A small but high quality field will line up in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday, a race which has become one of the best pointers to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
POMP AND POWER – 9/1
The Grade 1 Garden Province winner and ruling Hollywodbets Durban July favourite, the Justin Snaith-trained 119 merit rated POMP AND POWER, has drawn pole position and his high-flying jockey Richard Fourie will be attempting to win his sixth Grade 1 of the season.
ARAGOSTA – 10/1
The Grade 1 WSB SA Derby winner, the Mike de Kock-trained ARAGOSTA is also an entry. However, he is officially merit rated nine points lower than Pomp And Power and has a tricky draw of seven to overcome. Fourie rode him in the SA Derby and has been replaced by Kabelo Matsunyane.
RED SAXON – 7/1
The second highest-rated runner in the race and only other Grade 1 winner is the Joe Soma-trained 118 merit rated WSB SA Classic winner RED SAXON who has landed the middle draw of five and will be ridden by his regular pilot Julius Mariba.
SAFE PASSAGE – 33/10
The Grade 2 WSB Guineas winner and narrow WSB SA Classic runner up, the Mike de Kock-trained 117 merit rated SAFE PASSAGE has drawn six. His regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo has lost the ride to Muzi Yeni and this might be because the connections want the horse’s July rider to be aboard in this race.
WATERBERRY LANE – 8/1
The Dean Kannemeyer-trained WATERBERRY LANE, twice a Graded winner at Hollywoodbets Greyville but both over 1400m, is merit rated 115 and will be out to prove he stays this trip. He has landed the widest draw of nine but is likely to be dropped out.
SUPER EXCITED – 20/1
The Paul Matchett-trained SA Classic fourth-placed 109 merit rated SUPER EXCITED has drawn four. JP van der Merwe is on board with regular pilot Muzi Yeni on board Safe Passage.
SENSO UNICO – 25/2
The Vaughan Marshall-trained 104-rated SENSO UNICO has drawn two and will relish the step up in trip and could improve in his second run after gelding. Sean Veale will be in the irons.
HASTA MANANA – 20/1
The Lorenzo Karriem-trained KZN hope HASTA MANANA looks held and has to prove he stays the trip. Serino Moodley will be on board.
BEYONDTHEBOUNDARY – 50/1
The Alyson Wright-trained BEYONDTHEBOUNDARY is officially way out at the weights off a 74 merit rating but is well-bred and is a scopey sort who will enjoy the step-up in trip. He gets the services of Gavin Lerena.
The chief supporting feature to the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday is the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 and the other feature at the meeting is the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.
The Woolavington was thrown wide open when star filly Rain In Holland was scratched last week.
Highveld raiders SPRINKLES, MARIGOLD HOTEL and PERFECT WITNESS, merit rated 110, 110 and 109 respectively, after good respective performances behind Rain In Holland in various Turffontein Graded events, hold the trump cards and have all drawn well.
LIGHT OF THE MOON is a Highveld filly who could be better than her 92 rating having finished close to Rain in Holland in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks, whilst 98 rated JULIET TANGO is open to improvement while KAILENE and SILVER DARLING lead the Cape challenge.
BYE BYE BOMBSHELL has proved she stays and is on the up while LILLYBELLE should relish the step up in trip on pedigree.
KZN have three runners in the 12 horse field, CAPETOWN BEAUTY, MONOSHADA and AERIAL VIEW but they all have mountains to climb at the weights.
The Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, which is being run for the 100th time, sees the Highveld’s SHANGANI reverting to staying trips where he has been impressive and he carries top weight off a 112 merit rating.
SHANGO, rated 108, is second-top weight and has won a Grade 3 over 2 200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville before.
Nine horses line up and it should be a typically competitive staying handicap.
