the Gold Challenge since then, so he too will carry a top weight of 60kg.
Belgarion will carry 1.5kg more than last year, despite struggling for form since his Durban July victory in 2020. Two-time winner, Do It Again sits prominently in the weights, alongside last year's runner-up, Linebacker.
Leading three-year-old, Safe Passage will have to shoulder 54.5kg, having received a merit rating of 122. Fellow three-year-olds Pomp And Power, Red Saxon and Waterberry Lane will carry the bottom weight of 53kg.
