Joey Ramsden holds a strong hand with Cold As Ice, currently at the top of the boards, and ample back-up in Grey Light, both in with big chances. Sean Cormack deputised for heavy-weight Bernhard Fayd-Herbe in a Graduation Plate victory last time out but today’s field is a lot tougher.

Glen Kotzen has been waxing lyrical about his recent Diana Stakes winner Double Whammy who made all to beat the older and more than useful Lanner Falcon in that race. She had the better of Cold As Ice when shedding her maiden but while the latter was making her debut Double Whammy was having her second outing. There should not be very much between the two.

But they may all have to take a back seat to the hitherto unbeaten Jet Set Go. Vaughan Marshall’s runner quickens nicely, goes the trip and has a plum draw. She meets a strong field but can stake her Guineas claim.

The Highveld is girding up for the Sansui Summer Cup at month’s end and although there is no feature at Turffontein today punters are faced with some seriously competitive racing.

The Greyville turf track is slowly being brought back into action after a lengthy spring treatment and the last two races tomorrow afternoon will be on new turf including the KZN Guineas Trial where some promising sophomores line up in this Listed event over a “mile”. Likely ante-post favourite is the Charles Laird-trained Split the Breeze that has his first test around a turn and over 1600m after showing some smart form over sprints.

Split The Breeze started his career with Luiz Cunha, giving the fledgling stable their first winner, but a dispute over ownership resulted in a change of colours and trainer with Alesh Naidoo paying a handsome sum to acquire the colt on auction.

Naidoo was not bidding blind however, as Laird’s stable jockey Anton Marcus had partnered the colt in his last two outings for Cunha and no doubt would have had some input into the decision to buy the horse.

Split The Breeze waltzed home when blinkered for the first time in a feature, one of the last races ever run down the Clairwood straight, making all the running to win by over four lengths. That victory, some four months back, garnered him a rating of 97, the highest in tomorrow’s field and the fact that he has the added advantage of  Marcus aboard one would not bet heavily against him.

KZN Champion trainer Duncan Howells has had a relatively quiet start to the current season but has not had a happy time of it on the poly. However, his runners are always thereabouts and he is one trainer who will be relieved that the turf is back in use. He saddles the promising Easy Lover from an inside barrier. In Easy Lover’s favour is that he has gone close over 1450m before and came with a rattle to land the spoils at his last start when catching the hard-knocker Flyfirstclass on the line. I doubt that he has stamina limitations and he looks a live threat to Split The Breeze.

Since his return from the UK, Mike de Kock has upped his stable’s ante and his runners are winning all over in what appears to have been a well-planned strategy. He saddles two runners tomorrow with Trip To Rio looking the stable elect judged on the riding engagements. The colt won comfortably enough in handicap company under Delpech over the stand side Turffontein 1600m last time out and although he meets a better class runner tomorrow he is a must inclusion in all exotics.

Stable companion Casciano has yet to finish out of the first two in four stabs that include three outings on the poly. Although he beat a modest handicap field last time out, he also beat the well regarded Riff Raf when shedding his maiden and the latter franked that form in no uncertain manner.

The dark horse is the Garth Puller-trained Fortissimo. Friendless in the market on debut, he came with a telling late run to slam the promising Alghadeer on the poly. It was a smart debut and any market support must be respected.

However, given the combination of Laird and Marcus, Split The Breeze looks the right one but expect Easy Lover and Trip To Rio to be chasing hard.

A Pinnacle Plate rounds off the eight-race meeting where another Laird inmate Admiral’s Eye, also in the colours of Alesh Naidoo, could have the wood on her male rivals. She is rated 4kg superior to the best of the opposition and is in very good form. She made all the running to win her last start and although the margin was less than a length it was a rather cosy victory. That was her first run on the poly and although she takes on stronger she has a handy weight from a good draw.

Interesting will be the performance of Gold Onyx. Although this trip is on the short side, Sean Tarry’s runner loves Greyville and given his aging legs, the new turf could just bring out the best in him.