Hollywoodbets will sponsor this Grade One at Greyville on Saturday 2nd July
18 runners will take their chance in this year's Durban July
Safe Passage remains the 3.57 favourite with Hollywoodbets
Kommetdieding winning the 2022 Cape Town Met. (Getty)
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The biggest race on the South African racing calendar will take place on July 2nd, as many of the continent's top middle-distance horses clash in the 2022 Durban July. Bookmakers Hollywoodbets will sponsor the Durban July for the first time, increasing the prize pot at Greyville up to a whopping R5m.
New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply.
Three-year-olds dominate the betting for this year's Durban July. Mike De Kock's Safe Passage jumped to the top of the betting following his two-length triumph in the Daily News 2000. Pomp And Power finished second as the odds-on favourite in that Group One, but Justin Snaith's Cape Derby winner remains the second-favourite.
Safe Passage's stablemate, the mare Sparkling Water sits third, having placed in both the Empress Club Stakes and the Premier Champion Challenge. Last year's runner-up, Linebacker has been backed into a single-figure price since returning to form in the Gold Challenge at Greyville.
Last year's winner, Kommetdieding topped the initial betting, but has slid down the market in recent weeks. Former two-time winner, Do It Again can be backed at 12.5 with bet.co.za. Hoedspruit, Aragosta, Al Muthana, Zapatillas and Jet Dark can be backed at prices shorter than 20.
66/1 outsider Astrix edged out Sparkling Water to win the Premier Champions Challenge and Paul Peter's five-year-old can be backed at 50 to win the Durban July. Puerto Manzano, Waterberry Lane, Second Base and former Durban July winner, Belgarion also feature in the final field.
Safe PassageDurban July Race FavouriteGET 3.50 HERE
