The Durban July will be run at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 4th July 2026 and we bring you full details of the runners, riders, the draw, latest betting odds and our tips for the big race.
Our selection to the win the Durban July plus our boxed trifecta perm can be found at the bottom of this preview. We will also have our own race by race analysis and bets for all 12 races on the card in this separate preview.
Posted 16:05 4th July
Durban July Result
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Durban July Final Field
Race 7. HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY (Grade 1) Distance 2200m, Due Off at 16:00
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Important:
Please note the scratching on Tuesday of No 4. Star Major who has been replaced by the first reserve runner Choisaanada who will jump from gate 4.
Please note the scratching on Wednesday of No 3. The Ultimate King who has been replaced by the second reserve runner Curious Girl who will jump from gate 3.
Note odds quoted are correct as of 06:00 4th July but are subject to change.
1 Isivivane 16.67/1
Draw (1) Age 4 Weight 52kg Merit Rating 108 Trainer Peter Muscutt Jockey Sean Veale
Comment: 5 wins from 15 starts including the Grade 3 1900m last time out ahead of Regulation, Ultimate King and Native Ruler and that quartet closely matched at these weights. Draw 1 a big plus
2 Regulation 7.14/1
Draw (2) Age 4 Weight 51kg Merit Rating 106 Trainer Justin Snaith Jockey Zac Lloyd
Comment: Was returning from a break and probably needed run when second to Isivivane in the 1900m. Disappointed in subsequent run though reportedly had excuses and part of a strong hand for the stable
3 The Ultimate King 33/1
Draw (3) Age 4 Weight 56.5kg Merit Rating 117 Trainer Tony Peter Jockey Kabelo Matsunyane
4 Star Major 4/1 Favourite
Draw (4) Age 3 Weight 57kg Merit Rating 122 Trainer James Crawford Jockey Mickaelle Michel
5 Legal Counsel 16.67/1
Draw (5) Age 4 Weight 62kg Merit Rating 128 Trainer Justin Snaith Jockey Callan Murray
Comment: Went up significantly in the ratings after running second in the Cape Met in January so top weight to carry here. Solid efforts since then too but will require something special with 62kg
6 Hazy Dazy 33/1
Draw (6) Age 3 Weight 54.5kg Merit Rating 117 Trainer Corne Spies Jockey Trent Mayhew
Comment: Gauteng filly taking on the boys and Grade 1 winner earlier in the season. Ran down the field in the Daily News only appearance at this track. Will need to leave that form behind to feature here
7 Wish List 11/2 Joint Favourite
Draw (7) Age 3 Weight 54.5kg Merit Rating 117 Trainer Justin Snaith Jockey Andrew Fortune
Comment: Filly with 5 wins and 4 places from 10 starts. Beat the boys in the Cape Derby this season (Note to Self, Viva’s Liberte and Star Major behind) and has won both subsequent starts at Greyville under Andrew Fortune. Derby win might not hold up at these weights but certainly of interest.
8 Gladatorian 20/1
Draw (8) Age 6 Weight 61.5kg Merit Rating 127 Trainer Stuart Ferrie Jockey Muzi Yeni
Comment: Seventh in this race last year off the same mark as today. In good form of late but best form to date has been over shorter distances
9 Viva’s Liberte 6.25/1
Draw (9) Age 3 Weight 53kg Merit Rating 114 Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson Jockey Craig Zackey
Comment: Has only had 8 runs and is improving. Ran behind a few of these in the Cape Derby in February and also Star Major in the Daily News only start at Greyville but weight turnarounds bring him into the mix and has been supported in the betting from twice his current odds. A player if handling the occasion against some more battle hardened rivals.
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10 Native Ruler 14.29/1
Draw (10) Age 4 Weight 58.5kg Merit Rating 121 Trainer Justin Snaith Jockey Keagen de Melo
Comment: Ran a cracking sixth from Gate 18 in this race last year off a 2 point lower mark. Prep has seemingly gone according to plan and no stamina doubts here. Interesting
11 Note To Self 11/2 Joint Favourite
Draw (11) Age 3 Weight 55kg Merit Rating 118 Trainer Justin Snaith Jockey Richard Fourie
Comment: The booking of Richard Fourie saw this one shorten in the ante post betting. Solid form and warrants plenty of respect. The distance will be no problem but has a bit to find with Star Major on Daily News 2000 form
12 Zeitz 8.33/1
Draw (12) Age 4 Weight 53kg Merit Rating 110 Trainer Andre Nel Jockey Serino Moodley
Comment: Winner of the Cup Trial in his prep for a tilt at the July. Goes well here, will require a career best effort but would be no surprise were he to be a factor
13 Mocha Blend 16.67/1
Draw (13) Age 4 Weight 56.5kg Merit Rating 117 Trainer Frank Robinson Jockey Tristan Godden
Comment: Lightly raced filly who won the Summer Cup at Turffontein in November at odds of 100/1. Put away since then until two prep runs over inadequate trips to sharpen up. Not dismissed and especially if the ground were to come up soft
14 I Salute You 33/1
Draw (14) Age 4 Weight 54.5kg Merit Rating 113 Trainer Peter Muscutt Jockey Mark du Plessis
Comment: Runner up to Zeitz in the Cup Trial returning from a 2 month break so that was a more than useful run and better off at the weights today. Finished strongly that day but it was 1800m and unproven at this longer trip.
