Meanwhile, Fairview has it’s always eagerly anticipated Festival Of Racing weekend and there will be some good horses appearing both today and on Sunday.

The Michaelmas looks to be at the mercy of the Charles Laird-trained Bold Inspiration, a progressive sort who is currently an ante-post 16-1 shot for the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup. He will need to win this race to book his place in the latter event and will be equally effective whether it is run on the turf or the polytrack. Anton Marcus rides from a fair draw of six.

Akii Bua looks to have been prepared for this race and as he is well regarded he could upset the applecart from pole position draw over an ideal trip.

Zhivago has also run some fine races lately and could earn, whether it be on turf or poly, over a suitable course and distance, although he does have quite a tough draw.

Auction KIng has been in good form and has a fair draw over a suitable trip.

Emperor Niarchos unfortunately has a wide draw as he ran a good preparation recently over 1400m and will relish the step up in trip.

At Fairview today the Glen Kotzen-trained Light The Lights will be tough to beat in the Listed RA Stakes. Arniston will appreciate the return to turf and could give some cheek, while the promising Shinning Day can’t be ignored either, despite carrying more weight than the aforementioned pair.

At Fairview on Sunday the main race is the Gr3 Algoa Cup over 2000m and the horse to beat could be the six-year-old Mitch Wiese-trained Forest Digger. Interestingly Gift Funeka has been given the ride having produced a flying finish from this one over a too sharp 1600m in his penultimate in a Pinnacle Stakes race where he probably ran above his rating. He is drawn well now over a suitable trip and another fast finish can be expected.

The Justin Snaith-trained Arion finished third behind Legislate and Captain America in the Investec Cape Derby back in February and is well regarded. He has only run once since then and hated the firm ground that day, so is likely to run a much better race here. This is his second run after a rest but Snaith wasn’t concened about that and off a merit rating of just 97 he has a chance from a fine draw with Piere Strydom up.

Disco Al has Anton Marcus up and is in fine fettle. He will relish the step back to this trip, having produced a strong finish over 1600m last time out and is well drawn.

The classy Blaze Of Fire had to lead last time when winning a conditions race over 1800m and in this better field might be able to get cover from a nice draw, so he could be a big threat off a merit rating that is effectively eight points lower than he was this time last year.

There is not much between Blaze Of Fire and Political Playboy, although the latter will probably appreciate the extra 200m from their last meeting more than the former will. Political Playboy does have a slightly tougher draw though.

Gone Baby Gone will also enjoy this trip, but is returning from a layoff since July. Astro News is getting on a bit but has run well fresh before.

In the first on Sunday, the Snaith-trained Ovidio was green around the turn on debut but ran on quite well before fading and doesn’t have much to beat.

In the third, Peregrine King has become known for his flying finishes on the poly and he might still be ahead of the handicapper. Marcus rides from a good draw over what should be a suitable trip.

In the fifth, the Snaith-trained Oreo Shake has a touch of class and looks to be off a reasonable merit rating, while he should love the step up to this trip.

Another Snaith-trained runner, Lift Off, should be too strong in the sixth over 1600m.

Path To Travel is talented and has dropped to a low merit rating so could be the one to beat in the eighth.

Picture: Bold Inspiration (Nkosi Hlophe)