Andrew Fortune’s appearances before the NHA’s Inquiry Board in Port Elizabeth on October 2 and 9 have proved expensive.

The former champion was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.8 in that he “swore at or interfered with” an official at Fairview on September 7 after the running of race three which he won on the Justin Snaith-trained Weekend Temper.

Despite pleading not guilty, Fortune was found guilty as charged and fined R1 000 although this was suspended for six months.

However he was then charged with conducting himself “in an improper, disrespectful and abusive manner” during the inquiry. For this he was fined R5 000! No suspension of the fine either.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Andrew Fortune

There is an eight race meeting on the Greyville poly tomorrow and there look to be some good opportunities for shrewd punters.

In the first, a Maiden over 1200m, Omega Onslaught’s two 1200m formlines look strong and he is the one to beat despite a high draw of nine. Wild Namaqua is ideally course and distance suited and bounced back to form last time so will be a contender from pole position. The in-form Doug Campbell yard could place here with the consistent The Lonsdale and others to consider are Hot Chilli, who has shown signs of ability, and the Mike de Kock-trained Quantity who wasn’t disgraced against a classy sort last time out over this trip on turf.

In the second, a fillies and mares maiden over 1200m, Glimmer Of Silver should be continually improving being by Silvano and has a chance here from a good draw of three as the form of her last 1200m race has worked out well. Euthenia is a hard-knocker and the form of her last couple of races has worked out quite well so she could earn despite a high draw. De Kock sends out the well-bred first-timer Cherry Tree Lane by Fastnet Rock and it would be no surprise to see her win, so the betting must be monitored. Classy Chic and Night Frost are others who make some appeal.

In the third, a Maiden over 1800m, Mr Winsome went close over 1400m in Cape Town last time out in July and his dam won over 1900m so being by Silvano he should relish this trip.  The Charles Laird-trained Team Guys has often found market support and has some good form behind fair types. Laird always has them fit enough on their comebacks and this trip looks likely to suit. Jullidar ran an improved race last time and if he settles he could earn from a good draw. For Ever stayed on well here over 2000m last time and should be improving being by Ideal World. Township Talk travels nicely in front in his races but never seems to find the necessary extra so he could be interesting in a slight step down in trip.

In the fourth over, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, Pure Valor is an improving gelding by Dynasty who has won his only previous start over  this course and distance and is now well drawn off just a four point higher merit rating. Guilty As Charged packs a strong finish and the form of his maiden win over course and distance has worked out well so he should be thereabouts off a reasonable 68 merit rating. In Your Dreams won his maiden with a sustained finish over 1400m and should relish the step up in trip. Phoebus is only three points higher in the merit ratings after running on well to win over this trip at Scottsville. Electroshock could earn having come down to an attractive merit rating.

The fifth, a MR 86 handicap over 1600m, could go the way of Baracah who had a few excuses last time over course and distance when still managing to run second. The three-year-old Exit Here is a decent sort but does not have it easy in his first handicap outing off a 94 merit rating. Pioneer Spirit will have come into his own being by Go Deputy and could be interesting stepped down in trip provided he jumps well. Gold Bank and Mambo Master make most appeal of the rest.

In the sixth, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, Charles My Boy is stepped down in trip as his form over 1900m has not lived up to his earlier promise and he is now down in the merit ratings too. Queen Of Credit was only 3,8 lengths back in a probably below par Gr 1 over 1400m and had excuses last time. Pearly King could represent place value as he has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and is four points lower in the merit ratings than his last win that was over this course and distance, although his wide draw is a concern. Spritzer is back to the course and distance of his best run, so could earn despite a wide draw. Yurie’s Gold looks to be off a competitive merit rating and can be dangerous.

In the seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1200m, the talented but unsound H’Oponopono went close over 1000m here last time when running on and Marcus is now up. Astro is a fair sort who has come down to an attractive merit rating and has a 4kg claimer aboard over what could well be a trip he will appreciate. Budapest looks a promising sort but doesn’t have it easy first time out the maidens off an 87 merit rating. El Gallo won easily over 1000m here last time and could earn off a fairly reasonable merit rating. Lala ran third in a Gr 2 over this trip but is having her seasonal reappearance against the boys off a tough merit rating of 86.

