In-form jockey Muzi Yeni was left looking for another Gr 1 Daily News 2000 ride when his guv’nor Duncan Howells kept Brandon Lerena aboard the yard’s chief contender, Ten Gun Salute, and he will consequently be riding the biggest outsider, the Brian Wiid-trained Bankable Teddy.

Muzi Yeni (Nkosi Hlophe)

He is also aboard an outsider in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000, the Luis Cunha-trained Ruler Of The Sky.

Yeni said, “I can only hope Bankable Teddy reproduces his Derby Trial run, that was over this trip and maybe he didn’t stay the trip in the SA Derby.”

The Bankable colt thrashed subsequent SA Derby fourth-placed Stebbins by 4,8 lengths in the Derby Trial and will now be 0,5kg better off with the latter, so can’t be written off jumping from a good draw of four.

Yeni continued, “The trainer rates Ruler Of The Sky.”

This rangy Judpot filly is perfectly drawn in two for her front-running style and looks likely to enjoy the trip. However, she couldn’t win a fillies and mares handicap over 1600m off her 76 merit rating last time, so will require dramatic improvement.

Yeni is aboard the Howells-trained Crime Victim in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m and gave him a place chance at best.

“He needs to up his game,” he said. One of the Bezrin gelding’s best career runs was over the course and distance, when a 2,25 length third to Solid Speed in the Highland Night Cup last season and he was only receiving 1,5kg from the winner that day. He scrapes into the handicap on Saturday with the minimum weight and is drawn ten. He looks to have enjoyed a nice preparation and can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Punters will be able to see Vodacom Durban July favourite Black Arthur in action at Greyville on Saturday after all.

Black Arthur (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Canon Guineas winner was not declared for the Daily News but Jonathan Snaith reported yesterday that the colt will be ridden by Anthony Delpech in a spin over 1 800m on the course at 1.15pm. He will work with a companion and the gallop will be shown live on Tellytrack.

Marinaresco has been raised four points (2kg) to 101 for his win in the Winter Classic at Kenilworth last Saturday moving him eight places up the July log bot not enough to be sure of getting a run.

Cape Town-based Ken Nicol, who made the assessment in conjunction with fellow handicappers Roger Smith, Matthew Lips and Lennon Maharaj, said: “Marinaresco actually ran to 99 and we gave him a further two points for ease of victory.”

Last Friday night’s Betting World 1900 winner Solid Speed was put up three points to 106 but the significant one was runner-up St Tropez (14-1 for the July) who ran to 102. However his merit rating stays on 99 as the race conditions stipulated no increase for the placed horses.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith is confident Bela-Bela will stay 2000m and is the runner to beat in Saturday’s R1-million Woolavington 2000 at Greyville.

Bela-Bela won the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas over 1600m at the course and has been priced up at 8-10 by Betting World to win this Grade 1 race over 2000m.

“She’s doing very well at home and I don’t think 2000m will be a problem against her own age group. She ran well enough in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth and finished just three lengths behind Smart Call. I would say 1800m at Kenilworth is equivalent to 2000m at Greyville so the distance is not an issue.”

Bela-Bela was a late scratching from what was due to be her first run in KwaZulu-Natal on 8 April but Snaith feels that has worked in her favour. “She’s a light filly and missing that race was the best thing that could have happened to her. The day after I scratched her I felt quite relieved that it had happened.”

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the Guineas Bela-Bela came from a long way back off a slow pace and then kept going to beat Nightingale by 0.50 lengths. Snaith’s charge actually came from behind Nightingale but the daughter of Silvano, trained by Mike Bass, was running on the better at the end. However, Bela-Bela did have the race wrapped up before she started to ease up.

“People forget how intimidating the finish at Greyville is for horses with all the screens lighting up. She did put her ears back at the finish but it was her first run under lights so I thought she performed well.

“You’ve got to respect Nightingale but I would like to think we will have come on from that run and she has improved. Bela-Bela has got all the right things about her to be a top filly.”

Nightingale is at 22-10 with Negroamaro at 7-1.

Black Arthur has been taken out of the R2-million Daily News 2000 as Snaith is attempting to keep his weight down for the Vodacom Durban July. “After Legislate won both the Guineas and Daily News he came into the July with 57.5kg. It took a lot out of him. You are throwing these three-year-olds in the deep-end running them over 2200m. It’s a hard race for what are young horses.

