Highveld trainer Dominic Zaki had his second highest ever seasonal stakes earnings in the term just past and is expecting this season to be even better.

Zaki relocated to the Vaal training centre about four years ago and his yard looks to have a lot of feature race potential to look forward to this season, particularly with some of the exciting youngsters that emerged at the beginning of this year.

Arabian Beat (Nkosi Hlophe)

His Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat will be having one preparation run before being aimed at the Gr 2 R450,000 Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein (the course and distance of the SA Nursery) on Sansui Summer Cup day, November 28. The Merchants is a handicap so the three-year-old Black Minnaloushe colt won’t have it easy considering the handicapper has accorded him a merit rating of 110. Arabian beat was caught late in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July day by the subsequently named Equus Two-Year-Old Male champion Seventh Plain., but he did jump from a wide draw that day so could be forgiven for running out of steam late. However,

Zaki will keep him to sprints for the time being and this is not surprising as the sprint division in the country has been thrown wide open by the retirement of the Equus Sprint Champion Captain Of All as well as the brilliant filly Alboran Sea. However, he hasn’t ruled out putting the colt over further later on in his career.

Zaki is viewing his classy son of Toreador, Prospect Strike, as a classic hopeful and this gelding will likely go straight into the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31 before being aimed at the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m on Summer Cup day. This well-bred individual finished a fast-finishing third in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion (1200m) at Scottsville and followed that two runs later with a runner up finish in the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville. He jumped from unfavourable draws on both occasions. Prospect Stike has won his other two career outings, over 1200m and 1400m respectively, by margins of 12,75 and 4,65 lengths so is clearly a decent sort.

Bull Valley is another son of Toreador that the yard have high hopes for and he will also be aimed at the Graham Back and Dingaans, although he will have a preparation run in a forthcoming 1200m handicap. Bull Valley won impressively by 2,5 lengths over 1200m on debut at the Vaal in May and the form looks strong with three winners having come out of the race, including Nephrite who went on to finish fifth in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes. The yard gelded Bull Valley after his debt and decided to rest him for the rest of the winter.

Storm Warning (Nkosi Hlophe)

On the three-year-old fillies front Leila’s Charger, an Australian-bred by Charge Forward, will run early next month before taking in the Gr 3 Starling Stakes over 1400m on October 31 and the Gr 3 Fillies Mile on Summer Cup day. She charged to a 5,25 length victory on debut over 1160m at Turffontein on August 2, beating a Mike de Kock-trained Trippi filly who had been backed into even money after a decent debut. Leila’s Charger’s form is looking strong because the filly Inyanga, whom she beat by 8,6 lengths, came out and won by five lengths over the same course and distance.

The yard’s surprise horse from last season was the Judpot filly Little Genie, who finished an eleven length third over 1160m on debut before running unplaced over 1600m. However, she was then brought back to 1200m and blitzed the field, winning by 7,25 lengths. First time out the maidens in a handicap off a merit rating of 77 and carrying a weight of 58,5kg she was even more impressive over 1000m, once again winning by 7,25 lengths. Zaki described this now four-year-old filly as one who was “getting better all the time.” He will keep her to 1000m “maximum” and after running her next week he could target her at a couple of feature races. He believes she will go well on sand too.

Zaki believed his classy Captain Al speedster Precursor would “without a doubt” stay the 1450m trip of the Gr 2 R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP on September 26, especially considering he had landed the pole position draw. His dam Oracle News was indeed a classy sprint-miler.

The yard also have Lavender Landscape in the Supreme Cup, but considering it might be on the sharp side they haven’t yet decided whether he will run there or in an 1800m event on the same day.

Prospect Strike (Nkosi Hlophe)

The yard’s good stayer Storm Warning has benefitted from a wind operation and ran on strongly for a 2,65 length fourth in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup. Shimmering Gem is the other feature class stayer in the yard and this pair will be aimed at the Listed Java Handicap over 2450m on October 31 and the Gr 3 Racing Association Handicap over 3200m on Summer Cup day.

Three decent sprinters in the yard, Bad Boy Buddy Boy, Victorious and Valberg are being aimed at the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m on October 31. Valberg hasn’t run since two below par runs in January and February and that is because he was given a wind operation. He has always been highly regarded so is one to keep an eye on as the operation might bring a new lease of life.