In the eighth, a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m, Strummer won easily on debut over course and distance and looks capable of handling a 76 merit rating. Threshold could be a threat if held up for a run by the 4kg claimer off this current attractive merit rating as he appeared to do better with those tactics in his penultimate start. Thunder Run is an honest type who should be right there if reproducing the form of his last run over this distance on turf.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Strummer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kieren Fallon has accepted an invitation to take part in next month’s international jockeys match at Turffontein and Fairview and he will captain the visitors.

Fallon, 50, was a big draw when he last rode here five years ago and he has a tremendous record behind him, having ridden as stable jockey to Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien. Six times champion jockey in Britain, his big race triumphs include the Epsom Derby three times and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice.

He is also no stranger to controversy. He has twice had lengthy bans for testing positive in France and in 2007 he went on trial at the Old Bailey in London on charges of race-fixing but the judge ruled that he had no case to answer.

He spent four months of this year riding in America because he felt that he was not riding as well as he should in Britain and said that the change would do him good.

Racing Association boss Larry Wainstein, the driving force behind the jockeys match, said yesterday: “It was great to get him to come to South Africa again and it’s going to make it all very interesting while Hayley Turner is on record is saying that her South African rides will be the last of her career.”

Pat Cosgrave, who has ridden here before, will also be in the team as will fellow Irishman Robert Havlin. It will be his first time in South Africa as it will for Panamanian Eduardo Pedroza and Frenchman Aurelien Lemaitre who replaces much better known compatriot Christophe Lemaire.

Former champions Piere Strydom and Anton Marcus are the two wild cards in the South African team, otherwise decided by the first four in last season’s national log – Gavin Lerena (captain), S’Manga Khumalo, Greg Cheyne and Anthony Delpech.

The home team leads the series five-two since its reinstatement in 2008. The Fairview leg is on November 13 and the match finishes at Turffontein the following day.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Kieren Fallon

The Charles Laird-trained Oracy colt Main Submission would have climbed up to about second or third position on the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup log, which was last issued on October 1, after his win in a Graduation Plate on Sunday and there was plenty of activity over the weekend for horses attempting to both prepare and book their berths in the big race.

The Mike Azzie-trained Rabada still has the R2,5 million race, which will be run over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31, to himself on paper. The unbeaten 111 merit-rated Brave Tin Soldier colt, who counts the Gr 1 Premiers Champions Stakes over 1600m among his three victories, put in a pleasing gallop on the Randjesfontein grass on Saturday and Azzie was left admiring the professionalism of jockey Anton Marcus, who flew in and out from Durban especially for that one piece of work.

Meanwhile, Main Submission kept on finding down the straight in the 1400m event at Scottsville on Sunday to beat the ultra-consistent five-year-old gelding Nineteen Fourteen by 0,75 lengths. Three-year-olds receive 7kg from five-year-olds at this time of the year on the weight for age scale over a distance of 1400m, but Main Submission was only receiving 1,5kg from the 84 merit rated Nineteen Fourteen under the conditions of the race.

This means Main Submission would have run to a merit rating of 97. Winners of Plate races are only allowed to go up six points anyway, so Main Submission’s merit rating looks likely to increase from 91 to 97, which would put him one point behind the second placed horse on the Ready To Run log, the Joey Ramsden-trained Tar Heel. However, 98 merit-rated Tar Heel finished last in a MR 84 Handicap over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday, although he did over race from a wide draw, so it remains to be seen how the handicapper and the Ready To Run cup log panellists view the performance.

The Laird-trained Kahal colt Top Form ran a respectable third to two five-year-olds who look well handicapped in a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m on the Greyville poly on Friday night and looks likely to qualify for the Ready To Run Cup as he was merit rated 86 and was in joint 12^th place on the last log.

