North meets south in the battle for sophomore middle distance supremacy as both Al Sahem and Edict Of Nantes have stood their ground in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 to be run at Greyville on Saturday.

They are the only pair of Gr 1 winners in the field but both have tough draws and it is not a two horse race.

Al Sahem showed a good turn of foot in both the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m when running second to Janoobi and Heavenly Blue respectively. He subsequently won the Gr 1 SA Derby, so looks to have the right combination of speed, stamina and acceleration to relish the Greyville 2000m. He is by Silvano so will be improving all the time. His trainer Sean Tarry is virtually invincible at present.

Edict of Nantes’ sire Count Dubois produced the Daily News winner two years ago in French Navy. Edict Of Nantes turned it on when coming from the back in the Selangor Cup over 1600m to run a close second to the top class Gold Standard. He was nice and relaxed in the running when winning the Cape Derby and from an always handy position pulled away from them in the closing stages. It was not a vintage Derby field, but he won cosily. His trainer Brett Crawford did the Cape Derby-Daily News double with Jackson five years ago.

Zodiac Ruler set the pace in the Cape Derby and stayed on well for second. He has been gelded since and reportedly improved as a result. He has stayed on well in both of his SA Champions Season starts to date, including when third in the Daisy Guineas last time. He should be cherry ripe and will relish the trip especially from a plum draw of two.

His stablemate Copper Force also stayed on well in the Daisy Guineas to be just a head behind Zodiac Ruler and will also have benefitted from the run. This classy sort is also drawn well.

Pagoda showed a good turn of foot and signs of class when easily winning the Listed Derby Trial over this trip at Turffontein. He did the same when second to Al Sahem in the Grade 1 SA Derby, although the latter never looked in danger of defeat.

Africa Rising showed a good turn of foot in the Daisy Guineas to range up to Copper Force, but the latter then drew away from him. His pedigree is difficult to judge but if there are any stamina doubts his good draw will help.

Horizon showed an exceptional turn of foot when winning the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m. He will likely want a stronger pace than he received in either the Cape Derby and Daisy Guineas and that could bring out the best in him, although on pure form he has a bit to do.

Glider Pilot is the dark horse. He proved himself a decent sort when winning over this trip on debut and he then suddenly stayed on strongly late when the penny dropped in his second start over the same trip in a handicap. He has scope for considerable improvement and Tyrone Zackey is never a trainer to be ignored in big races.

Secret Captain is well regarded and stayed on for second in the Daisy Guineas in the manner of a horse who would see out this trip. He was then a bit flat footed at the top of the straight in a Progress Plate over 1800m on the poly, although he was staying on late. He received 9kg from Edict of Nantes that day and was beaten 2,45 lengths, which doesn’t augur well for his chances, but the blinkers have now been fitted and this might see him livening up.

Captain Gambler is the only filly in the race and stayed on well for third in the Cape Derby at 100/1 odds. The long striding filly stayed on quite well from last when unplaced in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic in her next start. She was also unplaced in the SA Oaks, but it is interesting to note trainer Joey Ramsden running her against the boys again.

Gingerbread Man is a nice rangy type, who was staying on in eye-catching style in the Daisy Guineas. He will likely relish the trip, although he was beaten 6,8 lengths in the Daisy Guineas so needs improvement.

Dark Moon Rising is an unknown quantity having easily won a handicap when stepped up to 1600m in just his third start. He did over race from a handy position that day, so will need to settle better over this trip, but as a rangy type by Ideal World he could still be anything and Piere Strydom is up.

By David Thiselton