The 2019 Vodacom Durban July is still some three months away but the debate around the weights is already a hot topic. In this light, Gold Circle chose 20 likely contenders for the great race and asked National Horse Racing Authority Handicapper Matthew Lips how he would frame the weights based on current form.

Lips took into account those that would be under sufferance and added the actual weight to be carried in terms of the race conditions and also used the July WFA scale to calculate the weights of the three-year-olds.

As things currently stand, last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again would carry top weight of 60kg followed by Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge on 59.5kg.

Top weighted three-year-old would be SA Classic winner Hawwaam who would shoulder 56kg, 1 kg less than the maximum weight for a three-year-old male, with Gauteng Guineas winner National Park 54kg.

It must be emphasised that the 20 runners on the list are random picks of horses that currently feature high up in the ante-post betting and are not guaranteed to run as it is entirely up to their connections whether they take part or not.

Some bookmakers have priced up in the ante-post market but punters must bear in mind that their money is forfeit should their fancy not make the final field. Betting shown below is merely a guide to the current market.

Do It Again 60.0
Rainbow Bridge 59.50
Hawwaam 56.00
Barahin 53.0
Buffalo Bill Cody 53.0
Legal Eagle 57.50
Oh Susanna 57.00
National Park 54.0
Lady in Black 56.0
Front and Centre 52.0
Head Honcho 58.50
Doublemint 53.0
Undercover Agent 57.50
Magnificent Seven 53.0
Twist of Fate 53.0
Cascapedia 52.50
Return Flight 52.0
Nafaayes 52.0
Tilbury Fort 53.0
Made to Conquer 53.0
Rainbow Bridge 11/2, Buffalo Bill Cody 13/2, Do It Again 8/1, Hawwaam 17/2, Barahin 11/1 , Doublemint 13/1, Zillzaal 15/1, Head Honcho 18/1, Cascapedia 18/1, Hero`s Honour 20/1, Soqrat 25/1, Tilbury Fort 25/1, Clouds Unfold, Twist Of Fate, Made To Conquer, Noble Secret, One World 28/1, Undercover Agent 33/1,

Legal Eagle, Front And Centre, Atyaab, 35/1, Coral Fever, Oh Susanna, Lady In Black, National Park 45/1, Eyes Wide Open, Charles, Magnificent Seven 50/1, 55/1 and upwards others. First nominations for the 2019 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, July 6, are due by 11am on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

Gold Circle