Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open misses the Cape Classic to go for the mile Pinnacle when racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday.

Glen Kotzen said: “It’s partly because of his wide draw but also he would have had to give 5kg to much of the field in the Classic – and it’s only a prep race so why kill him? Also he would prefer a mile – seven furlongs is too short for him.”

Ancestry, beaten half a length in the Greyville Grade 1, was also not declared for the Classic but entered for the Pinnacle. However Joey Ramsden said on Saturday that the colt will not run, citing a lack of grass gallops.

Richard Fourie rides the supplemented Sir Frenchie but Justin Snaith reckons stable companion Cot Campbell could be the one, saying: “He will be a big runner at the weights. He has a good draw and a good jockey (Grant van Niekerk). We’ve got Tap O’Noth to beat.”

Top weight Dutch Philip faces a massive task, giving away a minimum of 5kg and nearly twice that to the Sean Tarry filly Rockin Russian who was only beaten half a length in the Thekwini.

In the Western Cape Fillies Championship the champion trainer’s Thekwini fourth Desert Rhythm renews rivalry with the winner of that race Lady In Black. Both have wide draws and penalties to overcome whereas the unbeaten Magical Wonderland races off the standard 58kg and is reasonably drawn at seven.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith issued a heartfelt plea for more leniency in the handicapping of Cape Town stayers after Strathdon gave him his third consecutive Woolavington at Durbanville on Saturday.

He said: “I have Krambambuli and Ovidio sitting at home because I can’t run them until Met day as they are handicapped out of it in the staying races. Strathdon will hopefully go through the weights but, if he does, he will get nailed and go into the Gold Cup with top weight while some Jo’burg horse will come along with 52kg.”

Interfering with handicapping can end up causing more difficulties than it solves but turning at least one of the Cape Town long-distance triumvirate (Kenilworth Cup, Summer Stayers and Chairman’s Cup) into a conditions race could be the solution to the no-opportunities problem.

Punters got it right with Strathdon who went off 17-10 favourite whereas Red Peril was allowed to start at 4-1 despite his runaway Settlers win. Wes Marwing again tried to build up an unassailable lead and, while he turned for home almost three lengths clear, he was soon sending out distress signals like a drowning man. His mount managed only fifth in a time, a little puzzlingly, more than three seconds slower than his course record.

Richard Fourie also scored a convincing win for Snaith on Fifty Cents in the 1 400m handicap but the former champion trainer is still miffed that he was unable to run the gelding on July day.

He said: “At Scottsville a fortnight beforehand he reared up in the gates and the saddle slipped. After he was resaddled he went straight in yet they took his ticket away.”

Ronnie Sheehan celebrated his 81^st birthday four weeks late when 8-1 shot Over Again survived an objection from Corne Orffer on 18-10 favourite Honey Suite after the Tabonline Handicap. The runner-up was pushed wide and was only beaten a fifth of a length.

But Grant van Neikerk pulled his whip through in the closing stages and kept the race. The way he emerged from the boardroom, bounding down the steps three at a time, told the result well before the official announcement!

Val Niekerk is on fire at the moment and made it six winners from two meetings when rounding off a Snaith treble on Dynamic Diana in the last.

Orffer had better luck for boss Brett Crawford when leading throughout on White River in the Betting World Handicap but the day’s riding honours surely belonged to Louis Burke who doubled his score with his first double.

Burke, 22 but in only his first year of race-riding, showed the coolness of real talent on the Mike Stewart-trained Al Wahed and 40 minutes later followed up on Ostinato for Glen Kotzen and a Green Street partnership.

Harold Crawford shrewdly had a few rand on 16-1 newcomer Ready Steady Go in the first and Grant Behr’s mount just held on to give his trainer some compensation for the problems he causes at home.

Crawford explained: “The horse has shown ability but he is a monster to look after. He is fine in his box but outside it he wants to kill everything and he doesn’t want to work.”

It was a hot day, at least by recent standards, and a number of jockeys came back sweating profusely. Aldo Domeyer lost more than the permitted half kilo on fifth-placed Sassy Lady in race six and the filly was disqualified.

By Michael Clower

There was some top-class racing at Greyville yesterday with at least three winners giving notice that they are top drawer, but they were all over-shadowed in a lowly MR Handicap over 3000m as Run Rhino Run turned in a stunning performance.

Seemingly out of control as the small field hit the first turn, Kom Naidoo’s runner cornered wide and if not for the outside fence would probably have been racing up Florida Road.

The balance of the riders seemed unconcerned as they kept in a tight bunch on the inside rail while Run Rhino Run continued to increase his lead no matter that he was running twice the distance.

Nearly a furlong-and-a-half clear turning for home, there was very little chance of Run Rhino Run being caught and he went to the line with an official 19 lengths to spare.

