Tarry said that being a “seasoned campaigner” he would not be a bundle of nerves before the Elusive Fort filly’s run in the Gr 1 Wilgerbsdrift SA Oaks over 2450m, in which her regular pilot Piere Strydom will have to negotiate a tricky draw of 12. However, Tarry didn’t think the wide draw would be a problem over this trip and also pointed out that she had won in fast going before, as opposed to the bog of her last win in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic, so any ground would do. He said she was very well and had taken her last run well.

Her SA Fillies Classic win on 28 March followed wins in both the R2,5 million CTS Book 2 Graduates race over 1400m on February 10 and the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas on February 28, so she has had a gruelling campaign, but looks to be a tough horse with a huge heart. Tarry didn’t feel that her task would be easier here than in any of the aforementioned races as he felt that the Mike de Kock-trained Pine Princess would be a big improver over this trip.

Tarry has also entered Tiger Ridge filly Epsom Downs, despite being way out at the weights off an 88 merit rating, but said she stayed well and this would likely be her best chance to find a place in a Gr 1.

French Navy could give Tarry an Oaks and Gr 1 SA Derby double on the day. He said that this Gr 1 SA Classic winner’s racing style seemed to suggest that he would stay, particularly considering he relaxed so well in the running. He is another who has won in all types of going.

Tarry has also entered the up and coming Greys In gelding Legal Eagle and felt that he was certain to get the 2450m trip. He has the gelding entered in the July alongside French Navy, Siren’s Call and eight others and said he had put his name in the hat and would see what happened going forward.

The weather forecast shows that there is a 30% chance that 11mm of rain will fall between today and Friday and there is no rain forecast on Saturday, so the ground should be faster than in the SA Classic meeting.

Tarry responded to this prediction by saying, “I think faster ground will probably be in my favour as 2450m in soft going is a different race and would suit an out and out stayer.”

Tarry has Halve The Deficit and Heavy Metal entered in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m and said, “Majmu will be hard to beat but both of ours have had good preps. Heavy Metal is doing very well, but needs cover and needs to settle. Halve The Deficit has more in his favour in terms of the draw (2 compared to Heavy Metal’s 7).

The yard also have two entries in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m and both of them, Willow Magic and Carry On Alice, are former Gr 1 SA Nursery winners. He said, “Both are doing very well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see either of them win.”

Willow Magic has been targeted at this race and had impressed in his first two comeback runs from a long injury enforced layoff, but last time in the Gr 2 Senor Santa he played up in the starting stalls and never travelled well before finishing last. Tarry said, “It’s not an ideal way to come into the race, but otherwise all is well. The start played a big part in that disappointing run and I hope the starter will have learnt from it and that we see him loaded a little later.”

He said about the three-year-old filly Carry On Alice, who renews rivalry with the two horses that beat her into third in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships, Alboran Sea and Captain Of All, “She comes in off a good win, her form is solid and I think she will be involved in the finish.” By current trends both horses have landed favourable high draws.

Tarry felt that the Ormond Ferraris-trained Lazer Star looked hard to beat in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m, but added that he regarded his charge Bichette as a classy filly who had enjoyed a good prep and he felt she was capable of “upping her game.”

In the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m he has entered Supertube, who is 1kg under sufferance on official merit ratings. He said, “He had to do it the hard way last time as he was 3kg out at the weights and being better weighted and with a more conservative ride he has an eachway chance.”

In the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m, he runs three fillies and said, “I think Tamanee is the right horse and will enjoy the distance. Enchanted Silk is a big runner as her last two runs have been encouraging. Amber Orchid is out at the weights but is fit and well.”

In the big day’s opening race, a MR 100 handicap over 1600m, he runs recent King’s Cup winner The Hangman as well as Baracah. He said, “The Hangman has prepped well and has an eachway chance. Baracah has been disappointing of late. He did well in a staying race last year and we got stuck there. However, we have freshened him up and he has done nothing wrong over the shorter distances. He is also down in the weights so it wouldn’t shock me to see him doing well here.”