Zaki finished in 16^th place on the National log in the past season with earnings of R6,259,275. However, the yard’s record position on the log has been 6^th in both the 2004/2005 and 2006/2007 seasons and in the latter of those seasons they had their highest ever earnings, R7,213,175.

Zaki was full of praise for the excellent training tracks at The Vaal training centre and all of the facilities in general. His yard is now clearly well established there and look ready to break back into the top ten on the national log.

By David Thiselton

Lucky Houdalakis had no fewer than four winners at The Vaal’s ten race turf meeting yesterday, a first for the yard, and the in form Vaal-based stable are on their way to breaking their record of ten winners in a month they set last month.

The Houdalakis yard’s nine winners in June was also a record month for them at the time.

Houdalakis’ wins yesterday were through Joan Ranger (17/10 Gavin Lerena), Howdulikeit (30/1 Chase Maujean), Lundy’s Star (16/1 Craig Zackey) and Allegorical (6/1 S’Manga Khumalo).

By David Thiselton

Picture: Lucky Houdalakis (Nkosi Hlophe)

Renate du Plessis has her first Durbanville runners today when the country courses stages the first of its 11 consecutive meetings.

Two of her three runners are drawn in the bush but the interesting one is Oh So Modus with Karl Neisius (Pictured) up who sprang a 20-1 shock for Paul Reeves here last October and then completely lost his form. Mrs du Plessis has since rejuvenated the horse who has won his last two, the most recent by five lengths.

There is often a suspicion – not to put it more strongly – that Port Elizabeth winners are moved up the ratings too quickly and so have little chance in other centres.

Oh So Modus, to be ridden by Karl Neisius for the first time in the 2 400m handicap, was raised 2.5kg for his first Fairview win and a further 4kg for his second. He is now on a mark of 72, much the same as when he started to lose his form after that maiden win.

Mrs du Plessis races mainly in PE, although she trains at Stilbaai which is nearer Cape Town. “There are a lot of polytrack meetings in PE and I have horses which I would like to run on grass,” she says, explaining this trip to Durbanville. “The horses travel on the morning of the race and it will take about three hours.

“I am really enjoying training Oh So Modus who is another reason why I am coming. He is ever-improving and so progressive on the poly, and I now want to give him a go on grass.”

Logic suggests he has it all to do and that punters would be well advised to go for 13-10 favourite Arezzo who is also a course winner and who’s 79 mark is unchanged despite last time’s good Kenilworth run. However an improving horse is always worth following and so the visitor, attractively priced at 4-1 when Betting World posted up the odds yesterday, gets a tentative vote to justify his 230k journey.

Twenty Four Carat was officially reported to be hanging out when joint favourite in a Kenilworth sprint last time and a repeat of that would be disastrous on this left-handed course. “In fact he wasn’t hanging out, he was hanging in,” says Vaughan Marshall and that puts a different complexion on his chance in the opening Gold Circle Maiden.  However fellow 18-10 chance Glanto is marginally preferred as his most recent run reads better.

Exclusive Night is the form horse and 22-10 second favourite for race two (also called the Gold Circle Maiden as is race four!) but he was the one who finished second to Oh So Modus 11 months ago and he still hasn’t won. He will do so one day, maybe even today, but so far he has proved to be one of those expensive sorts who always appears to have a good chance but never quite does it. This is his 29^th attempt and in the circumstances Baksteen at 18-10 looks a more sensible bet.

However don’t ignore 33-10 shot Charlie Strong. “He has been disappointing in that he has taken a long time to win,” admits Adam Marcus. “But he is fit and well and he has run well over this distance here.”

The proven race fitness of 22-10 favourite Bella’s Empire should give her the edge over Mamselle Al (5-2) and Pixelate (28-10) in race four.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Karl Neisius (Liesl King)

Gerrit Schlechter looks like being out of action for several weeks after his back injury flared up painfully when he returned after three months off at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The July and Met-winning jockey said: “I was fine on Aspen Fire in race two and when True Brave played up badly going down the chute for the next. But I really felt it when he began doing the same thing going to the start.

“Three months ago I had what they call a prolapsed disc – basically a torn ligament in my back. My neuro-surgeon said that the last thing he wanted to do was operate because there would be no comeback if he did. He said to rest it before it tore completely. Now I will have to go back to him again.”

