Hollywoodbets Durban July Media Release

6 July 2024

Embargo : None

by Heidi Gibson

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Crawford gets back-to-back wins at Hollywoodbets Durban

Durban – Brett Crawford made it two-in-a-row in the R5 Million Hollywoodbets Durban July when his three-year-old Oriental Charm recorded a famous victory in the 128th running of the Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday.

The colt, owned by Greg Bortz, Leon Ellman and Gina Goldsmith and ridden by JP van der Merwe, went to the front shortly after the start and held on gamely from outsider Cousin Casey, Royal Victory and Flag Man.

Top weight See It Again was a touch unlucky after being involved in some scrimmaging around the 1400m mark and Piere Strydom was then forced to check off the heels of the winner, who cut across his bows shortly before the line. Favourite Green With Envy had every chance and although running on stoutly, he did not make up the ground fast enough and finished some two lengths off the winner.

Oriental Charm enjoyed the exact same preparation for the race as stable companion Winchester Mansion last year, running second in the Gr2 WSB 1900 and following up with by winning the G3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial as Crawford plotted a meticulous passage into the big race.

The race was enjoyed by a crowd of over 40 000 who were entertained by South African super group Mango Groove, who also sang the National Emblem.

The Pick 6 pool reached a record R15 million with the Place Accumulator reaching R1.98 million.

Elsewhere at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse there was no shortage of glamour and glitz as the fashionistas enjoyed the social highlight of the year.

On the competitive fashion front, Krishan Ramdewu, the winner of the Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair was ‘totally and utterly taken by surprise’ to hear that he had won first place in the prestigious fashion competition.

A second-year student of the Pietermaritzburg’s School of Fashion, Krishan’s interpretation of this year’s theme ‘Ride the Wave’ saw him print a coral design on poly-twill fabric and then add squirls of different colours along a fold in the dress, and create a hat and shoes to win the title

Second prize winner from DUT was Olwethu Payi with Siphesihle Mkhize from Umgingindlovu TVET College claiming third.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July Raceday Fashion Experience presented by Durban Fashion Fair gave the ticket-paying followers of fashion a chance to shine.

From Pietermaritzburg, winner of the classic racewear female category Ntandokazi Mncwabe took her inspiration from an octopus when she created her design. Her exceptional outfit netted her a R5 000 prize from Gold Circle and Schweppes and a R2 500 Gift Card from Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

In the classic racewear male category, winner Luvuyo Andiswa Mshengu was overcome by emotion. A second-year fashion student, he said he had used the light shining through the waves and combined this with ethnic print in a wax fabric. His choice of a mask, as an addition, was included because he thought it would add to the overall effect of the outfit.

Winners of the most striking couple – also from Pietermaritzburg – Samkelo Makhubalo and Sanele Mthethwa walked away with the first prize. Samkelo drew her inspiration from the movie ‘The Titanic’ and the character Jack Sparrow from the movie ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. She said she used calico and spray-painted it to give it a different and unique edge. ENDS

More information can be found at https://www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za/ 

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