Even those who do not know a horse from a donkey will be having a flutter on the ‘ponies’ as they try and guess the winner of South Africa’s most prestigious horse, the Durban July Handicap.

South Africa’s premier race runs on the first Saturday in July at Greyville and is the most popular betting race in South Africa.

Work colleagues will be involved in lucky draws hoping that they draw the favourites out of the hat. Clubs such as the Dundee and District and Golf Club will be having ‘July evenings’ where horses will be ‘auctioned’ in a bid to raise money.

The favourite is Hawwaan trained by three-times July winner, Mike de Kock. But there has been a lot of interest in stablemate, Barahin, whose odds have been trimmed from 13-2 to 6-1. The 2018 winner, Do It Again, is firm on bookmakers’ boards at 4—1, while outsiders Eyes Wide Open (20-1 to 12-1) and Twist Of Fate (16-1 to 13-1) have enjoyed a good share of support.

De Kock was quoted on his website,  www.mikedekockracing.com, as saying Hawwaam is not a ‘straightforward horse’.

“You don’t know what he’s going to do. He may jump slowly, or he will pull on the bridle. This is also the first time he is running in an 18-horse field so we don’t know how he will cope. Barahin is a one-dimensional horse. He’ll relax near the back of the field and run on late.”

Trainer Justin Snaith, aiming at his third July winner, is adamant that four-year-old Do It Again can follow up on 2018’s success although he is carrying a weight burden.

The Courier contacted some local racing gurus and here is what they tipped.

Flip The Tip: 4  5  14  1   Quartet box

Kevin the Fly: Trifecta 1 4 3

Veeman: He prefers the lesser known ones:  13, 6 Swinger

Devon: 2,6 Swinger

Latest betting:

17/10 – Hawwaam

4/1 – Do It Again

45/10 – Rainbow Bridge

6/1 – Barahin

16/1 – Twist Of Fate

20/1 – Legal Eagle

25/1 – Doublemint,

28/1 – Head Honcho, Eyes Wide Open, Made To Conquer

40/1 – Tilbury Fort

50/1 – Divine Odyssey, Return Flight

55/1 – Lady In Black, Miyabi Gold

66/1 – Fresnaye

75/1 – Roy Had Enough

More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za