Joey Ramsden has won the Cape Guineas twice in the past seven years and, if there was any betting on the race, Twist Of Fate would now be favourite to give him a third in the Forus-sponsored classic on 15 December.

The R20 000 bargain buy did it the hard way in the Cape Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday, overcoming the widest draw of all and leading throughout the rest of the journey to score convincingly.

Ramsden, landing his fourth Cape Classic in six seasons, said: “There is plenty more to come – he wasn’t fully wound up – but I was quietly confident provided he got across.”

Twist Of Fate (Liesl King)

Surprisingly Ramsden appears to have some slight concerns about the Master Of My Fate colt lasting the extra furlong in the Cape Guineas, saying: “He would win a Graded race over five furlongs. But I will speak with everyone involved. If he didn’t go for the Guineas he would go sprinting. That, said, though, there is only one Cape Guineas.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, whose enterprising tactics had many of the opposition in trouble some way out, has no such doubts – “This is a serious horse. We worked him with Attenborough the other day and we beat him. That was good enough for me and a mile shouldn’t be a problem – his temperament is good.”

But make a note of Cirillo. The favourite was having his first race for three months yet he finished best of all to take second with Lyle Hewitson reporting: “This is a proper horse. He will have no problem with the extra furlong.”

However there will be no Guineas for third-placed Pleasedtomeetyou who weakened into third, confirming Andre Nel’s original suspicions that this could be another sprinting Querari. Rider Greg Cheyne said: “He never hit the line and he had every opportunity of doing so. A smart horse but better in sprints.”

Majestic Mozart came from well back to take an encouraging fourth and demonstrate why Candice Bass-Robinson holds him in such high regard but the Justin Snaith runners finished a disappointing eighth, ninth and tenth. Clouded Hill, the last of them, had a valid excuse because Anton Marcus reported that his saddle slipped almost from the start.

Five of the last eight winners of the Western Cape Fillies Championship have gone on to land the Fillies Guineas and Clouds Unfold looks the one they all have to beat in the WSB version in mid-December after coming from well back to lead over 50m out.

The What A Winter filly was the second successive winner of the Grade 2 for Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein and the second for Aldo Domeyer who won on Silver Mountain and said: “She was impressive. She will really enjoy both the extra furlong and the longer straight in the Guineas.”

Candice Bass-Robinson will also run third-placed Santa Clara in the classic while the Chrigor Stud connections of runner-up Temple Grafin will be there too with Glen Kotzen saying: “A very good filly beat us here but it will be interesting to see how they both stay the mile.”

Canukeepitsecret (tenth) was a disappointment but the in-form Vaughan Marshall (five winners at the last two Cape Town meetings) said: “It wasn’t the trip – that is no problem for her. She ran flat and she was gone a long way from home.”

Brett Crawford, who had three of the first four in the Pinnacle, said that Undercover Agent will go Green Point, Queen’s Plate and possibly Met while Valbonne (third) and fourth-placed Search Party will stay sprinting with the Diadem and the Cape Flying the prime targets for the latter.

Strong-finishing runner-up Dutch Philip has the Merchants, Diadem and Cape Flying as his objectives after Aldo Domeyer reported: “I was very encouraged by that. At one stage he wasn’t going anywhere but then he found another gear.”

Finally 27 October will go down as a never-to-be-forgotten date for Piet Botha as Head Of The Pack (William Bambiso) gave him his first winner as a trainer in the Work Riders’ Maiden.

By Michael Clower

It will be a long time if ever that apprentice Jabu Jacobs forgets his first winner. He had been close on a number of occasions, none closer than on Winter’s Coming when touched off by stable companion Q The Music last month.

That had been mostly a straightforward race, the winner just that fraction better. Many would have dumped the youngster but Byron Forster, KZN assistant to Andre Nel, kept faith with young Jacobs, although mid-way through the race he may have been having second thoughts.

Yesterday at Greyville it was a completely different scenario. Trailing the field by a couple of lengths for much of the race, most observers will have written Winter’s Coming off to concentrate on what was unfolding at the head of affairs.

