The Gr1 Daily News 2000 to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday is a key race going forward into the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
It took Michael Roberts, eleven-time South African Champion Jockey, 16 rides to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July when he partnered the David Ferraris-trained Super Quality to victory back in 1997.
This year Roberts has an outstanding chance of emulating David Payne as the only person to have ridden and trained a July winner. Payne won the race aboard the Brian Cherry-trained Chimboraa in 1967 and saddled the mighty In Full Flight to victory just four years later with Raymond Rhodes in the irons.
Roberts will be using this race as a final prep for Gr1 SpashOut Cape Derby winner See It Again.
After his late finishing effort in the Gr2 WSB Guineas behind crack miler Charles Dickens, See It Again saw his odds slashed for the big race and is the current ante-post favourite. Piere Strydom, triumphant aboard the gelding in the Derby, keeps the ride and a win in the Daily News on Saturday will surely see the colt’s ante-post odds cut even further.
The three horses’ home behind Charles Dickens, including runner-up See It Again, are all in the final Daily News line-up. See It Again’s Derby triumph has assured him of a July place along with Grant Maroun’s Gr1 SA Classic winner Anfields Rocket, fifth in the Guineas, but Dave The King and Cousin Casey, third and fourth respectively, along with East Coast and At My Command are all borderline cases along with recent winner Shoemaker.
Last season’s Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Cousin Casey has not hit the heights of last season but remains among the top echelon. At his only start over 2000m he finished just over a length back to Jet Dark and Kommetdieding.
Mike de Kock’s three entries include Dave The King, the recently gelded Shoemaker and East Coast, sixth in the Guineas. Dave The King goes this trip for the first time but was staying on nicely behind Charles Dickens and the step up in trip could suit. You write off a De Kock horse at your peril.
East Coast looks held on current efforts but the recently gelded Shoemaker was a comfortable winner against older opposition and could be a surprise package.
More was expected from Anfields Rocket in the Guineas and Maroun has declared first time blinkers. The Turffontein 1800m is a tough test so Saturday’s trip should not hold any fears.
Also in the field are Weiho Marwing’s Gr1 SA Derby winner Son Of Raj and the Justin Snaith-trained Without Question who recently showed his mettle against a smart field of older horses at Kenilworth.
Son Of Raj completed the rare feat of winning the Derby Trial and going on to win the Derby proper which stamps him as a big talent. The Derby does not always attract the strongest line-up but Marwing is an astute judge and the July is no doubt on his radar.
Snaith has a strong stable of horses with July potential including Without Question, recent winner of the Gr3 Variety Club Mile. He was a little over two lengths back to See It Again and Charles Dickens in the Cape Derby and his last start will have him at his peak.
For the first time the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, restricted in the past to three-year-old fillies, has been opened up to all comers and has attracted a high class field headed by Rain In Holland and Silver Darling, both rated 120 but drawn on opposite sides of the barrier.
Heading the sophomore contingent are None Other and Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas winner Peach Daiquiri, Saartjie, Hold My Hand and the promising Lady Of Power.
