The Vaal stages an eight race meeting and some promising sorts will be turned out, so there is a lot to look forward to.

Piere Strydom

The highest rated race is a MR 84 Handicap over 2000m and the choice is the Summer Cup entry Hidden Agenda. Last time he finished strongly from behind over 1800m, but in the process hung in badly and took out most of the field. He was beaten in the end anyway by The Elmo Effect. This time he has a draw of three in a seven horse field and is off the same merit rating, so Gunther Wrogemann will be trying to ensure he is on the rail in the straight. Amsterdam, also a Summer Cup entry, looked beaten when Hidden Agenda swept past him last time, but he was plugging on at the time and was then sandwiched out of the race. The losing margin was thus flattering to Hidden Agenda. Furthermore, a lot of use had been made of Amsterdam in that race to overcome a wide draw, so it would be no great surprise if he reverses the form over an even more suitable trip from pole position under Piere Strydom. The Mike de Kock-trained three-year-old Like A Panther will enjoy the step up in trip based on his easy win over 1600m and he would not be a surprising winner either. However, it is never easy first time out of the maidens for a young horse, especially one who has been merit rated 89. Those three should get punters through the exotics.

There are two other De Kock-trained three-year-olds running first time out of the maidens, who have been tipped to win. In the fourth race over 1700m, the Australian-bred Teofilo colt Yakeen won comfortably on debut over 1400m and will clearly relish the step up to this trip. He has a plum draw of three and does not face an inspiring field. It is open beyond Yakeen. Pachuco found extra last time over 1600m and this improved sort will enjoy this trip, so he should be running on after likely being dropped out from a wide draw. King’s King ran a fine race over this trip back in June, although he also has a wide draw to overcome. Defy Gravity finished strongly over 1800m last time from way back and he now has a good draw. Swing Vote has been accorded a fair merit rating of 65 after his front-running maiden win over 1600 and could make a bold bid from a wide draw under Piere Strydom. Grasshopper could sit behind Swing Vote and has an outside chance.

In the seventh race over 1000m, the De Kock-trained Australian-bred colt by Star Witness, Mujaafy, was most impressive on debut over 1160m, when cruising in by 4,2 lengths. Off an 84 merit rating and from a reasonable draw of seven he could follow up. A horse who could give him a run is the talented Cathederal County, who carries topweight and lost his race at the start last time when losing a length.

Callan Murray

In the first race, an uninspiring event over 1500m, Go Green looks the right one on form having comfortably beaten another contender, Middle Path, when they met over 1200m. However, is should be borne in mind Lucky Houdalakis-trained horses are brought on continuously, so it would be no great surprise if Middle Path reversed the form, especially as he stayed on well in a subsequent start over 1400m. Bosphorus did well to finish second to the well regarded Galactic Warrior on debut, so he is a contender, but he had a good draw that day and now has a wide draw to overcome.

The second is a typically difficult fillies and mares MR 74 Handicap over 1700m. Parisienne Chic has dropped to an attractive merit rating and is drawn well so is the choice. The distance suited and in form Angelic Appeal and the ultra consistent September Bloom make most appeal of the rest.

The third is an uninspiring maiden and Maneater has only been chosen due to the lack of good form in this race. She will certainly relish the step up in trip, having been hard ridden in a workrider’s sprint race where she finished third. However, she was by no means eyecatching. Angelic and Wings Of Charne have shown ability and look to be the main dangers.

The sixth race over 2000m looks to be a boat race between the progressive Inn A Million, who has won three of his last five, and Arabian World. Inn A Million won cosily last time and can overcome a six point raise from a good draw. However, it is interesting to note Gavin Lerena rode him in that race, but has stuck with Arabian World. The latter has always struck as a horse with ability. He at last produced his potential last time when scooting in by 2,5 lengths over this trip at Turffontein Inside. That was Arabian World’s first run for the flying Paul Peter yard and he is now drawn in pole, so should have a strong chance. Sheet Weaver, like Arabian World, is by Ideal World and the last time he tried this trip he ran a fine race. However, the formlines put him marginally behind the first two choices.

