Horse Racing: Who will win the Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025? Favourites, form and final field

Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025: Marvel of Mzansi

The 129th edition of the Durban July will get underway on Saturday, with this year’s theme being the Marvel of Mzansi. Hollywoodbets have gone all out once again, with the Win and Place pools set to surpass R10 million, an Exacta pool likely to reach R5 million, and the Pick 6 expected to ease beyond R15 million (R2m carryover). 

Hollywoodbets also has plenty of promotions available leading up to the big race this weekend, including their R20 million punters challenge, deposit bonuses and price boosts, and you can find all the necessary information on our in-depth Hollywoodbets review here on SportyTrader.

#11 Eight on Eighteen - (Richard Fourie)

Given the quality of horses on display at the Durban July each year, it is a rare occurrence to see any runner showing up at almost even money during ante-post betting, but that’s what we have in 2025 with Eight on Eighteen out of Justin Snaith’s yard. This three-year-old gets the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie and comes into the big day with a record of five wins and five places in his 10 career runs, including a commanding victory at the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met earlier this year. 

With the bloodline of Lancaster Bomber and Snow Dancer, Eight on Eighteen has impeccable breeding, and a confident Snaith mentioned during the race panel review that this could be the time for this horse to prove he is the best in the country. These were sentiments shared by fellow five-time HDJ winning trainer Mike de Kock, who went on to explain that, given the weight he is carrying (57kg), he expects Eight on Eighteen to be a big runner and “What beats him will win.”

However, there is one major issue from a punter's perspective - is it worth backing a three-year-old at odds of 1.50 on a big race day when there is so much value to be had elsewhere? The tote and most of the best online betting sites are offering up to six places for the main race, and while we will not put anyone off going all-in on this incredible youngster, the value for us may lie elsewhere. 

#1 Oriental Charm - (JP van der Merwe)

Last year’s winner Oriental Charm returns to defend his crown and is trained solely by James Crawford, with Brett Crawford now plying his trade in Hong Kong. The four-year-old by Vercingetorix proved his worth in 2024, as he bombed out the gate, took pole position in the race, and refused to relinquish the lead despite being tracked down late. Another win here will see him become only the sixth horse to win back-to-back Durban Julys and the first since Do It Again.

JP van der Merwe retains the ride as he did when they ran second to Eight on Eighteen at the Cape Town Met. There is no question about his staying ability, but there is a slight argument to be made about his lack of prep, having only been given one run since January, which was a mile trip, and he ran second to last year’s horse of the year, Dave The King. Additionally, we have mixed emotions about the number one draw since Oriental Charm is a proven frontrunner, and if he gets penned in at the start, it could leave him with too much to do down the straight. 

#6 Selukwe - (Serino Moodley)

One horse that we really like the look of coming into HDJ 2025 is Andre Nel’s runner Selukwe, who gets the services of local jockey Serino Moodley. It is no secret that a race like the Durban July favours horses that have a turn of foot, and Selukwe showed his ability to quicken at the WSB 1900 where he came from second-last, cutting through the field like a linebacker with the afterburners on to win the race by over two lenghts and still pulling away.   

If the gallops were anything to draw conclusions from, this five-year-old from Pomodoro was the pick of the lot. He now has six wins and 10 places under his belt from 26 starts and has already beaten the likes of Native Ruler, Okavango and Madison Valley, all of which are also set to feature in this race. Indeed, it remains to be seen if he can challenge the likes of the market leader, but this is a runner we will not be leaving out of any bets, and is arguably our best each-way shot for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July. 

#10 Immediate Edge - (Callan Murray)

Mike and Matthew de Kock’s only runner in the 2025 HDJ is Immediate Edge, and he will be piloted by Callan Murray, who returns to Mzansi and gets the ride of this three-year-old by Vercingetorix. He last showed out in his third run after a rest at the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes last month and rumbled to victory in a field that featured the likes of Son of Raj and Atticus Finch. 

Kabelo Matsunyane, who rode him to victory at the Jubilee Stakes, mentioned at the panel review that he feels this horse has the ability to win this race and also suggested that he is not too concerned about his experience despite being a three-year-old. Immediate Edge has undergone a smooth prep, and carrying just 53kg on his back makes him one you cannot write off. Add in the "De Kock factor", and we make this one of the lurkers in the pack.

#16 Gladatorian - (Sean Veale) 

The final runner we are throwing into the mix is one of the few Durban horses in the race, Gladatorian, trained by Stuart Ferrie and ridden by Sean Veale, with betting odds currently available at a very tempting 16/1. Out of a Dynasty mare by Vercingetorix, Gladatorian is one of the most honest runners around, always giving everything when he steps out, while possessing a turn of foot capable of running down even the best in the business as we saw at the Gold Challenge where he finished less than a length off Dave The King. 

The obvious concern for Gladatorian is the wide draw at 16, where he will have to contend with the likes of Eight on Eighteen on his inside. Despite this, Snaith expressed that this is a horse he wished he owned, which is as big a compliment as any horse can receive, and if Veale can position him handily off the Greyville bend, it would come as no surprise to see him in the final photo. Gladatorian is another that we will not be leaving out of any bets on the day, especially the place market where a top four finish is currently showing up at a very nice 4/1. 

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Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field and Odds

Odds taken from Hollywoodbets 

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