Justin Snaith is taking a leaf out of the Mike Bass book by raiding from Summerveld with Star Express in a bid to beat the altitude in Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

He said: “I have tried doing it every other way and they haven’t worked but I have seen it work from Summerveld. You are almost halfway there with the altitude and so she travels to Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.

“She has been doing very well and a lot of effort has gone into the day so it will be nice to be part of it.”

Summerveld is 700m above sea level and Turffontein around 1750m. Bass sent Inara from Summerveld similarly close to the race when she won last year’s Empress Club.

Last season’s Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge is involved in a race against time after being forced to miss his prep for the Tsogo Sun Sprint (May 27) at Scottsville last Sunday.

Vaughan Marshall said: “He pulled a muscle behind. We are trying to get him back as quickly as possible but we are not holding out much hope.”

By Michael Clower