Reigning SA champion trainer Justin Snaith looks to hold a powerful hand in Saturday’s R2 million Gr1 Daily News 2000, with his dual Gr1 winner Eight On Eighteen quoted at 5-10 by Hollywoodbets and spearheading a four-cornered attack in a field of seven, that includes six Hollywoodbets Durban July entries.
Justin and Jonathan Snaith – should be all smiles ahead of Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Eight On Eighteen heads the line-up for Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, and the son of Lancaster Bomber looks to be cherry ripe to pick up his third Gr1 victory after a flying second behind stablemate Sail The Seas in the WSB Gr2 Guineas earlier this month.
Justin Snaith has only won the Daily News twice previously – in 2014 with Legislate and in 2008 via Russian Sage. Both were ridden by Richard Fourie, who takes the reins on Eight On Eighteen on Saturday.
Mat and Mike de Kock – looking to saddle first fairer sex Daily News winner in 34 years (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Mike and Mat de Kock have introduced an interesting angle with the filly Spumante Dolce, who would be a first fairer sex winner of the Daily News this century. The girls enjoyed a purple patch when Roland’s Song (1989), St Just (1990) and Star Effort (1991), delivered a hat-trick of victories.
A daughter of one of De Kock’s past Daily News winners, Vercingetorix, Spumante Dolce put a health-related disappointing effort in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic behind her, with a sparkling effort from a bad draw for second behind Mon Petit Cherie in the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas earlier this month.
Mike de Kock boasts a great record in this race, having won the Daily News five times – with Safe Passage (2022), Hawwaam (2019), Spumante Dolce’s sire Vercingetorix (2013), Irish Flame (2010) and Badger’s Coast (2000).
Trainer Alec Laird – 29 years since he last won the Daily News (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
It’s been a long-time between Daily News drinks for top trainer Alec Laird, who last won the race with champion London News in 1996. He saddles the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway, who will be ridden by SplashOut-sponsored jockey, Calvin Habib.
Daily News defending champion jockey Craig Zackey, who piloted Green With Envy to victory last year, teams up with Fabian Habib on Gr1 SA Classic winner, Confederate. The son of Fire Away has his first start at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Makazole is the only non Hollywoodbets Durban July entry in the field.
1st R1187500, 2nd R380000, 3rd R190000, 4th R95000, 5th R47500, RCIS R100000
DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1)
For 3 year-olds
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Okavango | 60 | 105 | A | Andrew Fortune | Justin Snaith | |
| 2 | 2 | Native Ruler | 60 | 103 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Justin Snaith | |
| 3 | 3 | Confederate | 60 | 118 | A | Craig Zackey | Fabian Habib | |
| 4 | 4 | Spumante Dolce | 57.5 | 117 | T A | Gavin Lerena | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 5 | 5 | Makazole | 60 | 98 | A | Sean Veale | Justin Snaith | |
| 6 | 6 | Parisian Walkway | 60 | 121 | A | Calvin Habib | Alec Laird | |
| 7 | 7 | Eight On Eighteen | 60 | 127 | A | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,2,5,7) | ||||||||
Overall, it looks something of a benefit Daily News renewal for Justin Snaith, who, with a season stakes tally of R23 million, is some R10,5 million ahead of his nearest challenger Alan Greeff on the national table. Snaith looks all set to land his sixth national title come 31 July.
Interestingly, retired trainer Paul Peter holds the record for 221 term wins, set back in 2021/22, and at this stage Alan Greeff heads that chase with 142 winners (18% win strike-rate), versus Snaith’s 135 (14,85% win strike-rate). But it’s the Grade 1’s that count and this should be another for the Cape powerhouse.
