Most punters missed Albarakah when he scored at 25-1 at Kenilworth 11 days ago and, while you won’t get this sort of price in today’s ICA Laboratories Handicap, the remarkable seven-year-old should be a decent price and he has a real chance of winning again.

Glen Kotzen

Greg Cheyne’s mount has won three of his last five, going up in the ratings from 74 to 89 in the process. He was raised five points (2.5kg) for last time but won comfortably, suggesting there is another win in him.

So how come the incredible improvement? “Tender loving care,” says a grinning Glen Kotzen but he is not joking. “At one stage Albarakah was rated 90 but he then had problems with his feet and last season we were going to retire him. But he is a happy horse once more and that means a lot.”

Forward Drive, seventh in the Magnum Cape Classic, reverts to 1 200m. “He had to be gelded because he was haemo-concentrating badly – his blood was like soup,” explains Paul Reeves, “and this run is to get him back.”

The tough little grey doesn’t know what it means to have an easy race so expect to see him up there all the way. However in the circumstances The Tripster, who probably needed last time’s run, may prove the main threat. He opened 3-1 joint favourite with Russian Speed yesterday with Betting World who went 7-2 Macduff and 5-1 Albarakah.

Overshadow stands out at 22-10 in the opening Macsteel Maiden  –  despite Grant van Niekerk riding 9-2 chance Mr Piscato rather than Jiggery Pokery – but he has been off for almost three months. Will he be ready enough? “I think so, yes,” answers Justin Snaith. “He is doing very well at home.”

Albarakah (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith and Donovan Dillon can follow up with Sabrina Fair (2-1) in the Investec Maiden 35 minutes later but watch out for Skip A Beat who started favourite for her debut last month only to lose ground at the start and run green. “She has come on since and she will be right there,” says Andre Nel who took his total to nine from 76 runs when La Favourari landed the odds in the first last Saturday. Skip A Beat opened favourite yesterday at 16-10.

Mr Bond’s chance in the Bradbury & Sankfin Handicap has been given a boost by the good Selangor run of Illuminator who was the only horse to beat him last time. Brett Crawford’s gelding remains on the same mark and looks the one.

However don’t be tempted into taking too short a price, certainly no shorter than the opening `16-10, because this is a cleverly handicapped race with several in with a chance after having their ratings adjusted. Notable amongst these are 5-1 chances Professor Brian and Another Idea.

Stable jockey Corne Orffer rides the badly drawn Bezamod (4-1) rather than form horse Silver Snaffles (18-10) in the Market Toyota Culemborg Maiden but apparently this is because of owner arrangements. “Silver Snaffles ran a good race last time [when second to Black Arthur] and I think he would be the stable select,” says Crawford.

By Michael Clower