It is little wonder he loves Hollywoodbets Greyville, where Vercingetorix was unbeaten in three starts, including the Daily News and the Gr 2 KRA Guineas, while Big City Life won both of those races too plus the big one, the Durban July.

 

Cousin Casey was bred by Riyo Stud and thus on the first Saturday of July will attempt to put the latter Stud’s owner Gill Thompson in the record books as a July-winning owner and a July-winning breeder.

 

Gill part-owned the 2010 July winner Bold Silvano, who today looks after the yearlings at Riyo Stud in Bathurst after his fertility declined when standing at the stud farm that bred him, Ascot Stud.

 

The two probable most important keys to Daily News 2000 success are a combination of stamina and acceleration.

 

Cousin Casey has these assets from two sources.

 

The sire of Vercingetorix, Silvano, is known as a stamina influence.

 

However, Silvano is also the most successful sire in July history, which is ample proof that his progeny have  the turn of foot (acceleration) required to prevail on the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track.

 

Vercingetorix is now on his way to being every inch as good a sire as Silvano and is the most in-demand sire in the country at present.

 

Big City Life also had a tremendous turn of foot and he inherited his stamina from his sire Casey Tibbs.

 

So Cousin Casey also gets those two important assets from his female line.

 

Cousin Casey has already accumulated a Listed race, a Gr 2 and a Gr 1 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

 

He now gets a good draw at last, pole position.

 

Can he add a second Gr 1?