Soqrat had tongues wagging after he concluded his two-year-old career on a high, winning the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville, putting a high-class field to bed in impressive fashion.

Mike de Kock’s colt makes his seasonal debut in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein tomorrow and faces the acid test against some smart older opposition. Just how he fares should give some indication of his chances in this season’s classics.

The Spring Challenge is the traditional opener for the Highveld summer season and trainers have stepped out a few of their big guns in both the Spring Challenge and the fillies and mares equivalent.

Soqrat suffered his only defeat last season when touched off by stable companion and Dubai-bound Barahin in the Golden Horseshoe, the latter winning under an inspired ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

Soqrat (JC Photographics)

A well beaten second in the Premiers was another stable companion, Alyaasaat, who made a winning debut this season beating Iditarod Trail comfortably. He is in receipt of 2kg from Soqrat but given current form he still looks held.

Of the older runners, Africa Rising and New Predator look the pick but could be hard-pressed to beat their younger rivals who ooze class.

The best weighted runner is the multiple Argentinian-bred Gr1 winner Hat Puntano. He arrived in this country with a big reputation but has not made much of an impression since his arrival barring a smart effort second time out when beating Social Order.

Mike Azzie ascribed that win to a change of bit but Hat Puntano subsequently disappointed in two further outings, the last in the L’Oramarins Queens Plate behind Legal Eagle.

That was back in January. He is obviously talented and if Azzie has him in the right space tomorrow he is upset material.

Joey Ramsden has successfully raided the Highveld on numerous occasions and got his latest foray off to a winning start with Rose In Bloom. She was most impressive when getting the better of Rings And Things over tomorrow’s course and distance and with some smart Western Cape form to back her credentials she can take toll on some useful opposition, many of whom are returning from a break, including Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace.

Mike de Kock’s filly has not been out since the SA Oaks back in May, a race that may have proven to be beyond her compass. Prior to that she had won the first two legs of the Triple Tiara. She is definitely a class act and tomorrow’s trip should not be beyond her racing fresh. However, she does take time to build up a head of steam and the inside track could see Rose In Bloom home before she gets into full stride.

By Andrew Harrison