Jack Milner
The first Grade 1 race of the KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, and it looks certain to answer a few questions that have been posed by racing fans.
The Daily News 2000 is one of the most notable races for three-year-olds, along with the Cape Guineas over 1600m at HWB Kenilworth and the SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein, and is often the first time when the top performers in these three races comes together for the first time.
While not official, these three races over their assorted distances make up an unofficial Triple Crown, and although Cape Guineas Champion One Stripe is off to continue his career overseas, the Daily News will bring together SA Classic winner Confederate with the most talked about three-year-old in the land, Eight On Eighteen.
Justin Snaith’s charge finished runner-up in the Cape Guineas but then went on to win the Cape Met and the Cape Derby over 2000m.
Eight On Eighteen had a decent warm-up run for this race when finishing second in the WSB Guineas at Greyville behind stable companion Sail The Seas. Muzi Yeni rode the winner on that occasion and he was quick to point out in his weekly column that Sail The Seas is top class and is one to follow for the season.
There has not been much of a match-up between the Western Cape and Gauteng’s best three-year-olds so far, but we will know after Saturday’s race where the chips will fall with regards their positions on the class ladder.
Confederate has not raced since winning the SA Classic on 1 March so the fitness of trainer Fabian Habib’s charge will have to be taken on trust. However, Craig Zackey, who rode him to victory in the Classic, raved about his mount’s huge action and he has stuck with the Fire Away gelding.
The remarkable aspect of this three-year-old, is that he has raced eight times for four wins and four seconds so he is really honest. If he can get away from his opposition at the top of the straight, he could prove hard to catch at Greyville.
However, it is hard to look beyond Eight On Eighteen who has had the perfect prep and comes from an in-form stable who have made this race the seasonal mission for the son of Lancaster Bomber.
He has been priced up at 5-10 and looks to be a Pick 6 banker on the card. As usual, Richard Fourie takes the ride.
It could be a wide-open Hollywoodbets Durban July this year with a few fillies also looking likely to run in the big race. Spumante Dolce earlier had Quid Pro Quo beaten and the latter has slammed colts like Fire Attack, so Spumante Dolce theoretically has a chance in the Daily News.
This Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained filly could very well go on and try to emulate the feat of her three-parts sister, Sparkling Water, and win the country’s premier handicap.
Gavin Lerena has never been in better form and he takes the ride on this filly.
The Tote Woolavington 2000 is now a Grade 2 race and is open to all fillies and mares and this race looks highly competitive.
However, the value may lie with Tony Peter-trained Hat’s Queen. The three-year-old daughter of Hat Puntano ran an excellent second behind Mascherina over this course and distance and comes into this race well weighted with just 54kg on her back.
She is well drawn in gate No 2 and has Calvin Habib back on her back.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Ms Sakura, 4 Dark Matter, 6 Winter Blessing, 3 On Song
Race 2: 8 Vanakkam, 1 Golden Operator, 3 Willow Lady, 2 Eastern Highlands
Race 3: 6 Xenophon, 2 Run Forest Run, 4 Bruh, 14 Captainship
Race 4: 2 World Of Our Own, 3 Arverni King, 7 Tobacconist, 10 Trois Trois Quatre
Race 5: 2 Shoot The Rapids, 8 Marauding Horde, 5 Twenty Drachma's, 7 Holding Thumbs
Race 6: 2 Hat's Queen, 6 Beating Wings, 4 Little Suzie, 9 Give Me Everything
Race 7: 7 Eight On Eighteen, 4 Spumante Dolce, 3 Confederate, 1 Okavango
Race 8: 10 Sohot Sowhat, 1 Bosum Buddy, 5 Night Vigil, 4 Wings Within Me
Race 9: 5 Dapper, 8 Honor Of Kings, 9 Real War, 3 Turbo Power
Race 10: 7 Golden Moment, 8 There She Goes, 11 Getoffofmycloud, 2 Virgin River
BEST BET
Race 7: 7 Eight On Eighteen
VALUE BET
Race 6: 2 Hat's Queen
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1x8
BIPOT
R160
Leg 1: 1, 8
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 2, 3, 7, 10
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
Leg 6: 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 2, 5, 8
Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 9
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 1, 10
Leg 7: 3, 5, 8, 9
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
Leg 4: 7
Leg 5: 1, 10
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9
JACKPOT 1
R72
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
Leg 3: 7
Leg 4: 1, 10
JACKPOT 2
R60
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 1, 10
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11