The Pick 6 is well worth catching on the big race days, although the first three legs and last two legs are not going to be easy and sandwiched between them is the open looking GBets Summer Cup.

Class in horseracing is defined as those who are supreme at middle distances but can also beat the best sprinters at their game. Captain And Master, who runs in Grade 2 Goldrush Derby Run Merchants over 1160m, has this sort of potential but unfortunately has had a tendency to race a bit strongly over further trips. He is feature class, having finished third in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe as a two-year-old and second to Undercover Agent in the CTS Mile, so his merit rating of 103 is competitive. He has a long stride, some pace and a fine turn of foot so should be running on strongly and has a chance as the sprinting division is relatively weak at present. The low draws are often hard to win with down the Turffontein straight on big days and some of the fancied horses are drawn low.

Captain And Master

Africa Rising, who gets on well with Lyle Hewitson, has a fair draw and can do better than last time over this course and distance as he was slow away that day. He is capable of running handy and then staying on. Rivarine bounced back to his best last time after a long layoff and he can also be included off just a three point higher mark. Pinnacle Peak has earned topweight and his pace and long stride will give him a chance from a standside draw. Wonderwall is 1,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings but can do better than last time when racing too freely in front. Romi’s Boy returns from a layoff but has a fine record over course and distance and has to be included. Those six are taken to get punters through although it is tough to ignore any of the runners.

The first leg of the Pick 6 could be won by the classy Gimme A Wave, who will relish the step up in trip. His wide draw is a concern but he looks to be a sort who can relax well and produce a resolute finish so he can be dropped out. He should rise above his 84 merit rating in time so should go close carrying just 54kg. Shuckra off a merit rating of 81 and having to carry just 52,5kg has to be included as he made a good winning debut over 1600m and should have improved. He has a nice draw. Against The Grain did not beat much last time over this trip but did it effortlessly. He can come from off the pace and Hewitson is up. Firdoas and Bold Eagle have class but it will be tough having to give so much weight away so the first three mentioned could be enough to get punters through.

The second leg for fillies and mares is the Epol Magnolia Handicap over 1160m. Schippers looks to be banker material off just a 90 merit rating. She has a long stride, speed and a turn of foot and is drawn on the right side. She has come into her own this season as a four-year-old. In her last start she was slow away and was up against the boys, so finishing just 2,5 lengths back under handicap conditions was no disgrace. Winter’s Forge has dropped to an attractive merit rating and should be running on from a nice high draw. Covered In Snow has won three times over course and distance and has her third run after a layoff, which follows a fine performance last time out over 1000m. Frederico’s Dream and Kissable are pacey and will attempt to take the race by the scruff of the neck so have to be considered too. Wrecking Ball has had a new lease of life lately. She looked to be one who could not quite stay 1000m, but after being tried over 1400m and 1450m she has since being running on strongly over 1000m so can get this trip, although she was raised four points for her last run and now has a low draw. Ouro has some good recent form but has a low draw and if she is considered then Captain’s Princess also has to come into the reckoning. Pretty Penny looks talented and returns from a bleeding suspension so can’t be ignored.

The fifth leg is the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m. Nafaayes finished a fine second in the Starling Stakes and the form has been franked plus she should be improving. She looks the one to side with carrying just 51kg. Fiorella has had a good preparation and Roy’s Riviera is coming into her own. Redberry Lane could resort to her old favourite tactic of leading. The course-and-distance suited Green Top should be cherry ripe. Al Danza only just failed to beat the top class Nother Russia the last time she went this course and distance so also has to be considered.

In the last leg Zillzaal will relish the step up in trip having been outpaced and running on strongly on debut over 1200m. However, he has a tough draw as does the course and distance suited Indy Ice. Epic Dream has class and looked likely to enjoy this trip but failed the first time he tried it so is given another chance. Stalking should improve and The Sands is better than his last start.

That leaves only the Summer Cup which will require plenty of homework.

By David Thiselton

Hawwaam, so impressive when winning last Saturday’s Dingaans , is the only three-year-old among the 29 horses entered for the R5 million Sun Met at Kenilworth on January 26 but this exciting colt is just one of six nominations from Mike de Kock.