Laird’s strongly built Kahal gelding Dance On Air won well over 1400m on the poly on October 2 and has also been merit rated 86, so he also has a good chance of qualifying. Both Top Form and Dance On Air are lightly race and entitled to improve.

On Friday night the well regarded Sean Tarry-trained Kahal filly Witchcraft won a maiden over 1400m, but the 76 merit rating awarded to her will not be enough to qualify for the Ready To Run Cup. The yard are likely going to have to find another race for her. She looks a big strong horse who will be able to take a lot of racing and Friday night’s race was in fact only five days after her debut, in which she was green down the straight at Scottsville.

Another Tarry yard contender is the 81 merit-rated Kahal filly Intergalactic, who is entered in a Novice Plate over 1600m on the Greyville poly on Friday night. The fillies 2,5kg allowance is built into the log assessment and Intergalactic was placed in joint-11^th place on the last log.

The Tarry-trained St Petersburg filly Faberge Style was in joint-third position on the last log on a merit rating of 88 and only managed a 7,65 length seventh in a Progress Plate for three-year-old fillies over 1200m at Turffontein on Saturday. However, it was a strong event and her merit rating is unlikely to change. Both of her wins have been on all weather surfaces (sand and poly), but she did run a good second in a turf maiden over 1000m to the subsequent Gr 1-placed Madame Dubois.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Captain Al filly Khaleesi finished third in the above-mentioned Progress Plate and this confirmed she was up to her merit rating of 88, which also had her in joint third on the last log. She is yet to go beyond 1200m but ran on in eyecatching style on Saturday and on pedigree will also relish the step up in trip.

Khaleesi’s stablemate Emperor’s Lass finished last in Saturday’s race, way below her debut win last March over 1200m, but was interfered with on the turn which might have offered an explanation. She was merit rated 83 and in tenth place on the last Ready To Run Cup log, but this run might put a bit of pressure on her qualification.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Visionaire filly Sobonana just held on for second on Saturday ahead of Khaleesi, at level weights, proving she is worth her 86 merit rating, which had her in joint 8^th position on the last Ready To Run log. She showed fine gatespeed and dictated, so it remains to be seen whether she will enjoy the step up in trip, although her dam by Toreador did win over 1400m.

There was also a strong Progress Plate for three-year-old males at Turffontein on Saturday and in this race the Gary Alexander-trained A.P. Arrow colt King Of Chaos could only manage a 9,25 length seventh in his first outing outside of Port Elizabeth. However, he did have to give 2,5kg to the outstanding winner of the race Bull Valley, who is one of the most exciting three-year-olds around. Twice-winning King Of Chaos was in joint fifth on the last log with a merit rating of 92 together with the Mike de Kock-trained Perfumed Lady and the Louis Goosen-trained A Million Dreams.

King Of Chaos’s stablemate, the Bankable gelding Duke Nukem, put his hand up for a place in the final Ready To Run Cup by running a fine third to Bull Valley. He was previously rated 79, which put him in only 24^th place on the last log, but he ran to a 90 on Saturday and the trainer will be allowed to request that he is officially accorded that merit rating (In the handicapping rules winners of Plate races will not be adjusted more than six points and placed horse will not be adjusted upwards unless requested by the connections).

The Alexander-trained Kahal colt Champagne Haze, who is a half-brother to Pierre Jourdan, booked his place in the Ready To Run Cup field the previous weekend when waltzing home in a MR 92 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1450m, which earned him a merit rating of 90.

The Joey Ramsden-trained Australian-bred High Chaparal filly Chisanyama, in 13^th place on the last log, will attempt to cement her place as she is entered in a Novice Plate over 1600m at Durbanville next Saturday.

Three-time winner Country Gent was also in joint 13^th place on the last log, but finished unplaced in a MR 84 Handicap over 1800m at Flamingo Park yesterday in which he was only 0,5kg under sufferance off a merit rating of 85.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Vaal’s eight race sand meeting today represents one of the last chances for punters to reap some of the good dividends that can be found on this track as there are only three subsequent meetings before it is replaced by a turf track.