It was hardly the stuff of Secretariat in his famed Belmont Stakes romp, the official time being way outside the course record, but it was still something of a bizarre race.

Given Run Rhino Run’s antics, the other riders can possibly be forgiven for thinking that he would compound. On the other hand their pace was little more than a steady canter so there should be some questions asked.

The Sean Tarry machine is starting to kick into gear and the champion trainer will have been well satisfied with the performance of Captain And Master in the Progress Plate. Unlucky behind stable companion Purple Diamond in the Gr.2 Golden Horseshoe on July day and a beaten favourite in the Gr.1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, he put his marker down in his seasonal debut scooting home comfortably ahead of the highly rated Red Chestnut Road and the luckless filly Dawn Calling.

Dean Kannemeyer has had a quiet couple of seasons by his standards but the wheel appears to be turning. Last Winter gave notice that he could be a force to be reckoned with this Cape season when keeping his clean sheet at Durbanville on Saturday and Hastagyolo also sent out a strong message in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial. Anthony Delpech had no hesitation in taking his mount to the front and there she stayed, holding on comfortably from Fiorella who tired her heart out in second ahead of Roy’s Riviera.

Paul Gadsby has a smart filly in Vision To Kill as the home-bred daughter of Kildonan was given a smart ride by apprentice Ashton Arries, scything though the middle of the pack to win well. Neptune’s Rain found the 1000m trip a touch on the short side but was doing her best work late and is one for the notebook when she goes a furlong further.

It’s not often that a trainer puts a horse on diet, “but he gets fatter after every race,” said Louis Goosen of Doing It For Dan. “Just now he won’t be able to fit into the starting stalls,” he said. The gelding did it for Goosen yesterday, winning his tenth race from 44 starts from Redcarpet Captain and top weight London Call in the Pinnacle Stake sprint.

By Andrew Harrison

The teams for the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge have been finalised and some well-known UK jockeys will be flying to South Africa for the test. It will be held at one venue this year, Turffontein on Sunday 19 November, and the test will be held over six races.

Anthony Delpech

Captain. This Seychelles-born 48-year-old has ridden for South Africa in every International Jockeys Challenge held so far. He won the national jockeys’ title last season, riding 43 more winners than second-placed Greg Cheyne and maintaining a high 22% win rate. That was his third jockeys’ title after 1998-99, when he set the standing record in South Africa for number of winners in a season – 334, and 2002-03. “Bonji” won four Grade 1 races last season. Although only 10^th on the 2017-18 log, he is maintaining his high strike rate this season with 20 wins from 94 rides and a win-place strike rate of nearly 60%. He has ridden in Singapore, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Dubai. He rides at 53kg.

Greg Cheyne

This 41-year-old Pretoria-born rider was in the South African team in the 2015 International Jockeys’ Challenge. He has a diverse international CV that includes appearances in Malaysia, Germany, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore Macau and most recently in England where he partnered Whisky Baron in his UK debut. His second on the national jockeys’ log in 2016-17 was his highest finish to date, although he did finish third on a couple of occasions before that. He made his one Grade 1 victory for last season count – it came in the Cape’s biggest race, the Sun Met, aboard Whisky Baron. Cheyne is currently 18^th on the national jockeys’ log with a win-place strike rate of nearly 60%. He rides at 53kg.

Gavin Lerena

Champion SA jockey 2014-15 and third on the log last season in spite of spending almost three months in the UK. The 32-year-old Johannesburg-born won the Grade 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup on Master Sabina last year and his four Grade 2 wins included the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. He has ridden in Hong Kong, Mauritius, China, Dubai, England and Zimbabwe. This is the sixth time he will represent South Africa in this challenge and he rode in the Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Challenge and Shergar Cup in 2015. He is third on the log and more than a quarter of his rides so far have won. He rides at 57kg.

Anton Marcus

Four-time champion SA jockey, he has captained the “Proteas” four times in the International Jockeys’ Challenge and ridden in this test six times. The 47-year-old, who was born in Cape Town and is retained jockey to the powerful string belonging to Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators, won six Grade 1 races last season when he finished fourth on the national jockeys’ log with a winning strike rate of 25.52%. His winning strike rate so far this season is even better, 29.27%, so he continues to ride with finesse. His international experience includes rides in Australia, Macau Dubai, England, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Singapore.

S’manga Khumalo

Two-time champion SA jockey – the first person of colour to achieve that honour – this KwaMashu-born 31-year-old has ridden in the International Jockeys’ Challenge five times and was captain in 2014 when the local team won by a country mile. Finished fifth on the log in 2016-17 with a winning strike rate of 16.6% and a tally of three Grade 1 wins. Has made a fairly slow start to the current season and is 25^th on the table. Has represented his country in jockey tests in England and Hong Kong and has also ridden with success in Australia, China, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Weighs in at 53kg.

