The Vaal Classic track has an eight race meeting tomorrow and there are some opportunities for punters amid generally competitive racing.

Major Return is chosen as the exotics banker in race six over 2000m. He ran on well from a handy position last time in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1800m which was stronger than the field he faces tomorrow. He has a fair draw with S’Manga Khumalo up and will relish stepping back up to the trip of his last win. Top Shot could be the main danger despite having been kept to further lately as he has a good record over this distance and has dropped to a competitive mark.

The meeting starts off with a 1000m maiden and Orchid Express could be the one to beat. She was slow away on debut over this trip but caught the eye running on strongly late. She is by Oratorio, whose progeny tend to improve continuously, and being from the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard she should come on considerably from that debut run. Madame Patrice will likely lead and will make a bold bid to stay in front all the way to the line having been run out if it in her last two starts. Samoa likely needed her last start after a layoff of over a year and could earn.

In the second race over 1000m the first-timer Rock The Kazvar makes appeal. He is a Team Valor homebred by Var out of the decent Western Winter mare My Kazzie, who won a Listed race having finished second in both the Grade 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m as a two-year-old. The one concern is that this colt’s full-sister failed to place in seven starts, although she was My Kazzie’s first foal. Golden Duke will be improving being by Duke Of Marmalade and can build on his debut when leading over 1200m round the turn before being swamped and finishing about ten lengths back. Live By Night is an improving sort who has been right there in his last three starts and he will make a bold bid from the front. All three will have to be included in the PA in this tricky opening leg.

In the next leg over 1200m In The Dance is easily the best weighted horse and has the class to win in her seasonal reappearance. This Gimmethegreenlight filly is a half-sister to Capetown Noir and possesses a similarly superb turn of foot. She also has natural speed and in the three sprint starts she has contested she has won two and finished a narrow second in the other. Ouro is a decent sprinter who is well drawn and she showed signs of a form return last time when 3,75 lengths behind the useful Sarah. The Fifth Wave has ability and should make her presence felt from pole position. 

The fourth race is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2400m and Ali Bon Dubai makes plenty of appeal. He showed in his last two starts of last season in the Grade 3 Betting World 2200 and the eLan Gold Cup he had improved into a useful horse capable of mixing it with the best over middle distance and staying distances. He confirmed that with a good comeback run over 1800m. Nathan Klink stays aboard and his 1,5kg claim will alleviate Ali Bon Dubai’s weight disadvantage in which he is officially 3,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses, Seville Orange and Sunshine Silk. Dawn Assault won well over 2600m after a layoff last time and is the best weighted male in the race, being 2kg under sufferance with the two best in fillies. He is a courageous horse and with Warren Kennedy in the irons should be given every chance, so is rated the chief threat. Sunshine Silk was a revelation when stepped up to staying trips last time and beat her stable companion Ali Bon Dubai over the too sharp 1800m trip last time in her seasonal reappearance. They face each other on the same terms and she should relish this step up in trip, so will not be a surprise winner.

The fifth race over 2400m is wide open. Master And Man is drawn in pole and has Kennedy aboard so should give a good account of himself coming off a third place finish in a decent field over 2600m. Slay The Dragon also has a good draw and the last time he tried this course and distance he failed by a neck despite casting a shoe. In his only subsequent start he was charging late over 2000m and just failed so off a two point higher mark he should be in the shake up again. Dickens has always struck as one with ability and having won easily in the maidens last time when stepped up to 2000m he is interesting stepped up again and running off a reasonable opening handicap mark. However, a case can be made for just about every horse in this race so it is advisable to go as wide as possible in the exotics. 

In the seventh race over 2000m Port Key goes for a hattrick and as it is his third run after a long layoff he should be cherry ripe and can overcome a three point raise for his last win. However, he does have a tough draw to overcome. Nimcha in in fine form and won the only start he had over this course and distance. He also has a tricky draw and as a handy type will need some luck in running. Matloob was a touch disappointing last time when starting hot favourite over 1800m. He was found to be coughing and as a typically progressive son of Silvano can bounce back from a fair draw. Jagesa Jagesa goes for a hattrick over this distance so can’t be ignored. If he is included then Rocky Path also comes into the equation as he is together with the former on a combination of form and weight. Corrido is drawn in pole and is another one to consider.  

