Brett Crawford, six Grade 1s last season, has tremendous strength in depth and he can strike with Captain Ram in the Racing Association Maiden at Kenilworth on Sunday.

This colt was pipped on the post on his first attempt over this 1 400m and, while he looked as if he might not have quite seen out the trip that day, he had enough ability to run in the Somerset 1200 and Corne Orffer can be relied upon to nurse him home.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

Tripple Explosion is second favourite and looks a big danger after finishing second in his last three starts but, as a four-year-old, he may not have as much scope for improvement as his younger rival.

Crawford, incidentally, was only narrowly beaten by Justin Snaith for the top Western Cape trainer award and had a strike rate of 13% at Kenilworth last season. Joey Ramsden also recorded 13% while Snaith and Mike Robinson fared next best with 12%. Andre Nel (20%) did better than anybody apart from Shane Humby (25%) who moved his string to KZN in search of more opportunities.

With the exception of Anton Marcus who clocked up an incredible 33%, Aldo Domeyer and Bernard Fayd’Herbe had the best Kenilworth riding strike rates with 19%. Western Cape champion Richard Fourie recorded 18% and Grant van Niekerk 15%.

The Crawford-trained Greenstreet Tractor, a R260 000 Captain Al newcomer, was the early favourite for the opening maiden but the originally booked Greg Cheyne is now sitting out a suspension. Orffer partners stable companion Undercover Agent, also a Captain Al first-timer.

However Streetfighting Man still makes more appeal. His previous run gives him an advantage and it is worth noting that he was considered useful enough to start joint favourite – and that he would have finished a fair bit closer had not his inexperience cost him valuable ground at the start.

Wine Festival looks the bet of the day in race three. This Ramsden filly has had two good runs – the second of them over this trip – and she has a good draw which is important over 1 400m. Daring Miss and Le Claire may follow her home.

Hithimagainchuck is favourite to defy top weight in the Place Your Bets Handicap (race seven) but the Snaith gelding faces a stiff task for a horse only just turned three and preference is for Western Storm who ran well over a furlong further last time.

By Michael Clower