Therefore, the owners of the eligible horses have not surprisingly been on tenterhooks for the last few weeks in the approach to the publishing of today’s final field and declarations.

The decision on who will run rests with Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins and Phumelela’s racing Executive Patrick Davis, who accept input from the chief handicapper Roger Smith.

A log has been published continuously over the last few weeks. However, it looks likely that the only hope for owners of horses who are outside the top 18 on the current log lies with horses above them being scratched as last weekend’s results did little to alter any positions.

A field of 16 will face the starter and there will be two reserve runners.

The criteria for acceptance does not rest solely with merit rating as there can also be judgement calls made on distance and surface suitability. The surface is only usually taken into account if a horse has an obvious preference for one or the other or in the situation where two horses are hard to separate in which case the one with the superior turf performance will likely be chosen.

Furthermore, the fillies are given a 2,5kg allowance, so they can be chosen ahead of males with higher merit ratings.

The Charles Laird-trained Rich Girl and the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Silver Class are in first and second places on the log respectively, which is interesting as both trainers have won the race with a filly before, Laird (pictured) doing it with Hollywoodboulevard in 2010 and Janse Van Vuuren achieving it with Winter Star last year.

Justin Snaith said: “I have nominated Legislate for the Cape Merchants on 16 November but at this stage it looks as if his first run will be in the Green Point Stakes six days later.”

The four-year-old is being aimed at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J & B Met. Depending on how things go, he could then be on a plane to Mauritius to continue his career under Snaith’s care at Newmarket in Britain.

Fourie, off since the end of July, has taken only two mounts on Wednesday but rides in all eight races at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Fayd’Herbe will thus win his first cap for South Africa and said, “It is a privilege and I am happy, it will be good to represent the country.” The 33 year old Fayd’Herbe, who grew up in Madagascar, joined S’manga Khumalo (Captain), Piere Strydom, Richard Fourie, Muzi Yeni and Anthony Delpech.

The sixth member of the International team is still to be announced.He or she will join James Doyle (Captain – UK), Martin Harley (Ireland), Adam Kirby (United Kingdom), Andreas Helfenbein (Germany) and Selim Kaya (Turkey).

The Challenge is often viewed by the racing fraternity as perhaps a “good fun” event for the jockeys, but this view ignores the mindset of the professional sportsman and Fayd’Herbe confirmed, “Any competition is intense for me, I thrive on it and wouldn’t be where I am today without that attitude. Also the better the competition the better you become.”

Fayd’Herbe’s big match temperament has often earned him the title “Big Race Bernard”, so there could hardly have been a better choice by the selectors. Fayd’Herbe has also earned widespread admiration for the arduous sweating, exercise and diet regime he has had to undergo just to make it to the races.

He was the Western Cape champion jockey in the 2012/2013 season, an amazing feat considering his riding weight of 58kg. His current training program had seen him winning the battle against his weight and he is also getting a lot of support from some of Cape Town’s top yards.

He said, “Things are looking good, I have some exciting horses to look forward to and will be disappointed if I don’t have a good season.” He is retained by one of Joey Ramsden’s biggest owner families, the Kieswetters, and otherwise freelances. In the latter capacity he receives good support from the like of Ramsden, national champion trainer Justin Snaith, his long-time guv’nor Mike Bass, Mike Stewart, Neil Bruss and others.

On Saturday Fayd’Herbe rode the Australian-bred four-year-old Danehill Dancer filly Acrostar from the Snaith yard to an impressive victory as she surged past the very promising Ramsden-trained three-year-old Grey Light in a Progress Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and won with ease. Acrostar looks to be a progressive type and has won her last two over that trip, so could be a sprint-miler to follow in minor features.

However, Fayd’Herbe’s favourite horse at present is the highly progressive Bass-trained Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker. The term “brilliant” is usually reserved for Gr 1 winners, but Hammie’s Hooker would probably have earned that accolade by now if it were not for her nemesis Beach Beauty. The latter is now retired, so a lot of the big fillies and mares mile events should be at Hammie’s Hooker’s mercy and as a five-year-old the 1800m of the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes might also now be within her range.

Picture: Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Liesl King)

Firstly it will give him a base from which to target the big races in Johannesburg. Secondly, it will alleviate a problem of importing horses. The arduous journey horses must undergo when being exported from South Africa, due to African Horse Sickness (AHS), has been viewed as one of the country’s biggest horseracing problems, but Cape Town trainers also face a problem importing. A direct flight to Cape Town solves the problem but can only be done at enormous expense.

The alternative route is via Johannesburg. Upon arriving horses have to be given AHS vaccinations and then complete one month of quarantine.A horse can only enter the Western Cape’s AHS Controlled zone 60 days after the last vaccine. Hence, it is usually about three months before an imported horse destined for the Cape can reach its destination.

The normal route is via Port Elizabeth, where horses need to stay for about two months. Snaith’s new yard should help alleviate this problem.

Meanwhile, Snaith’s Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate has been doing “very well” and will be ready to gallop soon. He added, “The July took a lot out of him and he has recovered completely (from both the exertion and the lameness in his near fore), but it took months. The Dynasty colt’s main targets this season are the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met.

Marwing has been given 40 boxes and will likely move gradually over the next few months, as the Highveld Spring Season is just getting into full swing. Expect more detailed coverage of the relocation next week.

Meanwhile, Gary Rich is expecting to have his trainer’s licence officially renewed by next week. He has been allocated 20 boxes at Ashburton and currently has six horses there, with another two on the way and he will be attending the Ready To Run Sales in Johannesburg in an attempt to increase his numbers.

Gary is the son of Des, who trained the 1977 Durban July winner Lightning Shot. Gary had just left school at the time of Lightning Shot’s famous victory and was working for his father, although he started his national service the following week. Gary took over the reins from Des in 1989 and kept his license until the year 2002.

He then took up a position at the South African Jockey’s Academy as a riding master. He worked at the Summerveld Academy for three-and-a-half years before moving to Port Elizabeth, where he held a Riding Master and management position for another three-and-a-half years.

He then left in July 2009 to become the assistant to private KZN midlands trainer Adam Kethro. He was with Kethro until January this year. Rich said there had been “many highlights” in his career but none had yet matched Lightning Shot’s July win.