The meeting ends with a Maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1450m and Aztec looks the one to beat. She made a decent debut over 1200m considering she was difficult to load and she will appreciate the step up in trip being by What A Winter out of a Jet Master mare who won three on the trot from 1600m to 1800m. Smiley River has run well in two races from 1400m to 1600m and as she runs on well the high draw should not be too much of a concern. Get Set was not disgraced behind some good sorts in her first three starts as a two-year-old from 1000m to 1200m and could provide some value for a place in this race over a likely suitable trip from a wide draw. 

By David Thiselton

Callan Murray, Warren Kennedy, S’Manga Khumalo and Keagan de Melo all fly in this morning to do battle with the Cape Town jockeys at Durbanville and Murray can start the ball rolling on Duchess Of State in the 1.35pm opener.

This is one of five rides he has for Candice Bass-Robinson who asked him to come down and the filly is odds-on to make up for two close seconds at Kenilworth. She has the considerable advantage of being drawn on the inside.

“I’m not sure that Durbanville is the ideal course for Duchess Of State and she would prefer further,” qualifies the Milnerton trainer. “But she will have a good chance and she stands out.”

The fact that last time the filly’s jockey (De Melo) reported that she changed stride continually is a concern but Mrs Bass-Robinson explains: “She is a big long-striding filly and she can get unbalanced. The going that day was heavy and she is still a bit weak.”

At the time of writing none of the others is priced below 10-1 but Over The Way and At Your Request are two to bear in mind.

Track Attack, a R5.2 million Dynasty half-brother to Summer Cup winner Yorker, impressed in a barrier trial in Durban and was fancied to make a winning racecourse debut here last month – only for it all to go pear-shaped when Morne Winnaar on Hubble stole a march on the rest of the field.

The Dean Kannemeyer hope was beaten nine lengths but he should gain compensation in the mile maiden. He opened favourite at 19-10 with Kennedy’s mount Captain Flinders next on 15-4 on the strength of a succession of good runs. Significantly the Captain is the highest rated horse in the field and this time he races without the blinkers he has been wearing.

“He does need blinkers but he also needs 2 000m and he is a bit too keen when he races with the blinds on,” explains Eric Sands and so seemingly the horse could be vulnerable. Captain Turk is a big price at 13-2 and may well get into the shake-up.

As a general rule it pays to bet against four-year-olds in maidens even though they are much better treated than on the weight-for-age scale – the reason is that the younger horses tend to have more improvement in them – and the Snaith-trained Double Crown is taken to confirm last time’s form with the older Khopesh in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden (race three). The pair opened joint favourites at 28-10.

Black Knap ran away with things over a furlong less in that race last month and the rest finished out with the washing but Richard Fourie’s mount makes more appeal than his rival.

However Maningi Indaba may fly the flag for the older generation in the Betting World Maiden. Greg Cheyne’s mount has strong form claims and looks value at 4-1 despite not being well drawn.

By Michael Clower

The twice Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle stays in training this season as an eight-year-old.

Trainer Sean Tarry said it had been a mistake to send the Greys Inn gelding down to Durban for the Vodacom Durban July last season.

It was the first time he had run in the country’s premier race since his three-year-old season and Tarry will adhere to the campaign which he had excelled at in the previous three seasons.

Last year Legal Eagle failed in his attempts to win both the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Horse Chestnut Stakes for the fourth time in succession.

He lost his unbeaten record over a mile, which had stretched to ten races, in the former event when finishing fourth.

Tarry pointed out that despite having been labeled as “disappointing” by most last season Legal Eagle had still managed to win two out of eight races, including beating the like of Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge in the Green Point Stakes.

He had also finished just 2,25 lengths back when finishing strongly from off the pace in the Sun Met.

Sean Tarry questioned the price of 5/10 the bookmakers were offering about his unbeaten  Silvano colt Al Mutawakel, who makes his seasonal reappearance over 1600m at Turffontein today, and said he was waiting for the  rains before expecting to see the four-year-old at his best this season.

However, Paul Peter, is bullish about the chances of his unbeaten three-year-old colt Riverstown, who races in the next race, a MR 80 handicap over 1600m.

