Durban July drama and excitement cranks up – here’s what you need to know

As the clock ticks down to the start of the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville on Saturday, there have been some dramatic news developments:

• Zapatillas was withdrawn from the race. The Brett Crawford-trained three-year-old colt was the recent winner of the KwaZulu-Natal Guineas and a July “dark horse” among pundits at 20-1 in the betting.
• First reserve runner Airways Law was drafted into starting line-up – just an hour before the deadline for reserves to make the cut. Andre Nel’s four-year-old – one of the most improved horses in training –inherits Zapatillas’s excellent No 6 starting gate draw. The gelding slotted in at 18-1 in the betting market.
• Up-and-coming jockey Serino Moodley has been booked to replace the unfortunate Rachel Venniker on 75-1 outsider Red Saxon. Venniker, due to be the first female to ride in the July, was concussed in a tumble from a horse in a race on Monday and stood down from riding for two weeks.
• Aragosta, trained by Mike de Kock has been the subject of a betting plunge in recent days – shortening from 16-1 to 9-1. This flood of money for the SA Derby champion has seen another De Kock runner, Sparkling Water, the only filly in the race, drift from 6-1 to 12-1. Also on the drift has been dual Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, who has gone from 15-1 to 20-1.
• The favourite on bookmakers’ boards remains De Kock’s Safe Passage at 4-1. Also unchanged in the market are Linebacker at 5-1 and Pomp And Power at 7-1 – positions two and three.

Also Read: Your essential guide on what to pack for the Durban July