Hawwaam (JC Photographics)

De Kock, who said he would consider the Met if Hawwaam looked like going overseas, is no stranger to winning the great race with a three-year-old. He did it with the great Horse Chestnut in 1999 and he repeated the feat with Badger’s Coast 12 months later. He also won it with the four-year-old filly Igugu in 2012.

Justin Snaith has also entered six – last year’s winner Oh Susanna, his first three in the Durban July – Do It Again, Made To Conquer and Elusive Silva – as well as Doublemint and Platinum Prince. In contrast Brett Crawford, bidding for Met number four, has only one entry – the Gold Challenge winner Undercover Agent. Vaughan Marshall, who has won it twice before, also has just a single candidate – Tap O’Noth who won last season’s Cape Guineas.

The highest rated horse in the ten furlong Grade 1 spectacular is the perennial Met challenger Legal Eagle who has started favourite in each of the last three seasons – twice finishing second and fourth last time. At seven the Sean Tarry-trained gelding is, jointly with Billy Prestage’s Milton, the oldest horse in the field.

Other big names entered include Hawwaam’s year older half-brother Rainbow Bridge who is unbeaten in five starts for Eric Sands and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gold Cup winner It’s My Turn.

The weights will not be officially released until January 7 but there is no great mystery about them and they could easily have been issued yesterday. The conditions stipulate that the race is run on weight-for-age terms with a 2.5kg filly and mare allowance. There are also allowances for any Northern Hemisphere horses – 2.5kg for three-year-olds and a kilo for four-year-olds.

It cost R5 000 plus R750 VAT to enter yesterday. There are supplementary entry stages on December 11 (R18 966) and twice that figure if you wait until until January 7.

By Michael Clower

Ashburton-based Duncan Howells, currently leading the KZN trainer’s log in both number of wins and stakes, has had a string of second places behind his name this season – 30 to be exact.

He again had to resign himself to the second box when Thanksgiving found Hawwaam to hot to handle in the Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday.

Thanksgiving was another addition to his list of second places on the Highveld where Via Africa ran second in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, Same Jurisdiction second in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Saratoga Dancer in the Gr2 Charity Mile.

Fiorella (Candiese Marewick)

Howells raids with three runners on G-Bets Summer Cup day at Turffontein on Saturday looking for a change of fortune.

Top of the list is star filly Fiorella who put one over the fancied Snowdance in the Gr2 KZN Fillies Guineas and ran Gr1 Sun Met winner Oh Susanna to within a length in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 last season before finishing down the field in the Vodacom Durban July.

She has had two warm-up sprints leading into Saturday’s Gr2 World Sports Betting Ipi Tombe Challenge. Fiorella was staying on nicely behind smart sprinter Wynkelder (a runner in the Merchants on Saturday) in her seasonal debut and followed up with a good second to the useful Royal Frost over the Greyville 1400m last time out.

“She has prepped well and will give a good account of herself,” said Howells yesterday adding that she will be much better suited to the ‘mile’.  One of her final workouts was with Dingaans second Thanksgiving a fortnight back so the omens are good although she does face stiff opposition in the form of Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes winner Redberry Lane, Al Danza and bottom weight Dagmar.

Other Howells runners on the day are Accidental Tourist in the Gr3 Epol Magnolia Handicap and Procal Harum in the Gr2 Goldrush Derby Run Merchants, fifth and sixth races on the card respectively.

“Procal Harum had a nice comeback run,” said Howells after his narrow defeat over the Scottsville 1000m to Golden Loom Handicap runner-up Rebel’s Champ and he will enjoy the extra 160m of this race. “He has a money chance,” said the ever-cautious Howells.

Of Accidental Tourist he said the step up in class may find her out, “but she is well and we are hoping for the best.”

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages an eleven race meeting tomorrow and the last three legs of the Pick 6 consist of two Assessment Plates and a Maiden Plate so it is catchable.

In the first of the Assessment Plates over 1000m Scoop is tipped to win having returned from a layoff and gelding to slam the opposition over this trip last time. The form of that race has worked out well with the runner up American Hustle having come out and won by three lengths and the third-placed horse Mega Lee proving her 100/1 odds third place was no fluke by placing again yesterday. Scoop is the best weighted male in the line up on official merit ratings.

