Apprentice Eric Ngwane’s 1,5kg claim could be the difference between winning and losing for Velvet Wind, bottom of the handicap in the City Logistics FM 90 Handicap to be run at Greyville tonight.

Top weights Princess Varunya and Work Ethic have both been tested in feature race company but even though this is a handicap they have to give lumps of weight to Velvet Wind and they may not be up to the task.

Alistair Gordon’s filly has been in good form of late and under Ngwane was beaten a nostril by Playboy Buddy over 1900m on the poly last time out. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly also takes her place in today’s line-up but is 2,5kg worse off and in theory should not be able to turn the tables.

Eric Ngwane (Nkosi Hlophe)

Playboy Buddy has since had another outing, finishing nearly three lengths adrift of the more than useful Lala which underpins Velvet Wind’s form.

Prior to that effort, Velvet Wind finished three lengths back to Crackpot on the Scottsville turf. She has plenty in her favour this evening and should be right up there when the whips are cracking.

Princess Varunya finished a neck behind Velvet Wind in the race won by Crackpot and Kom Naidoo’s filly meets her rival on similar weight terms. That was also her first outing since April and was almost certainly short of peak fitness. She followed up with another good showing in the Michaelmas Handicap behind Celtic Captain and with apprentice Serina Moodley claiming his 4kg from a plum draw Princess Varunya will have her supporters.

Gavin van Zyl saddles Work Ethic who has been up against some strong opposition on the Highveld and has returned home. She has finished behind the likes of Liege, Intergalatic and more recently the smart grey Girl On The Run and she should be much more competitive in this company.

Emperor Niarchos has been a soldier for Frank Robinson, placing in just under half of his 40 starts, and can add to his winning tally when he lines up in the Discovery Ventures Handicap, first leg of the jackpot. The six-year-old’s merit rating has been dropping steadily and in four recent outings has come down from 69 to 62. He should now be competitive off his new mark and a good draw and Anthony Delpech aboard adds to his appeal in an open race.

Unbelievable Chad appears to be finally producing his best and was a close-up third on the poly last time out. He was doing his best work late and the extra furlong should be right up his ally and Paul Lafferty’s runner is a must inclusion in all exotics.

Robinson was in the winner’s enclosure with Sounds Positive on Sunday and he has a chance of a double this evening as Even Tempo is the likely favourite for the Ketla Braai Maiden Plate, opening leg of the Pick 6.

The daughter of Elusive Fort has been well supported in the market in both starts and was not far behind Go With Flo last time out. Given her pedigree and a pole position draw she has a lot in her favour, including some moderate opposition. Night At The Proms and Crystal River look obvious dangers even though they appear moderate. Wahi had it all to do from a coffin draw at Scottsville at her last outing and is one that could make big improvement in a field of this calibre.

Of the balance of the card, Top Form will have his supporters in the Eagle Fire Control Handicap where Anton Marcus teams up with Charles Laird. The gelding came back well from a three-month break when second to smart stable companion Buffalo Soldier and followed up with another forward showing behind the more than useful Beat The Retreat. He takes a slight drop in class but will need to be at his peak to get the measure of Peter Piper. Dennis Bosch’s charge is also having his third outing after a break and takes a major drop in class. He finished three lengths back to Redcarpet Captain last time out and a repeat showing should see him close.

Apprentice Ashton Arries is being well supported by champion trainer Sean Tarry and the youngster gets another chance to show his worth on Super Guppy in the eighth. The mare made a sudden return to form last time out and with only 48kg on her back must have a strong chance in what looks to be another open affair.

By all accounts, Catherine Of Aragon was no great Spanish beauty but did survive Henry’s axe. Hopefully her namesake with see punters through the final leg of the Pick 6 where Alistair Gordon’s filly can go one better after two close-up seconds on the poly.

By Andrew Harrison

The most intriguing runner in Saturday’s Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas is the Brett Crawford-trained Australian-bred Quick Brown Fox, who has had two career starts, both over 1200m, and won both of them impressively. The big question is whether she will stay the 1600m trip.

