The old firm is reunited at Kenilworth today when Richard Fourie has six rides for Justin Snaith. But apparently this does not signify an official resumption of the partnership that produced nine Grade 1 wins – indeed Bernard Fay’d Herbe would have ridden some of the Snaith runners had not Durban called.

However the Snaith sextet includes some plum mounts and Cock-A-Hoop can start the ball rolling in the first. This colt was second to last Saturday’s Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge when he ran over this course and distance in April.

True, it’s not who you were second to but who you beat that counts but the Snaith horse had the third two lengths back and the other 13 strung out with the washing. What is more, they included subsequent dual winner Table Bay.

Captain Marmalade will be a leading fancy to follow up 40 minutes later but Kenny Trix’s two runs have been in hot company and Vaughan Marshall’s runner gets marginal preference. Also worth bearing in mind is Dark Force who finished third to Always In Charge and Cock-A-Hoop in April.

Fourie rides Amazingly for Adam Marcus in race three and, although she has a bit to find on her debut run, the third (Reine Tonnerre) has won since. However the vote goes to Silver Captain to add to Joey Ramsden’s Cape Town two-year-old tally – 11 wins as against 12 for Snaith and nine for Mike Bass.

Jonathan Snaith reckons that Overshadow (race seven), Pride Rock (race eight) and Cock-A-Hoop have the best chance of their Fourie-ridden sextet but cautions against diving in regardless on Twinkle Toes in the My Fair Lady Maiden as she has not raced since her first time second last August.

“She had a chip removed from a joint after that race and she could very well need the run,” he explains.  The form of Juba’s second to Baqueira is looking a bit suspect but there is a line that suggests she is slightly better than Sharp Peg so Brett Crawford’s filly could be the one.

Entrechat is forecast favourite for the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap but she has top weight and this is a prep for the Winter Oaks in a fortnight’s time so it could be prudent to look elsewhere.

Interestingly Snaith Racing two days ago entered Cock-A-Hoop, Captain Marmalade, Pride Rock and Turbulent Air for the Langerman. The latter two go in the last where they meet the three-year-olds on 4.5kg worse terms than weight-for-age. That is about four lengths but, even so, Pride Rock is taken to beat forecast favourite Imperial Dancer.

Michael Clower

*Michael Clower had four winners and a third from five selections last Saturday. In the past four weeks 12 of his 18 selections have won, showing a profit of R77.30 to a R10 level stake.

The Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge heads a top class card for one of KZN’s most enjoyable and well attended annual meetings and there is sure to be a festive on course atmosphere at Greyville today as well as plentiful entertainment, thanks to the usual joint efforts of Gold Circle and Rising Sun CEO Vijay Maharaj.

In the R1 million weight for age 1600m event, Ice Machine could finally land a deserved Gr 1. He ran on smartly in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes to finish third to New Predator who had been allowed an easy lead. He now has the man who knows him best, Anton Marcus, back aboard. Ice Machine will want a good pace and it could well be quicker than the Drill Hall with Trip To Heaven in the field. However, this will depend on the latter breaking well, which is unlikely statistically as he has been slow away in his last five starts.

Triptique ran on fluently in the Drill Hall Stakes for second, dispelling fears he might only be a sprinter, and on both that effort and pedigree he should get the mile so has a chance from pole position.

New Predator has proved himself possibly the best three-year-old miler still in the country and if allowed to dictate as he did in the Drill Hall he has a big shout.

However, jockey Weichong Marwing has jumped ship to French Navy. This trip will likely be a touch sharp for French Navy and is also likely a preparation for the Vodacom Durban July, but he appears to enjoy Greyville and will be running on strongly.

Bezanova loves Greyville and finished a 0,9 length third last year despite being drawn wide. He now has a good draw and is the dark horse.

Mac De Lago would likely prefer further but has a strong finish and Piere Strydom is up. He’s likely to have been freshened up since the tough President’s Champions Challenge, where he finished a decent fourth, and the Weiho Marwing yard often do well with horses running fresh.

Prospect Strike is a another dark horse as he was caught wide in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas, yet still finished only 2,4 lengths behind July favourite Black Arthur.

Captain Aldo’s best career performance was when winning the slowly run Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m and he had the like of Ice Machine and Trip To Heaven behind him. However, he has a tough task at the weights.

Trip To Heaven is a similar type to former stablemate Willow magic who finished second in this race last year, as he has plenty of speed but stays a mile. If breaking better than normal he could be a threat from the front in a race run as slowly as last year’s.

