The Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m is the headliner tonight at Turffontein Standside and all of the trainers commented on their runners.

Sean Tarry said, “Liege is doing well but is obviously not well weighted. This is part of his prep and it will bring him to his peak for the Summer Cup. Bulleting Home is trying the distance again, I would have been confident about him getting it at Greyville but this is a more testing track. He is doing well but also has a hard task against the two fillies at the weights. French Navy needed his first run back and I’m hoping to qualify him for the Summer Cup. He has always acquitted himself well in features but had three ordinary runs in Grade 1’s last season so has plummeted down the merit ratings. I will be hard pressed to win this race but would like to see a nice run from Liege and hope French Navy can run in the first five to qualify.”

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Matthew de Kock said, “Takingthepeace is extremely well and is the best weighted horse so has a big shout. Like A Panther will still be using this run as a prep for the Summer Cup.”

St. John Gray said, “Dawn Assault is coming off a seven week break and his chief mission is the Summer Cup, but he is working well and if he gets a good position I expect a good run. However, he has to overcome a poor draw in what looks likely to be a moderately paced race.”

Adam Azzie said, “Full Mast and Arctica have both come out of the Charity Mike well and are fit. Full Mast had a wide draw last time and we had to jump and ride him for luck and it didn’t pan out. But now he has a decent draw so we will be able to place him and this race will be the best indication of whether he sees out the trip.”

Geoff Woodruff said, “Zouaves is well but we are not quite sure whether he will get the trip so he will be ridden quietly. Deo Juvente is also fit and well. He became very sick in Cape Town and his Champions Challenge win last year sent his merit rating through the roof to an unrealistic figure, but he is now off a manageable mark. His last race was a very good run as he carried a big weight and came from the back. He is on an upward trend and although he is now a seven-year-old he looks like a four-year-old.”

Gokhan Terzi said about Tandava, “This is the best I have had him, so he has every chance if he stays the distance. He has two or three lengths to find on Arctica on their last meeting over course and distance but he has improved and he will have the blinkers on this time which I think he runs best with so I have fingers crossed.”

Paul Peter said, “Sabina’s Dynasty has come through her prep very well, she is jumping out of her skin and if there is a decent pace she won’t be out of the first three.”

Ashley Fortune said, “Cash time is much fitter than he was for his last couple of runs.”

David Nieuwenhuizen said, “Bankable Teddy is up against a very strong field so is up against it but he has been working nicely and we have sorted out a few issues he had. We will see how he goes and if he comes out of the race well he will go for the Summer Cup.”

The Alec Laird-trained Gambado has been scratched.

By David Thiselton