Andrew Harrison
The Gr1 Daily News 2000 is always a guiding light as to the chances of three-year-old males going into the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and at first glance the race looks to be something of a Justin Snaith/Nick Jonsson benefit. Snaith saddles four of the seven runners with three of them, including the 5-10 ante-post favourite Eight On Eighteen, carrying the Jonsson silks.
The presence of Eight On Eighteen in the field has likely scared off much of the opposition given that finishing in close proximity to Eight On Eighteen would see their handicap ratings ramped up but Mike and Mathew de Kock have risen to the challenge with their filly Spumante Dolce.
Richard Fourie will be aboard Eight On Eighteen who arrived in KZN for South Africa’s Champions Season on the back of wins in the Gr1 WSB Cape Met and Gr1 Splashout Cape Derby. He made his debut in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and fell just short of catching stable companion Sail The Seas, with Muzi Yeni pinching a break on Eight On Eighteen who was finishing best of all, a win possibly thwarted by a difficult passage at the top of the straight.
It was an excellent effort by Eight On Eighteen over a distance now possibly short of his best. With experience on the course and back over an ideal trip he is the worthy favourite.
The De Kock’s have spurned the Gr2 Tote Woolavington 2000 and are hunting Gr1 glory for their filly. She is currently 13th on the Hollywoodbets Durban July log and as a three-parts sister to the former Mike De Kock-trained Durban July winner Sparkling Water, this trip should suit.
Spumante Dolce was running on strongly when second in the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas and De Kock seldom runs ‘no-hopers’ in feature company. Spumante Dolce, would also be a first fairer sex winner of the Daily News this century with fillies enjoying a purple patch with Roland’s Song (1989), St Just (1990) and Star Effort (1991).
However, Snaith has indicated that the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July is not a cast iron option for Eight On Eighteen but rather the WFA Gr1 Champions Cup while stable companions Okavango and Native Ruler are both July entries but will need to up their handicap ratings to make the field which may be what is behind Snaith’s thinking.
Okavango, the mount of Andrew Fortune, is currently joint second favourite along with Confederate at 6-1 but is only merit rated 105 although nine points up through a 3,20 length fourth behind Selukwe in the Gr3 WSB 1900 when carrying just 52kg. He has won three races from 1600m to 1800m so today’s 2000m trip will be right up his alley and if he can finish within a reasonable distance of the 127 rated Eight On Eighteen, Okavango will get a further rise in the ratings, possibly high enough to gain a July berth.
The other joint second favourite is the classy Fabian Habib-trained Confederate, who won the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic on the first day in March over 1800m on the Turffontein standside track, beating subsequent Gr1 WFA Premier’s Champions Challenge winner and Highveld Horse of the Year, Fire Attack. That he returns from a layoff of close to three months is a little concerning but he has won four races and has yet to finish further back than second in eight starts.
With Fire Attack sidelined with a hoof injury, Alec Laird has pinned his hopes on Gr2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway. Also a July entry, he is the second highest rated runner on 121. He likes to race handy which will give some hope of a decent gallop although Snaith’s fourth entry, Makazole, racing in the Jonsson colours, may be sacrificed and given the role of pacemaker. He has won two races including the Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview but has yet to race beyond 1400m.
The supporting feature, the Gr2 Tote Woolavington 2000 is wide open as the ante-post betting suggests.
But Dean Kannemeyer may hold the key with Give Me Everything. She caught the eye when closing fast from a wide draw and the back of the field when a two-length fourth in the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas. It snapped a four-race winning streak but the extra could see her back on track. Stuart Pettigrew is back for another bite with Beating Wings. She carries top weight but has been in good form on the Highveld and finished third in this race last year. Robbie Hill saddles the lightly raced but progressive Regeneration who was a close-up fifth in the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas. The step up in trip should suit and she has a handy galloping weight. Mocha Blend is a dark horse. On paper she looks held by the likes of Regeneration but she is an imposing filly who was possibly just in need of her last start when beaten by Mascherina. She found good market support that day and is better off at the weights with her rival.
There is an early start to the ten-race card, the first race off at 11.35.
