This year's Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville not only has a stake that has doubled to R10 million, but for the first time in many years it will be a straight handicap without any weight restrictions applying to horses of a certain age or gender.

The topweight is thus going to have a tougher task than usual as he carries 62kg and will have to give 10kg to the bottom weights, who carry 52kg.

The topweight is Legal Counsel and there is only one horse who is officially under sufferance, Regulation who is 1kg under sufferance.

Legal Counsel was a hair's breadth away from being a Gr 1 wfa winner last time out when only just denied in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m and he was also runner up in the Gr 1 wfa WSB Met over 2000m. He is a calm horse who will handle the razzmatazz of the day and he stays on well from handy positions. However, it will be a supreme weight carrying feat if he does it under Callan Murray, although his plum draw of five will help.

Regulation is well regarded and has put in some eye-catching performances in the past so was expected to qualify by winning the Gr 3 WSB 1900, but he was caught wide from a wide draw and worse was to come because when out to make amends in the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m he was caught wide from a wide draw again and then choked up. He has landed a plum draw so should now be able to produce his best and he could defy his handicap mark.

The favourite is Star Major who will be part of a fairytale story if he wins it as French rider Mickaelle Michel came over here to try and ride winners and enjoy the experience and would never have dreamed of being aboard the favourite of the country's greatest race just seven months after arriving. The three-year-old colt has impressed with his fine turn of foot and looks to be reasonably handicapped.

Note To Self is another progressive three-year-old, but he is a big rangy type and the question is whether he can quicken quickly enough at the top of the relatively short straight. He will like the pace to be as searching i.e. fast, as possible.

Wish List is a dual Gr 1 winner and will have come on from her last start. She is ultra tough and is "flying" at home and can make 59-year-old Andrew Fortune the oldest in history to win the July. She has a great draw of seven and should be staying on strongly.

Gladatorian is capable of a strong finish and significantly has draw eight this year as opposed to 16 last year when not disgraced in a five length seventh.

Native Ruler has had a perfect preparation and struck as a classy customer when winning his last start over 2400m. He ran a fine race from a wide draw in last year's race and jumps from draw ten this year under Keagan de Melo, so is a contender.

Mocha Blend has come in with a perfect preparation and should have come into her own, so is a runner, although her draw of 13 is tricky.

Zeitz looks to be on the up and with a nice galloping weight of 53kg he will be a player from draw 12.

King Pelles has a good turn of foot and is effective over this trip. He will need a bit of luck from draw 17.

Minogue stole a march in the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 field and nearly held on but this is tougher and she will not be able to dictate on her own terms here and she also has a tough draw.

The Ultimate King has two lengths to find on Mocha Blend from the Betway Summer Cup and faces her on the same terms, but he could earn from a good draw of three.

Isivivane is drawn in pole and has a chance on the form of his WSB 1900 win and on pedigree he should relish this step up in trip.

Hazy Dazy went close to landing the Triple Tiara, but her run in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville is off putting as it leaves her with 11,40 lengths to make up on Star Major on the same terms.

Aladdin's Lamp is on the up and caught the eye with his Jubilee win, so he is in with a chance of giving the De Kock yard a sixth July victory, although he will have to do it from the widest draw of all.

Viva's Liberte tends to take a bit of a hold which blunts his finish, but if getting covered up and relaxing he could earn from draw nine.

Olivia's Way should enjoy the trip but as one who often runs on too late it will be tough from draw 15.

I Salute You should be running on but it won't be easy from draw 14.

If either of the reserve horses get in they don't make much appeal in this field.

The selections are:

1st 7 Wish List

2nd 4 Star Major

3rd 8 Gladatorian

4th 10 Native Ruler

5th 13 Mocha Blend

Photo: Chase Liebenberg