With the nation still buzzing from an action-packed weekend of top-tier racing, all eyes now turn toward the highly anticipated Hollywoodbets Durban July.

After Monday’s second declaration stage on 9 June, the list of potential contenders has been trimmed to 29 — and things are starting to heat up.

From big names making bold comebacks to rising stars turning heads, the stage is nearly set for South Africa’s richest and most glamorous horse race, with R5 million in prize money up for grabs.

When to Mark Your Calendars

Before we dive into who’s making waves, here are the key dates to keep in mind:

Final supplementary entries close: Tuesday, 17 June at 11:00 (weights will also be published)
Final declarations: Monday, 23 June at 11:00
Final field and draw announcement: Tuesday, 24 June
Public gallops: Thursday, 26 June
Official Durban July pre-party: Thursday, 3 July
Race day: Saturday, 5 July

Oriental Charm Shows He’s Still in the Game

Defending champ Oriental Charm returned to the track with a solid effort in the Hollywoodbets Grade 1 Gold Challenge on Saturday.

Despite a four-month break, he managed to secure second place behind the in-form Dave The King.

This was his first race since narrowly losing to the much-hyped Eight On Eighteen in the Cape Town Met.

Just behind him, Gladatorian came in third with a strong closing run.

Jockey Sean Veale was optimistic, tipping him as a serious contender for Durban July glory.

See It Again Suffers from Bad Luck

Not every fan-favourite had things go their way. See It Again, trained by Michael Roberts, just missed the top four after encountering traffic issues during the race.

Still, given his class, he remains one to watch if luck goes his way next time out.

Madison Valley and On My Honour Deliver Fireworks

Over in the Grade 3 Cup Trial, Madison Valley put in one of the standout performances of the weekend.

Trained by Frank Robinson and expertly ridden by Muzi Yeni, he showed real grit to get the win in style.

Meanwhile, On My Honour (trained by Glen Kotzen) was the eye-catcher of the race.

Despite being way back in a slowly run race, he closed powerfully to grab third — a run that hinted at bigger things to come.

Immediate Edge Makes a Statement at Turffontein

The big mover on Sunday came from Immediate Edge, trained by Mike and Mat de Kock.

He absolutely bossed the 4Racing Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes, winning by a clear margin and putting himself firmly in the Durban July mix.

For now, he’s the only entry from the De Kock yard among the current 29 still in contention.

Also worth noting in that race was Atticus Finch, who carried top weight and still managed to finish third.

Calvin Habib has already been booked to ride him in the big race — always a positive sign.

Royal Victory and Yeni Reunite

One of the only confirmed jockey bookings so far is Muzi Yeni teaming up with Royal Victory, another strong prospect in the mix.

With both horse and rider having proven track records, this could be a partnership to watch closely.

Disappointment for Legend Of Arthur

On the flip side, Legend Of Arthur turned in a puzzling performance in the Egoli Mile.

He finished dead last, and post-race vet checks revealed he was uncomfortable.

While still listed among the 29 entries, his chances now look far slimmer unless there’s a dramatic turnaround.

Who’s Still in the Running?

Here’s a snapshot of the key horses still holding onto their Durban July dreams:

Eight On Eighteen – MR 129 – Justin Snaith
Royal Victory – MR 125 – Nathan Kotzen
Gladatorian – MR 127 – Stuart Ferrie
See It Again – MR 127 – Michael Roberts
Oriental Charm – MR 127 – James Crawford
Atticus Finch – MR 121 – Alec Laird
Immediate Edge – MR 108 – Mike / Mathew de Kock
Madison Valley – MR 115 – Frank Robinson
On My Honour – MR 116 – Glen Kotzen
Son Of Raj, The Real Prince, Native Ruler and more…

The final list could still shift depending on supplementary entries and weight announcements coming up on 17 June.