An elated Muzi Yeni gives the thumbs-up after Safe Passage soared to victory in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Mike de Kock’s top-class 3yo Safe Passage has moved to the top of the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post betting boards after a scintillating victory in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Daily News 2000.
The big race sponsors displaced former favourite Pomp And Power at the top of South Africa’s premier race’s betting boards, with Safe Passage marked up at 7-2 after he scythed through late under Muzi Yeni to beat the Snaith Cape Derby winner by an emphatic 2,10 lengths in a time of 124,23 secs.
The victory made it a glorious Drakenstein owned and bred Silvano Gr1 double on a memorable afternoon, after Silver Darling had captured the Woolavington 2000 a half hour earlier.
De Kock had made it clear in a Michele Wing Racing News interview earlier in the week that Safe Passage would be in need of the run after a twelve week break. But it was no race after the 7-10 favourite Pomp And Power was probably his own worst enemy out front.
Safe Passage (Muzi Yeni) storms home as Pomp And Power (Richard Fourie) and Waterberry Lane (Keagan de Melo) chase in vain (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“It’s been the best decision I have made in a long-time to establish a winter base at Summerveld like I did in the slim and trim old days,” added the former multiple national champion.
Muzi Yeni was clearly pleased to find himself in the Gr1 winner’s enclosure again and said he remembered the day when the ‘Shea’s and Delpeches were riding these horses’.
“Now we get the chance and it’s an honour and privilege. One can feel the class,” he added.
Of the other Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, third-placed De Kock SA Derby winner Aragosta and Dean Kannemeyer’s Waterberry Lane fared best as they fought out third and fourth cheque.
Watch the replay here:
While Aragosta cost himself ground by hanging in badly, Waterberry Lane was given plenty to do turning for home last and then being switched out wide for a run. He was 2,25 lengths adrift at the line and a decision will be made whether he takes on the big guns on 2 July.
Vaughan Marshall’s Senso Unico is another Hollywoodbets Durban July entry. He ran 6,15 lengths off Safe Passage, while Joburg visitor Red Saxon was a further 2,70 lengths back.
Owned and bred by Drakenstein, Safe Passage was another Gr1 strike on the day for deceased champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the four-time winner and Gr2 The Debutante heroine My Sanctuary (Antonius Pius).
A R500 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Safe Passage has won 6 races with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R1 918 562.
De Kock previously saddled Daily News winners, Hawwaam (2019), Vercingetorix (2013), and Irish Flame in 2010.
