Chip and putt for Eight On Eighteen
DURBAN - Always a guiding light as to the chances of three-year-old males going into the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2,200m), this year's 2 million rand (S$144,000) Grade 1 Daily News 2000 (2,000m) at Greyville (at 9.12pm Singapore time) looks to be at first glance something of a Justin Snaith/Nick Jonsson benefit.
Snaith saddles four of the seven runners with three of them, including the 1-2 ante-post favourite Eight On Eighteen, carrying the Jonsson silks.
The presence of the Lancaster Bomber colt in the field has likely scared off much of the opposition given that finishing in close proximity to the four-time winner would see their handicap ratings ramped up, but Mike and Mathew de Kock have risen to the challenge with their filly Spumante Dolce.
Regular partner Richard Fourie will ride Eight On Eighteen who arrived in KZN for South Africa's Champions Season after wins in the Grade 1 Cape Met (2,000m) and Grade 1 Cape Derby (2,000m).
He made his debut in the Grade 2 Guineas (1,600m) and fell just short of catching stable companion Sail The Seas, with Muzi Yeni pinching a break on Eight On Eighteen who was finishing best of all, a win possibly thwarted by a difficult passage at the top of the straight.
It was an excellent effort by Eight On Eighteen over a distance now possibly short of his best. With experience on the course and back over an ideal trip, he is the worthy favourite.
The de Kocks have spurned the Grade 2 Woolavington 2000 (2,000m) and are hunting Grade 1 glory for Spumante Dolce. She is currently 13th on the Durban July log and as a three-parts sister to the former de Kock-trained Durban July winner Sparkling Water, this trip should suit.
The daughter of Vercingetorix was running on strongly when second in the Grade 2 Fillies Guineas (1,600m) at Greyville on May 3, and de Kock seldom runs no-hopers in feature company.
Spumante Dolce would also be a first fairer-sex winner of the Daily News this century with fillies enjoying a purple patch with Roland's Song (1989), St Just (1990) and Star Effort (1991).
However, Snaith has indicated that the Durban July is not an option cast in iron for Eight On Eighteen but rather the WFA Grade 1 Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville as well.
On the other hand, stable companions Okavango and Native Ruler are both July entries, but will need to up their handicap ratings to make the field which may be what is behind Snaith's thinking.
Okavango, the mount of Andrew Fortune, is currently joint-second favourite along with the Fabian Habib-trained Confederate at 6-1, but the son of Master Of My Fate is only merit-rated 105 although nine points up through a 3.2-length fourth behind Selukwe in the Grade 3 World Sports Betting 1900 (1,900m) at Greyville when carrying just 52kg.
Having won three races from 1,600m to 1,800m, he will be suited by Saturday's 2,000m trip. If Okavango can finish within a reasonable distance of the 127-rated Eight On Eighteen, he will get a further rise in the ratings, possibly high enough to gain a July berth.
The other joint-second favourite is the classy Confederate. The son of Fire Away won the Grade 1 SA Classic on the first day in March over 1,800m on the Turffontein standside track, beating subsequent Grade 1 WFA Premier's Champions Challenge (2,000m) winner and Highveld Horse of the Year, Fire Attack, another progeny of Fire Away.
That he returns from a layoff of close to three months is a little concerning, but he has won four races and has yet to finish further back than second in eight starts.
With Fire Attack sidelined with a hoof injury, Alec Laird has pinned his hopes on Grade 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas (1,600m) winner Parisian Walkway.
Also a July entry, the son of Ideal World is the second highest-rated runner on 121. He likes to race handy which will give some hope of a decent gallop.
However, Snaith's fourth entry, Makazole, racing in the Jonsson colours, may be sacrificed and given the role of pacemaker.
The son of Trippi has won two races including the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup (1,400m) at Fairview but has yet to race beyond 1,400m.
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