Laird said that all three of his raiders Bold Inspiration, Pej and Normanz were “absolutely spot on” and that Sean Cormack had been very happy with their work. He felt Bold Inspiration, a long striding sort who should love the Turffontein Standside track, should be helped by the expected soft going due to his considerable size. He said Pej, who runs in the Gr 3 Hardware Magnolia Handicap “grows an extra leg” in soft going, “she loves it”, and Normanz, who runs in the Stronach Group Racing Merchants also enjoys it. Laird  doesn’t believe in the second run after a rest theory, which would apply to Normanz. Laird will follow the same travel plan he used for Rich Girl, who won the R3,85 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup at the beginning of the month, by arriving on the day of the race.

Mark Dixon said that his respective Magnolia and Merchants runners, African Dream and Showmetheway, were “cherry ripe.” He is hoping his wife Hayley will be given permission to accompany African Dream to the starting stalls as she did last time and said that if all went well at the start the speedy filly would be a “massive runner”. He said Showmetheway is “not the best handicapped horse” around but had “never been better”. Showmetheway has had a new lease of life since hold up tactics have been employed. Both horses will relish soft ground.

Frank Robinson said that his talented Gr 3 Bradlows/Morkels Fillies Mile candidate Olma “ploughs through” the beach sand at home and will love a testing 1600m, while her wide draw could work in her favour as the going is often better on the outside in wet conditions at Turffontein. Sean Cormack has been “ecstatic” with her work. Robinson felt his Investec Dingaans runner Leven Point, being a Fort Wood who is looking for 2000m, would also love the testing 1600m. He gave Great Rumpus a big shout in the tenth, pointing out that he finished close to Bold Inspiration last time out despite being checked twice in the straight. Jamal “has a big climbing action and loves soft ground” and won his only previous start at Turffontein.

Craig Eudey said that his Merchants runner Flyfirstclass, who has plenty of pace, should enjoy Turffontein’s quick sprint track. “He is very well and loves soft ground.”

Doug Campbell’s Merchants charge Kingston Boy finished third in the race last year and the exhilarating turn of foot he possesses is ideally suited to this track as he can sit behind the strong pace in the early stages. He said Donovan Dillon was “very excited” about his chances and he himself felt Kingston Boy was handicapped to beat a lot of the opposition.

Tony Rivalland said that his Magnolia runner Choir Maiden had not been working as well as he had known her to, but she did finish fourth in her only previous try over the course and distance despite hanging across the track.

Laird and Eudey’s charges arrive on the morning of the race and the rest arrive midday Friday.