David Thiselton
The Daily News 2000 meeting is one of the most important of the season as the Daily News 2000 itself is the biggest three-year-old pointer race to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The one to beat in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 is Note To Self, who is the ruling favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He will relish the 2000m trip and has a fair middle draw of six. His massive stride can carry him home after being relaxed in a handy positioin by Andrew Fortune. The best weighted runner is Hazy Dazy who is rated 117 and gets 2,5kg gender claim. She is distance suited and has an electric turn of foot, so should go close after not having to be used early due to her good draw. Star Major will have to be dropped out to the back from a wide draw, but he willl enjoy the step up in trip, so he should be able to make up a lot of ground in the straight, as he did in the WSB Guineas when coming from last to win. Jan Van Goyen ran a fine first race after gelding and was a touch unlucky. This race will tell whether he gets 2000m and if he does his class and lovely action can carry him close. Happy Verse has not fulfilled the potential he seemed to show as a youngster, but this is his second run after gelding and with Richard Fourie up he has to be respected despite a wide draw. Master Spy has a big stride and ran on well for third in the SA Derby. He will need a big run here to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
In the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 Wish List will be hard to beat and can score a fourth big race win in succession. She won both the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000, so will have no problem with the trip. She is improving all the time and is a potential superstar, so is difficult to oppose, although draw five out of seven in a small field is not easy to negotiate. Keukenhof should enjoy the step up in trip and should be running on after being dropped out from a wide draw. Callmegetrix proved herself over this trip last time and should be in the shake up. Minogue was second to Callmegetrix in that race but is now 1kg worse of for a length beating. Rainbow Lorikeet has class but might need it having been freshened up after a below par last run. Beach Verse can do better than last time and should be coming into her own. Kissing Machine is outclassed here.
In the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m Curious Girl is a progressive type who has a beautiful action and this Gr 2 SA Derby winner can make it five in a row having to carry just 53,5 kg from a good draw of two. Saxon Dynasty was eyecatching in victory over 1900m at this course last time and should relish this trip. Royal Invitation is a good stayer with a nice big action and althouh he prefers a more galloping track he can do well from draw three under Fortune. Dance King has been knocking on the door and has the form to be a contender. Continentalexpress should be right there if able to overcome a wide draw.
The horses are selected in the order mentioned in each event.
