There is a double header in KZN this weekend, at Greyville tonight and Scottsville on Sunday, and the meetings include three Gr 2 feature races.

The Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m on turf tonight is an intriguing affair, but the best weighted horse is Willow Magic and he also has a good draw of six, considering trends suggest draws between 5 and 8 are best for this race. Willow Magic has lost a little of the speed lately but his class could pull him through.

Normanz is drawn well in five and like most of the best progeny of Var has early pace plus the ability to kick again so he will be a big runner from draw five.

The speedy Daring Dave ran a fair race in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m despite not having had the best of preparations and having had to stand in the stalls for close to five minutes. This time he has had a better preparation, is drawn well and was also given a two point merit rated drop by the handicapper.

Isphan has a favourable draw of seven and on recent 1000m form has a chance here, especially considering his merit rating is at the top of one of the bands. He should be running all the way to the line.

Aurum Pot has plenty of pace and should be able to take advantage of his low draw.

There looks to be plenty of pace in this race, so closers like Moofeed and Tevez have to be considered.

Brutal Force has pace and won’t be intimidated in the mad scramble, so he could earn too.

Race one on the card over 1300m could see Sharp Princess following up on her ever so easy maiden win last Sunday, but Mella Maria has not been disgraced against some of the best two-year-old fillies around and should give her a good run.

In race two Muwaary will love the slight step up in trip to 1300m and should go close if getting a better start than he did in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.

Shap Shap might appreciate the slight step down in trip.

The third is a maiden over 1200m and Forary showed signs of promise last time and Strydom stays aboard.

In the fourth the likely favourite Dark Rose might be better suited to 1000m, so the vote is given to the improving Jive Session.

In the fifth Scots Party looks ready to win from a pole position draw. First-timer Variety Romp is a half-brother to Jet Jamboree, who won the Listed Darley Arabian over this trip, but the concern is that he is a four-year-old by the speed influence Var making his debut over 1900m.

In the sixth Grey Light has caught the eye running on strongly in her last two and is likely better than her merit rating suggests. One of the joint-best weighted horses is Acrostar, who needed her last start. She has a smart turn of foot and is course and distance suited.

Black Velvet should be improving all the time and could win the eighth over a suitable course and distance.

The last could be won by Slip Dance, who is starting to improve and is well drawn with Delpech up.

The Scottsville meeting features the GR 2 Track And Ball Derby and the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks, both over 2400m.

The Equus Champion Stayer Hot Ticket will be hard to beat in the Derby as the wind operation he has had appears to have been a success and he should run close to his best. French Revolution is a well regarded sort who has always been viewed as a staying type and he could show up well here in his first hurdle towards the eLan Property Group Gold Cup field.

Kingston Mines has a touch of class and this will likely be another preparation run ahead of the Gold Cup. Krambambuli has been working very well at Summerveld and will relish the trip. Disco Al ran a cracker in the Lonsdale and should make another bold bid here. Double Clutch has had a better preparation than he had for the Betting World 1900 and on pedigree he should stay the trip. Master James is a progressive sort who is coming into his own and he runs as if he will enjoy the trip, although on pedigree there will still be question marks. Savage Wind looks outclassed here.

Shingwedzi likely needed her last run and could be the one to beat in the Oaks.

Patchit Up Baby ran a cracker in the Gr 1 SA Oaks and this solid sort should be right there. Vino Veritas is the best weighted horse in the race and is in fine form. The progressive Gallica Rose impressed last time when winning the Listed East Coast Handicap over 2000m with joint-topweight and is proven over this trip. Supercede was beaten just a length in the East Coast Handicap and faces Gallica Rose on the same terms, so is interesting stepped up to this trip. Former SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud doesn’t have an easy task at the weights, but the yard are confident of her running a fine race. Olma ran well in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and if settling better than she did in the SA Oaks she could be a big runner.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Willow Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)