Craig Zackey

The Benoni, Johannesburg-born 22-year-old rides in the International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time but has already represented his country twice, in the Asian Young Guns in Seoul in 2014 and 2015. Finished sixth on the SA Jockeys’ log last season with 138 winners and his second Grade 1 trophy, when Nother Russia won the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes. His best finish came in defeat, though, when the filly was beaten two short heads into third by hard-knocking males Deo Juvente and Legal Eagle in the Premiers Champions Challenge. Is currently ninth on the national jockeys’ log. Rides at 53kg.

Pat Smullen

Represents Ireland. This 40-year-old rider, who rode his first winner in 1993, has won the Irish flat-racing jockeys’ title nine times and has won major races in his homeland, England, France and the United States. He has ridden several times in the Shergar Cup, although his team failed to win on any of those occasions. He will be riding in South Africa for the first time. Is currently second on the Irish jockeys’ log behind Colin Keane with a 14% winning strike rate. Biggest win this year came in the Moyglare “Jewels” Blandord Stakes (Group 2) aboard Dermot Weld-trained Shamreen. His lowest riding weight this year was 54.5kg.

Seamie Heffernan

Represents Ireland and eighth on the Irish jockeys’ log this year with a 10% winning strike rate. The 45-year-old, who was born in County Kildare, rode in the International Jockeys’ Challenge in South Africa in 2012 when he won a race at Clairwood and helped his team win the test. He has also ridden in England, France and the USA, where he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Highland Reel last year. Rides mostly for Aidan O’Brien and his big-race wins this year include three Grade 1s – the Irish Derby on Capri, the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes on US Navy Flag and the Prix de l’Opera on Rhododendron. Rides at 54.5kg.

Corey Brown

Represents Australia. The 41-year-old Taree-born jockey has ridden in Mauritius, Singapore (fourth in the premiership there last year) and Hong Kong but comes to South Africa for our International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time. Champion Australian jockey in 2001-2002, he is best known internationally for riding Shocking to victory in Australia’s premier race, the Melbourne Cup, in 2009. Has ridden a lot for Godolphin this year winning on a third of his rides for them. Currently 39^th on the Australian jockeys’ log. Rides at 53kg.

Martin Dwyer

Represents England. The 42-year-old Aintree, Liverpool-born jockey has ridden in Mauritius but visits South Africa for the International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time. Has recorded Group 1 wins in England (including winning the Oaks on Casual Look in 2003 and the Derby on Sir Percy in 2006), Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Dubai (where he won the Dubai Sheema Classic on Phoenix Reach in 2005) and India. Rides a lot for his father-in-law Willie Muir. Has a 10% winning strike rate this year and is 46^th in the British Flat jockeys’ standings. Was licensed to also ride over jumps this year. His lowest riding weight in 2017 was 52kg.

Thierry Thulliez

Represents France. The 43-year-old Paris-born jockey, affectionately called “Thuthu”, started his life in the saddle as a jump jockey, winning 17 races over obstacles before moving to Chantilly to ride in Flat races. Although without a Group 1 win and a 6% winning strike rate this year, he is no stranger to big-race success, having won at the highest level in France, Italy and the USA, where he won the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile on Domedriver, and his international experience also includes Germany, Mauritius, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Dubai and Czechoslovakia. Has ridden as light as 53.5kg this year.

PJ McDonald

Represents Ireland but the 35-year-old jockey works in the UK and is in the top 10 on their jockeys’ log. Was recently crowned Flat jockey of the year at Ayr. A former jump jockey, he switched codes after winning the 2007 Scottish Grand National on Hot Weld as an apprentice, and has won 645 Flat races in his career. Is having his best season yet with 97 wins to his credit at the time of writing. His first Group 1 Flat race success came on 13 October aboard Laurens in the bet 365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. That was his third win aboard trainer Karl Burke’s charge. McDonald’s lowest riding weight this year has been 53kg.

Previously Gr1 winners carried penalties.
The 2000m contest, the Capes flagship race is expected to attract South Africas best, with berths available for 20 runners. It was won by the Australian-bred Whisky Baron at its inaugural running and the last under the old weight conditions.
Entries for the Met close at 11h00 on Wednesday 29 November 2017.
Other key dates:
First Supplementary Entries Close at 11h00 on Tuesday 12 December 2017
Final Supplementary Entries Close at 11h00 on Monday 8 January 2018
Weights will be published on Monday 8 January 2018
Final Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 15 January
Announcement of the Final Field will be made on Monday 15 January 2018
Barrier Draws to be made at an event on Wednesday 17 January 2018
The compulsory public gallops will be held on Thursday 18 January 2018