Tarry said Al Mutawakel was not the soundest and as his trainer he had been left between a rock and a hard place due to the lack of rain and the continuing hard ground. He said the four-year-old colt would be more comfortable with softer underfoot conditions and reckoned he would only get to the bottom of him after the rains had arrived.

On the other hand the Silvano colt, who is a full-brother to SA Derby winner Al Sahem, has won twice in fast going to date, running on powerfully on both occasions in the respective 1400m and 1600m events.

Peter said the Byword colt Riverstown had been showing “top class” work at home.

He is clearly excited about his prospects and hoped he would do as well as expected today so he can target him at the Dingaans.

By David Thiselton

Vistula and Front And Centre put their hands up over the weekend as horses to follow in top female mile races this season, although the latter will be just as effective over further.

Waiting in the wings is their contemporary Celtic Sea, last season’s Equus Champion three-year-old, who was given a deserved break after her busy winter campaign and won’t be seen out for a while.

Trainer Paul Peter had Vistula at 100% for Saturdays Grade 2 Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m on Turffontein Inside. He was confident of her chances knowing she had been at just 70% for her seasonal reappearance in which she routed the opposition in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m on Turffontein Standside.

Her draw of eleven was a concern but Warren Kennedy delivered again when managing to slot her in to sixth place with cover as Sidonie, having just her second career run, set good fractions in front.

Vistula’s supporters would have been confident knowing what a fine turn of foot the Ideal World filly has.

However, the talented three-year-old Gin Fizz relished the fast pace and step up in trip and was clearly going to take some catching after sitting in second place in the running and then hitting the front.

But Vistula, making her run down the inside, showed she also has a big heart when fetching Gin Fizz in the last couple of strides to win by a quarter of a length.

Perfect Tigress ran on well for third and is another to follow.

Peter said Vistula’s class had pulled her through and reckoned she would come on from the run, it being her second run after a layoff.

She will now be targeted at the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600m on Gauteng Summer Cup day.

However, her main aim is to win a Grade 1. Peter said they would avoid the Majorca in Cape Town and instead target the Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein in April.

Gin Fizz is also bred to go further being by miler Soft Falling Rain out of Espumanti, who won the Ipi Tombe and the Grade 2 Betting World 1900.

Gin Fizz inherited some of her mother’s temperamental issues, but horse whisperer Malan Du Toit helped her get to the races last season. On Saturday she pulled momentarily after using her natural speed to get into the leading line. However, Sidonie then did her a favour by taking the lead and going at a brisk gallop, which gave Gin Fizz cover and allowed her to stride out.

Gin Fizz looks to be a lively classic contender in the mile races at least.

Down in Cape Town Front And Centre’s performance to win the Grade 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville was even more impressive than Vistula’s as she carried a Grade 1 penalty. Greg Cheyne had the Brett Crawford-trained Dynasty filly in the box seat but in the straight she appeared to be battling to get on terms with the pacemaker Helen’s Ideal.

However, this was deceptive because when Freedom Charter ranged up dangerously on her outside she took off and won cosily in the end by half-a-length. She showed none of the hanging-to-the-right antics which had cost her the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

She will likely be targeted at the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m and either the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca or the Sun Met. Meanwhile, Captain Al filly Celtic Sea, winner of the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, might raid for the Majorca on Sun Met day. Tarry reckoned that was the only realistic race for her down in Cape Town.

By David Thiselton

Tap O’Noth, the 2017 Cape Guineas winner who gave last Saturday’s Matchem a miss, will now begin his campaign in the 1 800m Pinnacle at Durbanville a week today.

Vaughan Marshall said: “He was to have gone for the G-bets Algoa Cup at Fairview on October 27 but they gave him 68kg!”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe confirms that he will be back in action next month after sitting on the sidelines so far this season on medical advice, in order to counteract the cumulative effects of past concussions. But he was looking in good shape – and remarkably slim – at Durbanville last Saturday when he said: “Sometimes a break does you good. I have kept my weight in trim and now I want to come back with a bang.”

Alfred Mzondi, the stalls handler who was treated like a human football in the pens at Durbanville ten days ago, is making a good recovery. He was kept in the local Mediclinic for two nights while the doctors monitored his progress. He was released with a nasty cut on his face and plenty of bruises but, miraculously, no broken bones or internal injuries.

