SATURDAY’S GR1 DAILY NEWS 2000 has attracted the cream of the country’s Classic three-year-olds in what is one of the most important pointers going in to the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.
This year’s crop of sophomores has proved to be vintage in every sense of the word and it is a shame that Hollywoodbets Greyville will be closed to the public due to the on-going Covid restrictions.
Likely favourite will be recent Gr2 WSB Guineas winner Linebacker. Vaughan Marshall’s Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner was most impressive in the Guineas, winning rather comfortably after running into traffic early in the straight.
The hard luck story in that race was Kommetdieding. Unbeaten until the Guineas he was caught in an argument at the back of the field with Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock, losing valuable ground. He was finishing like a train from last into the straight to run into third and will have pleased the father and daughter training combination of Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix.
Johan Janse van Vuuren saddles Second Base and Copper Mountain.
Second Base is currently seventh on the VDJ log and this will be his first look at the Greyville circuit. However, he ran a cracker in the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over the stiff Turffontein 2000, running Got The Greenlight to under a length. Gavin Lerena has kept the ride and the Highveld form will be fully tested.
Copper Mountain goes this trip for the first time but also gave Got The Greenlight a fright in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, only going down a head at the death. (Lerena)
The Gatekeeper, a full brother to former VDJ winner Legislate, has been touted as Justin Snaith’s big hope for the VDJ. His local KZN debut in the WSB Guineas was below his Western Cape form where he finished second to Linebacker in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby.
The defection of Captain’s Ransom from the Gr1 Woolavington has left a big hole and the race that has cut up into a seven-horse field. However, what it lacks in numbers is made up in quality.
Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena heads the field and given the ease of her three wins, Paul Matchett’s will be a strong fancy. However, given the respective handicap ratings, she will be tested by the likes of the Paul Peter-trained Netta, rated only two pounds inferior and Princess Calla, four pounds inferior.
War Of Athena and Netta are both Vodacom Durban July entries and Matchett has a second runner in Only The Brave, possibly there to make up the numbers in case of the race being abandoned, but also to ensure a decent gallop for her better performed stable companion.
DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1) 2000m
For 3 year-olds
1 1 RUSSIAN ROCK 60.0 119 A K de Melo Dean Kannemey
2 2 DR DOOLITTLE 60.0 108 A M Yeni Paul Peter
3 3 RASCALLION 60.0 111 A S Veale Vaughan Marsh
4 4 FLYING CARPET 60.0 108 T A L J Ferraris Sean Tarry
5 5 SHAH AKBAR 60.0 108 T A L Hewitson Sean Tarry
6 6 LINEBACKER 60.0 124 A G van Niekerk Vaughan Marsh
7 7 SECOND BASE 60.0 122 AM W Kennedy J A Janse van
8 8 KOMMETDIEDING 60.0 120 A S Cele HWJ Crawford/
9 9 THE GATEKEEPER 60.0 110 A R Fourie Justin Snaith
10 10 COPPER MOUNTAIN 60.0 121 AM G Lerena J A Janse van
11 11 FULL BLAST 60.0 86 BA S Moodley Michael Mille
12 12 INFINITE WONDER 60.0 92 A R Munger Ashley Fortun
(3,6) (4,5) (7,10)
WOOLAVINGTON 2000 (Grade 1) 2000m
For 3 year-old Fillies
1 1 WAR OF ATHENA 60.0 122 A M Yeni Paul Matchett
2 2 ONLY THE BRAVE 60.0 97 T A K Matsunyane Paul Matchett
3 3 EMERALD PALACE 60.0 91 AM R Danielson Gareth van Zy
4 4 SCENTED MISTRESS 60.0 91 BA L J Ferraris Vaughan Marsh
5 5 PRINCESS CALLA 60.0 118 A G van Niekerk Adam Marcus
6 6 CHAT CHING 60.0 114 A K de Melo Candice Bass-
7 7 NETTA 60.0 120 A W Kennedy Paul Peter
(1,2)