Winter’s Coming (Candiese Marnewick)

Yuzae Ramzan, also hunting his first winner, had The Poet wide for much of the exchanges but struck for home in what looked to be a winning move.

Jacobs at this stage was in all sorts of trouble with a full tank of petrol and seemingly nowhere to go.

First he tried outside, that gap closed, then he tried the middle and that door was shut in his face, in desperation, he pull off the heels of the traffic, switched inside and headed for the line.

It was heart-stopping stuff but Winter’s Coming got out of the pocket in the nick of time and won going away. The Poet was game in second and Ramzan will have to wait another day for his first.

In stark contrast was the end-to-end victory by Storm Ruler, apprentice Jason Gates making all on Alyson Wright’s five-year-old.

The talented Gates has had many run-ins with authority and at one stage was banned by the stipendiary stewards from races around the turn as he was seemingly impervious to instruction, riding with gay abandon with no thought to life or limb, his or that of his opponents.

The penny appears to have dropped. He is no slouch in the saddle and if he can keep it all together he has a future as he appears to be natural light-weight.

At Fairview, Justin Snaith’s decision to let Magnificent Seven take his chances in the G-Bets Algoa Cup (Listed) in spite of the fact that any outside travellers to Port Elizabeth will have to serve quarantine before returning home after an out-break of African Horse Sickness in the area.

It was a calculated gamble but it paid off handsomely although it was a close-run thing. Richard Fourie produced Magnificent Seven with a perfectly time run but with local Wild Briar and Teaque Gould stuck to him like glue. The two fought head-and-head over the final 100m with the favourite prevailing narrowly.

By Andrew Harrison

A survey of racing success as a factor of how much money you spend was recently undertaken in Australia. While its outcomes were “Aussie” specific, it’s probably fair to say, they’re likely to have universal application wherever horse racing is conducted as a serious commercial pursuit. The answer, rest assured, is that the more money you spend, the more success you will have. The only problem is that the spending/success relationship is not a linear one. To boost your success from the bottom of the ladder to the top – a 25 fold increase – requires 300 times more money. But that has always been the way in most markets. Incremental gains come at a premium.

Or at least that’s the way it used to be. Until the “Ready To Run” concept of conducting racehorse sales was invented. You see, the Aussie figures are extrapolated largely from conventional sales, where the bloodstock is presented at the walk. Except there are no “walking” races, so to be able to pick them on the “run” as it were, opens a window of insight to the buyer which was hitherto denied.

And that’s where the difference resides, where the good “eye” for a good horse is often as good as a big wallet. It helps of course, if you have both. You see, in the South African context of the Ready To Run at any rate, there are countless examples of exceptional thoroughbreds being plucked from the less expensive ranks of the catalogue and going on to illustrious (not to mention very lucrative) careers on the racecourse. Naturally, success has come to those at the top end too, the beacon among them Horse Of The Year, Igugu, but the ratio of achievement among the “cheapies” has been wholly disproportionate to the results of the survey.

In recent times, the Emperors Palace version of the Ready To Run (which incidentally, is the original) has spawned close on 40 millionaires, the newest among whom have only just completed their three year old careers. They included three of the best of their generation, one of which, Brave Mary, fetched a modest R40 000. Doubtless as an encouragement to buyers, the sales founding consignor, Summerhill, has over the years punted the “value-for-money” proposition to its customers, no better illustrated by the annual issue of a list of its most accomplished alumni go to the “Hall Of Fame at https://www.summerhill.co.za/ready-to-run-hall-of-fame#ready-to-run-stakes-winners ”. Which is a rich reminder of the rewards awaiting those who are willing to work for them.

The return to the world class Turffontein Standside track starts with a low key meeting on Saturday ahead of the fireworks which begin next weekend.

