The Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile meeting is one of the highlights of the Highveld racing season and combines top class racing with a festive social occasion in which the public can rub shoulders with celebrities.

The Charity Mile is never an easy race to analyse, because some horses use it as a preparation for the Sansui Summer Cup.

New Predator loves the Turffontein Standside mile and from a probably ideal draw of six under Gavin Lerena has a big chance. He ran an excellent preparation race when staying on strongly for third in the Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m. Champagne Haze will be going all out, as the mile is probably the limit of his range, and he will be attempting to emulate his half-brother Pierre Jourdan, who won this race on Guy Fawkes day five years ago.

Champagne Haze is an easy ride, so can be switched off from his tricky draw of eight, and if he finds decent cover his superb turn of foot will take him close. Leading apprentice Lyle Hewitson rates him one of the best he has sat on and he and trainer Gary Alexander have been pleased with his preparation.

New Predator (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mogok Master had a year off, not due to any physical issues, but due to a rules enforcement on another matter. This could only have done him good and he proved it when winning impressively first time out for his new yard. The mile at this stage should be right down his alley and he should have improved from that first comeback run. The Standside track suits him as he has a good turn of foot and a sustained finishing run. Anthony Delpech has duly stayed aboard. His draw of ten is a bit tricky but he is a relaxed type who should be able to find cover.

Mac De Lago is probably the best miler in the country. He returned from a layoff last year to finish strongly for fourth in this race and can repeat the effort despite being ten points higher in the merit ratings and having to carry 62kg. Rabada is also top class over a mile and loves the Standside course. However, he does have a tough draw.

Saratoga Dancer began catching the eye in no uncertain terms last year and this long striding sort always struck as one who would get better with age. He missed the cut when strongly fancied for this race last year and has a chance to make amends from a plum draw. His preparation run on the Greyville poly should have ideally been better than it was, but he was found to be coughing and that was seven weeks ago. He has reportedly been doing well at Turffontein, where the Duncan Howells runners have been prepared for the last six weeks.

Bulleting Home has a good draw and the best has likely not been seen of him yet, so he has a chance under Piere Strydom. Deo Juvente has talent and although he would prefer a touch further he can’t be written off from a plum draw. The veteran No Worries proved in the KZN Million Mile he still has it in him to be competitive in a race like this. He has a plum draw. St. Tropez would prefer further, but loves a galloping track like this one and also has a fair draw. These are the ones most fancied and they are selected in the order mentioned.

The most anticipated clash of the day could well be the one in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m between Doosra and Heavenly Blue. Both look full of class. Doosra is drawn in pole and is race fit. The course and distance should be ideal. It will be a thrill to see him unwinding down the long straight into that enormous stride of his. Heavenly Blue is drawn seven and has been just as impressive. However, this will be his first run of the season, so Doosra is given the nod.

The R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup could see national champion trainer Sean Tarry filling a few of the placings. Africa Rising could be the one to side with having struck as a classy sort. He won well from a wide draw over 1450m on the Inside track last time, so can overcome another tough draw. Safe Harbour is a long striding sort who over raced early last time in the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge against some of the best older males in the country, yet she was still staying on well at the end. Her wide draw is the drawback.

Unagi has proven class, but his last below par run leaves a bit of a cloud over his head especially as tests could not find anything wrong. He also had to overcome a wide draw. If producing his best he has a winning chance. Visuality was staying on strongly last time in the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Fillies and Mares challenge and finished a decent 0,7 length third considering she was the only three-year-old in the field. She has a fair draw of nine and has a winning chance. The rest of the field all have tough tasks according to the official merit ratings.

However, Act Of Loyalty caught the eye last time as one with a nice action and scope for improvement, so he could upset the applecart. Double Appeal tried this trip once as a juvenile and ran a good third, beaten 4,75 lengths by the useful Jiffy, especially considering he had a wide draw and was bumped a few times while making his run down the outside rail. He could be a threat from a nice draw of six.

By David Thiselton

Dennis Drier has had a winner at each of the last three Kenilworth meetings and his Mayfair Speculators runner Lloyd’s Legacy looks worth waiting for in the last at tomorrow’s Cape Town meeting.

