2025 Durban July Draw - Eight On Eighteen lands in lucky Stall 11

Soon after the final field for the 2025 Durban July was confirmed, the official draw took place. Here's the full draw for the 2025 Durban July and a few useful statistics.

Justin Snaith's favourite, Eight On Eighteen, was drawn in stall 11 - the gate that has produced the most Durban July winners. 

Since 1985, five horses have stormed to Durban July glory from gate 11, including last year's winner Oriental Charm, and the champion of 2022, Sparkling Water.

Stall 11 is considered a “sweet spot”, due to a unique quirk - it’s the first gate in the second bank of stalls, giving horses a few extra yards of space going into the right-hand bend. This allows jockeys to angle in early and avoid the notorious jostling in the opening stages.

Oriental Charm returns to defend his crown, but Juan Paul van de Merwe could have his work cut out after drawing stall one. The lowest stall has produced three winners in the last 40 years, but a slow start could see Oriental Charm boxed in against the inside rail, with little room to manoeuvre.

For many years, a low draw was considered vital in the Durban July. Stalls 1-9 have produced more winners than stalls 10-18 in the last 40 years, but the split is fairly even, and we've seen horses win from stalls 17 and 18 in the last five years alone.

Mike and Mat de Kock will be pleased with stall 10 for Immediate Edge, who should be able to track Eight On Eighteen from that middle position. Royal Victory and Native River have landed the two widest stalls on this occasion. See It Again, running in his third Durban July, has been placed in stall 15 - the only gate that has failed to produce a Durban July winner during this analysis period.