The Listed Secretariat Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m heads an eleven race meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and it looks to be an intriguing race as it is run under handicap conditions.

Matador Man came to the racecourse with a big reputation for his debut and his first two losses, after slow starts, were initially disappointing. However, as the form unravelled it became apparent that the pair he lost to by just over two lengths in his second start over 1200m, Al Fahad and Doosra, were top class. He showed his class next time out, also over 1200m, when coming from off the pace to cruise to victory. The race also showed he will relish the step up to 1400m.

Prospect Strike (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, equally impressive was the run of Captain Von Trapp on debut. This horse has a giant stride and plenty of scope for improvement. On debut he had to overcome a wide draw over 1200m around the turn at the Vaal and he ran on to just get up and beat Ebony Knight. The latter franked the form by winning his next two starts. This time Captain Von Trapp has a good draw of three, two inside of Matador man, and he is also receiving 0,5kg from the latter. He might get a couple of lengths start too, because Matador Man was slow away yet again last time. These two are predicted to fight it out. Romi’s Boy is also a long striding sort and led from start to finish on his second start over 1160m, having finished a close second to Doosra on debut. Romi’s Boy will also relish the step up in trip, being by Querari out of a Montjeu mare, but a downside to his chances is he has to give 1kg and 1,5kg respectively to Matador man and Captain Von Trapp and he is also drawn just outside of them. Act Of Loyalty is progressing the right way and has a shout, although his wide draw is against him. Tilbury Fort is a fighter who runs all the way to the line and he runs from a plum draw with a light weight. He could be the dark horse.

In the ninth race, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1400m, Champagne Haze returns to his best trip from a plum draw and will be hard to beat. He is only 1kg out at the weights with the best in. Captain Aldo runs over the course and distance for the first time since winning the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes and having dropped to a mark of 99 he has happened to end up at the top of one of the merit rated bands here, so is officially the best weighted horse. He has a fair draw and should put in a bold display. Prospect Strike is full of class and thus could well be his ideal trip, so he could be the dark horse, despite returning from a six month layoff and being drawn wide. Will Pays has topweight, but keeps on defying the odds. However, this time will have to do it from draw 11. Mogok Master should be running on from pole position if allowed to settle off the pace.

The best bet on the card is Bush Pilot in the fifth race, a Mr 80 Handicap over 2000m. On pedigree and running style he should relish the course and distance. Furthermore, he might be running off a capped merit, as four-year-old maiden winners are not allowed to be rated higher than 70 and he is exactly on 70. In his second career start, on the Inside track over 1600m, he had a lot to do in the straight to fetch Charleston Hero. He eventually swept past the latter to win going away by 1,6 lengths and the rest of the field were spread out like the washing about six lengths and more back. The Standside 2000m will give him plenty of time to make up the ground this time under astute rider Chase Maujean and he has a good draw. Baracah is the danger for after coming down from a 102 merit rating to a 61, the key to him appears to have been unlocked, and he is on the way up again.

Polly Wolly Doodle caught the eye in a comeback from a layoff over a too sharp 1000m last time out and this long striding sort could win one of the trickiest races on the card, the seventh, which is a MR 63 Handicap for fillies and mare over 1600m. She has a plum draw and is ridden by in form Lyle Hewitson for astute trainer Candice Dawson.

The horse who won the aforementioned 1000m race, Wrecking Ball, looks to have some class and having not been disgraced against some of the best male sprinters around last time, she can win the tenth, a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, with topweight. Paree makes a lot of appeal here too as she might well relish the return to 1000m, having been a bit keen over further lately.

The meeting starts with the first Juvenile race of the season and as always Corne Spies is the man to watch in this 800m scurry. He has two runners, Laurent de Var and Kokachin, although another one who makes appeal on pedigree is the Tony Nassif-trained Snow Boarding.

By David Thiselton