15 Olivia’s Way 66/1
Draw (15) Age 4 Weight 55kg Merit Rating 114 Trainer Roy Magner Jockey JP v'd Merwe
Comment: Likeable filly from Gauteng who stays well. Has never run at Greyville before. Weighted to reverse November’s Summer Cup result with Mocha Blend but something to find with Aladdin’s Lamp on more recent form. The draw could have been so much kinder too
16 Minogue 50/1
Draw (16) Age 5 Weight 56kg Merit Rating 116 Trainer Candice / Tammy Dawson Jockey Gavin Lerena
Comment: Has been running well up in trip of late although yet to go 2200m. Gavin Lerena an eye catching jockey booking but would be a surprise winner.
17 King Pelles 25/1
Draw (17) Age 5 Weight 59kg Merit Rating 122 Trainer Gareth van Zyl Jockey Chad Schofield
Comment: Champions stayer of last season who romped home in the Vase over 3000m on this day 12 months ago. Wide gate to contend with though likely to be dropped out and running on at the finish. If at his best and with luck in running he could go well at rewarding odds.
18 Aladdin’s Lamp 20/1
Draw (18) Age 5 Weight 53kg Merit Rating 110 Trainer Mike / Matthew de Kock Jockey Calvin Habib
Comment: Sole representative of a master trainer who was the choice of a panel to get a run here on the back of winning the Grade 3 Jubilee at Turffontein. First run at Greyville, the distance will not be an issue but the draw could be.
19 Choisaanada 20/1
Draw (4) Age 4 Weight 58.5kg Merit Rating 121 Trainer Erico Verdonese Jockey Rachel Venniker
Comment: Reserve runner replacing the former favourite Star Major who was scratched on Tuesday. Was 2nd in Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes last time out over 2000m. Generally progressive and deserves his chance at the top level.
20 Curious Girl 33/1
Draw (3) Age 3 Weight 52kg Merit Rating 100 Trainer Mike / Matthew de Kock Jockey Mickaelle Michel
Comment: Second reserve runner comes in for The Ultimate King so jumps from Gate 3, promising stayer from top yard but under sufferance at these weights
Analysis and Selections
In this race 12 months ago Native Ruler finished sixth beaten a tad less than 4 lengths. His merit rating is 2 points higher than it was in July 2025 when he jumped from Gate 18 but the two prep runs this year seem to have gone better. Drawn at 10 this year in a field which in our opinion is not as strong this time around and with de Melo in the irons Native Ruler can be a factor at an attractive price. The more conservative punter may wish to consider playing a fixed odds place (to finish in the first 4).
Bet: Native Ruler to win at 14.29/1 with Lucky Fish, bet here
Durban July Race 7 Tote Exotic Bets:
Remember you can also place your Tote bets online with Lucky Fish and for additional interest we are looking to play a boxed trifecta on the Durban July. For those of you who may not be familiar with how it works we are going to play a perm of 5 horses and hopefully get the first 3 finishers past the post (as the perm is boxed the finishing order is irrelevant as long as we have the first 3 numbers home).
Note we were originally going to play 6 horses in the perm but after the scratching of Star Major we will stick with 5 rather than add another runner. There are now 60 possible combinations in our perm of 5 horses so to play for a full dividend you would need to spend R60. However you can play “fractional betting” taking a % of the dividend in accordance with your budget. For example 50% would cost just R30.
Got all of that? Now for those 5 numbers
9 Viva’s Liberte, lightly raced, light mass to carry and leading jockey Craig Zackey on board. Has been finding betting support
10 Native Ruler, our headline fixed odds bet so obviously must go in our trifecta perm too
11 Note to Self, Richard Fourie in the irons, difficult to leave out
12 Zeitz, Likes Greyville, needs to prove stamina but a player if he gets the trip
13 Mocha Blend, only been seen out twice since winning the Summer Cup and those runs over distances way short of ideal were prep runs, hopefully now primed for a big show here.
Boxed trifecta perm. 9, 10,11,12 and 13
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Trifecta cost is now R60 for a full dividend, remember the Durban July is Race number 7.
Odds are subject to change, place betting also available
Follow our Durban July Betting Blog in the days running up to the big race for the latest betting moves and much more!
We also have a dedicated Durban July thread on our discussion forum where knowledgeable horse racing punters from our community post their own tips. If you would like to join in you can register for an account here