Her sire Foxwedge won five races, including a Gr 1, over trips from 1100-1200m. Her unraced dam is the daughter of a mare who won two races over 1200m and 1406m respectively and who has only produced sprinters to date, including a Listed winner. So, Quick Brown Fox’s pedigree has speed and more speed bursting off the page at first sight.

However, her unraced dam is by Hold That Tiger, who won a Gr 1 over seven furlongs in France as a two-year-old, and later that season finished third in the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile over a mile and one furlong (1800m). He ran on from the back in the latter race and at the finish was staying on under pressure, despite having cornered wide. This gives some hope for Quick Brown Fox staying 1600m. She has used her electric turn of foot to come from off the pace in both of her starts and has won both of them going away by comfortable margins.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

However, the list of horses who have failed to stay further despite effortless, running on wins over shorter is a long one. A top class sprinter’s natural speed would allow them to be in cruise in lower grade sprints and Quick Brown Fox has to date only run in a Maiden and a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares, where she ran off a merit rating of 82.

However, in her favour is she can be switched off easily, and this has been confirmed by jockey Greg Cheyne. Hopefully, this will mean she will not over race on Saturday. She also has the pole position draw, which should allow her to find a position for free.

The purists will be watching on with more than passing interest and so will punters as she has been backed in from 8/1 to 6/1 already with the sponsors World Sports Betting.

Another strong contender from the Cape is the Joey Ramsden-trained Just Sensual, who will be ridden by Anton Marcus. She is well bred being by Dynasty out of the Equus Champion two-year-old filly Consensual. She relaxed beautifully in her last start when cruising to a 3,5 length victory in a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m carrying 60kg off an 84 merit rating. On pedigree and racing style she will easily get the trip, so looks the best value in the sponsors betting at 14/1. Her draw of 12 is tough, but being such a relaxed type it should not present an insurmountable problem.

Querari Falcon won the Gr 1 Thekwini over this trip as a two-year-old and did it in impressive style, having had to switch out wide on the turn and again in the straight. She has not disappointed in two outing this season and is duly the favourite at 33/10.

Sail, who was a 1,15 length third in the Thekwini, is a robust filly who always looked likely to come into her own as a three-year-old. She is not the easiest horse to deal with, so it was noticeable how well she relaxed in the running last time over 1400m when taken to the front. From a wide draw here she might have to try the same tactic and connections will be hoping for a slow early pace.

Maleficent (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Red Light Girl, by Captain Al out of Thekwini winner Roxanne, might ensure a decent pace. She was unlucky from the front in the Gr 2 Choice Carriers over 1400m when jumping a shadow close to home. However, she was being reeled in by eventual winner Ektifaa and it will be even tougher leading from pillar to post on Saturday.

Safe Harbour franked the Thekwini form, where she finished a 2,15 length fourth, by winning the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m two weeks ago from pole position. She looks likely to relish the 1600m trip as it took her a while to reach top gear in the latter race and she has an impressive stride. She has another plum draw of two.

She’s A Giver comes off an impressive annihilation of the Gr 3 Starling Stakes field over 1400m at Turffontein. She has a wide draw to overcome and travelled quite strongly in the Starling Stakes after showing good gatespeed, but on pedigree she should stay the trip. She is by Philanthropist and her half-sister by Captain Al, the 90 merit-rated Val Et Al, has won over 1700m.

The classy Maleficent, should have come on from her Starling Stakes run, where she finished a pleasing running on second.

The long-striding Final Judgement can’t be ignored as she did not have much luck in her seasonal reappearance in the Choice Carriers over 1400m but still managed a close up third and she now has Strydom aboard.

Thekwini runner up Dawn Calling ran a flat race over 1200m on the Greyville poly but now has her third run of the season over her preferred trip.

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lady Of The House has a similar profile to the one Elusive Gold had when winning the Cape Guineas for Brett Crawford three years ago, so can’t be ignored as she is a likely improver.

Smokey Affair also looks to be a progressive sort.

