Jack Milner
If one looks at the names engraved on the honour roll for the Daily News 2000, it will throw up the names of some of the best horses to have raced in the country.
It is often the first time top three-year-olds from all around South Africa compete against one another and this year is no different.
There is also a R1-million Pick 6 carryover to this meeting and the pool is likely to reach R6 million.
With the exception of Charles Dickens, who is questionable over the distance, the race includes a host of Grade 1 Classic winners in this R1.25-million race over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
It also gives one an indication of which of the three-year-olds will be competitive in the
Hollywoodbets Durban July. Of particular interest is Michael Roberts-trained See It Again who is current favourite the R5-million race on 1 July.
This three-parts brother to dual Durban July champion Do It Again came to the fore when beating Charles Dickens to win the Grade 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m and will be reunited with jockey Piere Strydom.
He showed his wellbeing with a solid two-length second behind Charles Dickens in the World Sports Betting Guineas over 1600m on 6 May.
But the line-up is potent and the 10-runner field includes other Grade 1 winners in Cousin Casey, Son Of Raj and Anfields Rocket.
Cousin Casey skipped the Cape Derby to run in the WSB Cape Met but things did not work out for him and that run is best forgotten. However, despite everything that went wrong he was beaten just 1.80 lengths by Jet Dark.
From No 1 draw he has to be a contender.
Anfields Rocket won the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein and is not out of this race. While he was beaten 4.50 lengths in the WSB Guineas by Charles Dickens, he produced the fastest final 400m and will relish the longer distance.
Louie Mxothwa has picked up the ride for the first time.
It will be interesting to see how Son Of Raj fares in this event. His connections are looking to the Durban July and they will be hoping for a forward performance from the Grade 1 SA Derby winner.
Muzi Yeni is aboard.
The Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 is now open to fillies and mares and is run on a weight-for-age basis.
Interestingly, last year’s Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner, Rain In Holland, who had to miss the race as a three-year-old last year because of an injury, will now get a second bite of the cherry and together with last year’s winner, Justin Snaith-trained Silver Darling, is the best weighted filly in the 14-runner field.
Rain In Holland took a while to regain her best form but she beat the boys to win the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein and was then a very unlucky loser in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over the same course and distance.
She was totally unsuited to the slow pace and then suffered late interference.
She has won her only race at this track and from No 1 draw with S’manga Khumalo in the irons, Sean Tarry’s charge looks to be the standout bet on the card.
Also in the line-up is Marina, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over the same course and distance, along with three-year-olds Lady Of Power, Peach Daiquiri and None Other.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Bedtime Story, 8 Rapidash, 5 Give Us A Smile, 11 Strawberry Stinger
Race 2: 4 Kingdom Of Gold, 6 Knockout, 5 Bitcoin Baby, 11 When Evening Comes
Race 3: 9 Sabatini, 4 Ancient Epic, 5 Amarandi, 7 Get In The Q
Race 4: 6 Union Square, 3 Lord William, 4 Noble City, 5 Imposing
Race 5: 11 One Way Traffic, 13 Senso Unico, 4 Future Pearl, 7 Aragosta
Race 6: 1 Rain In Holland, 8 Marina, 12 None Other, 14 Silver Darling
Race 7: 7 See It Again, 1 Cousin Casey, 5 Anfields Rocket, 8 Son Of Raj
Race 8: 9 Hawker Typhoon, 10 Macara, 3 Hierkommiebokkie, 8 Princess Philippa
Race 9: 2 Maquette, 6 Shanta's Pride, 10 Palm Breeze, 7 Double Dream
BEST BET
Race 6 No 1 Rain In Holland
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 9 Hawker Typhoon
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 3x8
BIPOT
R270
Leg 1: 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9
Leg 3: 3, 6
Leg 4: 4, 11, 13
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 5, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 9
Leg 2: 3, 6
Leg 3: 4, 11, 13
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 3, 9, 10
Leg 7: 2, 6
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 4, 7, 8, 11, 13
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 5, 7, 8
Leg 5: 3, 5, 8, 9, 10
Leg 6: 2, 6, 10
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 4, 7, 8, 11, 13
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 3, 5, 8, 9, 10
JACKPOT 2
R60
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 5, 7, 8
Leg 3: 3, 5, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: 2, 6, 10