Durban July 2024 News - Final Field and Draw

Topping the weights for this year's Durban July is the 2023 runner-up, See It Again, who'll carry 60kg with his merit rating of 131. Current favourite, Green With Envy is only rated four pounds inferior to the favourite, and that handy three-year-old allowance will see Craig Zackey's mount shoulder 56kg.

Winchester Mansion carried 53kg to victory in last year's HDJ and the defending champion has three-and-a-half kilos more on his back this time around. Future Swing and Oriental Charm shot into Durban July contention at the recent WSB 1900 and they both enter near the bottom of the weights.

British jockey Danny Muscutt will reprise his King's Plate-winning partnership with Double Superlative. He and Future Swing are two of four possible runners for Justin Snaith, who'll also saddle Without Question and first reserve Hluhluwe.

Sean Tarry has three runners entered up, with S'manga Kumalo set to ride Cousin Casey. Mike De Kock will be represented by Aragosta and Shoemaker. Tony Peter is also double-handed, with Meridius and Son Of Raj in the field.

Rachel Venniker will ride in her second Durban July, after being booked to partner Without Question. Gavin Lerena rides one of the outsiders, Barbaresco, with Grant van Niekerk partnering with Sean Tarry's Future Pearl.

They say a low draw is important in the Durban July, so Dean Kannemeyer was delighted when Green With Envy was placed in stall five. Future Swing and Without Question have also been handed kind low draws, with Royal Victory on the rail in stall one.

We have seen plenty of horses win the HDJ from wide draws in recent years, so the likes of Cousin Casey, Double Superlative and Flag Man haven't been too badly inconvenienced. Future Pearl has been drawn widest of all in stall 18.

Last year's top two, Winchester Mansion and See It Again have been drawn alongside each other down the centre of the track. Oriental Charm is one gate wider in stall 11, with Purple Pitcher drawn in stall eight.