Whose That Girl didn’t have much cover in the Choice Carriers, so could improve, but has another tricky draw.

Captain Gambler went close in a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over this trip off a 90 merit rating in a crawl sprint affair and this long strider looks to have plenty of scope so can’t be ignored.

Visuality’s disappointing effort in the Ready To Run Stakes has put a dampener on her chances here.

This looks like a quality renewal of the prestigious race and is not to be missed.

By David Thiselton

Saturday’s World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas favourite Querari Falcon arrived in Cape Town yesterday morning after taking the 1 400k journey from Johannesburg in good shape.

Mike Azzie said: “She is bright and perky, looking upbeat and seems to have travelled well. She is in a very good space at the moment and in my opinion whatever beats her will win.”

The Thekwini winner has been bought by Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud from Adriaan van Vuuren since her last run.

Querari Falcon (Nkosi Hlophe)

Legal Eagle, second to Smart Call in last season’s Met, heads the 27 entries for the January 28 Sun International-sponsored R5 million feature. He will be opposed by fellow Met entries Abashiri, Marinaresco, Captain America, New Predator and Black Arthur in the WSB Green Point Stakes on Saturday.

Whisky Baron and It’s My Turn both took a significant step nearer the big race when finishing first and second in the Market Toyota Culemborg Allowance Plate at Kenilworth yesterday with Greg Cheyne’s mount particularly convincing, really asserting in the final 400m to score by nearly four lengths.

Brett Crawford said: “I was impressed because he didn’t run anywhere near his 96 rating when he won last time. If they leave him below 100 after this I will keep him to handicaps. If they don’t, maybe the Queen’s Plate.”

Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn looked beaten two furlongs out after disputing it with the winner much of the way but he ran on again to please Justin Snaith who said: “He had only had one 1 400m gallop coming into this so I was very happy with the run.”

Saturday week’s Southern Cross Stakes is under consideration for Our Destiny after Richard Fourie’s mount comfortably justified 12-10 favouritism in the Macsteel Graduation Plate.

Fourie reported: “My main mission was to make sure she had her head down and was relaxed as she tended to over-race at one stage. But I thought she would win easily and she did.”

The Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old is part-owned and bred by Ralph Rixon for whom Kotzen used to be assistant. “It’s hard training for an ex-trainer,”Rixon admitted. “I taught Glen well but he doesn’t always listen and I went mad when he ran her in last year’s Fillies Guineas. I thought it was too far for her!”

By Michael Clower 

Mauritian Horse of the Year Parachute Man is one of 27 entries for the R5 million Sun Met to be run at Kenilworth on Saturday, 28 January next year. Initial entries include most of the country’s top gallopers who, if all standing their ground, will make for a fascinating race.

Parachute Man, trained by Ricky Maingard, has turned out to be one of the island’s ‘all time greats’ after winning his second Gr 1 in the Duke of York Cup.

“We haven’t decided on anything yet as we are not sure if he can go to Cape Town first in view of participating in the Met and not sure whether he would be invited either,” said Maingard.

Maingard regards the gelding as one of the best stayers he has trained and is hoping to crack an invite to the Met. Parachute Man is due back in South Africa on December 17.

Should Parachute Man make the field he will be up against two of the best in Legal Eagle and Marinaresco. They have yet to meet on the race course with Sean Tarry opting to skip Champions Season with Legal Eagle while in his absence Marinaresco proved himself a worthy opponent finishing a cracking second in the July and winning the Gr1 Champions Cup in the season finale.

Both have made pleasing starts in their warm-up for the Cape Summer of Champions and the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate will likely set their stage for the Met.

French Navy, off the track since unplaced in the Vodacom Durban July, is also an entry along with Triple Crown winner Abashiri.

Mike de Kock, who has twice won the Met with a three-year-old, has entered Bold Rex, third in the Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes, Heavenly Blue and Al Fahad while Justin Snaith has pencilled in Zodiac Ruler.