The two CTS R5 million sales races will be run for the last time – at least for the moment – on Sun Met day, February 1.

CTS sales manager Kirsty Coertze said: “A lot of the cost was falling on the vendors and, in order to assist them, we have done away with the two races – but that is not to say that we will never host them again.”

They began in 2016 with the CTS Million Dollar which  carried a total stake of R16.6 million, was presented with great razzmatazz and was won by Illuminator, a 16-1 shot  owned by Ian Robinson and Francis Carruthers, trained by Glen Puller and ridden by the apprentice  Heavelon van der Hoven. Whatever happened to him?

Thereafter the races, and the total stakes, were split in two to cater for sprinters and milers but the interest that they generated at the sale was huge and was certainly reflected in the prices. Hopefully the races, and the money, will be back before too long.

According to CTS the country’s most valuable sales race after next February will be next year’s R1.25 million Ready To Run in November.

By Michael Clower

I am certainly glad that this meeting is taking place tomorrow as I will be in the office with my colleagues watching stride for stride on the big TV! Some very good racing awaits and some horses competing at Turffontein Inside could end up going on to much greater things.

The starter will press his starting stalls button to send the first race field home at 12H10pm and they compete over 1 200m where there are a lot of horses starting their careers here and it would be advisable to keep an eye on the betting market. Ballon D’Or comes from a strong yard and could do well on debut.

Race two also sees quite a few first timers and again the betting could be the best guide but of the raced runners Cosmic Ray looks to be the one they all have to beat for Tarry and Strydom. This daughter of Dynasty impressed when finishing fourth on debut and with natural improvement could win!

Race three could go the way of Jockey Warren Kennedy – he rides Magic School who has really impressed thus far.

One cannot help get the feel that she has a lot more still to come.

Golden Belle made a smart winning debut and could be absolutely anything.

We could be in for a thrilling finish here but the Gary Alexander trainer daughter of Philanthropist is the narrow first pick.

In Race four which kicks off the Jackpot we see the unbeaten, talented and exciting son of Silvano, Al Mutawakel take his place. He has been rested since June but wow, he has impressed in all three of his wins and he is an exciting prospect for the coming season. Absolutely no shock to see him amongst the early entries for the Gauteng Summer Cup. Despite he may need this run, he could still get past the line first purely on ability. He excited me this horse and I will be following him with great interest.

Another horse that excited me takes his place in the very next event but this time it is from the bang in form Paul Peter yard and runs in the famous black and yellow silks of Mauritzfontein. This son of Byword called Riverstown really made a statement when making a winning debut and making his opposition look ordinary and there was a strongly fancied odds on in the race too!

He could go on to be anything and really looks an exciting prospect. I will be bankering him.

When I caught up with his Jockey Warren Kennedy soon after the Riverstown’s maiden win, I asked the in form rider what he thought and there was an immediate sparkle in the man’s eye!

Trainers Mike and Adam Azzie look to have a very strong hand in the sixth where all three of their runners have bright chances.

I have selected Oravar to win again. He charged home last time to win and win well. In the seventh, Approach Control, Zillzaal and Russian Beat are ones to include on the shortlist. Approach Control won well last time and can follow up. The yard is in form.

We don’t need to say too much about Warren Kennedy – go look at his stats!

A maiden event brings down the curtain at 16H20 where it would come as no shock at all to see the Habib team in the winners area with Our Man In Havana.

An exciting card awaits and whatever happens it could pay to follow some of these which could be top quality individuals into the season.

By Warren Lenferna

Justin Snaith is on crutches with his right leg in plaster after having an operation to repair some horrific tendon damage.

The dual champion trainer, 44, said: “I tore all the tendons off the inside of my right leg – I have played a lot of sport and over the years I have done quite a lot of damage to my ankle – and I have had to have constructive surgery to get it all back the way it was.

“The operation has been a long time coming – I put it off for four months because I didn’t want to have it during the Durban season – and I then had to find the time to get it done.

“It means being in a wheelchair for a while and then I will be fine. I’m not sure when I will be back on the racecourse as I am concentrating on the horses in the yard for the time being.”

