Sail For Gold takes a significant drop in class in the MR 94 handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow and Grant van Niekerk’s mount should be hard to beat.

He was second in both the Winter Guineas and Classic last season while this term he has taken on Act Of War in the Matchem and both Captain America and Futura in the Green Point. Even with 61kg tomorrow’s task is plain sailing by comparison.

The Mike Bass-Van Niekerk combination may also take the Place Your Bets Handicap with Brilliant Crimson who similarly comes down in class after running in the Selangor. He opened at 18-10 with World Sports Betting yesterday and that looks a fair price.

Favourite at 15-10 was Prince Lateral but just as big a danger could be 5-2 shot Brooklyn Brawler. First time out of the maidens carries a wealth warning but this one absolutely romped home and the handicappers only raised him two points. “This is much stronger,” cautions Justin Snaith. “But he will run a nice race as will my other two runners, True Master (off since January after having knee chips removed) and Secret Seven.”

Ferrie is going to start odds-on for the third time in as many races in the opening maiden. The Dennis Drier hope was floored by one of Andre Nel’s many smart performers last time but today there are no great expectations from Rondeberg. “Weskus Klong will win a race or two but I don’t expect him to be that competitive here,” says Nel.

Prize Peg, second in her last two starts, looks a worthy 5-2 favourite for race two and the Mike Robinson filly probably has most to fear from 4-1 chance Gin For Genius, the only four-year-old in the field.

Avail finished second or third in all his first four starts and Dean Kannemeyer believes there was a legitimate reason for the horse’s failure in the fifth. “It was a strong maiden but I had expected better,” relates the Milnerton trainer. “I don’t normally make excuses but that was Avail’s first run since being gelded and he may have just needed it.”

This explanation brings Grant Behr’s mount right into the race three picture but Kannemeyer cautions: “A mile is his minimum.”

Avail opened 5-2 favourite but, in view of the trip, maybe Sun Power at 7-2 could prove better value. Another to note is 6-1 shot Go Direct who has shown promise but blotted his copybook last time. “He wouldn’t raise a gallop so I am putting blinkers on,” says Neil Bruss.

By Michael Clower