Charles will be the focus of much attention in the first at Kenilworth today, not least because he cost a whopping R6 million when he topped the Cape Premier Yearling Sale 17 months ago.

Also he sports Markus Jooste’s famous emerald green, yellow stars and black sleeves colours that are these days something of a rarity – certainly in comparison to the pre-Steinhoff scandal days when they were seen in almost every race.

The Trippi colt has a strong pedigree – he is the first foal of Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Demanding Lady (by Dynasty) – although, at least arguably, not R6 million strong. But, by all accounts, he was a particularly striking-looking yearling.

Mac De Lago

He was knocked down to M.V. Magnier and his mother Sue is in partnership with Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators. World Sports Betting, who take note of what newcomers cost, opened him favourite at 22-10 on Saturday but by yesterday the colt was available at 7-2.

“Charles has done well and he is forward enough from both a mental and a physical perspective,” says Brett Crawford. “But my concern is the ground. There was a lot of rain forecast and it could be heavy.”

Preference is for the well-supported 18-10 favourite The Suit whose saddle slipped back shortly after the start last time yet he still had All The Sevens (7-1) a length and a quarter behind. That said, Dan Katz believes that his horse might well be able to turn the tables – “He has come on heaps and I think he is a huge runner.”

The betting so far indicates that the Candice Bass-Robinson runner Mio Vito (16-1 to 8-1) should also command respect.

Whatever his fortunes with Charles the in-form Crawford should win race two with Shamrock Wind who had the rest quite well strung out when keeping on well to be second to odds-on Mixed Signals on debut. Corne Orffer’s mount is favourite at 14-10 and probably has most to fear from Snaith’s Doubled Over (so far weak in the market at 33-10) and 4-1 chance Miss Plumcake whose work at home suggests she has come on according to Mrs Bass-Robinson.

Greg Cheyne’s mount Ikebana could be another for Crawford in the Book Your Seat Maiden (race three) while 3-1 chance Friendly Tibbs is a confident choice for the Betting World Handicap. Piet Steyn’s consistent seven-year-old is one of the few still racing by Casey Tibbs, a stallion whose progeny are particularly effective in testing ground.

However the early betting suggests this is wide open with all bar Woodland’s Forest quoted at between 28-10 and 7-2.

Mac De Lago (33-10) has more class than the rest but he hasn’t done much good in five attempts in the soft. “In fact I’m not worried about the going but we are in untested territory,” says Katz. “I’m not worried about the distance either but the two together do concern me.”

By Michael Clower