This Australian-bred was Drier’s first runner of the Cape season a fortnight ago and, starting second favourite, he raced prominently to take third to the much more experienced Glorious Goodwood. He is sure to have come on a fair bit from that. He was reported by the course vet to have made an “abnormal respiratory noise” (often meaning a wind problem) that day but it didn’t stop him and it  is unlikely to this time either.

Donovan Dillon (Nkosi Hlophe)

Donovan Dillon again has the mount while Sean Veale, who has ridden all three of the Drier Kenilworth winners, has been snapped up by Justin Snaith for obvious danger Gstaad who has similar once-raced credentials.

But he raced green and came from a long way back to take third to favourite Moonbird over this trip at Durbanville a month ago. Another to note here is Loadshedder who would have finished closer than fourth on his debut had he not been bumped leaving the pens.

The sahorseracing computer has Lloyd’s Legacy running out a comfortable winner with Gstaad second and Loadshedder third while it expects Broder Control to take the opening 1 400m maiden. Brett Crawford’s runner is the obvious chance on form and there seems no logical reason why he should not confirm the placings with My Word My Bond and Whitelight Warrior. They had experience in their favour last time but that does not apply now and Corne Orffer’s mount should be able to cope with his seven draw.

Oh Behave has claims, or rather he would have had he not such a wide draw. Mini Loushe, drawn on the fence, showed significant improvement at Durbanville last time despite getting worked up in the pens.

William The Brave has had four decent runs and looks a cut above the opposition in the Racing Association Maiden. Dillon’s mount probably has most to fear from his own stable companion Paddington whose third to Royal Ginger over 400m less at Durbanville suggested there are better things to come.

Whispering Light is the forecast favourite in the preceding 1 400m maiden but Big Bang Theory has more scope for improvement and looks another for the in-form Crawford team.

BLOB Michael Clower’s last four selections have produced three winners including Horizon (4-1) and Table Bay (3-1). The fourth tip was second.

By Michael Clower

Andrew Fortune has had to withdraw from participating in this year’s Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge and will be replaced by his son Aldo Domeyer.

The two-legged series takes place at Fairview on 18 November before heading to Turffontein on 20 November.

Aldo Domeyer (Nkosi Hlophe)

“We are thrilled to announce that Aldo will be involved in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge this year,” Larry Wainstein, Racing Association CEO, said of the substitution.

“While it’s unfortunate that Andrew Fortune won’t be able to take part in this year’s event this does offer an opportunity to another one of South Africa’s young talents to showcase his skills against some of the world’s best,” said Larry Wainstein, CEO of the Racing Association.

The evergreen Piere Strydom was approached to fill the role but unfortunately had to decline due to prior commitments.

The South African team will be captained by defending champion jockey S’manga Khumalo and sees Anthony Delpech, Gavin Lerena, Grant van Niekerk and Muzi Yeni all included.

Domeyer ended the 2015/16 racing season inside the top 10 of the jockeys’ log having ridden 110 winners with a strike rate of 17% and a place strike rate of 58%. He was the runner-up in the race to be champion rider in the Western Cape and is a regular feature in the winner’s box in Port Elizabeth.

Domeyer also has international experience having ventured to South Korea in 2011, riding the winner in the YTN Cup at the Seoul Race Park. Another of his big achievements includes riding Martial Eagle to victory in the 2013 Met.

Racing. It’sARush

Race Previews Turffontein Saturday Nov 5 by David Thiselton

Race 1:
Preview: FURIOSA is an Australian-bred by Fastnet Rock and his high draw could be favourable. ROMI’S BOY made a good debut over 1200m when beaten only by a classy sort. PILOU was not far behind Romi’s Boy in third on debut. (David Thiselton 5-9-8)

Race 2:
Preview: END GAME caught the eye on debut as a rangy sort who would relish the step up in trip, although a wide draw is a concern. AL HAMD has been right there in both starts and an improvement. OPTICAL ILLUSION is a Dynasty colt out of National Assembly mare who has produced a winner. (David Thiselton 15-7-10)