In the first race over 1450m the champion yard of Sean Tarry is kicking into top gear and Le Dominion looks to be a horse who will take well to the sand on both running style and pedigree so could win it from pole position. Seventh Apostle showed early pace over 1000m on debut and is stepped up in trip from a good draw. On pedigree he is not certain to stay the trip being by the sprinter King’s Apostle from a very fast female line which includes the like of National Colour. However, on the other hand horses that carve out a big lead on this surface are sometimes hard to catch even if plugging on at one pace.

Bullion Bay is drawn well over the trip in which he went close last time from a similarly good draw and the form of that race has not worked out too badly. Pera Hur has been knocking on the door from 1200-1450m on the sand and now has Andrew Fortune up from a fair draw. Battle Of Arcole has the form to be a contender here and has champion jockey Gavin Lerena up, but on the downside he has a terrible draw.

In the second race over 1000m Magic has gone close to some good sorts including in a feature over course and distance last time, so now has a good opportunity from a fair draw to get off the mark. Boogaloo ran a fine race over course and distance last time when showing pace throughout and the low draws have appeared to have been getting an early advantage over course and distance recently so he will be a threat. Justash has pace and a low draw with Lerena up and in second time blinkers should do better than last time when bumped at the start, so he could also be a threat as his score in meetings with Magic over course and distance is one victory and two defeats.

In the third over 1000m Supanova is a consistent sort with plenty of speed and the ability to stay on, so he could just get up with a late rally from a high draw as he looks capable of rising above his lowly merit rating. The progressive Racing Red is by the impressive sire Querari and would not be a surprise winner following his taking maiden win over course and distance as he looks to have also been awarded a lenient merit rating. Buster Posy faced a fine field on his sand debut last time and back in this class his good pace could see him finishing thereabouts under Lerena. La Tasca won well over course and distance last week, but will carry 2kg more than carded as a result. The Gobi has come down to a competitive merit rating and could earn.

In the fourth over 1000m Ballerini has been knocking on the door against some fair types over course and distance and has Lerena up from an ideal looking draw. La Strada has dropped seven points in the merit ratings despite finishing a respectable fifth in a feature last time on the sand when bumped at the start. Winter Darling comes from an in form yard and was not disgraced over course and distance last time in a feature despite losing a length at the start. Slick Deputy won impressively over course and distance last time out and being by Go Deputy should have come into her own now as a young five-year-old, so she would not be a surprise winner. Captain’s Diva should be running on strongly and can’t be ignored. Super Guppy has been facing good sorts without being disgraced and is off a competitive merit rating so has to go into the equation being from the Tarry yard who are kicking onto top gear.

In the fifth over 1200m Wishful Heart has some class and looks ideally course and distance suited, so from a good draw is the one to beat. Return To The Sun has been knocking on the door off this merit rating and has a fair draw over an ideal course and distance. Shine Tiger won in commanding fashion the last time he had this pole position draw over this course and distance, so he could be a threat back despite being six points higher in the merit ratings since that last win.

In the sixth over 1600m, Opah Latino should love the sand on both running style and pedigree and from a good draw looks to be the one to side with in an ultra competitive affair. White Christmas is running over his best trip and off a slightly lowered merit rating should be right there as he comes from some fair formlines.  Perfect Trip runs from a much better draw than he had last week when well beaten here over 1450m and he could run into the money.

In the seventh over 1800m Arabian World is an improving sort being by the classy sire Ideal World and he is drawn well over an ideal course and distance off just a four point higher merit rating than his last win. Commodore Al has a fine record over course and distance, but the handicappers are taking no chances with him and he is ten points higher in the merit ratings since his last win. Colonel Rockjaw was a facile winner over course and distance last time out and on paper could have the edge on Commodore Al, but that doesn’t take into account that Commodore Al stumbled in their first meeting and still beat him.

