The future stars are beginning to emerge in the two-year-old races. On Tuesday it was the turn of R6 million purchase Silver Coin and in the first at Kenilworth tomorrow keep a close eye on Cot Campbell.

This R3.3 million Trippi colt is the first foal of Ebony Flyer who won the Cape Fillies Guineas, Majorca and South African Fillies Sprint for Justin Snaith and much is expected of him.

“We rate him and he is going to be a top horse,” says Chris Snaith but seemingly, for tomorrow at any rate, this is one to put in the notebook rather than back. “He is going to need it here. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rode him on Tuesday and said he wasn’t ready.”

Justin Snaith (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joey Ramsden, who has won half the last 12 Cape Town two-year-old races, introduces Rommel. This Var colt is out of the Cape Fillies Guineas third Joshua’s Mistress but apparently he is also not expected to make a winning debut – “He will run well but he is no star at the moment,” says his trainer.

Unless there is a real market move for any of the other newcomers – What A Summer cost R850 000 and is a half-brother to the 2015 Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa while Brett Crawford introduces the Captain Al colt Dollar Tractor – the finish looks like being fought out between Pen-Chan and Royal Marine. There was only three-quarters of a length between them when they both made their second starts here a fortnight ago and Greg Cheyne’s mount gets only fractional preference.

It’s a different story 40 minutes later when the Ramsden-trained Lily Theresa is likely to start odds-on and is well-nigh impossible to oppose. She was second to Regal Ruby in a field of 18 nine days ago – prominent throughout and kept on well – and has mostly newcomers to beat.

Kingston Passage is on a hat-trick in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap and looks smart enough to go in again despite not having raced for almost two months. He has only had three runs and was a close second in the first of them. He went up 2.5kg for scoring on his first time out of the maidens but still receives weight from all except Mount Keith.

Ovar and Starflash are obvious dangers. They are close on their running over this trip here at the end of February and Ovar then finished second in a hot pinnacle over the same distance, avoiding a penalty in the process.

By Michael Clower

The Robbie Hill pair Red Chesnut Road and Kilmokea were travelling down from Johannesburg to their home base at Summerveld yesterday (Wednesday) ahead of their Graded race engagements on Sunday.

Red Chestnut Road (Nkosi Hlophe)

Shannon Hill said both horses were laid back types, so he expected them to travel well. He was looking forward to good respective runs in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk and Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes, both over 1400m on the Greyville turf. Red Chesnut Road ran a decent fourth with topweight in the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein last Saturday.

The best fillies had a big weight advantage in that race and duly finished first and second. Shannon said Red Chesnut Road had only been doing “good, solid work” for about five weeks before the Man O’ War. He admitted the preparation had not been ideal, but was not concerned about the second run after a rest syndrome and believed last Saturday’s race would have been the equivalent of a good gallop.

He said on pedigree Red Chesnut Road would comfortably stay Sunday’s 1400m trip and further. He revealed Gavin Lerena, who rode him on Saturday, had got off and told him he wanted to stick with this horse right through the season. His wide draw is a concern, but Shannon concluded, “He’s top class.”

Shannon rates Kilmokea a “smart filly” and expected a “very big run” from her over a trip she would like. He said her penultimate start could be ignored as she had dropped almost to her knees just before the jump and had returned “full of pharyngitis”. She had needed her last run too, when a close second in a 1200m handicap.

By David Thiselton

Alistair Gordon believes there is not much between the classy 96 merit rated Captain Al gelding My Pal Al and the recently gelded son of Fort Wood, Marshall That, both of whom are running in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday.

My Pal Al (Nkosi Hlophe)

He also has another runner in the race, the consistent Tiger Ridge gelding Scarrabeast.

