18 runners will contest the 2022 Durban July at Greyville on Saturday 2nd July
Safe Passage remains the market leader with HollywoodBets
We take a look through the entire field
Kommetdieding is our first selection each way at 12.5
Expired
Durban July. (Getty)
There's now less than a week to go before this 2022 renewal of the Durban July takes place at Greyville racecourse.
18 of South Africa's finest flat racers will line up in the main event at Greyville on July 2nd. Today, we've gone through the full field set to take part in this year's Durban July and picked out our first selection.
2022 Durban July Runner-By-Runner Guide
Al Muthana
Aragosta
Astrix
Belgarion
Do It Again
Flying Carpet
Hoedspruit
Jet Dark
Kommetdieding
Linebacker
Pomp And Power
Puerto Manzano
Red Saxon
Safe Passage
Second Base
Sparkling Water
Waterberry Lane
Zapatilas
Verdict
2022 Durban July Tips - Runner-By-Runner Guide
Al Muthana
Trainer - Mike de Kock
Jockey - Callan Murray
Weight - 58kg
Draw - 16
Excellent wins-to-runs ratio. Got up late to beat Linebacker in the Gold Challenge last time out. A lack of pace in the race could suit this strong finisher. If we do get a truly run race, then 2200m could prove too much of a stretch.
*
Aragosta
Trainer - Mike de Kock
Jockey - Wayne Kennedy
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 1
Won the SA Derby up at Turffontein earlier this season. Ran a decent race when third in the Daily News 2000 last time out. Wasn't particularly impressive when working with Safe Passage during the public gallop and stall one is probably the hardest draw a three-year-old could receive.
*
Astrix
Trainer - Peter Parul
Jockey - Juan Paul van der Merwe
Weight - 56.5kg
Draw - 17
Ran down Sparkling Water to win the Premier Champions Challenge at the end of April. Has been laid out for the Durban July since then, but didn't travel to KZN for the public gallop last week. Could still be improving, but he looks to be carrying a bit too much weight.
*
Belgarion
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Jockey - Piere Strydom
Weight - 59.5kg
Draw - 11
Former winner of this race two years ago. Has suffered with two fetlock injuries since then. Didn't impress during his two prep-runs and didn't show up for the public gallop. Hard to really consider.
*
Do It Again
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Jockey - Aldo Domeyer
Weight - 58.5kg
Draw - 2
The most successful horse in Durban July history. Won the race twice and has placed in the last two renewals. Returns to Greyville on the back of a win, but that was only in a mediocre Grade Two. 58.kkg is a lot of weight for an aging seven-year-old to carry and stall two could be tricky to navigate.
Claimed a shock victory in the Guateng Summer Cup at the end of last season. Hasn't won since and was very disappointing last time out. Drawn widest of all in stall 18. Won't be part of my bets.
*
Hoedspruit
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Jockey - Craig Zackey
Weight - 53.5kg
Draw - 3
By a former winner of the Durban July. Lightly-raced this season, running just three times. Beaten as the even-money favourite when last seen back in May. Could be very well-handicapped, but there are others who hold more appeal from a form stand-point.
*
Jet Dark
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Jockey - Bernard Fayd’Herbe
Weight - 60kg
Draw - 9
Two-time Queen's Plate winner over a mile. Did manage to win the Champions Cup over 1800m last season. Likes to come hard and fast from off the pace, so this trip over 2200m could stretch him - especially with a top-weight of 60kg on his back.
*
Kommetdieding
Trainer - Crawford & Rix
Jockey - Gavin Lerena
Weight - 60kg
Draw - 13
Powered home to win this race from a wide draw last year. Kicked off this season with a runner-up effort in the Queen's Plate a victory in the Met. Disappointing the last twice at Turffontein. Looked excellent during the public gallop, though, and has the physical strength to cope with top-weight.
Kommetdieding winning the 2022 Cape Town Met. (Getty)
*
Linebacker
Trainer - Vaughan Marshall
Jockey - Grant van Niekerk
Weight - 58.5kg
Draw - 4
My selection when second in this race 12 months ago. Has been largely underwhelming since then. Returned to something like his best last time out when second in the Gold Challenge. Didn't impress in the public gallop, though, and a low draw down in stall four isn't ideal.