“You’ve got to choose your races. I discussed it with the owner and said we could win the Daily News and take quite a bit out of him or we give it a miss and know we have a big chance with a good weight in the July.

“I believe Black Arthur has a big future and I would like to think he can go back to Cape Town and contest bigger things. It’s quite ironic. I almost left him in Cape Town for the winter. It was a 50-50 call whether we would bring him or not.”

Snaith still has Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn and improving Brooklyn Brawler in the race. “It’s My Turn got caught a bit wide in the Guineas. It was too short and he needed the run. He’s not a miler and he’s only getting warmed up after 2000m. Whether he is good enough to win we can only hope. I do believe he will be there. Anthony Delpech is confident the horse is well and I’m glad to see he’s smiling.”

Brooklyn Brawler had an impressive win over 1600m last time but there is a concern as to whether he will see out 2000m. “He had very impressive win last time. It was a little bit of a shock because we felt he needed the run. “To win this he will need to run to his absolute best and have everything go in his favour. I am a bit concerned about the distance but although he is not bred to stay he does look like a stayer. He deserves his place in this race.”

Rabada and Drill Hall Stakes winner New Predator are joint favourites at 3-1, with Mambo Mime and Samurai Blade at 8-1. It’s My Turn is at 10-1 with Brooklyn Brawler at 20-1.

TABnews

Gavin van Zyl stable jockey Warren Kennedy has stuck with SA Derby runner up Rocketball for Saturday’s Gr 1 Daily News 2000, leaving Keagan de Melo to pick up a good ride on Celtic Captain and Raymond Danielson a difficult task with Redcarpet Captain who has a stamina doubt.

Van Zyl said Rocketball had been doing very well up in Johannesburg.

Rocketball (Left)  Nkosi Hlophe

“The change of tactic seemed to do the trick last time,” he added.

Rocketball was dropped out in the SA Derby and cut through the field like a knife through butter, although the pace had admittedly been fast. In the end he was beaten only 0,2 lengths by the SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri.

From pole position draw he will be able to employ the same tactic and will waste no energy finding cover.

Van Zyl has raided successfully from Johannesburg before with the like of Seal and Eton Square. The training at altitude could well be of benefit for such a middle distance race.

He travels down to Summerveld tomorrow (Thursday) and Van Zyl had no concerns about this relaxed horse being affected by the journey.

Meanwhile, Kennedy said Redcarpet Captain had put up very good work at Summerveld yesterday (Tuesday). This Captain Al colt has plenty of speed, so there will be a doubt about him getting the 2000m trip. Kennedy confirmed, “He will have to be dropped out and put to sleep immediately, that will be the only way.” He is drawn wide in 12.

Kennedy said Celtic Captain had also been doing very well.

This Captain Al gelding is out of a dam who won over 2400m and Kennedy reckons he is looking for 2000m. In the Canon Guineas Celtic Captain quickened well to hit the front, but then appeared to lift his head to look at the TV screen. The course experience would have helped and the race is also run in the day on Saturday. This recently gelded horse looks to be the dark horse from a fair draw of six.

Kennedy rides No Worries in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. He said, “This trip is maybe what he has always been looking for. He galloped resolutely all the way to the line last time (when winning over this trip at Scottsville).

By David Thiselton

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry has several horses involved in Saturday’s big Daily News 2000m meeting features at Greyville, but only two of them have been prepared out of Summerveld.

Liege (Nkosi Hlophe)

Assistant trainer Dishone Steyn said, “Liege is doing very well and has come on from his last run. I give him a shout, he is not a bad horse.”

This Gr 1 Daily News 2000 contender will relish the 2000m trip, having won two 1800m Graduation Plat

es in good style recently, one at Turffontein and one on the Greyville poly, and is drawn nine with Karl Zechner up.

Serissa reappears soon after his 8,9 length Betting World 1900 defeat last Friday to run in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. Steyn confirmed this front-running sort was tough and added, “They went a bit fast last Friday and when they challenged he had had enough. It was disappointing but he has come out of the race beautifully.”

The six-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding has proven affective over the course and distance before.

By David Thiselton