Race 1
Preview: THE ROCKETMAN should have a lot of speed being by weight for age Grade 1-winner over 1200m Foxwedge out of a General Niedym mare who won three times as a two-year-old from 1000-1200m, including New Zealand’s richest race, the Karaka Million over 1200m for two-year-olds. He has a plum draw and Strydom is up. MOONEY is improving and was still a bit green last time over 1200m around the turn when running on well. The draw of seven is a bit of a concern, but he should appreciate the long straight and the step up in trip. HARD BALL drops in trip with the blinkers now on and if reproducing his best will be involved. OUTSIDE EDGE has some reasonable form and Khumalo is an eyecatching booking. SOLDAT is never far off and could earn here. MIDNIGHT MESSENGER ran a fair race on debut over 1000m and had excuses last time, so could be thereabouts from a good draw in this uninspiring field. CITY ROCK is by Seventh Rock out of Gr 2 GC Oaks third-placed Santiago, who has produced Listed placed middle distance sort San Trip, but jockey bookings suggest he is not the yard elect. MARIO LANZA is by Judpot out of the Equus champion female stayer Night Diva, who has produced the like of Castle Tankard winner Winter’s Night. (David Thiselton 13-5-3-6-4-9)

Race 2
Preview: SOFII’S MIESQUE made a good debut when running on for second behind a promising sort and she looks to have scope for plenty of improvement. QUICK GLIMPSE ran a fair third on debut after being bumped at the start. PRETTY PENNY is by champion sprinter What A Winter out of Listed Off To Stud winner Magic Penny. ILHA DA VAR has run three fair races and could earn. SAHEERA is an Argentinian-bred by Grade 2 seven furlong winner on the dirt Exchange Rate, but jockey bookings suggest Quick Glimpse is the stable elect. LA BASTIDE is by Dan De Lago out of a Fort Wood two-time winner over 1000m who has produced a couple of one-timer winners. (David Thiselton 15-12-11-2-13-9)

Race 3
Preview: MUTUWAARY is a consistent sort who ran well over course and distance last time. ALL OVER THE WORLD has some class and proved she can mix it with the boys in sprint handicaps last time with a close third.  REBEL’S CHAMP has a touch of class and being a sprinter shouldn’t be hindered by a three month layoff, but he might need to find his feet in handicaps starting off a tough merit rating of 87. HOT AUGUST ran a cracker last time behind a promising sort, despite being dropped out from a wide draw over 1000m on the turn, and that race revealed that hold up tactics might be best for him, although the number one draw can sometimes be disadvantageous here. VULCAN has pace and is interesting dropped down to a sprint again. (David Thiselton 8-5-4-6-1)

Race 4
Preview: CLARET CUP is on the up and can make it a hattrick despite carrying topweight, as the opposition is uninspiring. The pacey QUEEN AT WAR is 7,5 kg better off with Claret Cup for a three length beating over 1200m, if the apprentice claim is taken into account, and could be dangerous over this fast course and distance. GOLDEN ATTITUDE is 3kg better off with Claret Cup for a 2,3 length beating over 1200m and showed pace that time, so should be thereabouts over this course and distance. CATWALK TEASE is 3,5kg better off with Claret Cup for a 4,1 length beating over 1200m and could earn here. QUEENIE is 3kg under sufferance but did look a promising sort as a young two-year-old and if she rediscovers her form in this reversion to a sprint she could surprise. (David Thiselton 1-6-7-5-10)

Race 5
Preview: PILLAROFTHEEARTH is a promising sort who has Lerena up over a suitable course and distance, although making a handicap debut off an 83 merit rating is never easy for a young three-year-old. SECRET HARBOUR was only 1,9 length back off a 90 merit rating on his handicap debut over this trip and off a one point lower mark he could make his presence felt as he likely benefitted from that run. MOSHAV can never be ignored over 1000m down the straight and with Strydom up he can follow up on his latest win off just a three point higher mark. LE TIGRE is 1kg better off with Moshav for a 0,8 length beating and if things go his way this speedster always has a chance. MAGIC will be a big runner if reproducing his run over course and distance in July. ROMAN EVENING has often struck as an underachiever and his win last time out might signal him coming into his own, so he has a chance off just a three point higher merit rating. LIKE ASTAIR looks to have some class and can’t be ignored in his first run after gelding. (David Thiselton 6-1-4-8-2-9)

Race 6
Preview: CELTIC LADY has a good opportunity here off a one point reduced merit rating over an idea course and distance. VARSITY PRINCESS has to carry 62kg but looks to have the ability to go close here. BURGUNDY ROSE is disappointing in that she does not appear to find the necessary extra in the closing stages, but she is always thereabouts. AIMEE SWEET is better than her last run and if bouncing back should be right there. PHILLYDELPHIA improved to win her maiden over this trip and a repeat will see her involved, although her 74 merit rating doesn’t make it easy. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-6-4)

Race 7
Preview: DEFY GRAVITY is well drawn over a suitable trip and should enjoy the long straight on the evidence of his staying on performance over 1900m at Greyville on Gold Cup day. EDISSON is drawn in pole and on pedigree should enjoy the step up in trip. STUNNED is a fair sort who has his third run after a short layoff over a trip which is on the sharp side for him, but he will enjoy the galloping track and Khumalo is an eyecatching booking. AMERICAN INDIAN could be anything after his facile win in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1700m in June and he starts off an 82 merit rating in his first outing for just over two months. MAN AT WAR stayed on well over 1600m last time and should enjoy the course and distance. CASCAPEDIA won on debut over 1400m in April, but made a breathing noise and has to carry topweight in her first outing since then. (David Thiselton 7-5-2-6-4-1)

Race 8
Preview: BECKONING is capable and from a good draw over an ideal course and distance could go close as Khumalo and Gray are in good form together. LEBANESE TRACTOR was a touch unlucky over course and distance last time and should be running on under Lerena. ONAMISSION returns from a three month layoff having shown some good form in juvenile races over this trip, although she does have to overcome an 82 merit rating on her handicap bow, which is never easy for a young three-year-old. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-9-6)