The Investec Day Of Dreams meeting at Kenilworth tomorrow will have a feverish atmosphere due to the running of by far the richest race in South African history, the CTS Million Dollar over 1400m, and to whet the appetite the meeting also features the Gr 1 R1 million Investec Cape Derby over 2000m and the Gr 1 R1 million Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

The Mike Bass-trained filly Silver Mountain was a touch unlucky not to have done the Cape Fillies and Cape Guineas double and on official merit rating is very well treated at the weights. She is brilliant and her good gate speed and electric turn of foot should make the 1400m trip ideal, especially from a plum draw of five. However, it would be a brave punter to take odds of even money about a small filly in a race where no quarter will be given.

Prince Of Thieves is officially 7kg out at the weights with Silver Mountain but impressed last time out over course and distance when turning it on effortlessly and cruising in by 3,75 lengths carrying 60kg off a 95 merit rating in a MR 86 Handicap against older horses. Bernard Fayd’Herbe has plenty of BMT and they will end up jumping from a middle draw of eight, which might be ideal in the hurly burly of such a race.

Exit Here has plenty of class and his pole position draw is ideal for his style in which he likes to be handy, although as one who stays further he will like the pace to be as fast as possible.

The pace could well be set by Swift Sarah from a plum draw of three as she has excellent gatespeed and early pace. Her only attempt at 1400m can be excused as nothing went right, but there is still a slight stamina doubt and her jockey might slow it up if reaching the front easily, so Anthony Delpech on Exit Here will likely have this in mind and might make it tough for Swift Sarah to get around him.

Sandwiched between them is another  front-running type, Hard Day’s Night, who will be ridden by master tactician Piere Strydom. What plan will this master of his craft have up his sleeve?

Another master Anton Marcus is aboard the best rated male in the race Seventh Plain, but didn’t dismiss riding Exit Here lightly. Seventh Plain has a wide draw to overcome but the maestro trainer Dennis Drier will have him spot on and the flat finish he produced in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over this distance might be relegated to distant memory.

Redcarpet Captain looked a picture upon arrival in Cape Town and is ideally distance suited. He has a deceptively good turn of foot, so a fast paced race will work in his favour, allowing him to perhaps slot in from a wide draw before finishing strongly.

Ernie is another distance suited horse with a fine turn of foot, so he should be running on from a wide draw.

Victorious Jay ran on from off the pace when only 0,3 lengths behind Silver Mountain in the Cape Guineas and will likely have to do the same from a wide draw here.

Lunar Approach impressed over this trip at Turffontein and the form has worked out well so he is probably higher than his 96 merit rating suggests, although he will need luck from his draw.

Illuminator stays the trip and is drawn well under top jockey Weichong Marwing, but does have to reverse form with all of Hard Day’s Night, Ernie, Silver Mountain and , Victorious Jay and has a tough task at the weights maintaining form against Seventh Plain.

Melliflora is a courageous sort but the form of her best races might be a touch suspect.

Varumba has a tough task from the widest draw of all as one with a slight stamina doubt.

A Time To Dream has many lengths to find on Silver Mountain on Cape Fillies Guineas form but is likely improving being by Dynasty.

Jo’s Bond and Tar Heel have obvious stamina doubts, but their speed could be a factor if they are ridden cold and find suitable cover, and this will be easier for Tar Heel from his plum draw of 5.

The selection is Prince of Thieves to beat Silver Mountain with Redcarpet Captain, Exit Here and Seventh Plain next best.

The Cape Derby is competitive and an upset would be no surprise. However, Brazuca is a worthy favourite from pole position as he was staying on late when runner up in the Cape Guineas, so looks likely to stay the trip, and the form looks strong. Jet Air could be the dark horse as he stayed on well in the Cape Guineas too and is an outsider tipped to run second. Black Arthur has done nothing wrong and looks to be a horse on the up so he should go close from a good draw of five.

Marinaresco was close behind Black Arthur in the Politician and is preferred to Jet Air according to jockey arrangements. Eastern Charm should relish the trip and is interesting from a good draw with blinkers.

A high class field lines up for the Majorca, but everything points to the brilliant Same Jurisdiction as she gets a plum draw over an ideal trip and is said to be spot on, after not much went right for her in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over the a trip of 1800m that is a touch too far. Following her home could be the defending champion Inara, who has exceptional form over course and distance. Double Whammy is unfortunately widely drawn but will be at her peak over a suitable trip and could beat Lanner Falcon and Lohnromance into third, although two others to consider are Alexis and Eventual Angel.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)