Race 3:
Preview: FORTISSIMA has her third run after a rest and should love this galloping track so can go close from a plum draw. INANINSTANT is course and distance suited and capable of rising above her current merit rating, but she has a tough draw. RUNALONG is progressive and course and distance suited but this will be her seasonal reappearance. GIRL ON THE RUN won a good race over this trip last time and has a fair draw off a five point higher mark. ANGELIC APPEAL is 1,5kg better off with Girl On The Run For a 1,25 length beating over this trip on the Inside track, but she has a tricky draw. POLYPHONIC, SHE’S A DRAGON, WORK ETHIC, PATCHITUPBABY, and PERSIAN RUG can’t be ignored. (8-7-6-11-10)

Race 4:
Preview: KINGMAMBO’S LEGACY went close over 2600m last time and now has Strydom up from a good draw. KINAAN should do well especially as the pace in this big field will be better than he got last time and the blinkers which might have caused him to over race there are off. THE ELMO EFFECT is consistently thereabouts in staying events off his current merit rating. ARCH RIVAL loves this galloping track and stays the trip so can’t be ignored despite top weight. SMART MART went close in the Gr 3 Gold Vase over 3000m at Greyville and is drawn well here off an attractive merit rating. NETFLIX is interesting if he stays as he is progressive and has a touch of class, while this course suits his come from off the pace style. (David Thiselton 6-3-10-1-8)

Race 5:
Preview: AFRICA RISING has some class and is distance suited but does have a tough draw. SAFE HARBOUR wasn’t disgraced last time against some of the best males in the country and was staying on late despite over racing a little bit early, so she as a chance if settling from a tough draw. UNAGI has also been impressive on occasion, but also has a tough draw. VISUALITY has a Gr 1 third over 1200m to her name and was doing good work late in a Gr 2 over 1450m last time, so has a chance if settling from a tricky draw. ACT OF LOYALTY has a tough task on official merit ratings but caught the eye last time running on well over 1450m behind a top class sort and he is well drawn with Marcus up. (David Thiselton 1-13-2-14-8)

Race 6:
Preview: AL DANZA stretched away impressively on debut when jumping from a wide draw in a moderate workrider’s event over 1200m and can follow up from a good draw as she looks full of class. ALWAYS A LADY won impressively on debut over 1400m and the form has worked out well so she has a shout from a good draw. MALEFICENT impressed when easily winning the Listed Devon Air Stakes over this trip at Greyville, beating subsequent Gr 1 winner Querari Falcon by 3,25 lengths so she will be a threat if close to her best after a layoff, although her wide draw is a concern. RETURN TO POWER moved up well under the hands on debut and then kicked well to win a 1600m event narrowly with the rest of the field beaten five lengths. AL HAWRAA finished strongly with long strides on the Greyville poly last time over this trip and should enjoy the long straight. SANTIBURI looks a progressive sort and can’t be ignored. (David Thiselton 6-10-1-13-5)

Race 7:
Preview: NEW PREDATOR went close in the Dingaans over course and distance in which he beat Abashiri by 3,1 lengths. CHAMPAGNE HAZE is a classy sort with a good turn of foot and this is his maximum trip so he will be going all out. MOGOK MASTER won his comeback from a year’s layoff impressively and also has a chance. MAC DE LAGO is likely the best miler in the country and his class should take him close despite having to carry top weight and returning from a layoff since July. RABADA is also a top class and is effective over a mile, but he has a tough draw to overcome. SARATOGA DANCER has a big race win in him and this could be his ideal opportunity from a good draw as a lot of the main protagonists will be using this as a preparation for the Sansui Summer Cup. (David Thiselton 2-3-14-1-5)