*
Pomp And Power
Trainer - Justin Snaith
Jockey - Richard Fourie
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 8
Plenty of useful three-year-old form. Won the Cape Derby very nicely. Far too keen on his last two starts around Greyville, where he pulled himself into the lead early and had nothing left in the tank. Very keen and unsettled during the public gallop. Clearly has plenty of talent, but his temperament is a real worry.
*
Puerto Manzano
Trainer - JA Janse van Vuuren
Jockey - Raymond Danielson
Weight - 55.5kg
Draw - 5
Has been running well this season. Finished second in the Horse Chestnut Stakes. All of his best form has come around Turffontein. Only run at Greyville was poor and didn't travel down for the open gallop. Not for me.
*
Red Saxon
Trainer - Joe Soma
Jockey - Rachel Venniker
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 14
Beat Safe Passage in the SA Classic earlier in the season. Lame after the SA Derby and was beaten some nine lengths behind Safe Passage when they met again in the Daily News 2000. Hard to see him returning to winning form in the July.
*
Safe Passage
Trainer - Mike de Kock
Jockey - Muzi Yeni
Weight - 54.5kg
Draw - 10
Brings some excellent form into the race, having won the Guateng Guineas and the Daily News 2000. Was also a very close second in the SA Classic to Red Saxon. Worked better than Aragosta during the open gallop. 54.5kg is a lot for a three-year-old to carry. Still a leading contender.
Grade Two winner at Turffontein earlier in the season. Can play up before the start, which often leads to poor starts. If he does that again from stall 15, he'll find it very hard to work his way back into contention.
*
Sparkling Water
Trainer - Mike de Kock
Jockey - S’manga Khumalo
Weight - 53.5kg
Draw - 12
Strong-staying mare, having won the Western Cape Stayers over a longer trip than this earlier in the season. Solid placed efforts over shorter trips since then, including a narrow defeat in the Premier's Champions Challenge. De Kock has won the July with two mares before now. A clear lack of finishing pace is a worry for me, though.
*
Waterberry Lane
Trainer - Dean Kannemeyer
Jockey - Keagan de Melo
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 7
Gallop - On his toes a little. Looked good and sharp though. Strong galloper. 8/10
Bolted up in a Grade Three earlier in the season. Only sixth to Zapatilas in the Guineas, where he didn't settle behind a slow pace. Finished well from out the back to place fourth behind Safe Passage in the Daily News 2000. Caught the eye during the public gallop last week. Interesting contender if he sees out the trip.
*
Zapatilas
Trainer - Brett Crawford
Jockey - Luyolo Mxothwa
Weight - 53kg
Draw - 6
Got up in the dying strides to win the World Sport Guineas at Greyville on his last start. One of the least experienced runners in the field and has only run over a mile once. Didn't travel to KZN for the open gallop. His experience could be his undoing.
After going through all of the runners, the one I want to back at this stage is last year's winner, KOMMETDIEDING.
Ashwin Reynold's star ran out an impressive winner of this race 12 months ago and started the season in excellent style, winning the Cape Town Met. His last two runs at Turffontein were poor, but that was the first time he'd been taken up to the highveld for an autumn campaign and the change of scenery may have disrupted his rhythm.
Kommetdieding has blossomed since returning to KZN. Michelle Rix's star was the stand-out performer during the public gallop and he looks a bigger, strong horse than he was last year.
Durban July FAQs
What is the Durban July?
The Durban July is the most famous horse race staged in South Africa. The Durban July is a Grade One handicap, run at Greyville racecourse on the first Saturday in July every year.
When is the 2022 Durban July?
The 2022 Durban July will be run on Saturday 2nd July.
Who is the favourite for the Durban July?
Safe Passage is currently the 4/1 favourite for the 2022 Durban July with race-sponsors HollywoodBets.
Verdict
Even under top-weight, Kommetdieding could defend his Durban July crown. 12.5 is a crazy price.
2022 Durban July Tips: Kommetdieding Each-Way @1150.0 at dabble.com - 1 Unit
Do It Again2022 Durban July ContenderGET 10.00 HERE
