The picture around the Gr1 Cape Guineas should become a lot clearer over the next week with two important build-up races. Today at Kenilworth the much-touted Table Bay will in most likelihood start a short priced favourite for the Gr 2 Selangor Cup and next Saturday, the Gr2 Dingaans on Sansui Summer Cup day is the Highveld equivalent.

Mike de Kock has left Heavenly Blue to take his chances in the Dingaans but will be looking to pop the Table Bay bubble this afternoon.

On rating’s Joey Ramsden’s runner has his field stone-cold. According to the handicappers, Table Bay is seven lengths better than anything else in the field as he garnered a 10-point penalty for his four-length romp in the Cape Classic.

On that showing is likely to start at cramped odds but an unbeaten De Kock runner always sews doubt in the minds of the opposition.

Al Fahad got the better of the much touted Doosra on debut and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge has since beaten the De Kock-trained Heavenly Blue, albeit by a short head.

Al Fahad followed up in more convincing fashion when beating Act of Loyalty and the fact that the colt has been shipped to Cape Town suggests that he is a Cape Guineas contender. Just how much of a contender should be revealed this afternoon.

William Longsword, most impressive a fortnight ago, has won his last four but Vaughan Marshall is cautious and also looking for a feeler for the Guineas. “It’s very competitive and hard to give him a chance but we want to see if he would be competitive in the Cape Guineas.”

Piere Strydom’s mount African Night Sky is two from two with much talk about what he could be capable of but he takes a steep rise in class so should be fully exposed after this race.

The Lanzerac Ready To Run eclipses the Selangor in stakes value and Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge looks the obvious choice. Mayfair Speculators boast nearly half the field so Marcus’s booking is significant even in light of the fact that Marshall’s runner is rated a couple of lengths superior to the balance of the field.

Sergeant Hardy get his fifth different rider in just six starts and is almost certain to set the pace as the only time he has been headed in a race he has lost. The extra furlong from a wide draw will test Anthony Delpech’s skills but a strong pace will play into the hands of stable companion Zodiac Ruler.

The Champion Season form of the three-year-old males has proven to be suspect but the G2 Golden Horseshoe winner made a cracking return to the track, beaten under two lengths in a Pinnacle Stakes sprint, and a head behind Marinaresco.

Zodiac Ruler is a magnificent specimen of a racehorse who will much prefer today’s longer trip and could prove a serious threat to the favourite.

The second leg of the Mauritius Airlines International Jockeys’ Challenge takes centre stage at Turffontein tomorrow, the first leg took place in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

A modest MR62 handicap gets the ball rolling as could Frankie Dettori who partners Joey Soma’s runner Turn Back Time. Lightly raced, she was doing her best work late in a competitive handicap over 1450m last time out. The rise in trip should hold no fears and under Dettori’s expertise she should be a big runner.

Hayley Turner could make it a one-two for the visitors as she gets a leg up on the Chris Erasmus-trained Cranberry Crush. She has shown consistent pace over further and the slightly shorter trip could be in her favour.

In the second leg Let’s Go West made a cracking start to his Highveld career when failing narrowly behind Roaring Tiger over the Vaal 1400m. He had consistently good form in KZN and could finally have his consistency rewarded and give Grant van Niekerk a winner for the locals.

Dettori won’t make is easy aboard Lisnoble for Erico Verdonese. The six-year-old has hardly been out of the money since being fitted with blinkers and was a cracking good third over course and distance last time out.

Aurelian Lemaitre can score for the visitors in the third leg where he partners Samarra. She doesn’t have an easy draw of seven but has some good form and was a close-up second last time out.

Seattle Lady looks another plum ride for Dettori. The mare took on a fair field last time out and should enjoy the drop in class. Inyanga under Robert Havlin could make it a clean sweep for the Internationals.

French Legend can pull on back for the locals in the final leg under Aldo Domeyer. Sean Tarry’s runner won her maiden at second time of asking and followed up with a good fourth in tough Graduation company against males. She has a fair weight to shoulder but does look promising.

By Andrew Harrison