EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN tops the log for 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July

Eight On Eighteen has earned top spot on the Hollywoodbets Durban July Log as published by the Racing Operator yesterday.

There were eleven scratchings at the time of first declarations on Monday 12 May, including Grade 1 winner Fire Attack and Gold Bracelet (Gr 2) winner Red Palace – both due to setbacks in training – while Musical Score and WSB East Cape Derby winner, My Best Shot, were supplemented on Tuesday, 13 May by their respective trainers Lucky Houdalakis and Alan Greeff.

The panel comprising Justin Vermaak, Raf Sheik, Graeme Hawkins and senior handicapper, Lennon Maharaj, have positioned My Best Shot on the fringes of the top twenty, which reflects exactly what the final field would look like if the Hollywoodbets Durban July was run today.

The Log will be updated on 10 June, following the second declaration stage on Monday, 9 June. By then, the Daily News 2000 (Gr 1); Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Gr 1); the Woolavington 2000 (Gr 2) and Cup Trial (Gr 3) will have been run, the outcomes of which could impact the status of HDJ contenders.

Hollywoodbets Durban July Log Top 20 as of 14 May

Position	Horse	Age	Trainer	MR
1	EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN	3C	J Snaith	127
2	ORIENTAL CHARM	4C	B/J Crawford	125
3	SAIL THE SEAS	3C	J Snaith	127
4	SEE IT AGAIN	5G	M Roberts	127
5	ROYAL VICTORY	5G	N Kotzen	125
6	CONFEDERATE	3G	F Habib	118
7	PURPLE PITCHER	4C	R Klaasen	123
8	ATTICUS FINCH	5G	A Laird	121
9	GLADATORIAN	5G	S Ferrie	123
10	COUSIN CASEY	5H	S Tarry	125
11	LEGEND OF ARTHUR	3C	S Tarry	117
12	FIERY PEGASUS	3F	J Soma	119
13	SPUMANTE DOLCE	3F	M/M de Kock	117
14	SELUKWE	5G	A Nel	111
15	WILD INTENT	3G	L Houdalakis	116
16	THE REAL PRINCE	4G	D Kannemeyer	120
17	MUCHO DINERO	5G	J Snaith	115
18	PACAYA	6G	J Snaith	118
19	FUTURE SWING	5G	J Snaith	117
20	POMODORO’S JET	6G	B/J Crawford	118