When Schlechter eventually reached the start, several minutes late and still in pain, he was promptly stood down and his mount withdrawn. The race was won by Karl Neisius on Nabisco, the middle leg of Justin Snaith’s second treble in as many days, but the former champion trainer seemed just as impressed with Black Arthur even though the newcomer finished with only two behind him after being backed from 8-1 to 7-2 second favourite.

Snaith said: “He is a special horse but we had no alternative but to drop him out from his wide draw because he didn’t have the experience to go to the front. Also this was my last opportunity to run him for seven weeks.

“I’m not knocking Durbanville – the track is in great nick – but he is a heavy type of horse and the undulations wouldn’t suit him.”

Stable companion Twinkle Toes, who would have started favourite for the Pravda Maiden, has had a setback which saw her going lame on her off-fore and having to be scratched on Thursday evening.

Snaith related: “She injured herself in her first race but it didn’t come out until after her final sprint.”

There were some high trainer expectations for several newcomers in this race but victory went to 8-1 shot Sails Set, the most experienced horse in the field. Aldo Domeyer’s mount is trained by Brett Crawford whose Midnight Breeze, sixth after being backed from 20-1 to 7-1, had a genuine excuse because Robert Khathi’s saddle slipped back from the start.

Vaughan Marshall has some ambitious hopes for Olympian who romped home four lengths clear in the Michaud Agencies Handicap without even having to be shown Domeyer’s stick.

Marshall said: “This horse has got more in the tank and hopefully he is good enough to run in races like the Cape Flying Championship.”

The Mike Bass stable had a frustrating afternoon – two beaten favourites including Arabian Winter being pipped on the post by no more than the hair on the nostrils of the Glen Kotzen-trained Deep Secret – but Greg Cheyne employed much the same inspired last gasp tactics to snatch the last on Sheer Trouble and raise the roof in the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.

Candice Robinson said: “My father is now doing well. He is out of Intensive Care and in a ward. He is still weak – he needs to get himself exercising to get stronger – but he is talking and eating.”

Shock of the day was Piet Steyn’s Belcourt Castle, 28-1 outsider of the ten-runner Perpetua House Handicap. He made all under Brandon May after having the blinkers taken off for the first time in more than 20 races.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Gerrit Schlechter

Justin Snaith is aiming to become the first Cape Town trainer to win the Sansui Summer Cup since Mike Stewart scored with Fire Arch 20 years ago.

He is preparing both Investec Cape Derby runner-up Dynamic and Tabgold 2200 winner Ultimate Dollar for the November 28 Turffontein R2 million showpiece. Both horses travelled to his Johannesburg satellite yard from Durban as did Lineker who is being trained for the even more valuable Ready To Run Cup at the end of next month.

Snaith said: “I now have 12 horses at the satellite yard which is going very well and growing all the time. Ashleigh Hughes is in charge and she is brilliant. She used to be with Gary Alexander and then Weiho Marwing. She worked for me in the last Durban season so she now knows how I do things.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Justin Snaith

Same Jurisdiction put up a magnificent performance in her seasonal reappearance at Scottsville yesterday when cruising to an effortless 2,75 length victory under Anton Marcus in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m.

The four-year-old Mambo In Seattle filly will thus head off for Cape Town on a high note and her chief targets there will be the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m and the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m.

On her last two performances, victory in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and yesterday, she is likely the best filly in the country, despite belonging to a vintage crop, a few of whom will still be racing in South Africa this season.

Same Jurisdiction started at odds of 1/3 yesterday.

The Brett Crawford-trained De Kock built on his previous good run, which followed two below par performances, to finish second. The Gavin Van Zyl- trained pair MLJet, who set a good pace, and No Worries were third and fourth respectively followed by the Howells-trained Surefire.

Later, the Paddy Lunn yard kept up their recent good form when the six-year-old Mogok gelding Mr Whatever powered to victory in a MR 90 Handicap over 1000m under 4kg claimer Akshay Balloo having been backed in over a course and distance he loves.