A MR92 Handicap over 1800m is the highest rated race on the card and forms the first leg of the Pick 6. Silver God is a half-brother to the Grade 1-winning miler William Longsword and the speedy Grade 1 winner Real Princess but he is by Silvano and the way he runs suggests he will relish the step up in trip. He won over 1400m last time when staying on resolutely. He did have the advantage of the 1,5kg claim of Luke Ferraris to help him, but twice South African champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo replaces him. The Rising Legend has become well known for his turn of foot followed by a resolute finish. He usually sits in last place before delivering his challenge but last time on the tight Inside track he was ridden quite handy by his regular pilot Gavin Lerena.

Gavin Lerena

He still won after going for home quite early. He is well regarded by Geoff Woodruff and will relish the return to the Standside track where he can afford go sit further back. The draw of eleven will not pose a problem as he can be dropped out. Orpheus is 0,5kg better off with The Rising Legend for a half-a-length beating last time. He is a big, good looking sort and it will be no surprise to see him winning this race from a plum draw. The only concern is the breathing noises he is reported to make. Piere Strydom stays aboard which is a plus. Those three should be enough to get punters through the Pick 6.

The Pick 6 legs are tricky and the last leg over 1000m has been chosen as the one to go thin in. Gimme A Wave is made the best bet on the card but this is really due to it being a tricky card and one has to be found somewhere. It is not the norm for Alec Laird horses to win on debut as he brings them on slowly but this strongly built gelding by Gimmethegreenlight scooted home by 3,80 lengths on his debut over 1200m in a Maiden Juvenile Plate at the end of July. Raymond Danielson keeps the ride and they can get away with a 93 day layoff over this trip. Royal Cavalier is another imposing sort and is chosen as the only other one to include in the Pick 6. He finished just 2,15 lengths behind the SA Nursery winner William The Silent last time out and should now be cherry ripe. Dewali was bumped from a wide draw last time out over 1000m on the Inside track and ran out of steam late but he has looks to have the class to be involved here and holds the speedy Vardo on earlier form. Big Blue Marble is well regarded and will have plenty of supporters considering the way he won last time over this trip.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Bien Venue should be cherry ripe and is a potential banker from a plum draw over an ideal course and distance. However, Gunston went close last time over 1450m and could make a bold bid from a better draw over 50m shorter. Rivonia Boulevard, Iditarod Trail and How Does It Taste can also be included in the Pick 6.

In the sixth race Dame Kelly has class and is interesting stepped down to 1160m off a lowered merit rating which now looks attractive. Image Award has shown ability over the minimum trip and is the chief threat and Eleni, Celestina, La Bastide and An Air Of Success can also be included.

In the seventh race over 1160m Concealed Secret has dropped to an attractive mark and could win on his reappearance from the improved Autumn Rain. Snow In Seattle, Tudor Manor and Baahir can also be included.

The eighth race over 1160m can be fought out by Professor Brian, who should love the return to a straight course, and the progressive pair Copper Jay and Schippers.

The first leg of the PA over 1600m sees an outsider in Pilou being tipped as he just went too fast the last time he ran and now has a plum draw, the blinkers are off and he has been lowered three points in the merit ratings. Atyaab and Morning Catch can also be included.

By David Thiselton

Clouded Hill can bounce back from last time’s Sophomore disappointment to become a rewarding and potentially significant winner of the Cape Classic at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Justin Snaith believes that the selection – available at 11-2 yesterday – was caught a bit flat-footed when starting joint favourite at Durbanville last month. On his previous start he trounced stable companions Seventh Sea and Clipper Captain despite losing a front shoe. Those two take him on again but Snaith has an explanation for punters puzzling over Richard Fourie’s apparent choice of Seventh Sea.

“All three horses are doing well but the riding arrangements are bit different from normal,” says the champion trainer. “Richard is on Seventh Sea because that horse is our main hope for the CTS Ready To Run and he wants to teach him to settle.”

Justin Snaith

Anton Marcus, who steps in for the Clouded Hill ride, has won three of the last five runnings of the Cape Classic which is not a particularly good race for favourites – seven of the last ten have been beaten.

