Star Major has been selected to win the Daily News 2000 (Picture: Race Coast)
Race Coast
The James Crawford-trained STAR MAJOR has been in then out like most of his opposition in the Daily News 2000 Gr 1 that heads the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, but he put up a commanding performance in the WSB Guineas Gr 2 where he came from last to first and beating the smart TIN PAN ALLEY. He does stay the trip and a wide draw should not be a factor, and he may well stamp himself as the best of his generation.
However, the Justin Snaith-trained NOTE TO SELF looks to be the pick of the Snaith trio and likely bookmakers’ choice. He ran an excellent race behind older stable companion and more than useful OKAVANGO last time out and he has not been out of the money in seven starts. He gets the services of the super confident Andrew Fortune and could be a worthy favourite.
Mathew de Kock celebrated his Gr 1 success in partnership with his father Mike with HAUTE COUTURE last Saturday and they will be pinning their hopes on JAN VAN GOYEN. A double Gr 1 winner, he does look to be peaking at the right time and will be a big runner.
Out to spoil the party will be Snaith’s possible third string, MALMESBURY MISSILE. He is well exposed but has done well on this course. He goes this trip for the first time and is one to watch. Corne Spies has shunned the Lucky Fish WoolavingtonGr 2 with the filly HAZY DAZY to take on the males. She fell at the last hurdle of the Triple Tiara, behind LITTLEMISSMILLION but has exceptional form against her own sex and it will be interesting to see how she fares.
WISH LIST is likely to be in short order for the Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000 Gr 2 although she does take on older runners. Snaith’s three-year-old filly was most impressive when winning the WSB Fillies Guineas Gr 1 at Hollywoodbets Greyvilleafter winning the Lucky Fish Cape Derby Gr 1 against males at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She is bidding for a fourth straight win and looks to have the class to pull it off.
Biggest threat could come from fellow three-year-old KEUKENHOF. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly was doing her best work late behind WISH LIST in the Guineas. She is still improving and the extra will suit. The older brigade consists of RAINBOW LORIKEET who was not at her best in the recent Empress Club Stakes Gr 1, but has smart Cape form to her credit. She has run well on this course which it to her benefit. There should not be much between Highveld raiders CALLMEGETRIX and MINOGUE who met last time out. MINOGUE is 1kg worse off at the weights for a length beating so the form should be franked.
Snaith could well be in line for a feature-race treble as he saddles AHEAD OF THE FACTS in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup Listed over 2400m. He saddles AHEAD OF THE FACTS who was just in need of his last run in the WSB 1900 Gr 3. He gives plenty of weight to all of his rivals, but he stays well and should give a good run for your money although he does face a rising star in the filly CURIOUS GIRL. Mike and Mathew de Kock’s charge is unbeaten since going over ground and put the colts to bed in the SA Derby. She gets 8.5kg from AHEAD OF THE FACTS and as a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry one can expect another forward effort. Of the balance, CONTINENTALEXPRESS is back over his preferred trip with a light weight while DOUGLAS DRAGON has his first run for Vaughan Marshall and has some useful Highveld staying form to back his claims although he is well down in the pecking order according to handicap ratings.
