The Selangor is traditionally the best trial for Saturday’s Forus Cape Guineas – five of the last 12 winners went on to take the classic – but Rocket Countdown’s victory came as a 36-1 shock. Even his trainer was surprised but he has now won three off the bounce, rising steadily up the ratings.

“He needs to take his chance after that  – he won the race fair and square,” says Candice Bass-Robinson of Aldo Domeyer’s mount, a 7-1 chance. “We will see how he follows up but we are still not 100% sure about his best distance, whether it’s going to prove to be 2 000m or a mile.”

Tap O’ Noth (Liesl King)

White River, at 13-2 second only to Tap O’Noth in the betting, has half a length to make up on Selangor running but Greg Cheyne’s mount might well have found it had he not been so intent on taking a bite out of the winner.

“He is a playful horse and he does do a few strange things,” laughs Brett Crawford. “But I am confident he will be fine this time. We have done a lot of work on him since and we’ve tried to teach him a few manners. He is a horse who keeps improving and, while I think he is looking for a bit further, the long run-in will suit him.”

Stable companions Bold Respect (Corne Orffer) and Undercover Agent (Donovan Dillon) are both 8-1 chances but the former has never been further than 1 400m. Will he get the trip?

“Obviously there is a question mark but he can settle and switch off, and he does quicken up well so I think he will be alright,” answers his trainer who reckons he knows why Undercover Agent managed only fifth in the Selangor after going so close in the Cape Classic.

“We found a few little niggles which we have sorted out. He works exceptionally well at home and he is classy horse. I wouldn’t write him off and indeed it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in the shake-up.”

Eyes Wide Open is coughing and was scratched yesterday. Richard Fourie has switched to 16-1 stable companion Pack Leader who has just over a length to find with Bold Respect on Ready To Run form. “That race was too short for him but I still thought it a cracking run,” says Glen Kotzen. “He hasn’t got the greatest of draws – 14 out of 15 – but the favourite is on the outside of him so it’s going to be interesting.”

There were no nominations at yesterday’s Sun Met first supplementary entry stage. Legal Eagle and Edict Of Nantes remain joint favourites at 3-1.

By Michael Clower