Soqrat had tongues wagging after he concluded his two-year-old career on a high, winning the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville, putting a high-class field to bed in impressive fashion.

Mike de Kock’s colt makes his seasonal debut in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein tomorrow and faces the acid test against some smart older opposition. Just how he fares should give some indication of his chances in this season’s classics.

The Spring Challenge is the traditional opener for the Highveld summer season and trainers have stepped out a few of their big guns in both the Spring Challenge and the fillies and mares equivalent.

Soqrat suffered his only defeat last season when touched off by stable companion and Dubai-bound Barahin in the Golden Horseshoe, the latter winning under an inspired ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

Soqrat (JC Photographics)

A well beaten second in the Premiers was another stable companion, Alyaasaat, who made a winning debut this season beating Iditarod Trail comfortably. He is in receipt of 2kg from Soqrat but given current form he still looks held.

Of the older runners, Africa Rising and New Predator look the pick but could be hard-pressed to beat their younger rivals who ooze class.

The best weighted runner is the multiple Argentinian-bred Gr1 winner Hat Puntano. He arrived in this country with a big reputation but has not made much of an impression since his arrival barring a smart effort second time out when beating Social Order.

Mike Azzie ascribed that win to a change of bit but Hat Puntano subsequently disappointed in two further outings, the last in the L’Oramarins Queens Plate behind Legal Eagle.

That was back in January. He is obviously talented and if Azzie has him in the right space tomorrow he is upset material.

Joey Ramsden has successfully raided the Highveld on numerous occasions and got his latest foray off to a winning start with Rose In Bloom. She was most impressive when getting the better of Rings And Things over tomorrow’s course and distance and with some smart Western Cape form to back her credentials she can take toll on some useful opposition, many of whom are returning from a break, including Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace.

Mike de Kock’s filly has not been out since the SA Oaks back in May, a race that may have proven to be beyond her compass. Prior to that she had won the first two legs of the Triple Tiara. She is definitely a class act and tomorrow’s trip should not be beyond her racing fresh. However, she does take time to build up a head of steam and the inside track could see Rose In Bloom home before she gets into full stride.

By Andrew Harrison

With Anthony Delpech side-lined, possibly permanently after his tragic and debilitating fall last season, and a dearth of opposition in the ranks, Anton Marcus has had free rein picking the plums in KZN.

Delpech kept the rivalry honest, but as a one-man business Marcus has no peers among our jockey ranks. A rider of undoubted talent and an astute student of form, no agents for him, and as any trainer will attest, if Marcus calls for a ride you know you may have done something right.

Marcus has booked himself a top book of rides on the Greyville poly this evening. Some may end up false favourites but he has a number of strong mounts for local trainers and visiting trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has also tapped into his talent and the pair can make hay to night.

River Ayre (Candiese Marnewick)

The combination should get off to a winning start with El Sereno in the first although the gelding is deep in the red and probably not a betting proposition unless you are in to buying money. El Sereno has made steady improvement since making his debut back in May and came from way back to run second last time out. He looks cherry-ripe for this contest where Gordonstoun is the most likely threat. Duncan Howells was of the opinion that his charge was one-paced over the shorter sprint last time out and he can prove better over the extra furlong.

Marcus teams up with the Van Vuuren runner Torrey Pines in the fourth. The lightly raced filly is rated lengths superior to any of the opposition according to the merit ratings and should win as far as you can hit a golf ball.

Van Vuuren and Marcus could well be on track for a winning treble with Mademoiselle in the sixth. She finished a close-up second to River Ayre last time out and who has subsequently franked that form with another victory and is one of the fancied runners in the tenth at Turffontein tomorrow.

Mademoiselle takes to the poly for the first time and although she faces a mixed bag, 11-10 in the ante-post market looks a fair reflection of her chances.

