Act Of War has laid claim along with the KZN horse Harry’s Son to being the best three-year-old male in the land. He beat the highly regarded MLJet last time out in the Cape Classic over 1400m despite conceding 4kg and has already proved he stays the Selangor Cup distance. Ramsden said the colt was very well, had been working well and his preparation had gone smoothly.

He added, “MLJet will be a tough nut to crack and so will Generalissimo, but we’re looking forward to a good race.” Piere Strydom replaces the injured Anton Marcus aboard the Dynasty colt and they jump from draw 6 in the seven horse field.

Ramsden has three other runners in the race, Kingvoldt, Catkin and Cotton Hill.

Western Winter colt Kingvoldt (pictured) was shaping up to be something special after three comfortable wins as a two-year-old, but he then ran dismally in the Langerman. They discovered that he was haemo-concentrating and have done everything they could for him since, but Ramsden said, “However, that didn’t stop him running below par again last time, so it was back to the drawing board. We can only hope that he will be back to his best on Saturday.”

Ramsden said about Horse Chestnut colt Catkin, who ran a touch disappointingly last week, and Antonius Pius colt Cotton Hill, “Catkin’s white blood cell count was up and if we can’t get it down in time he probably won’t run. Cotton Hill, we just trying him to see how things go.”

Brutal Force is a full brother to the top class Red Ray and is officially the highest price horse to ever be sold on public auction in South Africa at R4,5 million. He was pin-hooked on that sale with the obvious aim being that he could qualify for Saturday’s race and he was duly bought back by Markus Jooste. Interestingly, Ramsden has removed the blinkers which were applied for his third outing over 1200m, having finished runner up over 1200m and 1300m respectively in his previous runs.

He said, “I put the blinkers on just to sharpen him up because I couldn’t afford any mistakes in that race.” Comparing him to Red Ray, he said, “They are totally different horses and their only similarity is their gorgeous natures, they have hearts of gold. I think Brutal Force will probably stay further than Red Ray.”

He continued, “I think Brutal Force is good enough to win, but a lot of luck and skill is going to be required from that draw of 12. He is huge so will need big gaps to open, although if the other horses knew he was coming they would probably move out of the way as there is 600kg of him!” Bernard Fayd’Herbe has ridden Brutal Force before and replaces Marcus.

Ramsden runs Coltrane and Manx Missile in the Listed Pioneer Pinotage Kenilworth Cup over 3200m and said, “Coltrane is very highly rated but I think 3200m would be at the end of his limit and he would probably prefer a touch shorter. Manx Missile will love the two miles and is consistent but he has had to run in races where he has been out at the weights so his merit rating has slid up and should be lower, so he might not be good enough.”

Ramsden concluded, “All of our horses are running to form and long may it continue.”

Pictures: Act Of War and Kingvoldt (Liesl King)