By Michael Clower

Not since Capetown Noir six years ago has the winner of the Matchem gone on to land the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but so impressive was One World’s finishing kick in Saturday’s Durbanville highlight that you would have to think that the double might well be achieved this season.

This is a horse who, don’t forget, has only ever been beaten twice in his life and on this occasion he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a manner seldom seen since Jonah emerged from the mouth of the whale.

The Truter colours could be seen uncomfortably far back early on and halfway up the straight you could name your own price. Even 100m out the 53-20 shot was only fifth yet he flew home like Pegasus to beat Search Party by four-tenths of a length with the favourite Undercover Agent a length and a quarter further back third.

Victory was particularly sweet for M.J Byleveld who had been forced by injury to hand over all last season’s triumphs on this horse to Anton Marcus. “My plan had been to have him handy but he didn’t have the speed and they went too quick for him,” Byleveld related. “At the 300m mark they started coming back to me and, once he lowered, I knew I was going to win. It now looks like being an exciting season!”

This was the third Matchem in 15 years for Vaughan Marshall who promptly outlined plans: “There are a couple of opportunities coming up including the Cape Mile (Nov 9) and the WSB Green Point (Dec 14) but the Queen’s Plate is obviously the main one.”

African Warrior, only fifth in his bid to become the first three-year-old Matchem winner since Variety Club, finished close enough – and well enough – for Dean Kannemeyer (who won the last with Captain Elliodor) to decide to aim him at the Cape Guineas.   

Front And Centre started odds-on for the Diana Stakes and, although those who backed her had a few nervous moments a furlong out, a couple of confident pushes from the man on top was all it took to settle the issue. “Helen’s Ideal (third) had a soft lead and so I didn’t want to give her too much start,” Greg Cheyne related. “The pace was only average – given the class of the race I thought it might have been a bit stronger. Front And Centre is not wound up yet and she has a lot of upside going into the season.”

This was the first Diana victory for Brett Crawford and he has yet to win the Majorca but avenging last season’s third is an obvious objective for him and the Kiewswetters. The combination were also on the mark with Kelpie in the Betting World Handicap after the in-form Cheyne shrewdly chose this one in preference to unplaced favourite Flame Tree.

Freedom Charter, off since May and a little considered 16-1 chance, was only beaten half a length in the Diana and an understandably pleased Candice Bass-Robinson said: “She has matured into a lovely sort and she will now go back sprinting for the Sceptre Stakes and a couple of races before that.”

Robert Bloomberg had already worked out plans for Cane Lime ‘N Soda even before Byleveld brought the three-year-old with a strong run to lead inside the final furlong of the New Turf Carriers Handicap and beat the older horses – “The Racing Association Mile in P.E., Cape Guineas, CTS sales race on Sun Met day and Cape Derby,” he said.

It was quite a day for Marshall and his stable jockey and they kicked off with Fynbos making up four lengths in the final furlong of the mile maiden to delight breeder and part-owner Peter de Beyer. He had been surprised when he failed to get a meaningful bid on his R600 000 reserve when she came up at the big CTS sale just days before her half-brother Last Winter went close in the Met.

The Snaith stable continued their seemingly unstoppable march through the maidens with Camp David and Sovereign Secret (the latter the first winner for Pete and Janet Carolin) while stable jockey Richard Fourie produced a fine turn of foot to take the jockeys race.

The crowd was big by present-day standards – “It’s like the July,” quipped one official – and events officer Clinton Theys promptly predicted that “this meeting is going to grow and grow.” Certainly it augurs well that so many children found the racecourse such an enjoyable experience. 

By Michael Clower

It was an absolute scorcher of a day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the East Coast and if yesterday’s weather was an early indication of what we can expect for the coming summer then we all better make sure that our aircon’s and fans are in good working order.

Racing was just like the weather, HOT! The first race went the way of the visiting horse trained by Weiho Marwing, Orchid Street.

He won very well beating Inside Politics whom was promoted from third to second in the boardroom. Mr Samuels owns Orchid Street and this horse was a deserved winner as he has been ultra consistent. Duke Of York still looked a bit green and was being urged into the straight by jockey Stuart Randolph. The second race kicked off the Place Accumulator where Brass Bell accelerated past Lundy’s Lad in the straight whom had got first run on Garth Pullers handsome, well put together grey son of Pathfork. Talented apprentice Luke Ferraris whose record boasts two rides on this horse for a second and now a win, was rather complimentary of the victory and mentioned that he should go on in his career. Brass Bell was the first leg of Pullers double as Jack Of Hearts recorded back to back victories when he won the sixth race under a start to finish ride from apprentice Thabiso Gumede.

