Daily News 2000 preview

Pomp And Power will be looking to cement his place as favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July when he takes on eight classy rivals in the Grade 1 Daily News over 2000m at Greyville tomorrow.

Pomp And Power won the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over 1600m earlier in the season before finishing second to stable companion Double Superlative in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Guineas at Kenilworth in December. But it was his dominant victory in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby over 2000m at the end of January that catapulted Pomp And Power into the “July” reckoning. In the recent WSB Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville he finished a creditable third behind Zapatillas from a wide draw but, from pole position at the gates and over the extended trip, Pomp And Power will prove a tough nut to crack in tomorrow’s Daily News.

The strength of the field for the 2022 renewal of the Daily News 2000 is further heightened by the presence of the winners of the three legs of the Highveld Triple Crown – Gauteng Guineas winner Safe Passage, SA Classic winner Red Saxon and SA Derby winner Aragosta.

As a winner of five of his eight career starts to date, Safe Passage is an interesting runner. He is a dual Classic winner over 1600m but has in the past stretched his winning form to 2000m. Safe Passage has been side-lined since finishing a close second to Red Saxon in the Grade 1 SA Classic nearly 3 months ago but trainer Mike de Kock is a master at bringing them back fit and ready and the 3yo son of Champion Sire Silvano must be taken seriously.

Red Saxon gave Joe Soma his third victory in the SA Classic when just getting the better of Safe Passage in the closing stages by a narrow margin. Red Saxon’s subsequent run in the SA Derby can be safely ignored and on all known form there is very little to choose between Safe Passage and Red Saxon.

Mike de Kock has another string to his bow in the form of the Grade 1 SA Derby winner Aragosta. Strictly on the form of the SA Classic, Aragosta should be safely held by both Safe Passage and Red Saxon and it may also be true that Aragosta would prefer a tougher test of stamina than what the Daily News 2000 offers.

The lurker in the pack could be the Vaughan Marshall-trained Senso Unico. Marshall won this race last year with Linebacker and he fully appreciates what it takes to win a race of this class and magnitude. Senso Unico was a distant fourth behind Pomp And Power in the Cape Derby but the son of Twice Over has been gelded since and he looks set to improve a great deal on his recent unplaced effort in the WSB Guineas at Greyville.

In summary, Pomp And Power is a confident first choice to win the 2022 Daily News 2000 but there is no shortage of quality amongst the opposition.

WOOLAVINGTON 2000

The absence of Rain in Holland has thrown the 2022 Woolavington 2000 for 3yo fillies wide open and there is a lot at stake as the winner qualifies automatically for a place in the final field for the forthcoming R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Perfect Witness, from the stable of Candice Dawson, is a hesitant first choice but there are dangers aplenty. All of Marigold Hotel, Light Of The Moon, Sprinkles, Kailene and Silver Darling warrant respect and must be considered for exotic permutations. Of these Silver Darling could emerge as the principle threat to Perfect Witness but whatever the outcome a really good contest lies ahead. Perfect Witness is a 3yo daughter of Flower Alley who is also the sire of the brilliant filly Princess Calla, runner-up in this race behind War of Athena last year.

Readers are reminded they can win a 3-night stay for two adults at Sibaya Lodge including breakfast as well as a couples’ spa voucher from Mangwanani. The draw will take place immediately at Hollywoodbets Greyville after the running of the Daily News 2000.

By Graeme Hawkins