In the eighth over 1800m Knock Knock will appreciate the step back to this trip and could have the beating of this field with Gavin Lerena up from a good draw, especially as his recent runs over shorter are likely to have brought him on for this race. Siena’s Star is officially 3,5kg under sufferance, but won well when stepped up to this trip at Flamingo Park last time so is the dark horse, although her wide draw makes it tough. Imperial Empress is not far behind Knock Knock on the form of their last meeting over course and distance. Seattle Fairy has won over course and distance before and could earn in this weak contest. French Approval is very lowly merit rated and way out at the weights but has shown signs of ability and could possibly place from pole position.

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Gavin Lerena

Brazuca, 4kg clear top-rated of the 44 first nominations for the Magnum Cape Classic, will miss Saturday week’s Kenilworth Grade 3 test because of his 25 draw.

However Johan Janse van Vuuren said yesterday that a tilt at the Grand Parade Cape Guineas on December 19 could still be under consideration.

He said: “That was my plan originally, otherwise I wouldn’t have nominated him for the Cape Classic, but it’s draw dependent and in the Cape Classic he has got a bad draw.”

Janse van Vuuren took the unconventional step of running the Australian-bred in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe on July day when he was still a maiden (“because he is good”) and the colt was beaten only a short head by Seventh Plain. He has since won at the Vaal.

Act Of War, who took last year’s Cape Classic en route to victory in the Selangor and Cape Guineas, has taken his reappearance Matchem win exceptionally well.

Joey Ramsden, confirming that the Green Point on November 21 is next on the agenda, said: “Act Of War has come out of the race really well. He is a different horse now and he is like an absolute bull.”

Greg Ennion still has a lot of faith in the former Stan Elley-trained Eighth Wonder despite the gelding’s three-quarter length defeat by Victorious Jay at Durbanville last Saturday.

Ennion said: “All that beat him was last time’s four point merit rating increase and that he needed the run – he was blowing hard afterwards. He is a very well bred horse (his grandam is a half-sister to Horse Chestnut) and he is going to be good.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Brazuca (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Dennis Drier-trained six-year-old Captain Al gelding Barbosa proved himself a 1000m sprinter to be reckoned with when missing the break in a Pinnacle Stakes race at Scottsville yesterday and still managing to win cosily under Sean Cormack. He gave 1,5kg to both the course and distance specialist Mr Whatever and the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint winner Normanz and quickened well to beat them by 1,25 lengths plus a shorthead. Cormack praised Drier’s workrider Carrie Radford because Barbosa, who was recording a hattrick of wins, has apparently come into his own since she began working with him at Summerveld.

Later the ever improving Charles Laird-trained three-year-old Oracy colt Main Submission proved himself a classic contender when finding another gear to repel  Nineteen Fourteen in a Graduation Plate over 1400m and win by 0,75 lengths under Anton Marcus. He was only receiving 1,5kg from the 84 merit-rated five-year-old runner up, so this was a decent performance. Furthermore, he was giving 3kg to his classy and fast-finishing contemporary Rikitikitana, whom he beat by a length, although he did benefit from the latter’s jockey dropping the whip.

The strength of last season’s two-year-old Gr 1s has been questionable and last season’s Gr 1 Thekwini winner Lauderdale was apparently not up to running off a merit rating of 101 in a MR 90 handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m. This was her second run after a layoff and she would likely prefer further, but that was possibly not enough to excuse a 5,5 length beating by her lightweight Duncan Howells-trained stablemate Trini’s Collateral, who was ridden by Sean Veale. Furthermore, the runner up Umoyana was 1,5kg under sufferance, but beat Lauderdale by 3,75 lengths.

A Howells horse to watch is the Australian-bred Henrythenavigator colt Ten Gun Salute, who was green before doing eyecatchng work late when finishing runner up in a Maiden over 1600m. This race was won in good style by the Robbie Hill-trained Just As Well gelding Just Like Magic to give Marcus the second leg of a treble. Marcus’s other winner was aboard the Gavin van Zyl-trained Noordhoek Flyer gelding Bagger Vance who converted his strong maiden formlines into success over 1000m.