Race 8:
Preview: DOOSRA is an exciting prospect and this classy, long striding sort is drawn in pole over a course and distance which should be perfectly suitable for his third career start.  HEAVENLY BLUE is a much touted horse who has won both starts over 1600m and 1400m respectively comfortably. The form of the latter race hasn’t worked out well, but he was caught wide and won effortlessly by 3,6 lengths. He could be anything and coming from the De Kock yard should be fit enough in his seasonal reappearance, although his draw of seven is tricky in a 12 horse field. ORAPA looks to have some potential and cantered to victory over this course and distance when winning his maiden. He is well regarded and likely needed his last start. ROY’S MAGIC has impressed in his last two in KZN and should love the course and distance. AGGRESSIVE stayed on well to make it two out of two last time over 1200m and should get this trip from a plum draw. JIFFY was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, including one over this course and distance, and is the highest rated horse in the race, but has to give weight away and has a tough draw. (David Thiselton 5-4-6-7-3)

Race 9:
Preview: BULL VALLEY is full of speed and class and won a good race last time when returning from a layoff so can repeat the dose from a high draw, which is usually favourable on this day. TAR HEEL is 2,5kg better off with African Ruler for a 1,75 length defeat over 1000m on Grand Heritage day. It was an especially meritorious run as he had broken through the stalls and had to be reloaded. This speedy sort should come into his own this season. AFRICAN RULER is a Gr 1 runner up and from a high draw can carry top weight. RIVARINE would be a possible first choice if he had a higher draw. DONNY G is very speedy and is another one who has a winning chance if low draws turn out to not be disadvantageous. (David Thiselton 5-6-1-12-7)

Race 10:
Preview: FORT MEYERS won well with first time blinkers and is drawn well. FRONT RANK has a good darw and should be finishing strongly. EASY LOVER looks to be coming back to his best. (David Thiselton 2-8-7)

Race Previews Kenilworth Saturday (Old Course) Nov 5 by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: OH BEHAVE ran well last time and looks ready to go one better. BORDER CONTROL caught the eye on debut when running second and with natural improvement can now go very close to winning. The trainer and jockey combination are in red hot form. MY WORD MY BOND placed last time and a similar performance can be expected again today. (Warren Lenferna 2-6-3)

Race 2
Preview: WEALTHY makes his seasonal debut and he will no doubt be looking for further but in saying that, his form is good and if he were to reel off the hat trick it would be no shock at all hence I have made him the first choice and the value bet on the card. CATKIN and BLACKMORE are in fair form and they look to be the ones that are the main dangers in this race. (Warren Lenferna 5-1-2)

Race 3
Preview: BIG BANG THEORY showed fair improvement from run one to run two – fair enough to suggest that she has more to come and if this is the case she could end up very hard to beat. WHISPERING LIGHT tried hard last time but had to settle for second – she will be a big runner this afternoon again. SYLVANITE is coming along the right way and gets the best draw – it would be foolish to leave her out the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 8-1-3)

Race 4
Preview: WILLIAM THE BRAVE has been narrowly beaten in his last two starts and now looks very hard to oppose – the firm first choice. SEA PASS is improving with each and every run – he should be right there at the finish. PADDINGTON showed smart improvement in his second start and should be in the first three today. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-8)

Race 5
Preview: FOXY PRINCESS is lightly raced and doing well – she probably has more improvement to come and comes into the race with strong each way claims. ICY FIRE returns from a rest but could go close if not in too much need of this run. DON’T STOP DANCING seems to have lost the plot since making a winning debut – in saying that, she could show huge improvement over the mile she tries today for the first time. (Warren Lenferna 6-4-7)

Race 6
Preview: STRATHDON was unwinding nicely last time and finished second – with that run under his belt, he can go one better here. WILLIAM LONGSWORD looks a serious horse – he has won his last two well! He does return from a short rest and if not in too much need of this run will go very close. HAMMIE’S GAME is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-4)

Race 7
Preview: VARSITY CUP won well last time and could follow up. STARFLASH is consistent and did well first time out the maidens – this is a good sign and his chances cannot be taken lightly. CAPTAIN’S VERSION could find a first four position. (Warren Lenferna 4-1-5)

Race 8
Preview: CHOIR OF ANGELS was making steady head way last time on debut and can improve a lot this time around. His chances look bright here if not still a bit green. LLOYD’S LEGACY ran a cracker on debut and with natural improvement should be a big runner here. GSTAAD can improve on his good debut in what looks a very competitive closing event on the card. (Warren Lenferna 7-11-9)