Meanwhile in Mauritius the seven-year-old Argentinian-bred Vettel from the Ramapatee Gujadhur stable was a surprise winner of the island’s biggest race, the Air Mauritius Maiden Cup over 2400m, under Kevin Ghunowa.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

KZN has a much anticipated double header this weekend with eight races on the Greyville polytrack tonight and eight at Scottsville on Sunday.

Quintella in the last race is the top tip tonight as she loves the course and distance, goes very well for Keagan de Melo and has at last landed a good draw.

The other tips are Madame Justice in the first with Zaida the back up, Goodnight Nurse in the second, Roy’s Gul Gul Ha in the third, Music World in the fourth, African Fish Eagle in the fifth although Silva Hawk and Royal Zulu Guard must also be considered, Al Azraq in the sixth although he won’t be at his peak and The Tripster and Dance On Air could be back ups, and Main Submission in the seventh where Night Editor and Thunderwood must also be considered.

At Scottsville, in the first race over 1400m First Sea Lord ran a close third over this trip on the poly and the form of that race has been franked so he should have a good chance from a good draw, especially considering he ran a fair third over1600m at Scottsville before that. Protea Power has run two good races over 1200m in good fields and the same 4kg claimer remains aboard over a trip that he should handle, but this is his first run around the turn and he has a tricky draw. Secret Warning is a full brother to Tales Of Bravery and could improve on his debut where he wasn’t disgraced in a strong maiden juvenile plate.

In the second for fillies and mares over 1400m Open Your Heart has run two fair races over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip. Cakewalk has run two seconds over 1600m, including one at Scottsville when staying on well, and Anton Marcus is now up. Ravishing Luly enjoys the course and distance.

The third over 1400m should be at the mercy of the brilliant Same Jurisdiction. De Kock bounced back to form last time and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip. No Worries has won a Gr 2 over this trip before. MLJet might well be best suited to this trip and has class. Sabaha has some class too and would have needed her last start.

In the fourth over 1000m Hunting Owl is well regarded and having showed good pace over 1200m in his last two starts in good fields he is interesting with Marcus up over the minimum trip. Piano Man was unlucky over 1200m last time and is effective over this trip too.

Royalsecuritypower returns to lesser company than he has been facing and has 4kg claimer up. Sea Fever is only 1kg worse off with Hunting Owl after beating him by 0,75 lengths over 1200m and he should be running on strongly late. Captain On The Run is not overly reliable but can never be ignored and has a 4kg claimer up. Mr Whatever loves this trip and with a 4kg claimer up can’t be ignored. Big King is interesting at Scottsville for the first time over a suitable trip.

In the fifth, a maiden over 1950m, Grey’s A Rockin was held up off the pace for a change last time over course and distance and flew late so if settling better this time he has a big shout under Marcus. Barbarian has faced two good horses in his two career starts and wasn’t disgraced last time so should be a big runner over a step up in trip he will relish. Seattle Wolf has run two fair races to date and his half-brother Arniston finished 4th in the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby so he could enjoy this trip.

The sixth is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1950m and Roy’s Gold could improve on her last start over course and distance as it was her first time with blinkers and also just her second time around the turn. Ravishing Aromance beat Roy’s Gold last time and now has a reversal in draw fortunes in her favour too. Fly Away With Me was only quarter-of-a-length behind Roy’s Gold last time and now has Delpech up.

In the seventh over 1950m Golden High has been knocking on the door and has Delpech up over a step down in trip he will likely relish. Leeuloop Jet is only three points higher for his decent win over 2000m at the Vaal and Highveld raiders over this sort of trip are always dangerous. Flying Fellow is well drawn over a suitable course and distance and has run well off this sort of merit rating before.

In the last over 1950m the three-year-old Kitty’s Destiny has caught the eye as a progressive sort and although he doesn’t have an easy task at the weights he could possibly win first time out the maidens against an uninspiring field. Rocky Stallone raids from the Highveld and has dropped to a competitive mark. French Mark has fallen to a competitive merit rating and with a 4kg claimer up could earn here considering his only win was over 1800m.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Twinkle Toes can live up to her name in the Pravda Maiden tomorrow when Kenilworth stages its last meeting for seven weeks.

This R1.8 million purchase ran above stable expectations when starting second favourite on debut three weeks ago and would have gone very close had not the winner taken her ground 50m out.