In the last race over 1200m Alex The Great has been chosen as one who has caught the eye before and is now having his first run as a gelding. Wottahottie and Cedrus Libani both caught the eye last time in the same 1400m race and will enjoy this trip. However, the promising Torio Lake has been chosen as the main danger, despite having to carry topweight from a wide draw, and the pole position draw Cannes can also be considered having dropped to a competitive merit rating.

By David Thiselton

Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open misses the Cape Classic to go for the mile Pinnacle when racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday.

Glen Kotzen said: “It’s partly because of his wide draw but also he would have had to give 5kg to much of the field in the Classic – and it’s only a prep race so why kill him? Also he would prefer a mile – seven furlongs is too short for him.”

Eyes Wide Open (Candiese Marnewick)

Ancestry, beaten half a length in the Greyville Grade 1, was also not declared for the Classic but entered for the Pinnacle. However Joey Ramsden said on Saturday that the colt will not run, citing a lack of grass gallops.

Richard Fourie rides the supplemented Sir Frenchie but Justin Snaith reckons stable companion Cot Campbell could be the one, saying: “He will be a big runner at the weights. He has a good draw and a good jockey (Grant van Niekerk). We’ve got Tap O’Noth to beat.”

Top weight Dutch Philip faces a massive task, giving away a minimum of 5kg and nearly twice that to the Sean Tarry filly Rockin Russian who was only beaten half a length in the Thekwini.

In the Western Cape Fillies Championship the champion trainer’s Thekwini fourth Desert Rhythm renews rivalry with the winner of that race Lady In Black. Both have wide draws and penalties to overcome whereas the unbeaten Magical Wonderland races off the standard 58kg and is reasonably drawn at seven.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith issued a heartfelt plea for more leniency in the handicapping of Cape Town stayers after Strathdon gave him his third consecutive Woolavington at Durbanville on Saturday.

He said: “I have Krambambuli and Ovidio sitting at home because I can’t run them until Met day as they are handicapped out of it in the staying races. Strathdon will hopefully go through the weights but, if he does, he will get nailed and go into the Gold Cup with top weight while some Jo’burg horse will come along with 52kg.”

Justin Snaith

Interfering with handicapping can end up causing more difficulties than it solves but turning at least one of the Cape Town long-distance triumvirate (Kenilworth Cup, Summer Stayers and Chairman’s Cup) into a conditions race could be the solution to the no-opportunities problem.

Punters got it right with Strathdon who went off 17-10 favourite whereas Red Peril was allowed to start at 4-1 despite his runaway Settlers win. Wes Marwing again tried to build up an unassailable lead and, while he turned for home almost three lengths clear, he was soon sending out distress signals like a drowning man. His mount managed only fifth in a time, a little puzzlingly, more than three seconds slower than his course record.

Richard Fourie also scored a convincing win for Snaith on Fifty Cents in the 1 400m handicap but the former champion trainer is still miffed that he was unable to run the gelding on July day.

He said: “At Scottsville a fortnight beforehand he reared up in the gates and the saddle slipped. After he was resaddled he went straight in yet they took his ticket away.”

Ronnie Sheehan celebrated his 81^st birthday four weeks late when 8-1 shot Over Again survived an objection from Corne Orffer on 18-10 favourite Honey Suite after the Tabonline Handicap. The runner-up was pushed wide and was only beaten a fifth of a length.

But Grant van Neikerk pulled his whip through in the closing stages and kept the race. The way he emerged from the boardroom, bounding down the steps three at a time, told the result well before the official announcement!

Val Niekerk is on fire at the moment and made it six winners from two meetings when rounding off a Snaith treble on Dynamic Diana in the last.

Strathdon (Liesl King)

Orffer had better luck for boss Brett Crawford when leading throughout on White River in the Betting World Handicap but the day’s riding honours surely belonged to Louis Burke who doubled his score with his first double.

Burke, 22 but in only his first year of race-riding, showed the coolness of real talent on the Mike Stewart-trained Al Wahed and 40 minutes later followed up on Ostinato for Glen Kotzen and a Green Street partnership.

Harold Crawford shrewdly had a few rand on 16-1 newcomer Ready Steady Go in the first and Grant Behr’s mount just held on to give his trainer some compensation for the problems he causes at home.

Crawford explained: “The horse has shown ability but he is a monster to look after. He is fine in his box but outside it he wants to kill everything and he doesn’t want to work.”

It was a hot day, at least by recent standards, and a number of jockeys came back sweating profusely. Aldo Domeyer lost more than the permitted half kilo on fifth-placed Sassy Lady in race six and the filly was disqualified.

By Michael Clower

There was some top-class racing at Greyville yesterday with at least three winners giving notice that they are top drawer, but they were all over-shadowed in a lowly MR Handicap over 3000m as Run Rhino Run turned in a stunning performance.

Seemingly out of control as the small field hit the first turn, Kom Naidoo’s runner cornered wide and if not for the outside fence would probably have been racing up Florida Road.

The balance of the riders seemed unconcerned as they kept in a tight bunch on the inside rail while Run Rhino Run continued to increase his lead no matter that he was running twice the distance.

Nearly a furlong-and-a-half clear turning for home, there was very little chance of Run Rhino Run being caught and he went to the line with an official 19 lengths to spare.

Run Rhino Run (Candiese Marnewick)

It was hardly the stuff of Secretariat in his famed Belmont Stakes romp, the official time being way outside the course record, but it was still something of a bizarre race.

Given Run Rhino Run’s antics, the other riders can possibly be forgiven for thinking that he would compound. On the other hand their pace was little more than a steady canter so there should be some questions asked.

The Sean Tarry machine is starting to kick into gear and the champion trainer will have been well satisfied with the performance of Captain And Master in the Progress Plate. Unlucky behind stable companion Purple Diamond in the Gr.2 Golden Horseshoe on July day and a beaten favourite in the Gr.1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, he put his marker down in his seasonal debut scooting home comfortably ahead of the highly rated Red Chestnut Road and the luckless filly Dawn Calling.

Dean Kannemeyer has had a quiet couple of seasons by his standards but the wheel appears to be turning. Last Winter gave notice that he could be a force to be reckoned with this Cape season when keeping his clean sheet at Durbanville on Saturday and Hastagyolo also sent out a strong message in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial. Anthony Delpech had no hesitation in taking his mount to the front and there she stayed, holding on comfortably from Fiorella who tired her heart out in second ahead of Roy’s Riviera.

Paul Gadsby has a smart filly in Vision To Kill as the home-bred daughter of Kildonan was given a smart ride by apprentice Ashton Arries, scything though the middle of the pack to win well. Neptune’s Rain found the 1000m trip a touch on the short side but was doing her best work late and is one for the notebook when she goes a furlong further.

It’s not often that a trainer puts a horse on diet, “but he gets fatter after every race,” said Louis Goosen of Doing It For Dan. “Just now he won’t be able to fit into the starting stalls,” he said. The gelding did it for Goosen yesterday, winning his tenth race from 44 starts from Redcarpet Captain and top weight London Call in the Pinnacle Stake sprint.

By Andrew Harrison

The teams for the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge have been finalised and some well-known UK jockeys will be flying to South Africa for the test. It will be held at one venue this year, Turffontein on Sunday 19 November, and the test will be held over six races.

Anthony Delpech

Captain. This Seychelles-born 48-year-old has ridden for South Africa in every International Jockeys Challenge held so far. He won the national jockeys’ title last season, riding 43 more winners than second-placed Greg Cheyne and maintaining a high 22% win rate. That was his third jockeys’ title after 1998-99, when he set the standing record in South Africa for number of winners in a season – 334, and 2002-03. “Bonji” won four Grade 1 races last season. Although only 10^th on the 2017-18 log, he is maintaining his high strike rate this season with 20 wins from 94 rides and a win-place strike rate of nearly 60%. He has ridden in Singapore, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Dubai. He rides at 53kg.

Greg Cheyne

This 41-year-old Pretoria-born rider was in the South African team in the 2015 International Jockeys’ Challenge. He has a diverse international CV that includes appearances in Malaysia, Germany, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore Macau and most recently in England where he partnered Whisky Baron in his UK debut. His second on the national jockeys’ log in 2016-17 was his highest finish to date, although he did finish third on a couple of occasions before that. He made his one Grade 1 victory for last season count – it came in the Cape’s biggest race, the Sun Met, aboard Whisky Baron. Cheyne is currently 18^th on the national jockeys’ log with a win-place strike rate of nearly 60%. He rides at 53kg.

Gavin Lerena

Champion SA jockey 2014-15 and third on the log last season in spite of spending almost three months in the UK. The 32-year-old Johannesburg-born won the Grade 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup on Master Sabina last year and his four Grade 2 wins included the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. He has ridden in Hong Kong, Mauritius, China, Dubai, England and Zimbabwe. This is the sixth time he will represent South Africa in this challenge and he rode in the Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Challenge and Shergar Cup in 2015. He is third on the log and more than a quarter of his rides so far have won. He rides at 57kg.

Anton Marcus

Four-time champion SA jockey, he has captained the “Proteas” four times in the International Jockeys’ Challenge and ridden in this test six times. The 47-year-old, who was born in Cape Town and is retained jockey to the powerful string belonging to Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators, won six Grade 1 races last season when he finished fourth on the national jockeys’ log with a winning strike rate of 25.52%. His winning strike rate so far this season is even better, 29.27%, so he continues to ride with finesse. His international experience includes rides in Australia, Macau Dubai, England, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Singapore.

S’manga Khumalo

Two-time champion SA jockey – the first person of colour to achieve that honour – this KwaMashu-born 31-year-old has ridden in the International Jockeys’ Challenge five times and was captain in 2014 when the local team won by a country mile. Finished fifth on the log in 2016-17 with a winning strike rate of 16.6% and a tally of three Grade 1 wins. Has made a fairly slow start to the current season and is 25^th on the table. Has represented his country in jockey tests in England and Hong Kong and has also ridden with success in Australia, China, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Weighs in at 53kg.

Craig Zackey

The Benoni, Johannesburg-born 22-year-old rides in the International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time but has already represented his country twice, in the Asian Young Guns in Seoul in 2014 and 2015. Finished sixth on the SA Jockeys’ log last season with 138 winners and his second Grade 1 trophy, when Nother Russia won the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes. His best finish came in defeat, though, when the filly was beaten two short heads into third by hard-knocking males Deo Juvente and Legal Eagle in the Premiers Champions Challenge. Is currently ninth on the national jockeys’ log. Rides at 53kg.

Pat Smullen

Represents Ireland. This 40-year-old rider, who rode his first winner in 1993, has won the Irish flat-racing jockeys’ title nine times and has won major races in his homeland, England, France and the United States. He has ridden several times in the Shergar Cup, although his team failed to win on any of those occasions. He will be riding in South Africa for the first time. Is currently second on the Irish jockeys’ log behind Colin Keane with a 14% winning strike rate. Biggest win this year came in the Moyglare “Jewels” Blandord Stakes (Group 2) aboard Dermot Weld-trained Shamreen. His lowest riding weight this year was 54.5kg.

Seamie Heffernan

Represents Ireland and eighth on the Irish jockeys’ log this year with a 10% winning strike rate. The 45-year-old, who was born in County Kildare, rode in the International Jockeys’ Challenge in South Africa in 2012 when he won a race at Clairwood and helped his team win the test. He has also ridden in England, France and the USA, where he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Highland Reel last year. Rides mostly for Aidan O’Brien and his big-race wins this year include three Grade 1s – the Irish Derby on Capri, the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes on US Navy Flag and the Prix de l’Opera on Rhododendron. Rides at 54.5kg.

Corey Brown

Represents Australia. The 41-year-old Taree-born jockey has ridden in Mauritius, Singapore (fourth in the premiership there last year) and Hong Kong but comes to South Africa for our International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time. Champion Australian jockey in 2001-2002, he is best known internationally for riding Shocking to victory in Australia’s premier race, the Melbourne Cup, in 2009. Has ridden a lot for Godolphin this year winning on a third of his rides for them. Currently 39^th on the Australian jockeys’ log. Rides at 53kg.

Martin Dwyer

Represents England. The 42-year-old Aintree, Liverpool-born jockey has ridden in Mauritius but visits South Africa for the International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time. Has recorded Group 1 wins in England (including winning the Oaks on Casual Look in 2003 and the Derby on Sir Percy in 2006), Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Dubai (where he won the Dubai Sheema Classic on Phoenix Reach in 2005) and India. Rides a lot for his father-in-law Willie Muir. Has a 10% winning strike rate this year and is 46^th in the British Flat jockeys’ standings. Was licensed to also ride over jumps this year. His lowest riding weight in 2017 was 52kg.

Thierry Thulliez

Represents France. The 43-year-old Paris-born jockey, affectionately called “Thuthu”, started his life in the saddle as a jump jockey, winning 17 races over obstacles before moving to Chantilly to ride in Flat races. Although without a Group 1 win and a 6% winning strike rate this year, he is no stranger to big-race success, having won at the highest level in France, Italy and the USA, where he won the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile on Domedriver, and his international experience also includes Germany, Mauritius, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Dubai and Czechoslovakia. Has ridden as light as 53.5kg this year.

PJ McDonald

Represents Ireland but the 35-year-old jockey works in the UK and is in the top 10 on their jockeys’ log. Was recently crowned Flat jockey of the year at Ayr. A former jump jockey, he switched codes after winning the 2007 Scottish Grand National on Hot Weld as an apprentice, and has won 645 Flat races in his career. Is having his best season yet with 97 wins to his credit at the time of writing. His first Group 1 Flat race success came on 13 October aboard Laurens in the bet 365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. That was his third win aboard trainer Karl Burke’s charge. McDonald’s lowest riding weight this year has been 53kg.

Previously Gr1 winners carried penalties.
The 2000m contest, the Capes flagship race is expected to attract South Africas best, with berths available for 20 runners. It was won by the Australian-bred Whisky Baron at its inaugural running and the last under the old weight conditions.
Entries for the Met close at 11h00 on Wednesday 29 November 2017.
Other key dates:
First Supplementary Entries Close at 11h00 on Tuesday 12 December 2017
Final Supplementary Entries Close at 11h00 on Monday 8 January 2018
Weights will be published on Monday 8 January 2018
Final Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 15 January
Announcement of the Final Field will be made on Monday 15 January 2018
Barrier Draws to be made at an event on Wednesday 17 January 2018
The compulsory public gallops will be held on Thursday 18 January 2018

Turffontein Inside has a nine race meeting tomorrow and plenty of good horses are turning out as the big Highveld features approach.

Gavin Van Zyl

The first leg of the PA sees the Mike de Kock-trained Naafer clashing with the Gavin van Zyl-trained Vicomte and others. Naafer was unlucky in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe at Greyville last time out and earlier finished a four length second to his brilliant stablemate Mustaaqeem in the Grade 1 SA Nursery. Anthony Delpech was up in the latter race and gets the ride again from a fair draw of five over the 1000m trip. Vicomte is an eye-catching gelding by Var, who was green on debut and when the penny dropped his long stride was impressive. The horse he mowed down, Darkest Hour, went on to beat the classy Sir David Baird over 1400m, so he looks to be better than his 78 merit rating suggests. Whorly Whorly is well held by Naafer, but could place. Alfolk has some class and a lot of pace, but has to contend with a wide draw and top weight. Pillaroftheearth has struck as one who could develop into a top division sprinter. The first-timer filly Some Song is by Oratorio out of a half-sister to Natural Selection, who dead-heated for fourth with Pocket Power in the 2007 Vodacom Durban July, just 0,45 lengths behind the winner. She has a featherweight and a good draw so should not be ignored.

Later, in a classy conditions plate over 1600m, Tahini should not be ignored. She won a conditions plate over course and distance a year ago, despite returning from a layoff and being considerably under sufferance. Her odds that day were 35/1 but she proved it was no fluke in March this year when winning a Pinnacle Stakes event over the same course and distance by four lengths at odds of 5/1. Those have been her only two starts over course and distance and like last year she is returning from a layoff again. However, the selection to win is Bi Pot, simply due to her being so well treated at the weights. Geoff Woodruff is aiming this Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic runner up at the Summer Cup and holds her in high regard. She is 0,5kg better off with Wind Chill tomorrow on official merit ratings and is at least 4kg better off with the rest of the field. Wind Chill will be improving being by Silvano, but this SA Oaks winner would likely prefer a touch further, so Tahini is chosen to finish second. The classy topweight Fort Ember will be dangerous as a representative of the very much in form Paul Peter yard and Intergalactic is a classy distance suited sort making her comeback.

Mike de Kock

The following race is a MR 91 Handicap where Social Order is chosen as the best bet of the day, although Sean Tarry is a little bit concerned about his suitability to the Inside track. This four-year-old Count Dubois gelding was travelling well throughout in the Grand Heritage over 1475m last time out but encountered severe traffic problems at a crucial stage. When he finally saw daylight he flew home for a 3,8 length fifth. He will enjoy the step up in trip and has a nice draw of five with S’Manga Khumalo now taking over the ride. Elevated was beaten 2,9 lengths by Social Order in the Grand Heritage and they face each other on the same terms. However, he had no cover the whole way in that race and before that was a comfortable winner over Saturday’s course and distance. This well regarded sort wears first time blinkers and will be attempting to qualify for the Charity Mile and Summer Cup, so Anthony Delpech has his work cut out from a wide draw. The topweight Unagi can be forgiven his last two runs and from pole position over his favourite course and distance will also be a big runner.

In race two over 1200m the first-timer Australian-bred Shufoog is most interesting being by Grade 1-winning sprinter Star Witness out of a multiple stakes-winning sprinter.

In race five over 2000m, Ali Bon Dubai looks to have been under rated by the handicapper and can use his fine turn of foot to make it a course and distance double and a career hattrick.

In the following race End Game makes little appeal at first sight, especially from a wide draw. However, this Silvano filly is well treated on her best form and should be running on strongly under Piere Strydom if bouncing back to her best.

By David Thiselton

Billy Prestage’s good stayer built up a huge lead in last month’s Settlers Trophy and romped home over five lengths clear. Many of the rival trainers have since made it clear that they think their jockeys were caught napping by Wes Marwing’s opportunism but the fact that his mount took more than two seconds off the course record suggests there was no fluke about the performance.

Some observers even took the 2 400m record with a pinch of salt, pointing to the improved state of the track, but not many other races have established new records.

Dean Kannemeyer

Red Peril is the oldest horse in the race and the handicappers have raised his rating by eight points, roughly the equivalent of the five lengths-plus by which he won. But he had been ten lengths clear approaching the furlong mark and he appeared to have been allowed to ease in the closing stages.

However Marwing, the one man in a position to know, says not – “I rode him to the line. I think it was more a case of the others having realised they had to do something about it (the big lead).”

Prestage is optimistic, saying: “I am very happy with him at home and I believe he has an outstanding chance although I don’t think the others will let him get away so easily this time.”

At the TAB forecast 5-2 he looks the best bet but Justin Snaith, bidding for his fourth Woolavington, has two strong contenders in the hat-trick seeking Strathdon and the mare Northern Ballet.

“I think Strathdon shows the more potential. He won his last race very well and he stays well,” is the trainer’s view.

Candice Bass-Robinson is two-handed with Three Balloons, who never really got into it in the Settlers, and Benjan whose 3kg under sufferance gives him a lot to do.

“Benjan stays well and Three Balloons should be competitive,” says Mrs Robinson. “He now has two runs under his belt this season and he still needed it last time.”

Dean Kannemeyer has won more Woolavingtons (seven) than all tomorrow’s rivals put together but Speed Of Africa, despite winning his last two starts, has been off for six months. “I have given him plenty of time – he is backward and immature – but it’s been a long break and I would like to have got one or two gallops into him.”

Mangrove ran well on his reappearance three weeks ago but Greg Ennion has well-founded reservations, explaining: “He is 3kg under sufferance so it’s a big ask. But there aren’t many races for him so we are giving it a go.”

By Michael Clower

There will be more than just apprentice Denis Schwarz riding on Got Your Back when the filly lines up in the Helen Lucre Resourcing Qualified Maiden at Greyville this evening. Dennis Bosch’s charge will be a popular exotic bet banker and looks well capable of snapping a string of runner-up berths.

Only once out of the money in six outings, she was well fancied to shed her maiden over course and distance last time out, but was unfortunate enough to find the frustrating On The Bounce eventually find form and Got Your Back finished up second best for the third time running.

Crime Victim

There is not a lot of depth among the opposition with only Arran Isles, another who has been expensive to follow, the most likely threat.

The Huhcor Handicap looks to be a more competitive event where plenty are in with chances. Out My Way is bidding for a fifth victory and should come on from his fourth-place finish behind Al Ciberano. That was the geldings first outing in three months and looks better suited to tonight’s trip.

Three years younger is Suzie’s Soldier who made a smart handicap debut for Doug Campbell finishing two lengths off the vastly more experience Royalsecuritypower. His maiden form has held up quite nicely and you leave him out of calculations at your peril. Marriot, Captain Ellio and Sapphire Petunia are others to consider.

Apprentices take centre stage on the night and Akshay Balloo will have his riding skills tested when he partners Flight Mode in the Campbell’s Cargo Handicap. The gelding is prone to taking a hold and if allowed to get away in the pre-race parade, Balloo could find himself hanging on.

However, Flight Mode has come on nicely at recent starts, finishing a close-up second last time out and looks well capable in this line-up.

Another potential banker on the card is Pure Logic. Dean Kannemeyer was in fine spirits at the launch of the Sun Met in Cape Town on Wednesday night after Last Winter turned in another smashing performance at Durbanville, giving notice that he will be a factor this summer. Assistant Barbara Bardenhorst is likely to be doing the saddling this evening and Pure Logic is back on his favourite surface. He has been up against stronger opposition at recent outings and should feature here.

Zen Arcade (Candiese Marnewick)

Among the more obvious dangers are Viking Red, Crime Victim, Icy Avalanche and Cat’s Legacy.

Viking Red was well fancied to snap his run of seconds over course and distance last time out, but arrived on the scene too late to catch surprise winner Ataturk. Frank Robinson will be looking for his charge to go one better.

Crime Victim has been dropping steadily in the ratings and his form has been consistent. The handicappers have dropped him a further three pounds since his last start and he looks competitive off his new mark.

Top weight Cat’s Legacy is lightly raced and will have his supporters. He showed up nicely in some competitive fields last season and was probably in need of the outing at his seasonal debut behind the promising Zen Arcade.

He goes this trip for the first time but should see it out.

Icy Avalanche looked to have come to the end of his career in Port Elizabeth but Tony Nassif is a shrewd judge and the gelding has taken a new lease on life, finishing close-up second in both recent outings. Nassif has engaged poly specialist Anton Marcus for the ride so the inference is obvious.

Apprentices round off the evening where Ashburton trainers could dominate. Lowan Denyssechen saddles Zilla, who showed up well on her return from a break and Ashton Arries could be defending his lead come the line from Craig Bantam on the Duncan Howells runner Miss Suey who was a close-up third behind stable companion Mythical Magic last time out.

By Andrew Harrison

Three-times national champion trainer Sean Tarry was happy with the runs of Liege and Samurai Blade on Saturday at Turffontein in preparation for the Sansui Summer Cup and also spoke of his other entries for Johannesburg’s biggest race.

Tarry said the free entries into the big race had been “a drawcard” as this allowed trainers to enter in numbers and then see how their preparations went.

Liege

Liege has shortened to 20/1 in Betting World’s Summer Cup book after Saturday’s eyecatching three length fifth in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the Inside track, where he was caught wide without cover the whole way but still managed to stay on well. It was the five-year-old son of Dynasty’s second run as a gelding and first outing since running in the Jubilee Handicap on June 11.

Samurai Blade finished a 4,25 length sixth in Saturday’s race. It was his first run since April and he only faded in the last bit after looking threatening.

Tarry said, “The distance was too short for them and the course doesn’t really suit them but I was pleased with their comeback runs and expect more from both of them on the Standside track over further.”

Tarry said Liege’s preparation for the Vodacom Durban July earlier this year had not gone according to plan and he had eventually pulled him out with a view to preparing him for the Summer Cup.

He continued, “I think the Victory Moon is the right race for him, although I may also consider the Charity Mile. The Victory Moon is four weeks after this last run, so will provide a nice build up. He should give a nice positive performance in his next race, but whichever race it is will be a preparation run for his target race, the Summer Cup.”

Samurai Blade also looks likely to use the Victory Moon as his final preparation run.

Matador Man is the shortest-priced of the Tarry Summer Cup entries at 16/1 with Betting World, but Tarry is not convinced.

Matador Man (Candiese Marnewick)

He said, “He will have to carry a lot of weight and I am not sure he didn’t raise his game at Greyville. I am not sure he would enjoy 1800m or 2000m at Turffontein as much as he would at Greyville. But I was not too concerned about his first prep run the other day (in the Grade 2 Spring Challenge on Turffontein Inside over 1450m where he was beaten 7,1 lengths by his promising three-year-old stablemate Wonderwall). Before the race I would have been satisfied for him to finish three lengths back, but the track was heavy that day and they were not making up ground on the outside. He would prefer the track a bit firmer and we will now try further, but I will have to be convinced about his Summer Cup chances.”

Matador Man’s running on third in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville suggests he will stay the Summer Cup trip, despite being by Toreador out of the Mogok 1400-1600m type Sahara. The Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile on November 4 looks his ideal next race, although he has drawn wide in 25 out of 35 entries.

French Navy is also likely to run in the Charity Mile as his Summer Cup preparation and Tarry said he would be happy for him to finish five or six lengths back.

Tilbury Fort is off a 97 merit rating and hasn’t run since the Vodacom Durban July, so Tarry said he would have to find a good preparation race for him and take it from there.

Tarry rates the unexposed 86 merit rated Social Order as good enough to run in big handicap races like the Charity Mile and Summer Cup, but added, “It will be difficult to qualify him for the Charity Mile and I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because the Inside Track might not suit him (he runs there on Saturday in a 1600m handicap). But off bottom weight in the Charity Mile and Summer Cup he won’t disgrace himself.”

Social Order, a four-year-old Count Dubois gelding, was the unluckiest horse in the Grand Heritage in just his fourth career start last time out. When he finally saw daylight he finished strongest of all for a 3,8 length fifth.

French Navy (JC Photographics)

Tarry said Bold Viking was improving but was not sure he was good enough. “He will be very lucky to qualify.”

He is considering taking Stonehenge to Cape Town as an alternative to the Summer Cup and said, “Older horses often do well down there.”

He said Hyaku’s run on the Greyville poly over 1900m on Gold Cup day had not panned out well, so he had done well to finish a close up fourth, and he was now hoping for a bug run in the Michaelmas from the 87 merit rated six-year-old.

Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Intergalactic is 96 merit rated and Tarry said, “She starts in a conditions Plate on Saturday and we will see how she goes.”

Witchcraft is also in that race and will then run in the Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap on Charity Mile day.

Tarry pointed out 89 merit rated Tambalang had “run on very nicely” in her last start over 1800m and would also go for the Yellowwood. He added, “She is in a nice space and is having the right preparation races.”

Tarry has had a statistically slower start than in his last two championship-winning seasons, but said, “The game hasn’t started yet. Producing big horses through the season is what it is all about. I have been fortunate to win the last three championships, but the clock starts again on August 1 each season.”

By David Thiselton