Andrew Harrison

First entries for the R5 million Gr1 Sun Met to be run over 2000 m at Kenilworth on Saturday 28 January 2017:

The Vaal Outside track stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and outside draws will be favourable by trends.

There are a couple of “penalty kicks” on the card in the form of the race two contender Alaadel and the race five contender Samurai Blade, but they are likely to be at cramped odds.

The Candice Dawson-trained Jay Peg filly Jameson Girl has been chosen as the best bet on the card and she races in race four, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1000m. She has plenty of speed and Gavin Lerena stays aboard from a plum draw.

St John Gray

The downside is she was seen to be hanging inward last time out. However, she does not have a great deal to beat.  Gunship made a fair debut behind a couple of promising sorts and could improve, so she looks the main threat from a good draw. The exposed Blazing Berry showed pace last time over 1200m with the blinkers back on and she looks likely to enjoy returning to the minimum trip and could earn.

The highest rated handicap on the card is the sixth race, a MR 80 affair for fillies and mares over 1600m. Inaninstant is the selection despite her disappointing last start. She has always struck as having class and she now has her third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. She will have the advantage of a 4kg claimer aboard and this might help her get over to the favourable standside in the lead, as she is usually right up there.

There is not much to separate her and Angelic Appeal on form. The latter has a tricky draw to overcome, but Marco van Rensurg is aboard so she should have every chance of doing so. Sisters Of Mercy usually makes breathing noises, but can never be ignored as she is capable of a strong finish. She has plenty in her favour as she is drawn on the standside rail and is three points lower in the merit ratings than her last win. She might also appreciate the slight step down in trip from her last few runs.

Nother Russia has inherited some of the class of her outstanding multiple Gr 1-winning mother Mother Russia and is another danger. It is her first run since March and she has a tricky draw, but she is from the Mike de Kock yard, who always have them fit enough and she is off an attractive merit rating of 79. Readyforyourlove has some useful form and can’t be ignored, although this is her second run after a long layoff and she has a tough draw.

The value bet of the day could be the St. John Gray-trained Thewaywemaykem, who runs in the 9^th, a MR 68 Handicap over 1200m. The 1000m last time was a touch sharp and he couldn’t make much leeway in the closing stages when poised to strike. He now has a plum draw again and will relish the step up in trip. Furthermore, he has come another four points down the merit ratings. Tough old campaigner Flag Of France also has a good draw off a competitive merit rating over a suitable trip. However, the most interesting runner in this race is the Trippi gelding Dawnbreaker. On debut he showed a lot of pace from a plum draw and just got up. The form was franked and Gavin Lerena stays aboard off a reasonable merit rating of 74, but they now have to overcome a tough low draw.

One of the most interesting runners on the card is the Var filly La Roquette in the last over 1200m and she was almost chosen as the best bet on the card. On debut this imposing filly won effortlessly over this trip by 3,3 lengths. However, the downside is the time she recorded, which was not great and the form also looks weak. However, she won ever so easily and has plenty of scope, so it would be no surprise to see her follow up off a mark of 76 with Van Rensburg staying aboard. She will have to beat the year older and in form Shwanky, who is very well drawn.

In race eight over 1600m Aquaboy should have a good chance as a front running sort who went close from a tough draw last time and now has a plum draw.

By David Thiselton

Kenilworth Wed Nov 30 Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: MOON PRINCESS has solid form and should be unbeatable in this race. FIGURE OF GREY returns from a rest but has the second best form but a very wide draw to overcome. MOONSABALLOON went close last time and comes into this race with strong claims but they should all battle to beat number one! (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3)

Race 2
Preview: LA REVERE makes her local debut and it can be a winning one. She returns from a rest but her form is solid and Delpech rides – a lot points to her winning. MISS MALBEC impressed when winning again straight out the maidens – watch. LIVE LIFE has a say as well – in a small but hot field. (Warren Lenferna 5-3-2)

Race 3
Preview: GREENFLASHSUNSET takes a drop in distance which I find interesting – he didn’t quicken last time when tried over 1400m so that must be the reason for going back in trip. His two runs thus far have been good and with Strydom up should be very hard to beat. ICON KING is now starting to become disappointing and costly to follow but always has a chance. (Warren Lenferna 6-2-3)

