The Tobie Spies-trained Grade 1-winning sprinter Van Halen is in Cape Town together with the speedy filly Miss Khalifa and an unraced maiden.

Van Halen’s first target is the Cape Merchants and his main aim is the US$500,000 CTS 1200. Considering the way he settled in his last race the yard are considering the Cape Guineas for him and if he does go for that race and runs well the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate might also be an option.

Miss Khalifa also qualifies for the CTS 1200 and will be coming out the week after the Merchants in a sprint handicap. She will be kept to sprints having not appeared to stay the 1400m in the Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day. She then ran a fair fifth in the Debutante on Gold Cup day.

The trio are being trained out of Milnerton at present and the yard are very happy with their well being.

They hope to expand the string to ten by the end of November and have ambitions to open a satellite yard in Cape Town.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Van Halen (Candiese Marnewick)