Snaith/Jonsson Can Land Daily News, Woolavington Wide Open

Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie can land another big Gr 1 race for Durban owner Nick Jonsson, who is pictured leading in Eight On Eighteen after WSB Met victory. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Owner Nick Jonsson will have a fine chance of landing the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 for a second time as he has three of the seven runners and all three are trained by Justin Snaith, who has four runners in total in a bid to win this big race for a third time.

Jonsson’s first win in the big race came in 2023 with the Michael Roberts-trained son of Twice Over, See It Again, who is a three-parts brother to the Snaith-trained Do It Again, who was a Daily News favourite for Jonsson and partners in 2018 but could only manage fourth place before winning the July twice in succession.

Jonsson’s runners this year include the favourite, the WSB Met and Splashout Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, a classy and progressive Lancaster Bomber colt who has drawn seven out of seven.

Richard Fourie will be riding Eight On Eighteen, who has opened at 5/10 with Hollywoodbets.

Jonsson also owns the joint second favourite, Okavango, who is quoted at 6/1 despite only being merit rated 105, which he achieved through a 3,20 length fourth in the Gr 3 WSB 1900 when carrying just 52kg. He has otherwise just won one class 5 and two class 4 races from 1600m to 1800m. He is clearly well regarded, but still has a lot to prove. He can’t really use being too far back as an excuse in the WSB 1900, because the winner came from behind him. He was only half-a-kilogram worse off than weight for age with the winner, so this race represents a big step up in class.

The other joint second favourite is the classy Fabian Habib-trained 118-rated  Confederate, who won the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic on March 1 over 1800m at Turffontein Standside, beating the subsequent Gr 1 wfa Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack by 0,70 lengths. He has earned second favouritism, but returning from a layoff of close to three months is a little concerning.

The Mike de Kock-trained filly Spumante Dolce is by Vercingetorix and is a three parts sister to Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water. She has plenty of class and this 117 merit rated filly could be a threat. She is a 7/1 shot.

The Snaith-trained Vercingetorix gelding Native Ruler is only a merit rated 103 and was beaten 5,75 lengths by Eight On Eighteen in the Splashout Cape Derby and by 6,40 lengths in the WSB 1900 when carrying the same 52kg weight Okavango carried. He looks up against it on paper, but is capable of better as the 1900 did not pan out at all well.

The Alec Laird-trained Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway is the second highest rated runner on 121, but this front-running sort still has to prove he stays the trip, although on pedigree he should have a chance being by stamina influence Ideal World out of a mare by the top class miler Mastercraftsman.

Jonsson’s third runner is the Listed winner over 1400m Makazole, who is a twice-winning Trippi gelding. He has never raced beyond 1400m and might be in there to ensure a reasonable pace.

The Highveld Horse Of The Season Fire Attack is unfortunately sidelined due to a foot issue and that has robbed the race of of a best in the north vs best in the south clash.

The field is shown below: