Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson has two raiders at Kenilworth’s big Sun Met meeting and these could be shrewd entries, despite the strength of Cape racing at present.

Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)

His Dynasty filly Olma runs in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m  from draw nine under the pilot who knows her best, Ian Sturgeon. She has been with Mike de Kock’s string in Cape Town for three weeks already and Robinson said Nathan Kotzen had reported her to be working “like a machine.”

She will be fit from her run in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m where she was undone by a slow pace, but stayed on well for a 5,6 length fourth. On the form of that race she will not have much of a chance as the winner of the race, Fort Ember, was merit rated 96 and was receiving only 1kg from Olma. However, Fort Ember is without doubt on the way up and looks to be a promising sort. Furthermore, Olma likely needed the run.

Robinson also said she prefers running away from horses, unlike in the Flamboyant when she went down the inside. One factor which is definitely in the favour of the classy five-year-old Olma, is that she is one of only three representatives in the race of a fillies crop which is regarded as probably the best in South African history. Furthermore, she is better performed at this trip than the other two, Real Princess and Beach Goddess.

She finished a 0,5 length second to one of the best of that vintage crop, Inara, in last season’s Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over this trip and a reproduction of that effort will see her right in the thick of things. A downside to her chances is she has never performed well way from KZN. However, all of those runs have been in Johannesburg. This is at the coast and she has had enough time to settle down.

Robinson’s runner in the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby is The Winter Is Coming, who is merit rated only 90 and thus has a lot to do in the weight for age event against the like of 106 merit rated Table Bay.

Ian Sturgeon (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, he is unexposed at this trip and looks likely to relish it. He is by Western Winter and is out of a half-sister to Sansui Summer Cup runner up Deo Juvente, while his champion grandam Circle Of Life is a half-sister to J&B Met winner Zebra Crossing. Winter Is Coming leaves for Cape Town tomorrow and will arrive on Wednesday.

Robinson has no doubt he will travel well as he is a very laid back type. He likes to run from the front and this could be in his favour in a race where Table Bay, who has a stamina doubt, is the only other handy type. Therefore as a relaxed type he might be able to dictate. He has a wide draw of nine but is a long-striding sort and should be able to get over into the front by the first turn.

In his last start over 1400m on the Greyville poly in a Progress Plate he led and then kept on finding extra when challenged by the highly touted 104 merit rated Red Chesnut Road. He was receiving 4kg and the latter was returning from a seven month layoff, but he was pulling away at the line and struck as one who was looking for further. A tongue tie was a big help him to him in that race as he had choked up in his previous start.

Robinson had been in two minds about sending him to Cape Town until that last start.  He is an intriguing runner. He will have had a gallop before leaving tomorrow and has never showed signs of green-ness so should not be bothered by the new course and the left hand turn.

By David Thiselton

The Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2 000m at Kenilworth on Saturday could have class versus stamina as its chief protagonists.

Table-Bay (Liesl King)

Table Bay, an Australian-bred by Redoute’s Choice, is merit rated seven points higher than any other runner on 107. He has a ton of class, a beautiful action and a fine turn of foot.

He does have a speedy pedigree, but milers are able to win this race if they have the class, with Capetown Noir being a good example. However, they would usually be ridden cold to do so and this is an unlikely scenario with this horse as his good gate speed and big action has consistently taken him to the front over shorter.

But from a draw of two there is perhaps a chance Table Bay could end up sitting behind the front-running sort Winter Is Coming, who is drawn wide. Jockey Anton Marcus will have to be at his brilliant best to keep enough in reserve for this highly regarded horse.

Edict Of Nantes stayed on from well back in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas to be beaten 0,6 lengths by pace setter Table Bay.

He beat Table Bay when running on strongly from near last in the Selangor Cup, also over 1 600m. There is speed in his female line and his sire Count Dubois was a miler, but the latter has produced an SA Oaks winner and a Daily News 2000 winner in French Navy.

On running style Edict Of Nantes looks likely to stay the trip on this course and should be involved in the finish.

Elevated is out of sprinter by Spaceship but is by SA Derby winner Elusive Fort and on his Cape Guineas run, when widely drawn and staying on well from quite a handy position he should enjoy this trip. He should be right there from a good draw.

Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

Horizon impressed in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m when relaxing well in the running, quickening well and staying on to the line. He is likely improving being a Candice Bass-Robinson-trained son of Dynasty. He is out of a sister to Silvano, so should relish the trip and is drawn in pole.