Race 4
Preview: MTOROSHANGA is improving and meets a moderate field today – hard to beat. SILVER MASTER is coming along slowly but should relish the good draw – place chance. CHINA EXPRESS has strong each way claims. (Warren Lenferna 11-4-5)

Race 5
Preview: BLARNEY BAY comes from a good and ever in form stable. He is as evergreen as the day is long and ran an absolute cracker last time. He is my firm and confident first choice. OVERSHADOW just keeps winning and is now going for four in a row. HE can do it if not in too much need of the run. DESERT FIGHTER never shone when making his local debut but he can improve big time today. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-8)

Race 6
Preview: STREAK OF SILVER (solid form), CREAM SODA GREEN (making stable debut and has ability) and TURBULENT AIR (either wins or runs unplaced) look to be the three main contenders here. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2)

Race 7
Preview: MOGOSTAR won in the manner of a good horse last time. She is in Cape Town from KZN for a reason and must be followed. She is selected to win again. KIRUMBO is never far off the action and in a race like this can get much closer. SOWETO MOON put in a bold but late effort last time and based on that should make his presence felt again. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-6)

Race 8
Preview: WHISKY BARON is a smart sort, has more to come and should be very hard to peg back. IT’S MY TURN is rested but is well in and more than capable of winning a race such as this. KRAMBAMBULI gets 4kg’s off and could lurk into the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 7-6-3)

Race 9
Preview: ONE LIFE LIVE IT made a smart debut and can improve to go very close to winning – strong each way chance. HERNANDO’S PROMISE could enjoy the trip and might be worth including. MAKE A MEMORY is on the up and should be involved when the judge is looking at the photo. (Warren Lenferna 14-4-7)

Record-equalling trainer Geoff Woodruff remembered a Tuesday morning before the 2014 Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup when it was discovered today’s stable hero Master Sabina had pulled a tendon. The big bay’s career hung in the balance.

“Time has healed the wound for all of us,” he reflected. “It healed his injury and it healed our mental wounds, it was devastating for all of us.”

Two years later, last Saturday, the courageous son of Jet Master became the first horse for 25 years to win consecutive renewals of the Summer Cup.

There will be a lot to play for in next year’s Summer Cup. It is believed Woodruff will be attempting to become the first trainer in history to achieve five  successive wins of one of South Africa’s big three, the Durban July, the Met and the Summer Cup, while Master Sabina will be bidding to join the greats Java and Elevation in winning the Summer Cup three years in succession.

Master Sabina (JC Photographics)

Master Sabina will be eight-years-old next year, but Woodruff is optimistic the athletic gelding will still be racing. He said, “He is such a young horse at heart, he was not even tired yesterday (Sunday). He will tell us if he wants to race next year, but at the moment he is sound and well, he loves racing and is very competitive. We will not abuse him and will race him sparingly and pick his goals carefully.”

One destination which will never be on his program again is Cape Town.

Woodruff said, “He hates it there, the slow pace doesn’t suit him and he doesn’t like a left hand turn. He’s good at right-handed Turffontein and Greyville. His worst form is at Kenilworth.” His chief target this season is likely the Premier’s Champions Challenge, to be run on 29 April next year. Woodruff said, “It is for R5 million over his favourite track and trip.”

There was a nerve jangling moment on Saturday when a gap began closing on the resolute Master Sabina due to July winner The Conglomerate hanging inward towards Master Switch. Woodruff said, “You do worry at moments like that, but I could see his little white blaze progressing all the way. He then put his body in the gap, shouldered The Conglomerate and straightened him.” The handsome horse surged through to win by a cosy 1,3 lengths under another brilliant ride by Gavin Lerena. It was Woodruff’s sixth Summer Cup and Lerena’s third.

Woodruff was also pleased with five-year-old Jet Master gelding Master Switch’s 1,6 length third. “He ran up to our hopes, he is a progressive horse with good form, he is a really nice handicapper and we will aim him at the July.” Master Switch had the disadvantage of a wide draw and also broke through the gates at the start.