“She surprised me that day and this always worries me when they run the next time,” says Justin Snaith, seemingly more cautious than confident. “She will probably still need it a bit but she will run a big race.”

It’s perhaps worth noting – rather than being wiser and poorer afterwards – that she is drawn only four from the outside. The ground is significantly better on the inside for the whole length of the sprint course so Donovan Dillon is going to have to tack across.

So too will Aldo Domeyer on big danger Sails Set but Persian Silk, who has had two good runs, has a good draw and so may pose the biggest threat.

The Snaiths think a lot of Black Arthur but the newcomer has it all to do from his ten draw in the 1 400m St Dalfour Maiden and Jiggery Pokery should be hard to beat after his ultra-promising first run.

He was to have reappeared on 10 August but was scratched on the morning of the race after failing to eat up. “He had a bit of a virus and didn’t eat for two days,” recalls Candice Robinson, adding: “but he is fine again now.”

The Mike Bass stable may follow up with Arabian Winter in the Mountain View Academy Maiden. The handicappers say that Meritocracry is half a kilo better but there is a line of form- admittedly pretty tentative – that gives Grant van Niekerk’s mount a slight edge.

When Captain Bagg sprang a 14-1 surprise last month Eric Sands said that the horse had “a lot of ability but problems upstairs.” The bottom weight will be much shorter in the Michaud Agencies Handicap and Sands, expanding on last time’s comments, says: “He is not an easy horse to train and he tends to race with his head cocked to one side. Also he rushes and then comes back to you.”

Top weight Muscatt, the course record holder over this distance, has been raised a kilo for last time’s second but is given marginal preference.

Varumba, a R2.5 million Var filly, stands out in the Fulcrum Novice Plate after her third places in the SA Fillies Nursery and Kenilworth Fillies Nursery. She has not raced for three months but Vaughan Marshall – 15 winners from the last eight Cape Town meetings- has his horses on song and confirms “Yes, she is fit.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Muscatt (Nkosi Hlophe)

Private Highveld trainer Clinton Binda raids the Greyville polytrack meeting tonight with three horses, including the three-year-old Toreador gelding Al Azraq, whom he rates the best horse in his yard. However, he warned there would be a lot of negatives surrounding this horse.

He said, “I am coming down mainly for Al Azraq because the ground up here is too hard to train on at the moment let alone race on and he is a good horse with a future so we have to be careful with him and the poly will be kinder. But there are a lot of negatives about him, the main one being he hasn’t had a gallop due to the hardness of the ground, it will be the first time he has travelled and it will also be his first time on the poly, under the lights and over the 1400m trip. But he has the ability and I still expect him to win, although I think my best chance on the night could be with Night Editor, whom I think will enjoy the poly.”

Binda does not wind up his horses before their debuts, yet Al Azraq finished third first time out in May over 1000m, at odds of 16/1, to a highly regarded sort Bull Valley, who was backed into 13/10. Furthermore, he finished just a neck behind another classy sort, Nephrite, who went on to win next time out before running a three length fifth to Rabada in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m. Al Azraq came out again in June over 1100m at The Vaal and won by 8,25 lengths under Gavin Lerena. Three horses have won out of that race to date.

Binda explained his reasons for sending him over 1400m, “My theory is that he needs to stay a minimum of 1600m because if he is good enough he can then be entered in the Graham Beck and the Dingaans. If I put him over sprints now I will never be able to teach him to settle over further later, but putting him over 1400m I can always bring him back to sprints if he doesn’t stay.”

Al Azraq showed plenty of early speed in his win and also a fine turn of foot, although he was driven out all the way to the line. He should be suited to his pole position draw tomorrow night, due to that early pace of his, and KZN Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons is a further plus. On a merit rating of 92 he is rated seven points higher than the Charles Laird-trained three-year-old Red Hot Poker, who is the second highest rated horse in the race, although on jockey bookings the Laird stable elect appears to be Dance On Air. The Tripster and Rocketball are two others that have shown decent form.