Summer Afternoon was accorded quite a lowly merit rating after winning comfortably on debut but this filly has a smooth action and plenty of scope so is likely to improve although the step down in trip from 1200m to 1000m might not be in her favour. Elbi has pace so will be suited to the step down in trip and she is officially the best weighted horse. Sugoi is an interesting runner. His sire Noordhoek Flyer has been a disappointment but this one looks like a chip off the old block, being a well muscled and handsome chestnut, and the form of his maiden win over this trip was franked when the runner up Queen Rachel came out and won. Royal Cavalier looks to have some ability too and if repeating his effort behind William The Silent in an Assessment Plate two runs ago he could earn.

Summer Afternoon (JC Photographics)

In the second Assessment Plate over 1800m Sweet Red will be hard to beat if she takes her place. She was scratched from her engagement on Tuesday so it remains to be seen whether she runs here. She didn’t face a strong field last time but cruised in by nine lengths and before that she had good form in strong maidens. She jumps from a fair draw over an ideal trip. Cashel Palace is a big filly with plenty of scope and she should come into her own this season. She was only 3,15 lengths back in the Yellowwood Handicap last time and from pole position should make her presence felt. She is officially the best weighted horse in the race. Elusive Butterfly has not been disgraced in her last two starts having won her first two and she should enjoy the step up in trip.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a maiden over 2000m and Two Of Us looks to be a staying type who will enjoy the step up in trip. However, the breathing noise he made last time is a concern. Mr Cuddles ran on well last time over 1700m and now has a good draw over a step up in trip which will suit. Wild Fire made late progress over this trip last time and should continue to improve. Flame Fella has to be included as he ran on when just behind Mr Cuddles last time and on racing style and being by Irish Flame he should relish the step up in trip. Brave Detail beat Wild Fire the last time they met over this trip so must be included and Noble Emblem is on the up and can also be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Folk Dance is a filly who looked to be top of the tree at one stage. She has been disappointing lately but she has consequently dropped to a 99 merit rating and has her easiest task for some time in this handicap in which the 4kg claim of apprentice Klink will alleviate the 62,5kg burden she is set to carry. The 1400m trip is ideal as she can be strong in the running over a mile. I Like It is an interesting contender a few days after coming within a whisker of pulling off a major shock in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile and she has to be included carrying just 52kg. It is competitive but the next most fancied is Dame Kelly as she has always struck as one with ability and 1400m has always been her ideal trip. Last time she showed herself to be back in form. However, the other three, Rouge Allure, Strawberry Pavlova and Vivir, are tough to ignore and a field selection has to be considered with only six runners involved.

In the second leg Lake Kinneret did not have the race pan out for her perfectly last time over this 1400m trip as she was jostled early and then ran without cover throughout. She can do better if finding cover and running on and is 2kg better off with Danza for a 2,9 length beating. Danza and Sail For Joy are ideally distance suited and must be included.

The third leg over 1400m is a tough one but Quebec Queen only just failed last week over 1600m and should be involved. Sammi Moosa has dropped to a competitive merit rating and can be involved. Silvez has scope and should come into her own this season. She is capable of running them into the ground from the front here although it is her first outing for three months. Samarra, Believe Me, Words, Kick Butt, Elegancia and Durban Bourbon are others to consider.

By David Thiselton

Kenilworth on Saturday sees the first Cape Town two-year-old race of the season and, intriguingly, Sean Tarry is among those with runners.

The meeting is being run in aid of Western Cape racing’s very own charity, the WC Equine Trust which retrains and finds new homes for retired racehorses.

Grant Knowles will auction a number of star prizes including a service to top stallion Twice Over (advertised fee R50 000 plus VAT and sire of this year’s Durban July winner Do It Again), a VIP day at next year’s Glorious Goodwood meeting including a box and cocktails with the Duke Of Richmond, a game drive and a one hour flight around the Cape Peninsula.

The jockeys have already donated the proceeds of last month’s charity chase race at Durbanville and the Equine Trust will also benefit from Saturday’s race sponsorship contributions from studs, trainers and bookmakers.

By Michael Clower