Woodruff said, “He had to wait for a while and The Conglomerate then threw a tantrum which got him going. They never win after bursting through, the adrenalin gets going to early and it wastes energy. So from that draw it was a helluva good run. He is typical of the tall and leggy Jet Masters. Like Yorker, he is a late four-year-old and five-year-old. In fact he is lighter than Yorker, so has taken even longer.”

Singapore Sling (JC Photographics)

The yard could find nothing amiss with Deo Juvente after his disappointing run. Woodruff did not use the officially “very soft” ground as an explanation. He said, “It was warm and by race seven it had dried substantially. I would say the ground for the race was on the good side of yielding. Soft ground would not have suited Master Sabina.”

The yard will stick to shorter trips for their other runner, Master ‘N Commander.

Woodruff had been much confident before this year’s race than last, because the latter was only Master Sabina’s second run after the tendon injury.

He had finished second in the 2013 Summer Cup to stablemate Yorker and they had fancied him strongly two years ago in a race which was eventually won by his Triple Crown-winning stablemate Louis The King.

Horses coming back from tendon injuries often only last two or three runs before the injury reoccurs. The infliction is probably a trainer’s most dreaded nightmare.

It was thus fortunate the yard discovered the injury within an hour of it happening. They iced it and took other precautions before the veterinarian arrived. Consequently there is no core lesion and the tendon is no longer at the forefront of concerns.

The yard had earlier battled with a pectoral muscle injury to Master Sabina.

However, his 27 runs in a four year span speaks of one who has always been given sufficient time to recover from his races and hence his happiness and longevity.

Meanwhile, Woodruff has another powerful string to his bow in Saturday’s Investec Dingaans winner Singapore Sling.

He said, “He pleasantly surprised us. I was happy with his run in the Graham Beck, but he was still very green. When I saw him hitting the front on Saturday and not stopping I knew we had a top quality horse. He had been playing the fool with us. He had always felt top quality, but we had never seen it.”

The bare form shows the Philanthropist gelding improving from seventh in a MR 68 Handicap in his second career start, to winning a Gr 2 against some of best three-year-olds in the country two runs later. However, Woodruff pointed out he had been absolutely T-boned at the start of that second run and then impeded at the 300m mark.

“Gavin Lerena (who rode fourth placed Doosra) said this morning the Dingaans was a very strong field,” he revealed.

Singapore Sling, being a gelding, does not need to chase black type success. Stakes accumulation will be his aim.

Woodruff thus intends running him in the R1 million Cape Guineas on December 17 partly to see whether he will be suited to the course and distance ahead of his chief target, the $US500,000 CTS 1600 on Sun Met day.

By David Thiselton

Quick Brown Fox, the only unbeaten runner in Saturday’s World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, came in for further support yesterday. The sponsors opened her at 8-1 and she is now fourth favourite at 6-1.

But she has never been further than 1 200m and neither her trainer nor her jockey know how good she actually is even though they both rate her highly.

Greg Cheyne said: “She had always shown us a lot and we were very impressed with her maiden win. It was after that race that Brett Crawford told me we would have a go at the Fillies Guineas if she won the next time – which she did.

“She has an incredible stride and that is her biggest attribute but she does it all so effortlessly and she can really quicken. I am happy with the extra distance – she is not a speed merchant and she is so switched off – but she is still an unknown quantity. Although she is in at the deep end she has made great improvement since her first run.”

Crawford, who won the 2005 Cape Fillies Guineas with Bad Girl Runs, added: “We were always hoping with her and it was a good start when she won on debut, even more so when she won again. If she hadn’t won that day I wouldn’t have run her on Saturday but from a one draw we are taking our chance. She has a lot of speed in her pedigree but I think she will like the extra distance.”

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow, following the heady excitement at Turffontein on Saturday, and low draws will be favourable by trends.

The highest rated race on the card is an intriguing MR 89 Handicap over 1400m.