The opening leg of the Pick Six was the first leg of a quick double for the Tony Rivalland and Mary Liley combination where In Jest defied being drawn the widest.

This daughter of Silvano won well and in the post race interview with Deez Dayanand, Liley mentioned that she hoped this was not the last time In Jest would be seen in the winners enclosure. The quick double came with Tristful in the very next race.

He won well and held the fast finishing Kapen Pride at bay. He looks something rather special and it could pay to follow him into the summer and especially next year! Twice To Sydney went down to the start for the fifth by far the best in my opinion and duly obliged. This was her first run out the maidens and she impressed. The seventh was a tough race but the punters did not want to know as the money came for Ultra Magnus whom ended up being an ultra impressive winner. Jockey Donovan Dillon went to the head of affairs and asked his mount for maximum effort in the closing stages under a hands and heels ride. He found all the way to the line and held off a low flying Wynkelder from the tail of the field.

The connections of Ultra Magnus mentioned that they were hoping to have a crack at the Merchants in Gauteng and why not.

Proud part owner Graeme Hawkins was on course to see his horse win and mentioned in the post race interview that they can now go to Guateng to see if he can swim with the best of them. Hawkins owns this horse in partnership with Brian Makwabarara from Zimbabwe.

The last race of the day went off shortly after 5pm where it had thankfully got much cooler by then and the Dennis Bosch trained Graduate went past Share Holder easily to score.

By Warren Lenferna

Buffalo Bill Cody went into the Gr1 Champions Cup at the end of last season preceded by a huge reputation but he fluffed his lines and it was back to the drawing boards for trainer Mike de Kock. Prior to the Champions Cup, Buffalo Bill Cody had suffered only a single reverse, that being on debut when a distant fourth to Rebel’s Champ who has since established himself as a top sprinter.

The Australian-bred horse makes his seasonal debut in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein tomorrow and bookmakers have not taken any chances with Buffalo Bill Cody as short as 12-10 in the early exchanges.

However, a lay-off and a wide draw over the tight Turffontein inner circuit will not make his comeback a walk in the park but outside of his Champions Cup disappointment, Buffalo Bill Cody had solid form, putting daylight between himself and any rivals.

The Spring Challenge marks the start of the two-month Highveld spring season that culminates with the Gauteng Summer Cup on November 30 where Buffalo Bill Cody is a nomination along with the cream of the De Kock yard and although he does look a cut above some useful opposition, caution may be the operative word when it comes to the exotics.

Zouaves has not won since the Hawaii Stakes last season but goes very well over this course and distance where he boasts an unbeaten record. In his favour is that Geoff Woodruff has got a race into his charge in preparation for this event in what was a smart seasonal debut over a distance short of his best. He also has the best of the draw at gate two so victory will not come as a surprise.

Of the balance, Infamous Fox is never far back while the Sean Tarry pair of Chimichuri Run and Putontheredlight are both smart horses but could possibly be short of a run, not having been out since July.

The Gr2 Spring Challenge for fillies and mares is another intriguing puzzle. Form horse is Vistula who made short work of the opposition for Paul Peter and jockey Warren Kennedy last month. Vistula has an exceptional record and must rate the filly to beat.

However, she does have a tricky draw to overcome and faces three younger rivals who should make a race of it. De Kock saddles Gin Fizz who was possibly just in need of her last run when caught in the dying strides. That was a hard race and second run after a break may come into play but the step up in trip should suit. Sidonie hacked up on debut for Sean Tarry and could be anything as she has a top pedigree and a good draw to boot.

Stable companion Spiritofthegoove should enjoy the step up in trip and has been beaten less than a length in three starts since shedding her maiden on debut. She has drawn on the wrong side of mid-field but does like to come from off the pace so the draw may not be a factor.

Vistula is top of the ante-post boards on offer at 22-10 with Gin Fizz and Sidonie bracketed on 5-1.

By Andrew Harrison