Marcus looks to have picked another plum in the form of Antony Hotspur in the second. Alistair Gordon’s gelding has come back well after fracturing a bone his hock first time out. Recently rested, he was beaten two short-heads in his come-back run and with Marcus and a good draw in his favour he looks the right one in what is a competitive handicap field.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a tough race. Blinkers are not always a magic trick but they worked for Nathan Kotzen’s runner Virtuous who made major improvement last time out. That form has held up although the race is still wide open. The Grey Crusader has threatened for some time and the booking of Marcus has him favourite in the ante-post betting but the race goes a lot deeper than that. Captain Snell shows some promise and is a must include in all bets.

By Andrew Harrison

Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth, who will wear blinkers for the first time, has been installed 8-10 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday. Favourites have won three of the last five runnings.

Rainbow Bridge is second favourite at 4-1 to remain unbeaten while Fifty Cents is next and as big as 8-1 even though Richard Fourie’s mount has won on all his four previous visits to the course. Last year’s winner Our Mate Art is a 10-1 chance as he was 12 months ago.

Tap O’Noth (Liesl King)

Goodtime Gal, like Tap O’Noth to be ridden by Anton Marcus, is 3-1 favourite to repeat last year’s success in the WSB Diana Stakes with Freedom Charter, Angel’s Trumpet and the three-year-old Lesedi La Rona all sharing second favouritism on 9-2. Langerman winner One World, yet another big Marcus ride, is 5-10 for the First Deposit Match Progress Place.

Met winner Whisky Baron, fresh from that stunning second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, now travels to France for the Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp on Saturday. William Haggas has still to finalise riding arrangements for the Group 2 test.

Charles, a R6 million record-equaller when bought as a yearling for Sue Magnier and Markus Jooste, still races In Mrs Magnier’s dark blue but the Mayfair Speculators’ share has been taken over by Diane Nagle, Linda Shanahan, Dina Sherrell and B.L. Rae.

The colt managed only a well-beaten fourth behind runaway winner Hemmingway in the Settlers Trophy Handicap at Durbanville yesterday but Brett Crawford still had a good day with three winners including a future star in Front And Centre who started 15-10 favourite for the 1 400m fillies handicap and made up six lengths inside a furlong to win pulling up.

Anton Marcus said: “I am pretty excited about her. She is just so professional – she put herself into position.”

Crawford is now considering the Western Cape Fillies Championship at Kenilworth on the 28^th saying, with masterly understatement, “She is a very smart filly.”

The winner is owned by the Kieswetter brothers and the Ridgemont Highlands Stud of their father Wayne who piloted himself to the course in his own helicopter and who was also on the mark with stable companion Heaven’s Embrace in the 1 400m fillies maiden. The 4-1 newcomer showed an impressive turn of foot under Marcus.

Crawford said: “I expected her to run very well but not to win – she is still very immature and has a lot to learn. I will give her another run and then make a decision about plans 15-10“

By Michael Clower

Punters face a few tricky decisions at the Vaal tomorrow. There are a number of races that are impossible to predict with any confidence and there are a couple that look to be obvious bankers. The quandary is whether you take a chance and bank the like of Aeronautical in the seventh and Pachanga in the eight and load up in the other legs of the exotics, or do you load all legs with as much as finances allow.

The lightly raced Aeronautical out of the Mike and Adam Azzie yard has only had three starts and finished runner-up in his last two. He stays the trip well and if merit ratings are anything to go by, he should prove difficult to beat.

Mike Azzie

However, there are a pair of three-year-olds that caught the eye on debut and both are stepping up to a trip which, on pedigree anyway, looks more suitable. Blame Game comes from the powerful Sean Tarry yard and was staying on nicely on debut over 1400m while Popsicle Toes was only run out of it late when making his debut over 1800m. Both should improve so it may be prudent to include both to provide back-up to Aeronautical.

Pachanga has not been out of the money since joining Ashleigh Fortune’s yard but it is a little worrying that she never seems to make it past the eventual winner, finishing runner-up in her last five outings. She was touched off a piece of paper last time out and maybe this time Gavin Lerena can get her home as she tries 2000m for the first time.

These two will be popular exotic bet bankers for the smaller investor as they will be hard-pressed to get through the balance of the card unscathed.

