Nobody will be studying the sahorseracing website in the run-up to today’s 11.00am Sun Met declaration deadline more closely than Billy Prestage as he debates whether to run last season’s Premier Trophy winner Milton.

He said: “I am not stupid enough to think he can win (Milton is a 100-1 shot) but I want to see what my chances are of finishing in the first ten, and of getting my money back before I put mine down. I reckon there will be about 15 runners but I would like to see a few more come out.”

It costs a VAT-inclusive R46 000 to declare with stakes being paid up to tenth place – R50 000 for those finishing sixth to tenth.

Prestage adds that it is 43 years since he last had a runner in the great race. “I owned Foreign Agent. Syd Laird trained him when he was third to Sledgehammer in 1975 and my father Robert was the trainer the following year when he was fourth to Gatecrasher.”

No current trainer has won the Met more times than Brett Crawford, the first of whose three wins came with Angus 16 years ago, and he reports Undercover Agent in great shape.

He said: “Undercover Agent came out of his Queen’s Plate run well but the trip is a question mark.”

No such doubts about Eyes Wide Open who beat Do It Again when winning last year’s Cape Derby and Glen Kotzen points out that the four-year-old is much better than his disappointing Peninsula Handicap sixth would suggest, even allowing for top weight. The horse was promptly marked out to 33-1.

The Woodhill trainer said: “Gavin Lerena was caught three wide – the local jocks wouldn’t let him in – and then he got bumped and was knocked out to five wide. Gavin apologised for the ride when he got off but promptly added that he would like to ride the horse in the Met.”

By Michael Clower

Five-times SA champion jockey Mark Khan was in devastating form on the Greyville poly yesterday and brought home four winners on the trot early in the eight race meeting.

Khan’s first winner was aboard the Duncan Howells-trained Mr Greenlight, who was officially 6kg under sufferance with the filly Twice As Smart according to official merit ratings in the Graduation Plate event over 1600m. However, he has not yet had the chance to prove himself like the latter has and showed yesterday he will be a force to be reckoned with when he is given those opportunities.

Khan had him handy on the flank of the leader and in the straight he simply drew away as he pleased to obliterate them by 2,8 lengths. He started at odds of 11/2 but won like an odds on shot and won’t be let loose by the bookmakers again. Howells will send him down for the US$500,000 CTS 1600, presuming this impressive win will see the final field selection panelists giving him the nod.

Khan rode an enterprising race from the front in the next race over 1600m on the Lezanne Forbes-trained Ato filly Easy Ginger to win by 4,10 lengths.  The favourite Roy’s Novice proved in need of the run as the Wright yard had stated beforehand.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Khan did exceptionally well to win comfortably on the Forbes-trained Special Force as this Crusade gelding was barged off course in the early stages.

Khan made it a four in the next over 1200m on the enigmatic Kumaran Naidoo-trained Roy’s Magic as this Foxwedge Australian-bred gelding needs things to go his way before producing his good turn of foot and Khan ensured he was covered up and relaxed throughout.

The meeting began with an easy win for Marzipan Path in his first run for the Nathan Kotzen yard. Anton Marcus converted 11/10 odds which proved generous as this Eightfold Path filly has plenty of substance and won by 2,7 lengths without being hard pressed.

The sixth race over 1200m looked the most open on the card and the Sean Tarry-trained Seventh Rock filly In Full Bloom held on from a handy position under Luke Ferraris to convert 9/1 odds.

In the seventh the in form Andre Nel and Gareth Wright combination had another winner when the Black Minnaloushe gelding Dance Off came from off the pace to catch the favourite High Green close to home.

In the last race over 1900m the favourite Moschino went out like a light when asked for extra in the straight but luckily for Pick 6 punters the market rival Paybackthemoney, a long-striding Marchfield gelding, swooped to win comfortably under Donavan Dillon to give Nathan Kotzen a double.  

By David Thiselton

The exotics will be the way to approach Sunday’s Greyville meeting as there are five plate races on the card, although there are three tricky handicaps in the middle legs of the Pick 6.

The highest rated race is the fifth, a MR 78 Handicap over 1200m. The selection to win is the promising Solid Gold, who has a fair draw of six in the ten horse field, and is distance suited. He finished within a length of the 97 merit rated Desolate Road over this trip on the turf last time at level weights in a Graduation Plate, which gives him a fine chance on paper in this handicap event. However, if the second horse is taken into account he merely ran to his 77 rating, which puts a different light on the performance. This will also be his second run after a layoff. Beyond him it is a nightmare and he will either have to be bankered or the entire field will have to be included.

In the first leg of the PA, a Graduation Plate over 1600m, the promising Mr Greenlight is chosen as the best bet on the card, although he will be better suited to further in time. He looks to be above average and has an exceptional turn of foot.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Roy’s Novice has fine form over this trip and has a good draw of two. Easy Ginger was cramped when being stepped up to this trip last time and with better luck in running has a shout and should be included.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1200m Lucara has been knocking hard and has a 4kg claimer aboard. His draw of two will suit his handy style. Solsbury Hill has run well against two fair sorts and will be a big runner too with Anton Marcus up. Special Force has a form chance too but does have a wide draw to overcome.

In the sixth race over 1200m Snow Path is an interesting raider from the Highveld. She sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight of 52 and has a 4kg claimer up too. Her form on the Highveld is not bad in the context of this race and the only concern is her wide draw. Sarabi ran on strongly over 1000m last time and only just failed so should do well here. Innocently Naughty was making late headway over 1000m and will appreciate the step up in trip. Flamenco Dancer can be included from a good draw off an attractive merit rating. Everlasting Love and Carfree should also be put into the Pick 6.

