Mike de Kock has a strong hand in the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship and the least fancied of his two runners, Alfolk, could upset Naafer, who is the ruling favourite.

Both horses are Australian breds by Lonhro out of Exceed And Excel mares.

Alfolk, in his last three runs over 1000m, for two wins and a narrow second, has appeared to have something in the tank at the line.

Naafer, on the other hand, has shown plenty of pace in his last two starts, admittedly over 1160m, but has appeared to have little left at the line.

Alfolk has improved continually since gelding and could improve again in this race. He is drawn two and might be able to find protection from the predicted South Easterly wind behind the speedy Jo’s Bond, drawn 3, and from Sergeant Hardy, who is drawn 6. Naafer is drawn 13, in between the two speedy horses La Favourari and Olympian. Anthony Delpech said last week, “You ride him like you find him,” meaning he is not a one dimensional type and Delpech is likely to get cover from those two horses considering the wind direction and predicted strength of between 20 and 25 knots.

Sergeant Hardy loves this track and is just as good over 1200 as he is over 1000m, so should stay all the way to the line despite probably having to bear the brunt of the wind.

The conditions will favour Trip To Heaven, who usually loses ground at the start and then sits behind them before using his exceptional turn of foot to mow them down. He only just failed last year after losing two lengths and then not having the straightest passage when he sliced through the field. He does not go in to the race with as good form as he had last year and the Sean Tarry yard have not been as lethal as they were last year. However, he does have the advantage of Anton Marcus aboard and is having his third run after a rest, so should go close.

The eight-year-old Tevez comes from off the pace and overtook Sergeant Hardy close to home last time over 1200m in the Sceptre Stakes only to be scythed down by the strong-finishing Bishop’s Bounty. His five draw means he is next to a lot of speed which will suit him down to the ground.

Bold Respect showed good cruising speed in the front last time in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m and was only caught on the line by the classy Sir Frenchie. He now reverts to 1000m for the first time since slamming a decent Maiden Juvenile Plate field over this course and distance in January last year, so is a most interesting runner.

His Brett Crawford-trained stablemate Search Party is a similar type to Gulf Storm, who won this race for the Crawford yard two years ago, being a handy type, who can kick late. He ran a fair preparation race in the Diadem and is now drawn one outside of Sergeant Hardy so can perhaps get a tow.

Jo’s Bond has her third run after a layoff. She specialises at 1000m, being speedy, but did also place fourth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m.

Sommerlied is the Scottsville 1000m record holder and is held in high regard. The Dennis Drier yard have not had a good time of it in Cape Town and the horses appear to have been effected by a virus, which does not show up until after the race. However, Lady In Black’s storming second place in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes might herald a form turnaround, so this horse can’t be ignored.

Live Life choked up near the front in her seasonal reappearance when beaten 6,1 lengths over 1100m by Sommerlied, although she was giving the latter 2kg. A new bit was fitted which helped her settle and it paid dividends as she showed her usual good turn of foot in the Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m, coming from last to finish third and beating Sommerlied by nearly a length. Last time out in the Sceptre over 1200m she was perhaps too handy again, so didn’t find the necessary extra but still finished a fair 4,65 length sixth. She is now drawn one and there is a lot of speed around her, so she shouldn’t over race and can finish strongly. She won the US$500,000 CTS 1200 at the Met meeting last year and is the dark horse here.

Graduation Day has only had eleven runs, despite being a seven-year-old, but has won six of them and this classy type can never be written off. He packs a strong finish, but a concern is his overall soundness and he often makes breathing noises.

Always In Charge won the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m in impressive style as a two-year-old and has the class to go close. Last time out his high draw was against him in the Diadem as they all went to the inside and he also probably didn’t take to blinkers, as they are off again. He has a nice middle draw of 8 and is another dark horse.

Talktothetstars is a former Equus Champion Sprinter but his tough schedule might be taking its toll, as he is yet to reproduce his best this season.

Brutal Force has also not reproduced his best this season.

The enigmatic Attenborough is capable of popping up and the pace in the race will suit him. Piere Strydom rides.

La Favourari and Percival are both talented types but the Nel yard are having a nightmare season due to a virus and both horses have not run to form in their last start or starts.

Olympian has a tough task at the weights.

By David Thiselton