The Real Prince Triumphs at Hollywoodbets Durban July!
Durban was buzzing this past Saturday as a record crowd descended on Greyville Racecourse for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July, Africa's premier horseracing event! Fashion, high-stakes racing, and vibrant cultural expression collided under the theme “Marvels of Mzansi”.
But the real marvel was The Real Prince, who delivered a stunning performance to win the Grade One R5 million race. Jockey Craig Zackey and trainer Dean Kannemeyer celebrated as The Real Prince edged out favourite Eight On Eighteen in a nail-biting finish. Selukwe secured third place, followed by Royal Victory in fourth.
“The Real Prince’s full brother Gimme A Prince was crowned Champion Sprinter two seasons back so there was always a question mark hanging over his ability to stay the 2200m trip of the July,” Hollywoodbets stated. His victory definitively answered that question!
Eight On Eighteen, aiming to be the first three-year-old to win both the Cape Met and the July in the same season, put up a strong fight. Oriental Charm initially set a brisk pace, keeping the field tightly packed. Eight On Eighteen, starting from stall 11, faced early challenges but surged forward on the final turn.
However, Zackey's masterful ride on The Real Prince proved to be the deciding factor. He strategically closed the gap and surged ahead in a thrilling head-to-head battle to the finish line. It was a photo finish, but Kannemeyer secured his fourth Durban July victory, his second for Lady Christine Laidlaw and Khaya Stables.
Kannemeyer reflected on the preparation, saying, “Where were we going to place him? The first time we tried him over a mile he won by six lengths. Great run in the Drill Hall.” The meticulous planning clearly paid off, resulting in a memorable victory for The Real Prince.