Wendy Whitehead looks to have a fine prospect in the Ideal World filly Free State who was backed from long odds into 33/10 favouritism in a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1000m and a high draw didn’t bother her as she powered to an easy 2,25 length win under Alec Forbes. It was part-owner Dr Ralph Katzwinkel’s 50^th winner as an owner and this filly could join another one he owns, the brilliant filly Same Jurisdiction, as a feature race contender. Free State’s win completed a weekend double for the in form Whitehead stable and both winners were ridden by Forbes.

Forbes later rode the Windrush filly Velvet Wind to victory in a fillies and mares maiden over 1600m and as it was only her second start she looks to be another nice horse to look forward to for the flourishing Alistair Gordon yard.

Drier scored a double when apprentice Calvin Ngcobo rode the Toreador filly Fiery Goddess to victory in a MR 80 fillies and mares maiden over 1000m.

The meeting was rounded off by Glen Kotzen and Billy Jacobson who combined to comfortably win a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares with the Casey Tibbs mare Dizzy Feet.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Barbosa (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Dominic Zaki-trained three-year-old gelding Bull Valley confirmed himself a serious classic contender when powering to an impressive victory over1200m at Turffontein on Saturday and is another sophomore who will be representing the good value sire Toreador.

Meanwhile, at Greyville on Friday night the Kahal filly Witchcraft took a step closer to a berth in the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready to Run Cup to be run over 1400m on October 31.

Bull Valley won his debut over 1200m at the Vaal on May 19 in impressive style and the yard then decided to rest him and geld him. The form of that race looked increasingly stronger as the season progressed because the runner up Nephrite won next time out before going on to finish fifth in the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes, while third-placed Al Azraq won next time out by 8,25 lengths. Furthermore, there have been three other winners coming out of that race including the Silvano gelding Machismo, who won the second race on Saturday, a maiden over 1450m, to give Sean Tarry and Raymond Danielson the first leg of a double together.

Bull Valley was ridden by Craig Zackey on Saturday in a Progress Plate for three-year-olds and showed more than one gear when powering to a 3,25 length victory over Al Azraq, who is also by Toreador,  and he had a classy field spread out like the washing behind him. This race was a springboard to the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m on October 31 and the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m on November 28. He looks likely to be a leading contender for both races. Toreador will not only be represented in the Graham Beck by Bull Valley and Al Azraq, but also by the like of Bull Valley’s twice Gr 1-placed stablemate Prospect Strike, the promising Sean Tarry-trained Rikitikitana and the equally exciting Paul Lafferty-trained Unbelievable Chad. This could well be Toreador’s best crop ever.

Later on in Saturday’s meeting Zaki’s Australian-bred Leila’s Charger, who is being targeted at the Gr 3 Starling Stakes over 1400m on October 31, was all the rage in a Progress Plate for three-year-old fillies over 1200m, but only managed a disappointing 3,35 length fourth as Danielson took the race by the scruff of the neck on the speedy Tarry-trained Dynasty filly Swift Sarah and won easily by 3,1 lengths.

The exciting Mike de Kock-trained Ideal World filly Persian Rug, who was most unlucky when put off by the grandstand shadow in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes, made her seasonal reappearance in this race and ran on for fifth over a trip too sharp.

At Greyville Witchcraft was the most popular filly among the panellists at last year’s Summerhill Ready To Run breeze ups and lived up to her billing when running on to win a maiden over 1400m. It was not the strongest of fields but the scopey chestnut, who had made her debut only five days earlier, is heading in the right direction.

Anthony Delpech was the only jockey or trainer to score a double at the Friday night meeting.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Craig Zackey (Nkosi Hlophe)

There is a double header in KZN this weekend with eight races at Greyville on Friday night and nine at Scottsville on Sunday and some fair chances for punters are in the offing.

