Highveld trainer Paul Peter was bullish about the chances of his Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes contender Mogok Master, who was a decent 1,4 length fourth in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day. The Mogok colt now has a plum draw of three over the 1600m trip on Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend and Piere Strydom in the saddle is a further bonus.

Peter rates Mogok Master highly and said, “He will definitely prefer the mile. He is working up a storm and from a decent draw I think he is a massive runner.” The Mogok colt came from way back in the Golden Horseshoe after being dropped out from draw 16 out of 16 and was doing his best work late.

In his previous start in the Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m he was most unlucky when his running was taken up at the top of the straight. Therefore the official six lengths he has to find on Gatecrasher Stakes winner Rabada can’t be taken literally.

Peter runs Elusive Fort filly Fort Ember in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m. She not only had a high head carriage in both of her first two starts at Scottsville, but was also running around a bit, which suggests she has plenty of scope for improvement. Peter said, “She’s a decent filly and she’s coming on.

She won over a mile so she will definitely stay the trip and she will be right there at the end.” Strydom is also aboard this one, from a fair draw of seven.

Peter runs the disappointing sort Forest Fox in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly. He has described the three-year-old Dupont gelding as “a bit of a thief” before and said, “I think he’s looking for a mile now. We’ve taken the blinkers off and we’re going to give him a bit of a chance. You never know with him, he always looks like he’s going to win and then he just peters out at the end. He should be included but is no good thing.” Forest Fox put in some eye catching work on Monday at Summerveld and Peter said, “Yes, he always does that and that’s why we always back him!”

He runs Mod Barley in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the poly and said, “He’s a little guy with a big heart and he loves the poly. Keagan (De Melo) gets on well with him. A 1000-1200m is his game but on the poly he can use his speed in the beginning so 1000m is good for him.” His draw of eight is not as good as his one on July day when caught late and he has also been raised four points.

The yard have two runners in the first on the poly and top weight First Dancer will appreciate the step up in trip to 1400m. Peter said, “First Dancer’s come on a lot with her two runs in Durban. They’ve dropped her three points in the merit ratings and she has a 4kg claimed aboard. I think she will be right there. Heavenly Express needed his last run and I think is a bit better than that. Let’s just hope for a come on run from him.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Paul Peter (JC Photos)