The 2023 edition of the Durban July will be run at Greyville Racecourse and we have a tip for every race on the card in this video preview
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Durban July Day Video Preview
Here is a summary of the betting tips.
Race 1: 11:45 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (fillies) 1300m
The opening race on the card kicks off Jackpot 1 and is for 2 year old fillies. Current favourite Secret Identity hails from Cape Town but all three of her runs have been in KZN and after racing green on debut at Scottsville she opened her account in some style at this track and then followed up up with another course win. The draw of 11 is hardly ideal but hopefully she can get us off to a flyer.
Selection: 11 Secret Identity (Win)
Race 2: 12:25 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (C & G) 1300m
The first leg of Bi-pot 1 and this time it's for the 2 year old colts and geldings. Main Defender is unbeaten in two starts and Jerusalema Rain has two wins and two second places against her name. Both are well drawn, as is Outlaw King who was no match for top juvenile Lucky Lad last time out but has good form. Others can get involved but slight preference is for Jerusalema Rain.
Selection: 3 Jerusalema Rain (Win)
Race 3: 13:05 Splashout 2200 (Grade 3) (C & G) 2200m
This is the first leg of the Place Accumulator and a number of these came up just short of what was required to get into the July which is run over the same trip. Powerhouse stables Snaith and de Kock are represented by the market leaders One Way Traffic and Aragosta and they could fight it out but there are plenty of others with chances including Lord William if he stays the trip and Raiseahallelujah who's stable has turned the corner. Sean Tarry has Nebraas and Shango and both could feature. We will take our chances with Aragaosta and speculate Shango can run a place.
Selection: 6 Aragosta (Win) Shango (Place)
Race 4: 13:40 DSTv Gold Vase (Grade 3) 3000m
The Pick 6 starts here and a pool of around R20 million is expected. A marathon trip and a wide open betting heat with bookmakers having priced this one up at 5/1 the field. P6 players might be best off going wide and then look for bankers elsewhere but for those looking for a win bet, Arumugam could be the answer to a tricky puzzle.
Selection: 10 Arumugam (Win)
Race 5: 14:20 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper (Grade 2) 1400m
This is the start of Jackpot 2 and the 2 year old fillies are in action. Mrs Geriatrix is 4 wins from 4 and clearly sets the standard although this will be her first look at Greyville. A number of others are also tackling this course for the first time including Egyptian Mau who won on debut on the Highveld and had excuses in her second run which came at Scottsville after a lengthy break. She may prove to be value to run a place.
Selection: 11 Egyptian Mau (Place)
Race 6: 15:00 Durban Golden Horseshoe (Grade 2) 1400m
This field of 2 year old colts and geldings (plus one filly) is headed by Mike de Kock's Gimmeanotherchance who, despite a poor draw, looks a worthy favourite on the evidence of two impressive wins in his last two starts. Guy Gibson and Sandringham Summit look the main dangers, Hawkbill could be an improver. The latter, who has taken his time to learn what its all about and takes his place here rather than earlier in the day is taken to run a place.
Selection: 4 Hawkbill (Place)
Race 7: 16:00 Hollywoodbets Durban July (Grade 1) 2200m
The big race is also the first leg of the second Bi-pot and for those of you who are quartet players that particular pool is expected to be in the region of R10 million. See It Again has been favourite for this race since winning the Daily News and will be a popular choice with Strydom in the irons. More recently Winchester Mansion has been the subject of market support, ideally drawn at 4 in what is his third run after gelding and on the back of an impressive win in the Cup Trial. If we were to give mentions to all runners in with a shout this would be a very long read, it's so competitive. We will not over think this one and side with Winchester Mansion, no stamina doubts, in top form and handily drawn with a light mass.
Selection: 4 Winchester Mansion (Win)
Race 8: 16:50 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) 1600m
This race is priced up as a boat race between Princess Calla and Desert Miracle. The former beat the latter by more than 3 lengths last time out and although that was over 1200m Sean Tarry's superstar mare is also well proven over this longer trip although her last run over the mile was in April 2022. With that in mind, Desert Miracle, who lowered Captains Ransom's colours over the mile in Cape Town in January is our pick.
Selection: 6 Desert Miracle (Win)
Race 9: 17:30 Post Merchants (Grade 2) 1200m
The first leg of the final jackpot which has a carry over and predicted pool of around R2 million and the speed will be on. Thunderstruck ran a cracker in the Golden Horse Sprint earlier this month with Surjay not far behind. That was Surjay's second run after gelding and although he has drawn wider than his main market rival he might just have enough to turn the tables.
Selection: 11 Surjay (Win)
Race 10: 18:10 Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap (Listed) 1600m
This is highly competitive and there are so many with viable chances. Quasiforsure and Money Heist have to command respect whilst Silvano's Dasher had a number of these behind at Scottsville recently including Forever Mine who has a plum draw and is slightly better off at the weights. One who is not well drawn is Royal Victory and on the face of it he has plenty to find with those who were in front of him on his last run. However, our selection (which admittedly we have a small share in) was nowhere near fully fit that day, returning from a break. He has it all to do from a wide gate so luck in running will be a factor but expect a much better showing, hopefully picking up his rivals in the closing stages.
Selection: 14 Royal Victory (Win)
Race 11: 18:50 Brentford FC - FM 86 Handicap (F & M) 1600m (Polytrack)
We switch to the Polytrack for the final two races and hopefully we will be in profit as finding winners at the death will not be easy. Asiye Phambili ran a cracker from a wide gate late last month, a first run since the end of January. The poly is an unknown but from a decent draw she is our first choice in a wide open contest.
Selection: 14 Asiye Phambili (Win)
Race 12: 19:30 Gagasi FM - Mr 88 Handicap 1400m (Polytrack)
Many thanks for staying with us and whatever you backed we hope you enjoyed a top class day of racing. Tirpitz, although running on this surface for the first time, is our headline pick given he has been running well against some very decent horses.
Selection: 6 Tirpitz (Win)
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