It was surprising to see Pleasedtomeetyou heading the market at 3-1. True, he is unbeaten but he only just got home against Elusive Trader (6-1 here) in the Sophomore with Lanza (17-2) fourth, and some of the gloss came off his reputation in the process.

Andre Nel says: “Pleasedtomeetyou is doing well and he worked well on Tuesday but his draw is a concern and on the ratings he is not well in.”

Tyrone Langdon, who rode the colt in Tuesday’s work, also rides him in most of his home work and was impressed with the way he went in that final gallop.

Joey Ramsden is bidding for his fourth Cape Classic in six seasons but, despite Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s enthusiasm, it’s hard to see Twist Of Fate winning after a three month absence from such a wide draw and at the weights. He has drifted out to 10-1.

Cirillo (11-2) has also not raced since the Premiers Champion but significantly Sean Tarry supplemented him. Candice Bass-Robinson holds Majestic Mozart in high regard but he is another who has been done no favours by the draw.

Marcus can also win the Western Cape Fillies Championship on the unbeaten Front And Centre who takes a massive step up in class but has looked something really special in her two races. “She has done very little wrong and is a very decent filly,” says Brett Crawford, hopefully with masterly understatement. “I am expecting a big run.”

Marcus can be relied upon to take care of her ten draw and the fact that she is favourite, at 17-10, is statistically very much in her favour. The first five of the last eight favourites for this race all won and the other three were second.

Snaith has won five of the last 11 runnings but 14-1 chance Juniper Spring has so far not looked as good as either her pedigree or her reputation.

Aldo Domeyer has opted to ride 6-1 shot Clouds Unfold in preference to Candice Bass-Robinson’s other four but the trainer makes the point that “Nous Voila (a huge price at 25-1) didn’t enjoy the winter going.”

Anneka (13-1) has no chance on ratings but she is race fit and the Sean Tarry-Lyle Hewitson pairing is a champion combination in every sense of the word.

Temple Grafin is, on paper at any rate, the best horse in the race and seemingly there is no need to worry that the 8-1 shot hasn’t raced since she won the Debutante three months ago. “She is ready, she is working like a machine and she will run right up to her rating,” enthuses Glen Kotzen.

Lastly, if you are looking for a good price, Canukeepitsecret is provenly race-fit and her form is better than it looks. Admittedly she is unproven over the trip but at 12-1 you can’t have everything.

By Michael Clower

Chantyman has had his fair share of problems since shedding his maiden in eye-catching fashion. A year later he still only has that single win to his credit but that can change at Greyville tonight when he steps out onto the poly again.

Since a barrier trial, Dennis Bosch’s charge has run close over the Scottsville shortcut although most recently a six-length drubbing in a Progress Plate. He faced a useful field that day with talented Red Chesnut Road and Dawn Calling ahead of him.

If anything, he faces slightly weaker this evening over what looks to be his optimum tip.

In the line-up is a promising youngster in top weight Desolate Road but Chantyman may just have the edge in fitness.

Chantyman (Candiese Marnewick)

Tony Rivalland’s colt has only had three starts, winning on debut and more recently finishing second to the smart Chimichuri Run. That last out in was some two months back and he may be caught short of peak fitness.

Of the balance Whorly Whory has put up two smart efforts over course and distance and with a 4kg claimer up must also have a shout.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Elusive Diva should take a power of beating. She improved nicely at her second local outing on the poly and is rated way better than anything else in the line-up.

Champagne Gold finished runner-up behind Oratorina on Wednesday. It was a smart effort in a race that was run at a pedestrian pace but she may not take her place here.

A weak field is carded to face the starter in the fourth where it may prove prudent for exotic bet punters to load up. Wendy Whitehead and Stuart Randolph teamed up for a double on Sunday and send out Sovereign Soldier. He was not far back from a tricky draw last run and has pulled a better gate here. He has consistent form over course and distance. Likely dangers are Slightly Scottish who is seldom too far back and has a decent chance in this line-up, while Haddington has been off form of late but he takes a rating drop and as a five-time winner warrants serious consideration.

