He said, “We went the Green Point route with Afrikaburn because it is weight for age and if he had run in the Selangor under the conditions he would have had to give weight to some of the best three-year-olds in the land. He was a top two-year-old and in his reappearance in the Matchem he only got going late and then took off, so I’ve put quarter cups (blinkers) on just to make him focus a bit more. He is in top shape and both he and Balance Sheet put up very pleasing gallops at Kenilworth. Neither of them over exert themselves at home. They have both got good temperaments.”

“Balance Sheet gets weight in the Selangor from Act Of War. It’s a pity it’s on the Old Course as he might take a while to get going, he will be better on the new course. I think he will stay nicely and the Derby could be his race.”

“Varlo is in tip top shape but it’s going to be very difficult from that draw especially for a horse with a question whether he stays 1400m and I also think it’s going to be a rough race. He is a sensible horse, he handled Durbanville well, but he’s going to need a lot of luck.”

Lightweight veteran Gerrit Schlechter rides Afrikaburn and stable jockey Karl Neisius rides the other pair.

Picture: Afrikaburn (Nkosi Hlophe)