The updated ante-post betting ahead of the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July to be contested at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 2 July has seen some changes.
The 2 200m contest, billed as Africa’s greatest horseracing event, has taken on a new dimension of intrigue with the news earlier this year that the 2022 stake has been increased by 250% on 2021’s offering to R5 million, making it Africa’s richest stakes race.
Hollywoodbets will join Rothmans and Vodacom as only the third sponsor of the race in 59 years.
The race was first contested in 1897 and this year’s race will be the 126th renewal.
Hollywoodbets have set the pace by opening the ante-post betting for the big race which is now just nine weeks away.
Kommetdieding remains at the top of the boards at 6/1 in defence of his title and it is worthwhile noting that his dedicated personal workrider Grant Behr mentioned that the son of Elusive Fort is even better now than he was when winning the Cape Town Met at the end of January.
Kommetdieding, known as the ‘people’s horse’ is owned by Ashwin Reynolds and is trained by the father-daughter duo of Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix.
Linebacker, from the Vaughan Marshall yard, is next best at 10/1, followed by Mike de Kock’s Safe Passage who is now on offer at 25/2.
Justin Snaith’s Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby champion Pomp And Power is available at 14/1 in the betting along with Hoedspruit, Double Superlative and Sparkling Water.
Rain In Holland is on offer at 16/1.
Jet Dark, Warrior and Aragosta all follow at 20/1.
As always in horseracing, a lot can – and will – change between now and the when the gates fly open.