Another wide-open affair faces punters in the fifth. Master Sam has dropped in the ratings and is also down in class which adds to his appeal. Caddy Master, who cased a major boil-over when shedding his maiden, has not been far back at recent outings. A light weight and a decent draw puts him strongly into the picture. Eccellerate is battling for another win but has dropped a long way in the ratings and could be competitive again while Lord Of Glencoe took an age to shed his maiden but did so in a competitive field and can follow up.

Anton Marcus is back aboard Fieldmarshal Fenix in the seventh who has been knocking at the door for some time now. He goes well over course and distance and with a decent draw can be rewarded.  Dangers are many but Subtropical has improved in blinkers and ran a cracker first up from a break over course and distance while Play The Night has been up against stronger since his maiden win and off his light weight should be ultra-competitive.

The last is another tricky race but Cherry Pop was a recent maiden winner but that form has been franked so she can go in again. Sheik’s Storm comes from a very much in form stable but does have a big weight while Mitra Music has her third run after a break and with a claiming apprentice up should be right there from a good draw.

By Andrew Harrison

Keagan de Melo, one of the more stylish jockeys around, took full advantage of a 9.5kg swing in the weights with hot favourite Fiorella to get Royal Frost home in the Pinnacle Stakes at Greyville yesterday. Although beaten, Fiorella warmed- up nicely for a crack at the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Stakes on G-Bets Summer Cup day next month.

De Melo was content to sit back in the early exchanges on Dean Kannemeyer’s filly but made his moved wide on the home turn as he realised that Fiorella was trapped behind runners on the inside rail and took full advantage of the situation.

Royal Frost got first run and although Fiorella, on the back foot at the top of the straight, got going late the bird had flown and Royal Frost coasted home with the balance of the field well beaten.

The contrast between racing at Happy Valley and Greyville yesterday was marked. There’s no holding back in Hong Kong as they go hammer-and-tongs from the jump and generally the fittest horse wins. In contrast, the Greyville ‘crawl’ was order of the day and some of the results were a lottery.

Jet Stream (Candiese Marnewick)

Odds-on favourite Mela Stregata was a victim, Jet Stream was good enough to over come the hurdle, but Flichity By Farr also succumbed to a funerial gallop.

After visiting second box for the 24^th time this season with Rocket Fire in the card opener and odds-on favourite Mela Stregata finishing in the scrum, Jet Stream put a wry smile back on the face of Duncan Howells.

Jet Stream was not facing the strongest of maiden fields but did it in style as he put one over the lightly raced All Aboard with the balance of the field strung out like the washing.

With stable companion El Cordorbes setting a pedestrian pace, Mark Khan raced in Marriott Road for much of the race with none too keen to let him in. But the favourite had too much class. In spite of racing green, he still had a full tank in the run home and All Aboard chased in vain.

Frank Robinson has hit a rich vein of form of late and there was some ante-post support for Top Classman in the fifth. The race was run at a muddling pace but Top Classman quickened best of all to get home ahead of Silver Rose and favourite Flichity By Far. The pace, coupled with the 4kg weight difference, was probably the deciding factor as Anton Marcus committed Flichity By Farr at the 800m mark and although she stuck gamely to her guns she was not able to hold the final sprints of her two lightly weighted rivals.

Warren Kennedy, one of the relatively unsung heroes of the weighing room and one of the best light-weight riders in the country, is a master of his craft and took his season’s tally of winners to 33 on Oratorina in the second. But he came a fraction short as Missibaba just failed to catch Fancifilly in the seventh.

Coughs and niggles were starting to get to Ashburton-based Louis Goosen who has been short of a few winners of late but he was fairly confident of Fancifilly’s chances yesterday after Marcus asked for the ride. This was the Fancifilly’s last chance as she had been a very sick horse last season but how often don’t horses come up trumps when on borrowed time.

“Sherman went like the clappers last time so she was entitled to compound, “said Goosen mid-week. “Anton (Marcus) was in the race. He clocked the gallop.”