In the seventh over 1900m High Green is a banker consideration with a 4kg claimer up over a step up in trip he will relish. The form of his last two runs looks strong and he has the perfect draw of five for this track.

In the last race over 1900m Moschino has Marcus up having come from last with the great rider aboard over 1800m last time and run out of race track. He would have learnt from that outing so will go close, although Paybackthemoney made a fair debut when green and should also be included.

By David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside nine race meeting tomorrow features the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m and the Mike de Kock yard might notch up another feature win. 

Their Australian-bred Bernadini filly Firdoas has a lot of natural speed as she proved when winning a juvenile plate over this course and distance by 6,60 lengths last May. In her last two starts over 1400m she hasn’t seemed to get home and it is not surprising to see her down in trip. The Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Mighty High has to give at least 5kg to the rest of the field but is up to it. Last time over this trip she was unable to catch them on fast ground which blunted her fine turn of foot. The rains have come recently and this should see her strong finish being more effective.

Cordillera showed her class in the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m and although appearing to be the Tarry yard second string the race could be run to suit her as she should be able to sit behind the speedy All At Once who is drawn one outside of her. She can then use her fine turn foot to good effect in the closing stages. Her stablemate Three Stars ran a cracker last time against the useful older sprinter Winter Watch and she has Hewitson aboard. All At Once is the best weighted horse according to official merit ratings but will have a tougher task staying in front this time in likely slower ground than she had last time. Blonde Vision has pace and is another one in with a shout. Mazari would prefer further but has class and should be staying on.

The best bet of the day comes in race two over 1160m. Tintagel had some good form up to 1250m in Cape Town and made a fine Highveld debut over this course and distance a month ago, she has a standside draw which is usually favourable and will take some beating.

The first leg of the PA over 1600m should see the hard knocking Pomodoro filly Gold Lightning winning over a step up in trip she should manage. Noble Princess has ability but has been disappointing. However, she should be able to place in this field and can be included in the PA,

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Tamarina is improving and has a plum draw over a step up in trip she should relish. High Seas Beauty stormed home last time over 1400m and should also now see out this trip. Desert Rhythm is drawn in pole and should make her presence felt as she was not striding out last time so is better than that and has done well over this course and distance twice.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Approach Control looks a promising sort and has the pole position draw over a suitable 1600m trip. SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour is effective over this trip and is the best in at the weights so can do well under Dennis Schwarz, who would have learnt something from riding him last time. Zilzaal won well last time and should be staying on again.

In the sixth race D’Arrivee is a progressive sort with a touch of class and is the one to beat. He does have a tricky draw but will enjoy the long straight and is a banker consideration. Kings Archer is drawn well and will appreciate the step down to his optimum trip. Dhabyaan has proved himself suited to this course and distance in his last two starts and has a fair draw with a nice galloping weight.

In the eight race over 1000m Wrecking Ball could provide the value bet of the day. She has a lot of natural speed but tended to not get home when being close to the pace and her recent hold up tactics have been seeing her run in strongly. She is drawn one outside of the speedy kissable so will have someone to follow until late in the race.

In the last race Princess Lomita made a fine debut and with expected improvement should despatch this field, although she does have a tricky draw and Over The Limit can also be included as one who will appreciate the step up in trip. 

By David Thiselton

M.J. Byleveld returns to the fray at Kenilworth tomorrow after four medically-ordered months on the sidelines, the consequence of old injuries that caused a disc to push into his spinal cord and threaten to leave him paralysed.

Fortunately the enforced rest has worked the oracle and he said yesterday: “A month ago I got the go-ahead from my doctor to start riding work and when I went to him on Monday he gave me a letter to say that everything is clear.”

Byleveld, 37, has six booked rides but will only partner five of them – “I’m still a bit fat so I am not going to make the weight (54.5kg) on Sean Tarry’s Jetorio in race six.”

Asked if there is anything he particularly likes, he singled out Ground Control in the first – “He is a very nice horse who has done some good work and I will be disappointed if he doesn’t run well.”

Vaughan Marshall would like nothing more than to give his stable jockey a winner on his first ride back and the colt has already been backed from 5-2 to 16-10 joint favourite. Byleveld said he had heard the reports about Ibra (also 16-10) being a sharp sort. By Var (like Ground Control and Mister Vargus), the Joey Ramsden runner is the only filly in the race and she cost Brian Finch and his partners R350 000 at the National Yearling Sale. The booking of Anton Marcus looks significant and she gets the vote.

Santa Clara, five lengths-fifth when hampered in the Cape Fillies Guineas, is hard to oppose in the Tab Telebet Handicap, even at a fraction of odds-on. There is little to choose between Brave Tiger and Captain Carlos 35 minutes later and the pair are joint favourites at 33-10.

Captain Carlos is marginally preferred even though the fact that he made a noise in a work riders race last time is a slight concern. Hopefully it was a one-off and not a warning signal.

Hurricane Silva made a strong final furlong challenge when just failing last time and looks another winner for Marcus in race three. Louisa May could be the danger.

The former champion also has good prospects on Northern Spy in the Book Your Seat SunMet Maiden but stable companion Var Express is marginally preferred.

Marcus’s most interesting ride is Mushi Sterek in the Interbet.co.za Handicap. This Australian-bred created a big impression when winning by five lengths on debut and, although the handicappers have put her in high on 84, she may be good enough to defy the ‘first time out of the maidens’ red warning light.

By Michael Clower