Australian-bred Zodiac Ruler was caught wide in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, so not surprisingly faded. He had earlier plugged on in the Lanzerac Ready To Run over 1 400m to finish midfield.

Zodiac Ruler was an impressive winner of the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe at Greyville over 1 400m and also quickened well when second in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1 600m.

His sire Zoffany has sired a Prix d’le Arc de Triomphe winner, Rail Link, but his damline is speedy and his dam is in fact a half-sister to the champion sprinter Laisserfaire. There must be a slight stamina doubt for this good looking, robust sort.

Australian-bred Newlands looked a touch unlucky last time out over 1 800m in the GR 3 Cartier Politician Stakes as he took a while to find a split and by the time he had done so Horizon had pinched a few lengths. He closed in late to be beaten at level weights by 1,25 lengths.

Newlands is by Epsom Derby winner High Chapparal and his dam, who won over 1 600m, is a half-sister to a Champion Two-year-old colt in Australia, Vancouver, who won the Gr 1 Golden Slipper. Therefore his pedigree looks to be ideal for this course and distance. A draw of six should be favourable for a slow starter who is likely to be held up.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

KZN raider Winter Is Coming kept on finding extra in a Progress Plate over 1 400m on the Greyville poly last time to repel the much touted 104 merit rated Red Chesnut Road, although he was receiving 4kg and the latter was returning from an eight month layoff. He will relish the step up in trip on pedigree.

Winter Is Coming is by Western Winter and is out of a half-sister to Sansui Summer Cup runner-up Deo Juvente, while his champion grandam Circle Of Life is a half-sister to J&B Met winner Zebra Crossing. He is a laid back type, who likes to run from the front and a tongue tie helped him last time.

Ollivander is a rangy, long-striding sort who will be improving all the time. This is especially as he is a Bass-Robinson-trained son of Silvano. He stayed on to be beaten two lengths by stablemate Horizon in the Politician Stakes. However, he is now 3kg worse off with the latter and is drawn ten out of ten, so has it all to do.

Omaha Tribe is a staying type and off quite an exposed merit rating of 75 looks to be an optimistic entry.

Captain Gambler is a long-striding sort by Captain Al and is a half-sister to Liquid Mercury, who finished a 4,8 length third in the 2015 Cape Derby behind Ertijaal. She stayed on from last in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas for a 4,35 length eighth.

She then stayed on again for a 4,15 length seventh in the Listed Jamaica Handicap for fillies and mares over the Cape Derby 2 000m course and distance.

Captain Gambler will be getting 2,5kg from the boys, which is worth about two lengths in handicapping terms, and has scope. However, she was only running off a 91 merit rating in the Jamaica and will need to step up considerably.

By David Thiselton

“A July horse in a maiden field,” is a big statement by any stretch of the imagination but if you are an owner who likes to rough up the ‘old enemy’ then it’s music to your ears. Popular owner Alesh Naidoo is no friend of the bookmakers and Duncan Howells gave him all the confidence in the opener at Greyville yesterday and the confidence was not misplaced.

Roman Emperor (Candies Marnewick)

Recently signed up stable rider Keagan de Melo had favourite Roman Emperor in the box seat throughout and quickened up the inside rail to win comfortably in spite of racing green.

This may not have been the strongest of maiden fields but Roman Emperor won as the stable expected. “He has lots of scope to improve,” said Howells post-race. “He was still green on the turn and Keagan said he wasn’t travelling.”

De Melo has recently signed on as stable rider to Howells who is notoriously difficult to please. “Jockey’s don’t last long with me,” Howells quipped post-race. “Anton (Marcus) and Anthony (Delpech) have done well for me but both are contracted to top stables and I need a jockey who can give me a length or two advantage.”

With most trainers in Cape Town attending the CTS Yearling Sales where Saturday’s top price was R6million paid by Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, it was left to the assistants to fill in. Vuzi Ndlovu has been with Paul Lafferty from his days in Ashburton and was on hand to saddle a treble for the yard, all ridden by apprentice Diego De Gouveia.

Tropical Blow was followed up in the very next by Roy’s Strike Force and the Lafferty-stable treble was completed with La Gitanila finishing with a wet sail to land the seventh.

It was not a day for backers of favourites as Hot Chilli (10-1) gave apprentice Sandile Mbhele the second winner of his career for Garth Puller. The former top jockey a mentor for many a young apprentice.