It was close but Marcus got it right.

It was back to the drawing boards in the last for Dennis Bosch. After stretching Mutawaary over ground without success it was back to the gelding’s barrier trial first up for his new stable when close-up behind the speedy but since retired Doing It For Dan, matching the sprinter for most of the trial.

Back to a sprint yesterday, Mutawaary gave Warren Kennedy his double in the last as the pair pulled away comfortably from top weight Roy’s Magic.

By Andrew Harrison

Joey Ramsden is bidding to win the Cape Classic for the fourth time in six seasons at Kenilworth on Saturday and his Twist Of Fate is officially the best horse in the race. Yet the colt was originally to run in the Betting World Pinnacle Stakes instead.

“Twist Of Fate is very good but I thought maybe the 1 400m of the Classic was a little bit too far for him and I was 7-5 in favour of going for the shorter race,” Ramsden relates. “But Bernard Fayd’Herbe was extremely positive and it was his enthusiasm that tipped the balance in favour of the Classic.”

Twist Of Fate has not raced since finishing third to Mike de Kock’s pair Soqwrat and Alyaasaat in the Premiers Champion almost three months ago. Will he be fit enough?

“He ran a good race in that Premiers Champion despite having no prep but I would like to have got a little bit more work into him this time,” says his trainer. “He has only had the one gallop although he did gallop well.”

Fayd’ Herbe has not won the Cape Classic since scoring on Chief Warrior and Tobe Or Nottobe for Mike Bass in 2002 and 2003 and he has an outside draw to contend with. But it could be worth noting that Fayd’Herbe was already aware of the draws when he was pressing Ramsden to run. The colt was a 7-1 chance yesterday.

By Michael Clower

The final field for the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile to be run on Turffontein Standside on November 3 was announced yesterday.

Meanwhile, the ante-post betting for the supporting features on the day has been out and the race of the day might well be the Princess Charlene Starling Stakes over 1400m as it has attracted what looks to be an exceptionally strong field.

The Charity Mile is always a difficult race to assess as some use it as a preparation event for the GBets Summer Cup.

Hat Puntano (JC Photographics)

Hat Puntano carried 61kg to victory last year and has the same weight this season. He comes in off the back of one moderate outing, as he did last year. Noble Secret is the favourite and this big, progressive sort will be capable of carrying 55kg but the Summer Cup, where he is also favourite, is likely his chief goal. Matador Man will have a huge shout carrying 56kg as he has proved his class as a miler and this is likely his chief Johannesburg mission. New Predator was beaten just 1,65 lengths last year carrying 61kg and now carries 55,5kg due to a below par sequence of runs. The joint topweight is Coral Fever who can always be relied on for a good performance, although the mile is on the sharp side for him. Near the bottom of the weights Arctica carrying 53kg makes some appeal at long odds.

In the Starling Stakes one of the talking horses of the season, the Mike de Kock-trained Isle de France, has been allowed to open at 14/1 by World Sports Betting despite landing a nice draw of eight in a field which has 37 entries still standing. This Var filly is out of the SA Oaks winner Ilha Bela, a daughter of the top class Ilha da Vitoria. On debut over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track she found herself out of her ground but Gavin Lerena was not concerned as De Kock had told him that all members of this family loved to accelerate. Like other members of the family she is also not at all big, but has a big heart and a big action and she duly made up the ground in a matter of strides before ricocheting away to win by 4,10 lengths. However, it was not a great maiden field and next Saturday’s race is a big step up in class.

The deserved 5/1 favourite is the unbeaten Mighty High, who drew 14. The form of her Assessment Plate win over 1200m recently has been franked by the runner up Big Mistake winning a minor feature. The only concern is how well she will settle over 1400m as this Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner has plenty of pace. On pedigree she should love the 1400m as her sire won a Group 1 over that trip and her dam Bold Nimph (Shamardal) is a half-sister to Bluroute (Dubai Destination), who finished a close second in the Starling Stakes and later won over a mile.

