DAILY NEWS 2000 GRADE 1 2026
This weekend’s featured race is the
Daily News 2000, a Grade 1 staged for 3YO’s at Greyville.
11 runners, all carrying 60kg’s, will face the starter at 16h45.
The anticipated pace is steady at best with no genuine front runners engaged – perhaps the filly
Hazy Dazy, chased by
Diogenes and
Chronicle King will go forward.
1.
MASTER SPY s/s 97: Will have no problems seeing out the trip - so the quicker they go early, the better. Trainer Sean Tarry and jockey Keagan de Melo are a potent duo (30% wins and 56% places). Against this
Master of my Fate gelding out of a
Judpot mare is that the initial tempo could be sluggish. More tellingly, his figures do not meet the winning par standard.
2.
DIOGENES s/s 95: Similar scenario. Should give a good sight handy from a low draw but he falls well short of what it typically takes on pure ability to win this prestigious G1.
3.
HAZY DAZY s/s 96: This 37K bargain buy,
Act of War filly has made her connections proud during her
Triple Tiara campaign on the Highveld, earning close to R2 million. Problem is her performance figures have not been flashy enough to make an impact in this field.
4.
MALMESBURY MISSILE s/s 103: Now we are, at least, moving into par territory (speed figs of 103 and upwards) and this consistent
Gimmethegreenlight gelding ought to be thereabouts at the wire. He is, however, held by
Star Major (and
Happy Verse) from the KZN Guineas clash; blinkers come off to get him to settle and last home, and he’s been deserted by previous jockeys, Richard Fourie, Keagan de Melo and Muzi Yeni. Place chance.
5.
VIVA’S LIBERTE s/s 104+: The first of the plausible win candidates. Sports a progressive profile as he is steadily bought along by patient trainer, Candice Bass. There is much to like about this handsome and consistent,
Vercingetorix gelding who is entered for the
Durban July. He found himself exposed on the front in the
Cape Derby and duly folded in the stretch. If getting a few to follow here, then he should finish with more verve. There are queries as he travels up to KZN for his first try going right-handed and the bare form of that
Cape Derby suggests he cannot beat
Note to Self, but with a few ticks improvement, he might scare them. Each way proposition at 16/1.
6.
NOTE TO SELF s/s 108: Very good run in the
Cape Derby when just failing to overhaul Snaith Racing stable companion,
Wish List. Had a sighter in a
Conditions prep, behind stable mate
Okavango, gaining at finish with a swift 22.6 come home sectional off a tepid early pace. 4/1 ante-post
Durban July favorite, and a principal candidate here quoted 15/10 in early trade.
7.
JAN VAN GOYEN s/s 104+: Was excellent early at three, culminating in a
Cape Guineas tour de force. A couple of duff tries followed so was gelded in mid-March. Fair comeback and should strip fitter. This distance is an unknown factor, but hammered
Tin Pan Alley (s/s 108) at his only previous sojourn to Greyville so loves the circuit. Another
DJ entry. Much respect for this 4/1 shot trained by the M/M de Kock partnership.
8.
CHRONICLE KING s/s 100: Has a fine record fresh winning three of four comeback starts. Muzi Yeni sticks solid. If able to get away with soft fractions might keep rolling for a long way, yet this longshot
Durban July entry seems vulnerable to classier, faster finishers.
9.
HAPPY VERSE s/s 104: On collateral form is a couple of lengths inferior to both
Star Major and Jan van Goyen. However, we may not have seen the best of this individual who often played up before his races and has since been gelded. Has run well second after a spell and, with better behavior expected, seems likely to take another big step forward. Entered for the
Durban July.
10.
WORLD OF ROYALTY s/s 95: Won consecutive MR 84’s on the Highveld and now climbs very steeply up the rungs of the class ladder. Seems in too deep.
11.
STAR MAJOR s/s 108: Adroitly flashed past the entire field in the
KZN Guineas under jockey Mikaela Michel for a career top figure. If settling properly, (he pulled in the
Cape Derby when well held by
Note to Self) and he gets close to repeating that excellent last start score, then James Crawford’s entry rates as short list material. Entered for the
Durban July.
GRADES:
A = 6 5 B = 7 9 11 C = 4.
P.S. Be sure to listen to the wily and experienced James Goodman’s Interbet podcast ahead of this meeting. He goes through every race on the card, highlighting special “finds” and horses that he expects will do really well.
Bio: Mark van Deventer has been refining his speed figures for thoroughbred racehorses over three decades. A full-time racing journalist since 2013, he’s known for his integrity and imaginative handicapping, adapting the principles of Andrew Beyer’s figures to South African racecourses.
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