Duncan Howells was assistant to top trainer David Payne before the latter up-staked and moved to Australia and Gavin van Zyl, who had recently taken out his trainer’s license, was quick to snaffle up Opensea Mhlamvu, Payne’s long-time head groom who had a wealth of experience behind him.

With Van Zyl in Cape Town, Mhlamvu did the honours yesterday as Paint The Way saw off the fancied runners in the second.

By Andrew Harrison

Sun Met favourite Legal Eagle may be ridden from further back in Saturday’s Kenilworth spectacular in his bid to go one better than last year.

Twelve months ago, when he started at 16-10, he sat a close second and led 300m out only to have no answer when Smart Call came at him.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Indeed the filly drew right away in the closing stages.

When he won the Queen’s Plate earlier this month Legal Eagle was also ridden close-up, sitting third behind the pace-setting Midnite Zone and Captain America before going on over a furlong out.

However racing manager Derek Brugman said: “He has shown in his last two races that he could do with some cover and I would be happy for him to follow the better drawn horses.

“He is versatile and has a great turn of foot. I also think he is better over Saturday’s ten furlongs than he is over a mile.”

The running of Captain America – closer to Legal Eagle in last year’s Met than he was in the Queen’s Plate last season and this – might suggest otherwise but Anton Marcus, the man best-placed to know, disagrees.

“I will leave that to the analysts and statisticians,” he said before adding that he thinks the gelding is equally as good at 2 000m as he is over a mile. Second favourite Marinaresco, less than half a length behind Legal Eagle in the Green Point in December, had some of the gloss knocked off his reputation when he struggled from a wide draw in the Queen’s Plate and was beaten more than three lengths into fourth. Rider Grant van Niekerk shoulders some of the blame, saying: “I probably rode a bit of a bad race that day. But that’s the nature of the game – you ride some good races and some bad ones – and I make him a big runner on Saturday.”

The 25-year-old, who will be riding in his sixth Met, has yet to partner a horse in the race shorter than 25-1 but has twice finished third.

He warmed up with a four-timer on Saturday and points out that he should be added to the illustrious group who have ridden six winners on the same card.

He had eight rides on Kenilworth’s nine-race programme on July 12 2014 and won on six of them including the Winter Juvenile Stakes on Act Of War.

Frankie Dettori’s presence at the meeting is due to Investec boss Bernard Kantor.

Frankie Dettori (Epsom Races)

“Dettori is an ambassador for Investec and Bernard rang us to ask if we had anything good that we would like him to ride, “ Brugman explained. “If we hadn’t, he would rather not ride.

“I hope he has a winner and maybe he can do it on The Conglomerate in the Met although I feel the horse is a handicapper and that it will be tough for him taking on the top horses.”

Dettori was originally declared for Table Bay in the Investec Cape Derby but, intriguingly, he has since been switched to Edict Of Nantes and Marcus moves from the Brett Crawford-trained runner to Table Bay. Both are Mayfair Speculators horses. Table Bay made the running when third in last month’s Cape Guineas but it seems likely that connections will revert to the original plan A and opt to get a lead from stable companion Newlands

Dettori has also been booked by Sean Tarry for two big race mounts – Vortex Star in the Kuda Sprint and French Legend in the CTS Sprint. His other rides are the Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual in the CTS Mile and the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Plain in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship.

The Mike Robinson-trained Kapteinspandieseile, who cost punters dear when only fifth at 6-10 at Kenilworth last Wednesday, has been found to have a distended off-fore fetlock.

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Inside Saturday 21 January Tips and Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: MADAM SECRETARY is knocking very hard at the door and looks ready to be rewarded with her maiden win – hard to beat. CHARTER JET finished close behind MS last time and again there should not be much between them. CATWALK comes from a small but consistent stable and showed good improvement from run one to run two. She has a strong place chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-9)

Race 2
Preview: KING OF MANI has run two seconds recently and looks ready to score. AUGUST DUKE went close to winning last time but has had many chances. He should win one of these days and today could well be his day. EMPRESS VALLEY made a smart debut and has tons of scope to improve – he can improve to go very close to winning. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-7)

Race 3
Preview: MAGIC SWORD showed good improvement from run one to run two and based on that has to be given a very strong winning chance here. DIAMOND DANCER and HOUSTON ROCKET have done okay so far and have to be included on the short list. (Warren Lenferna 12-9-10)