Celtic Sea, 11/2 second favourite, did not have the run of the race in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over this trip at Greyville but still won, although she has not raced since.

Ghaalla, 17/2 third favourite, ran a cracker over 1450m in the Joburg Spring Fillies and mares challenge when finishing  0,6 lengths behind one of the Summer Cup favourites Cascapedia on weight for age terms. She has pace and has drawn well in five.

Nafaayes and Firdoas have done little wrong and are 13/1 and 15/1 drawn in pole and 18 respectively.

In The Dance by Gimmethegreenlight is a half-sister to Capetown Noir and the 18/1 is tempting as she put in an exceptional winning debut, but she did draw 22.

There will be a lot of others with supporters in a classy line up.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Inside track stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and the exotics look the best way to play it as the racing will generally be competitive.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is the highest rated race on the card, a MR80 Handicap over 1400m.

S’Manga Khumalo (Nkosi Hlophe)

It is a tricky race but Lone Survivor has won two of his four starts and looks to have talent. He can rise above his current 71 merit rating and S’Manga Khumalo keeps the ride over a step up in trip he should enjoy as he was staying on over 1200m in both of his last two starts. He has a low draw which is usually favourable at this track. Shortstop is distance suited and has dropped down to a competitive merit rating. He has a fair draw of seven and Dennis Schwarz knows him well. Chapel Jive doesn’t have a great record over this trip to date but has been seen to stay on well over shorter before so must be considered. Only To Win has been disappointing in her last two starts but ran some crackers before that. She has been lowered in the merit ratings to a competitive mark and has to be considered despite being up against the boys and having to jump from a potentially tricky draw. Blue Diamond Road is a consistent sort who has a good record over this trip and he has also been dropped two points from his last race so has a chance as long as the high draws are not too disadvantageous on the day. Cutting Edge is a talented individual but has his problems and he has plummeted from a merit rating in the 90s down to a 74 so he is interesting having his first run for a new yard over an ideal trip. William Nicol is better over 1200m but has run second three times over this trip so is another to consider from a nice low draw off a competitive merit rating.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Combat Muster could be the one to beat. He has had tough tasks in his last two starts in Assessment Plates and has not been disgraced. Back in a handicap here over a trip he stays from a nice low draw he can go close. Trip To Paradise lost one length over this trip last time and ran on well to be beaten just 1,95 lengths and with Strydom now up from a nice draw of seven he can go close off a one point lowered merit rating. Evolver is a talented individual who has been kept to further trips but he should be finishing strongly. Streetwear is back to his best trip and is only three points higher than his last win. Sovereign Rein has plenty of ability and is distance suited but has a tricky draw. The reserve runner Volcanic Sunset has always struck as one with some ability and from a plum draw over an ideal trip must be included if he gets into the field.

In the sixth race over 1600m Wine Festival brings Cape Town handicap form and horses from that stronger centre often have suppressed merit ratings so she is the one to beat from a good draw. Elegancia has a good draw for a change and is over her correct trip so can bounce back to form as she has undoubted ability. Bell Tower has shown ability and should be coming into her own being by Ideal World.

In the seventh race over 2400m Psychic went close in his only start over this trip and has a fair draw. Desert Sunset, Brand New Cadillac and Mighty And Magic have ability over this trip and have to be included too.

In the eight race over 2400m Glamarous Scandal is back in a handicap so should go close having had a tough task at the weights last time in an Assessment Plate. Goede Hoop also has to be included.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m Ossetra is a progressive sort who is the one to beat and Itsmydarlin and Excalibur’s Return are the dangers over a trip which will suit. The risk averse can include New Zealand who has landed yet another tough draw but does wear first time blinkers, which can help her get to the front easier perhaps, and It’s Not Over is also worth considering from a good draw.

The first leg of the PA is a tricky 1400m maiden but Esemess caught the eye last time over this trip and the improving sorts Tidal Tussle and Ice Mint can also be included.

By David Thiselton