At Greyville the first race is open, but each/way value could be found in Banda, a fresh arrival from the stronger Cape maidens. The other tips are Master Of Mischief to beat Eternal Ice in the second, Aficionado to beat the third-run-after-a-long-rest horse Starcraft Prince in the third, Last Tiger (another Cape arrival who looks well weighted) to beat the promising Top Form in the fourth, Golden High to beat Entrée in the fifth, Alessia to beat Lady Ami and Music World in the sixth, the very well weighted Cape arrival Off Ramp to win the seventh despite a wide draw over a trip slightly too sharp with Quintella being the back up, and the admirably hard trying Teppenyaki to beat Burrwood and Temple Rock in the last.

In the first over 1000m at Scottsville Simla’s early pace will allow her to overcome her wide draw and she is the form choice. Kingsview has early pace and is drawn favourably with a 4kg claimer up. Arcetri Dawn is drawn on the right side too and after being fitted with a tongue tie showed pace and improvement over 1200m last time out. Of the first timers Mater Familias by Trippi is a full-sister to the twice Gr 2-placed Paterfamilias. Free State by Ideal World is a full sister to Fear Not who ran an outstanding 1,1 length third to the champion Inara in the Gr 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m last weekend at Durbanville. A Star For Maria by Var is a half-sister to Maria Theresa who won her first two starts over 1200m and 1400m respectively.

In the second over 1000m Sea Urchin lost two lengths on debut on the poly and was green but ran on to finish second to a promising sort, so is the selection from a good draw. Shreya’s Star cost himself in his penultimate start here by fly jumping and losing many lengths but did catch the eye that day and then proved his ability last time out. Bagger Vance has always shown pace over 1200m and is interesting from a favourable draw over a step down in trip.

In the third over 1600m Just Like Magic is a fair sort who has Marcus up from a good draw. Power Of One found some support at long odds on debut and wasn’t disgraced over course and distance behind a classy sort. First Sea Lord has been expensive to follow but the blinkers are off from a good draw over a suitable trip.

In the fourth over 1600m Grand Jury caught the eye on debut over 1400m on the poly, when slow away and green before running on, and being by Ideal World good improvement can be expected. Modernista improved over course and distance last time and has a better draw. Toll Free ran on well over 1400m here last time when having a hard task from a wide draw.

In the fifth race Barbosa has been in fine form on the poly over this trip and likes this course too, so is interesting back to 1000m on the turf. The pacey Normanz gets a good draw for a change down the straight of his Gr 1 win and he looks well weighted on best form. Mr Whatever is a course and distance specialist but has to defy a six point merit rating raise. Flyfirstclass has pace and should have come on from his last run, although he is four points higher in the merit ratings. Tiger Territory is talented on his day and can’t be ignored.

In the sixth over 1000m, Regardstobroadway has a phobia about the pens but was impressive when winning on debut so could be the one to side with from a low draw off a mere 72 merit rating. Her stablemate Elephant Matriarch should be right there over her ideal distance from a favourable draw. Miss Argentina steps back in trip but could appreciate it with blinkers on and a 4kg claimer up. Black Velvet has pace which could help her overcome her high draw. Kept Secret is drawn well and has a chance if able to get a clear run in the closing stages. Fly Peg Fly has a 4kg claimer on and can’t be ignored. Vampirella was considered good enough to run in the Allan Robertson but doesn’t have it easy as a three-year-old making her comeback off an 83 merit rating.

In the seventh over 1400m Rikitikitana was impressive over 1600m here last time and looks progressive. Main Submission is also highly promising and should continue to progress, while Rap Attack falls into the same category. Translunar and Nineteen Fourteen make most appeal of the older horses.

In the eighth over 1400m Mission Rapids won impressively last time on the Greyville poly when losing ground due to a handler and the consequent hold up tactics appeared to be the key which unlocked her considerable ability. True Assett beat a good sort last time out over this trip in Cape Town, where the form is stronger, so she has a fine chance from an ideal low draw for her front running style. Lauderdale is a Gr 1 winner but has a tough task off a 101 merit rating, especially considering the jury is still out on the strength of last season’s two-year-old fillies Gr 1s.

In the ninth over 1400m Seek The Summit has improved with blinkers and could claim a hattrick from a good draw under Marcus. Private Dancer and Dizzy Feet make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Rikitikitana (Nkosi Hlophe)