Night Editor runs in the seventh race, a MR 80 Handicap over 1200m, and will be ridden from draw five by 4kg claimer Calvin Habib, who won on him over 1160m at Turffontein in his penultimate start. The five-year-old Right Approach gelding was raised to his highest ever merit rating of 75 for that win, but proved himself up to it when showing good pace and staying all the way to the line next time out over the same course and distance, losing by just 1,5 lengths to the decent sort Talktothestars, who was winning for the fourth time in succession. Right Approach’s progeny appear to enjoy all weather surfaces so he should go close in this race and will have vastly more experience than the class act in the race, the Charles Laird-trained three-year-old Main Submission. Laird rates Main Submission as one who will improve continually as he gets older, but he also regarded him from early on as “a miler plus”. However, Main Submission does possess speed too and his debut win over 1200m at Scottsville in June has proven to be one of the strongest form races this year with the like of Swakopmund, Bunker Bill, Rio de la Plata, Land Of Legends and Rikitikitana behind him.

Binda’s first runner on the night is the five-year-old Silvano gelding Ayrton, a battler who runs in race three, a Maiden Plate over 1200m. Ayrton once finished a 5,5 length third to the useful stayer Solid Speed over 1800 at Kenilworth when trained by Glen Kotzen. Binda is Ayrton’s third trainer. Binda has gained a reputation over the years for his expertise in buying horses-in-training and then turning their careers around. In six runs for the yard, Ayrton has already managed three places, all over sprints. The gelding has some early pace, but lacks a kick at the end, so with 4kg claimer Habib up he could possibly earn a cheque in this uninspiring field if able to get handy from a tricky draw of eight in the ten horse field.

However, the races involving Al Azraq and Night Editor are likely to be the two most interesting events of the evening.

By David Thiselton

Picture: The Tripster (Nkosi Hlophe)

Night racing returns to Greyville tonight and there will be a meeting every Friday night until April 29, 2016.

Tonight’s meeting has eight races and there will be immediate interest because in the first, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, the Charles Laird-trained Dynasty filly Madame Justice is a full sister to former Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate. She doesn’t have much to beat, although Zaida is a nice big, strong horse who looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.

In the second over 1200m Goodnight Nurse has caught the eye twice when finishing fifth in two strong maidens respectively and is the tip to win. Wow Holiday is better than his last run and will be a factor if bouncing back to the form of his debut. Budapest returns from a layoff but could earn if close to his best.

In the third over 1200m Roy’s Gul Gul Ha has run two recent  races over course and distance and has Anthony Delpech up, albeit from a wide draw. Jack The Knife was not disgraced last time against a good sort over 1400m and might appreciate the step down in trip as he tired late in that race. Astroman is having his third run after a long layoff and as a handy type could do well here from a good draw. Ayrton has fair Highveld form and must be included. Long Walk could do well if he settles early.

The fourth is a weak maiden over 1600m but Music World makes plenty of appeal as one who will come on from her fair debut over 1400m and she will appreciate the step up in trip. Wind Trader has shown signs of ability and could well enjoy this surface. Classy Chic has fair form and should enjoy the trip and has Delpech up. Manyou has caught the eye before and is interesting stepped up in trip. Iced Gem is improving and could earn from a good draw.

The fifth over 1600m is open but African Fish Eagle has his third run in KZN and on the evidence of his last race could step up to the plate. Both Silva Hawk and Royal Zulu Guard have some class and could fill the trifecta positions. However, none of the runners in this race can be ignored.

The sixth, a Novice Plate over 1400m, looks on paper to be at the mercy of the Gauteng raider Al Azraq who was impressive when winning his maiden over 1100m by 8,25 lengths and he should enjoy the step up in trip. However, trainer Clinton Binda has warned that there will be a lot of negatives, the main one being he hasn’t had a gallop due to the hardness of the ground at present on the Highveld, and the others being he hasn’t travelled before and it will also be his first time on the poly, under lights and over the trip. The Tripster is interesting stepped up in trip having stayed on quite well over the tough Scottsville 1200m in his penultimate start to a good sort and Dance On Air makes most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh over 1200m Main Submission’s maiden win over this trip at Scottsville has turned out to be very strong form and he is the type who will improve continuously as he gets older. However, it won’t be easy off his 87 merit rating as a young three-year-old and the Highveld raider Night Editor could be a strong challenger, while Thunderwood has scope and could also give some cheek.

The last over 1200m could be won by Quintella, who was dropped out from a wide draw last time before running on strongly. This time she is drawn well and Keagan de Melo remains aboard.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)