Joey’s Jumping The Green Light

Got The Greenlight will join the fray at Greyville on Sunday for the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and trainer Joe Soma is expecting a big run from the Gr1 SA Classic champion.

When Wild Coast won the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Guineas over 1600m at Hollywood Greyville three weeks ago, less than one length separated Justin Snaith’s runner from the next three across the line. That’s how close an affair that was.

Bernie’s back aboard Got The Greenlight on Sunday! (Pic -JC Photos)

Wild Coast and the other three – Padre Pio, Golden Ducat (now racing under new ownership in the Rattray silks) and Sachdev – will all be lining up in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville, where another close encounter is basically a given.

But they will also be joined by, among others, Shango and Got The Greenlight, who both had their first post-lockdown run in the Gr1 SA Derby over 2450m at Turffontein finishing second and third respectively and separated less than a length from the winner.

That makes trying to pick a winner from the ten contestants in Sunday’s race, quite a daunting task.

Wild Coast and Joe Soma’s Got The Greenlight boast an unbeaten record at Greyville, while Golden Ducat, half-brother to Hawwaam, is unbeaten over 2000m.

He stormed to victory in the Grade 1 Cape Derby at Kenilworth in February, making up more than eight lengths over the second half of the race to beat Sachdev by 0.5 lengths.

Golden Ducat – now runs in Rattray red & white (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

Trained by Eric Sands, Golden Ducat will be aiming to keep the Daily News 2000 trophy in the family after Hawwaam’s victory in the event last year.

Despite the quality of the field, Soma is very optimistic about his runner.

“Obviously it’s a tough field, but we’re expecting him to be very competitive on Sunday,” said Soma of Got The Greenlight in a chat with Tabnews’ Danie Toerien.

“I think he was very unlucky in the Derby. I thought Callan (Murray) was very unlucky. He settled the horse beautifully. He probably just needed the run.”

According to Soma, the Derby run was always going to be difficult for Got The Greenlight after three months on the sideline.

“It was a hard ask. People forget that the 2400m at Turffontein is probably the hardest race in the whole of the country.”

Good news for Soma is that Bernard Fayd’Herbe will be in the saddle. It was Fayd’Herbe who steered the colt to victory in the Classic, his last run before the lockdown.

“I’m very happy to have Bernard on. He knows the horse,” said Soma.

Joey Soma – heading for a big weekend

He is also unfazed by Sunday’s distance.

“I don’t believe that he doesn’t stay. He just got tired in the Derby, but in saying that, the run has brought him on. We are expecting a good run.

“I was happy with the Derby run. He got beat just over half a length. His turn of foot was encouraging and what I liked most about the run is that it was the first time he settled in a race. He never fought the jockey.

“His prep has gone very nicely. We are very happy with the space he’s in.

“From here, we might try and aim for the July, depending on whether he comes through the weekend safely.

“I always say worry about sinking the ball in front of you; don’t worry about placing the white ball. Sink the ball first and worry about placement later.”

• Tabnews