The Gold Medallion has virtually been owned by Dennis Drier this decade as he has won six of the last eight renewals, but this year he is up against it and the race might fall to another Dennis.

Dennis Bosch runs the exciting Oratorio colt Cue The Music, who first impressed in a barrier trial before coming out and doddling a 1000m event on the Greyville poly. He was not tuned up for that debut race debut but gave a glimpse of how good he was next time out by cruising through to beat a good field over 1100m at Scottsville. He did it effortlessly and is worthy 28/10 favourite with World Sports Betting.

Drier has the scopey Querari colt Immoretlle in the field as well as the strong Master Of My Fate colt Goliath Heron.

Immortelle showed fine cruising speed over the Medallion 1200m course and distance on debut and then showed a good kick and resolve to get up. He has plenty of scope for improvement and could be Drier’s chief hope.

Goliath Heron has 6,8 lengths to make up on Cue The Music. He raced a bit strongly when sitting behind the latter that day and was also carried out a touch so could possibly get closer. It should be remembered that in 2012 Drier’s winner Potent Power reversed previous form with a horse called Twitter by more than ten lengths.

Traces, was reportedly in need of his last start when beaten 6,75 lengths by Cue The Music. This Australian-bred colt by Snitzel had won his previous start, the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth on Sun Met day, in impressive style by 2,25 lengths. He has a fine action and Brett Crawford will be looking to add another Grade 1 victory to the six he won last season.

Grade 1 SA Nursery winner William The Silent could also be a threat. He looks the ideal Scottsville type as he possesses good natural pace together with a kick. On pedigree he should enjoy this tough 1200m too being by Var out of Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Tick Tock.

Cirillo is still a maiden but showed a fluent action when finishing a head second to William The Silent in the SA Nursery. This Pomodoro colt also has good natural speed and a kick.

Van Halen is a good looking Oratorio gelding who will be trying to upset the applecart. The strapping bay appeared to enjoy the tough Scottsville course last time and put a few disappointing efforts behind him by finishing second to Cue The Music but he does have three lengths to find on the latter.

Trippi colt Chimichuri Run was still green when running a 1,6 length third in the SA Nursery and could improve.

Byword colt Crown And Country is of the strong, scopey type who do well at Scottsville and he made it two from two when winning impressively over this course and distance. He was defeated subsequently on the poly and Goliath Heron comes out better on strict formlines.

Oratorio colt Di Me showed good pace and a kick when beating a good field over course and distance on debut at 75/1 odds and could be anything.

Twist Of Fate ran on well over this trip at Kenilworth last time to make it three wins from five starts but he is only 3kg better off with Traces for a 4,3 length beating on Met day.

In Cahoots stayed on for fifth in the SA Nursery but looks held by William The Silent, Cirillo and Chimichuri Run.

Sulka by Gimmethegreenlight is an immature sort who will be improving continuously. He won well second time out over 1000m and was extending, but before that was beaten 4,1 lengths by Chimichuri Run over 1000m.

Top Of The Class is a good looking sort by Var who can improve on his KZN debut when beaten 8,6 lengths by Cue The Music.

Affranchi looks held on SA Nursery form but he probably had the worst of the draw there and could improve.

Topmast is a rangy type by Sail From Seattle who beat Chimichri Run over 1000m but on previous 1200 form he looks held.

Reserve runner Rule The Night will have to bounce back from two poor runs.

By David Thiselton