The selection is Ice Machine to beat Triptique with New Predator, French Navy and Bezanova next best.

The Gr 3 Cup Trial is a traditional July qualifier for borderline horses and is always a highly competitive affair.

However, Dynamic is off an attractive merit rating and is now drawn in pole as opposed to 14 when finishing third in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900. Big Cat should be cherry ripe having his third run in KZN and is likely the best value in the race as it is easy to imagine him making good late progress with his big stride, after having settled in the running from a good draw. It Is Written does tend to take a keen hold, but settled well from a good draw in the Betting World 1900 before staying on for fifth. He will appreciate the slight step down and now has the bang in form Anthony Delpech up from a fair draw of seven.

The Conglomerate has been disappointing but has been seen to stay on steadily in his last two races off moderate paces, so he can feature if getting the strong pace which saw him winning last season’s KRA Guineas. Master’s Eye is quirky and tends to look around, but over raced when the blinkers were tried last time. If he is able to concentrate he will be a big runner from a good draw under Piere Strydom. The classy Saratoga Dancer will be coming into his own and Greek Legend, Exit Here, Gold Onyx and Halve The Deficit are others who can’t be ignored if producing their best, while Deputy Jud could do well if finding a good position near the front.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

The Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m could be dominated by top class stablemates Inara and Silver Mountain.  Alexis, who love Greyville, could be the biggest danger. Olma is the dark horse as she is doing extremely well at Summerveld and loves this track, but her wide draw makes it tough. Cuvee Brut is a classy, distance suited sort who could upset.

In the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes, high-flying Vaughan Marshall has a chance with the classy Step Up, despite a wide draw. The maiden Side Show and impressive Aussie Austin could be the biggest dangers.

In the Devon Air Stakes, Querari Falcon impressed with the ease of her win over 1200m on debut. She should love this trip on pedigree. The penny dropped for Oriental Oak last time and her late burst caught the eye.  Call Me Winter is well bred and looks to be full of class, so it will be no surprise to see her defy topweight, although being a handy type means her wide draw is a distinct disadvantage.

David Thiselton

Trainer Weiho Marwing said his Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge contender Mac De Lago was fit and well ahead of Saturday’s big race at Greyville, while St. John Gray also confirmed Captain Aldo to be in good shape.

Marwing said it had been a long hard season for Mac De Lago, so the yard had given him a relatively easy time in the aftermath of his decent fourth-place finish in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein on April 30. However, he added the Australian-bred four-year-old Encosta De Lago gelding was now fit and well and Saturday’s race would offer the opportunity for him to have a good preparation race into  the Vodacom Durban July.

He pointed out Mac De Lago’s liking for Greyville and felt he had a good draw too (six in a field of nine), so was hoping for a “big run.” A further bonus is Piere Strydom aboard. The great jockey has already won a Grade 1 since returning from a protracted layoff for a broken collar bone.

At the Vaal on Thursday Strydom clinched his 5000^th winner as a fully-fledged jockey. His 5000^th winner as a rider was reached when winning the Gr 2 Selangor Cup aboard Act Of War in November 2014, but those wins included the ones he had achieved as an apprentice.

Mac De Lago won his opening two career races and has only competed in Graded company since. He has achieved seven cheques in ten runs at Graded level, which underlines his consistency, but he is yet to earn Bold Black type by winning one of them. The closest he has come was when finishing second over the Gold Challenge course and distance in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas, running on strongly from the back to finish two lengths behind The Conglomerate.

These days he might prefer middle distances, but is interesting running fresh tomorrow. On 107 he is the fifth highest merit rated horse in the race.

Captain Aldo, a five-year-old gelding by Captain Al, is merit rated 109 thanks to his Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes victory, where he beat the like of Ice Machine and Trip To Heaven over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track. That was a slow run race and he converted odds of 16/1. However, he subsequently finished downfield in both the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and when carrying topweight in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1450m on May 21. He is drawn eight with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up and Betting World have priced him up joint-biggest outsider on 25/1.

Gray won this race with crack mare Dancewiththedevil in 2011. However, he was not as confident this time and kept his comments short and sweet, “He is well but it’s going to be tough.”

David Thiselton

Drill Hall Stakes winner New Predator impressed Weichong Marwing at Ashburton this week ahead of the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge to be run at Greyville on Saturday, although the top jockey has jumped ship to French Navy.

Meanwhile, Triptique, has been doing well at Summerveld.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained New Predator over raced behind a crawl in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and did not find the necessary extra in the straight. However, before that he was dictating the pace himself in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and, after kicking well at the top of the straight, the field was unable to catch him. As a horse with plenty of speed, he will likely prefer dropping back to the mile.

Marwing rode him in both those races. He also rode him in work at Ashburton earlier this week and described the workout as “exceptional”. Randall Simons will be aboard the 110 merit rated New Predator on Saturday from a plum draw of three, which will enable him to go to the front again. However, Sean Tarry has said Trip To Heaven will go to the front if he is able to jump well enough, so New Predator might not have the same easy lead he enjoyed in the Drill Hall Stakes.

Marwing was high in his praise of New Predator after his Drill Hall Stakes win. The Australian-bred New Approach colt’s record proves him to be possibly the best three-year-old miler in the country as he ran the subsequent Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa to a head in the Dingaans and had subsequent Triple Crown hero Abashiri beaten by 3,1 lengths in that race, although that was Abashiri’s first run of the season and he hasn’t been beaten since.

Trainer Dennis Drier said Triptique was as well as the yard could possibly have him. He is a most interesting contender. The Drill Hall Stakes was his first attempt beyond sprints and he stayed on strongly from midfield to finish a 0,5 length second. He gave the impression the 1600m would be within his range and his pedigree also suggests it to be. He gets on well with stable jockey Sean Veale and jumps from pole position. He is the dark horse in the race and if he passes this acid test will have some exciting career prospects ahead of him. He could also lift the Drier yard out of a below par big race season by their high standards.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m offers a last gasp opportunity for borderline horses to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July and fans are likely to witness a fast and furious finish to the race which is one of the highlights of the always well attended Rising Sun Gold Challenge race day at Greyville on Saturday.

Saratoga Dancer was unfortunately only made a reserve for the Gr 2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile, where the yard fancied his chances. He subsequently ran third in the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m at Greyville from a wide draw, as opposed to the winner It Is Written’s pole position draw. He will be 3kg better off with It Is Written for a 1,75 length beating, but he unfortunately has another wide draw of 12 to overcome.

Saratoga Dancer made a comeback in the too sharp IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and stayed on well for fourth. He will much prefer this trip and has a chance with Muzi Yeni up as he was still green and immature last season and, as a stronger and more mature horse, he can rise above his 95 merit rating.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained It Is Written ran a good 2,45 length fifth in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and will appreciate the slight step down in trip. His jockey Anthony Delpech will be going for an incredible seventh Graded victory in this SA Champions Season and three of them to date have been for Kannemeyer. The five-year-old Dynasty gelding jumps from draw seven.

Master’s Eye looked at the stands the whole way down the straight when close up in the Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, but then over raced with blinkers on in the Betting World 1900. The blinkers are now off. This classy sort has the ability to win if his quirkiness is suppressed and Piere Strydom is up from a draw of three, so he has to be seriously considered.

His stablemate Dynamic is off an attractive merit rating and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip so should give another honest account, although he hasn’t won for a year-and-a-half.

The Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate will be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and Anton Marcus is up from draw 8. He has dropped down to a 101 merit rating from a high of 108 but needs a strong pace to be affective as he otherwise seems to just stay on steadily.

The race does not look to have a lot of pace in it. Exit Here is a possible pacemaker, but won’t go the ridiculous pace he set in the Canon Guineas. The experienced Weichong Marwing is a master of pace and this could see Exit Here bouncing back to form, although he might be a touch high in the merit ratings.

Deputy Jud is usually handy so from a wide draw is another possible pace setter. He is off a more competitive mark and can feature if reproducing his Daily News run of last year, when unlucky not to place.

Stablemate Greek Legend was too handy in the Betting World 1900 and his good turn of foot could be effective if ridden more conservatively from a wide draw.

Punta Arenas hasn’t reproduced his best form this season and has a tough task with top weight.

The evergreen Gold Onyx should be cherry ripe and with his short run in has to always be considered at his favourite course.

Halve The Deficit was too far back in the Betting World 1900 and will be handier from a good draw, so he has to be given a good chance off a three point reduced merit rating, especially if reproducing the form of his unlucky July run last year.

Way Of Light faces It Is Written on the same terms despite beating him a neck in the Sledgehammer and he is the dark horse despite a four point merit rated raise.

Big Cat ran on well late in the Sledgehammer and runs off the same merit rating. He beat a good field in the Calulo Cape Mile and has been doing well at Summerveld so has a chance from draw four.

The selection is Dynamic to beat Big Cat with It Is Written, The Conglomerate and Master’s Eye next best.

David Thiselton