The opening leg of the PA is an Assessment Plate for fillies and mares where Railtrip is likely to be a popular choice. However, Chesney van Zyl’s filly has shown her best form over further and is returning from a break which could open the door for the likes of the lightly raced Captain’s Princess who contested strong feature races last season. She is smart and at best should feature prominently along with Vivir, who should be more at home over this trip.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Bien Venue sprinted up well in his seasonal debut and has shown plenty of ability. The extra should also suit. Of the balance, Orpheus showed up well first time back after gelding. He is lightly raced but has potential. Deerupt takes on some useful males but cannot be written off even though she took a little time to shed her maiden. She has not been out of the money in five outings.

The fifth is a tough handicap made even more difficult it being a race exclusively for apprentice riders. Endofmarch started a short-priced favourite for his new stable but finished down-field but he had some useful Cape form before that and may be worth another chance. Pachuco came from a long way back to finish third last time out. He has a light weight and an experienced apprentice aboard. Gonnafly has been taking on stronger at recent outings. He takes another merit rating drop and with a 4kg claimer up can be dangerous while Trip To Paradise came from well back to finish in the money last run and a repeat should see him competitive again.

The sixth is wide open. Come The Day continues to improve and was a game winner last time out. He is bred for this trip and can follow up. Odd Rob is an obvious danger having been in the money in his last four. He was closing fast on Come The Day last time out but didn’t quite get there so there should not be much between these two again. American Indian tried to make all in that same race but faded late. Given a more patient ride he could do better. Psychic ran well below ability last start at Turffontein but his best showings have been on this course so can make amends

By Andrew Harrison

Charles begins his journey to what could lead to the Cape Guineas in the Settlers Trophy Handicap at Durbanville today. But for now the all-important question is whether he will win this.

The R6 million purchase gets into the 1 400m race with bottom weight and yesterday afternoon he was sharing 28-10 favouritism with Jailhouse Rock in the books of Betting World. He was good enough to win at the first time of asking – no mean achievement – and he was then a more than respectable third to One World in the Langerman.

Mac De Lago

“It is not easy to find races for him but we have a programme mapped out and this is the first leg,” says Brett Crawford. “He is taking on experienced horses and it will be a nice test for him. He has only had the one grass gallop since the Langerman but he is very well and I am happy with him.”

Francois Herhodlt takes over because stable jockey Corne Orffer has to really struggle to do 52kg and Crawford does not want the colt to have to carry even half a kilo overweight.

He is rated 92, the same as Hemmingway but nine points inferior to Mac De Lago, and gets the weight-for age allowances from his rivals – and at this stage he has more potential than any of them.

But Jailhouse Rock is preferred. Justin Snaith said in a Tellytrack interview on Saturday that anyone who made money that day should play up their winnings at today’s meeting. Seemingly he expects to have a good day. He did not specifically mention this horse but the colt was unable to get a clear run when beaten a short head by Hemmingway last time and is half a kilo better. Admittedly that was three months ago but at 28-10 Richard Fourie’s mount makes considerable appeal.

Hemmingway is next in the market at 3-1 and Andre Nel expects him to run a big race – “He had two weeks in a paddock (after his last run) and has had two gallops since. One of those was here and he went well. This is his trip.”

There is no such confidence behind 8-1 top weight Mac De Lago. “His prep has gone haywire,” admits Dan Katz. “I was hoping to get two races into him before the Algoa Cup but both were cancelled so I am using this as his prep run.”

A much bigger danger is Zeb who is on a hat-trick after two wins over this trip and Greg Cheyne’s mount has been backed from 5-1 to 7-2 with World Sports Betting.

Front And Centre carries a first-time-out-of-the-maidens warning in the 1400m handicap (race seven) but she won so well on debut that she should go in again. She has already been backed and, if you can get better than 15-10, you will be doing well.

Stable companion Engage And Beware appeals at 33-10 in the first while 22-10 favourite Minona looks another for the Snaith-Fourie combination in race two.

By Michael Clower