Race 4
Preview: SHEEMA has a wide draw to overcome but if doing so should have very strong each way claims – her last two runs have been good. SWEET CHESTNUT need only repeat her penultimate effort and she will be able to go very close once again – she deserves healthy respect. It would be silly to ignore PRADA PRINCESS’S chances for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 5-1-4)

Race 5
Preview: COMMODORE AL is getting on in age but he is still racing so consistently. It is however interesting to see Andrew Fortune go for the ride on ILITSHE. CA stays very well and should be right there at the finish. JET FEVER improved and ran a cracker last time and based on that is a must for the quartet. ILITSHE got up to win last time and could well follow up. (Warren Lenferna 2-8-3)

Race 6
Preview: Trainer Sean Tarry is bang in form and winning race after race country wide and it would be silly not to follow him. CAPE ORCHID has won two out of her last three and looks very hard to beat here. RED POMEGRANATE is way better than her last run and has to be respected – the same can be said about SAVE THE DAY. (Warren Lenferna 6-1-2)

Race 7
Preview: A difficult race and all of the following need to be included and given a chance: BRITISH ROYALE has won his last three and is clearly no slouch – can win again. CHAMPAGNE HAZE is a very good horse and should win but could prefer further. PURE BLONDE is never far off the action and the same can be expected from him today. (Warren Lenferna 7-3-8)

Race 8
Preview: NOTHER RUSSIA goes well for Craig Zackey and she has to be given a big winning chance. She should relish the distance and has the advantage of a good draw – hard to beat. PENNINGTON SANDS won well last time and is the exacta selection and ZANTE could improve to get a lot closer this afternoon. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-2)

Race 9
Preview: TURN BACK TIME is turning out to be a very useful staying type and gets the services once again of Andrew Fortune. Her form is very consistent and in this field certainly looks the right one and the horse they all have to beat. The battle should be on for second. Horses like: END GAME, RUSSIAN FRIEND and BARCELONA BABE look set to fight out the minor money. (Warren Lenferna 2-3-9)

Kenilworth Saturday 21 January Tips and Race Previews by David Thiselton

Race 1
Preview: MISS FRANKEL by the world’s highest ever Timeform rated horse Frankel out of the SA Equus champion sprinter Val De Ra makes her long awaited debut. REGAL RUBY made a good debut over 800m despite being slow away. MAGICAL WONDER is by Western Winter and is a half-sister to the decent sprinter Magico. LILY THERESA is by Var out of a Gr 3-placed Captain Al mare over 1400m. MOONLIGHT DANCER wasn’t disgraced on debut in a race which could prove to have good form. SEQUINED is by Oratorio out of a three-time winning Silvano sprinter. QUEEN MOIRA is by Rebel King out of an Act One mare who won one race over 1200m. (David Thiselton 8-11-7-6-9-12)

Race 2
Preview: BAFFERT has run two fair races over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip from a good draw. MINI LOUSHE broke through the stalls last time and then felt a miss, but if reproducing her best can win this weak race.   JACK BLACK ran on well over 1600m last time for an improved third and can earn again from a good draw. (David Thiselton 5-1-8)

Race 3
Preview: BUSHY PARK is well drawn and if repeating her penultimate run over course and distance looks the one to beat. SO ENCHANTING has run some fair races over this trip and could earn if overcoming a tricky draw. SEATTLE SILVA has run two good races and will relish the step up in trip so should be involved in the finish despite a wide draw and returning from a three month layoff. BRIDAL PARTY’s full-sister is the five-time winner Little Chapel and she comes from a yard whose runners improve significantly with a run so she could be a surprise earner from pole position over a step up in trip she will relish. NANNA’S ROCK has shown some ability before and can earn from what should be a suitable trip. SISTER SOOZIE is by Silvano out of a five time-winning Lizard Island mare from 1600-2400m. (David Thiselton 3-2-11-10-5-12)

Race 4
Preview: I LIVED is by Western Winter and is a half-brother to the top class Gr 1-winner and now sire Vercingetorix. SCORPION QUEEN made a fair debut over this trip and the form has worked out well so she should do well, especially considering Greg Cheyne has stayed aboard. LIGHT CHASER is a hard knocking sort who has done well over this trip before, so she should be a contender from a good draw. OAKLEY COURT was beaten 0,75 lengths by Riverboat Queen last time over this trip when leading and can still improve. DANCE AT DAWN is also a hard knocking sort and the jockey reported something amiss when she was beaten 2,45 lengths by Scorpion Queen in her penultimate start. RIVERBOAT QUEEN ran second in a weak 1200m race on debut and with expected improvement can earn. (David Thiselton 5-9-1-2-4-7)