Danza is a talented sort, but tends to over race in trips beyond 1200m. Last time he appreciated a fast pace over this trip and went close to upsetting the classy Brazuca. He was well drawn that day, but from a tough draw in this race his best chance, under Gavin Lerena, would appear to be to go to the front.

The progressive three-year-old Refuge ran on from last in his last start over course and distance and got up under Piere Strydom. He is only three points higher now and has a nice galloping weight of 53kg with high-flying S’Manga Khumalo up. He has a high draw, but there looks to be a lot of pace in the race, so he should have an opportunity to find cover.

Alec Laird

Trading Profit beat the like of Judicial and French Navy once in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1800m. He prefers further but ran 6,1 lengths behind Kangaroo Jack over 1450m in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge this season when receiving just 1kg and a repeat of that run off a merit rating now down to 85 will see him finishing thereabouts.

Life Is Good is a robust son of Var, who impressed when winning his maiden over 1200m at Scottsville in August. The form of that race has worked out well and with trainer Neil Bruss now overseas he has joined the Mike Azzie yard. However, he has the highest draw in the eight horse field.

Another former Bruss inmate Go Direct makes his seasonal reappearance for the Geoff Woodruff yard. On the Gold Cup day he only just failed to win the Listed Darley Arabian from start to finish over 1600m on the Greyville poly. He would prefer further, but running fresh could be a threat here from the pole position draw and he might make life tough for Danza by attempting to set the pace.

Imperial Gold has a plum low draw and should be able to sit in behind the pacemakers if the race pans out as predicted. However, this horse has not lived up to expectations, one reason being he just doesn’t seem to go through with his efforts. Off his current 79 merit rating he is battling to get his nose in front, although a 1,5kg up should help.

The second is an intriguing maiden over 1700m. Just Cruised In stayed on over 1600m last time from a tricky draw and now has pole position. Piere Strydom remains aboard and he likely recommended the blinkers which are now on. If they bring any improvement the Just As Well gelding could be the one to beat.

Pilou is a colt by Western Winter, whose stamina range is quite difficult to predict because he is a full-brother to both Bichette and Viva Maria, the first a sprint-miler and the second the 4,5 length start to finish winner of the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000. On debut Pilou ran on strongly over 1200m, but in his second start moved up well over 1450 before staying on only at one pace. However, the latter was understandable as he came from a high draw and he now has a good draw. The prediction is he will stay and overall his form looks just about the strongest here, so he should go close.

Military Award caught the eye in his penultimate start over 1400m when staying on strongly, but then over raced when beaten by Pilou among others over 1450m last time. He is by the miler Brave Tin Soldier out of a Jet Master mare who won twice over a mile, so should stay the trip. He now has a better draw, so if he settles will be a big runner.

Inn A Million stayed on quite well from a wide draw on debut in the R250,000 maiden on Charity Mile day over 1600m and with expected improvement could also be right there from a fair draw. Speed Monitor is quite a talented sort, but tends to over race. A wide draw therefore does not augur well, but he can’t be ignored because he settled well under Raymond Danielson last time out and the latter remains aboard.

The Pick 6 is tough, but a banker must be found somewhere. Captain Chips races in the sixth for trainer Alec Laird, a MR 71 Handicap over 1400m, where he has a manageable draw of seven. He has found little extra when thereabouts over 1600m in his last two, so he should appreciate the step down to a trip where he has hard knocking handicap form and a win in the maidens. Furthermore, he has come down two points in the merit ratings for the two 1600m runs.

Penstock in the last is another possibility for a banker as he has been lowered to a competitive merit rating and is dropped back to a probable more suitable trip of 2000m. He has a plum draw too. Malinga and Skynight also make some appeal in that event.

Punters could get off to a good start with Devadip in the first over 2000m, as he was only beaten last time over 1800m by a horse who was thought good enough to be in Saturday’s Dingaans. He will likely relish the step up in trip too, being by Captain Al and a half-brother to the middle distance-to-staying type Estimation.

By David Thiselton