Gordon said, “My Pal Al has got a bad draw but you have to take your chances and he is fit and well and I hope he will be competitive. There are horses which bring good Johannesburg and Cape Town form while he has just been running on the Greyville poly, so this is a big step up, it’s a different kettle of fish. Marshall That (also drawn wide) has come on a lot since gelding and there is not a lot between him and My Pal Al.  It will be tough for Scarrabeast and I expect the other two to beat him, but there aren’t many 1400m features and he has the draw in his favour. I think a mile would be the maximum for both My Pal Al and Marshall That, so we will see how they go on Sunday and take it from there.”

The tall and rangy My Pal Al is certainly an eye catching horse with plenty of speed, class and scope and on paper Marshall That will have a tough task getting close to him.

Gordon said a line could be drawn through My Pal Al’s unplaced run in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m last November as he was still too immature and the ground had been very soft that day. He benefitted from the break he was given after that race and has won both of his starts since.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith believes the Gr 3 Byerley Turk looks a little less competitive than the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes at Greyville on Sunday, but on the other hand he said the filly Gimme Six would be more forward than the colt Copper Force.

Justin Snaith (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith said, “I had Jo’s Bond ready last Sunday, as it was her target (she won the Listed Kwazulu Natal Stakes). This is Gimme Six’s main target and she is properly ready. She has taken very well to KZN and has really been doing well at home. She has been at Summerveld for two weeks and put up a very impressive gallop here.

I am happy with Copper Force, but I have left a little in the tank, so he may need it a little, he is at about 90%, but he is ready enough to run a nice race. There is a long season to go with him, but I expect a good run from a good draw. Gimme Six will need a bit of luck from the draw. If my horses don’t run into the money here they are in trouble for the season. None of my horses have seen Greyville, which is going to make it harder. I don’t know whether they will take to the track or not.”

He also runs Sir Frenchie in a Juvenile Plate over 1200m and Captain Splendid in a MR 93 Handicap over 1800m.

He said, “Sir Frenchie is very well at home, we will see how he handles Greyville. Captain Splendid has taken well to Durban and is very well and looks amazing, but I think he might just be one run short.”

Gavin Lerena rides Captain Splendid and Anthony Delpech, who formed a lethal classic race combination with Snaith last SA Champions Season, rides the other three.

By David Thiselton

The Dennis Drier yard are expecting a big run from Sail in the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday.

However, the noises from the Paul Gadsby yard are not as bullish for their Gr 1 winner Gunner, who runs in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk Stakes over the same course and distance.

Sail (Nkosi Hlophe)

Stuart Ferrie, assistant to Drier reckoned the 1400m trip was just about Sail’s optimum and said, “There are just limited opportunities over this trip. She is fit and well and will be ready.”

Drier also runs the classy The High Life.

However, Ferrie said, “It is a bit sharp for her, but we have to get her going somewhere.”

Ferrie concluded, “Sail is the right one.”

The last time Sail went this trip she beat the Gr 1 winner The Secret Is Out by two lengths at Kenilworth, although she was receiving 3kg. The classy Philanthropist filly subsequently finished a fine fourth from a wide draw in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and she was far from disgraced in both the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1800m and 1600m respectively. On Sunday she jumps from a plum draw of two and should go close.

The High Life has won her last two starts over 1800m and 2000m respectively at Kenilworth.and shouldn’t be ignored on Sunday running fresh as she has a fine turn of foot.

Paul Gadsby said the Gimmethegrenlight gelding Gunner had had a “few little problems” which the yard were now on top of. However, he added he would not be “100% wound up”. He said the going had been a bit hard for Gunner down in Cape Town. He also pointed out his form had not stood up too well. Furthermore, from his wide draw he would have to be ridden “from off them” on Sunday.

However, Gadsby concluded, “He is not the biggest, but he is a genuine horse with a big heart and we have always thought a lot of him. Sunday’s run will show us where we are at with him.”

Gunner showed a terrific turn of foot when winning the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m last season.

Gadsby expected a big run from On Your Life in the third race on Sunday and said his last run had been “all wrong”.

By David Thiselton