Race 5
Preview: THE SECRET IS OUT is a Gr 1 winner over this trip so looks reasonably merit rated on 99. MIRANDA FROST has fine form over 1000m and 1200m and ran quite well over 1400m last time so should be cherry ripe to deliver here and could be a big threat. ANNELINE is a progressive sort who enjoys the course and distance and she has a chance for an in form combination with a light weight. (David Thiselton 1-3-7)

Race 6
Preview: TRIP TO INDIA has some eye catching form over 1200m and now looks to have fallen to a winnable merit rating. PINT POT has run well in both the starts he has had over this trip and Grant van Niekerk remains aboard. LOVE TO BOOGIE won well after a slow start on debut and she could improve further, although her merit rating of 82 looks a touch harsh based on the quality of field she beat. (David Thiselton 3-5-1)

Race 7
Preview: PROFESSOR BRIAN has dropped to an attractive merit rating and has a good form chance here. WINTER TRADE has been in fine form and should be involved again. KAMPALA KAMPARI won a good race on debut and the form has worked out well so he has a chance off a 79 merit rating. ARCTIC BLAST ran well for this 4kg claimer last time over this trip and off a two point higher mark can do well again. THE GREAT VICTORY can’t be ignored in this competitive event. WHITELIGHT WARRIOR has improved with blinkers and could earn. WESTERN STORM should finish just about together with Arctic Blast on formlines, but he might be better over 1000m. (David Thiselton 8-1-2-5-7-6)

Race 8
Preview: HERNANDO’S PROMISE has done well from 1400-2000m and from a good draw here looks the one to beat on formlines. ARABIAN DYNASTY has gone close in three runs over this trip and should be improving being by Dynasty, although he now has a tough draw. MANGROVE has shown promise and is likely improving being by Ideal World so he is interesting with Richard Fourie up, having stayed on well over the shorter 1400m trip in his penultimate, a race where the form has worked out well. GOLD COAST CAPTAIN should finish on top of Arabian Dynasty on form although he has yet another wide draw to contend with. PHOENIX RISING has some good 1600m form and could earn from pole position. (David Thiselton 5-4-7-1-8)

Miss Frankel will be the focus of all attention when she makes her debut in tomorrow’s Welcome To Kenilworth Maiden Juvenile Plate.

Sean Veale’s mount is not just the first horse sired by the undefeated wonder horse to grace the South African turf but she is a daughter of champion sprinter Val De Ra who won both the Computaform Sprint and SA Fillies Sprint in 2011 as well as the following year’s Cape Flying Championship.

Miss Frankel (Liesl King)

Miss Frankel also represents a huge investment by Michael Taberer in his bid to keep the Avontuur Stud on the same exalted plane to which his late father took it. Not only did he buy out his brother, young Taberer promptly elected to send the stud’s best mare halfway round the world to mate her with some of the best stallions money can buy. The mating with Oasis Dream has yet to produce a worthwhile dividend but by all accounts the Frankel filly is something special.

Rival trainers in tomorrow’s race talk about the filly being an aimer, meaning that all Veale has to do is point her in the right direction and it will be race over.

Dennis Drier, who also trained Val De Ra, is a conservative man not given to rave about his horses before they reach Grade 1 standard but his delight in this one has been scarcely concealed and he says: “She may just need it but I think she has done enough to get away with it – she has galloped on the course – and she is a lovely filly.”

In Britain last year one Frankel after the next won first time out as regularly as night follows day. But in Cape Town it’s a lot more difficult to get horses ready to win on debut because the training facilities (no hills or slopes for a start) are not so conducive. Indeed many trainers prefer to let the first run bring them on.

“Casual Diamond has only been on the grass once – we don’t have gallops so it’s hard to tell,” says Justin Snaith echoing this. “But mine is fast.”

His Var filly is not the only one well bred enough to shake up the favourite. Lily Theresa, who cost R1.2 million, is also by Var and is out of a half-sister to the Golden Horse Casino winner Contador. Magical Wonderland is a R450 000 What A Winter half-sister to Computaform Sprint runner-up Magico and comes from a stable whose two-year-olds have been running well.

The best form of the four that have run was shown by Regal Ruby. “My other runner came across her at the start and knocked her back last,” says Greg Ennion. “To then finish fourth to some decent colts was pretty good and she has come on a lot.”

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting on Saturday and the highest rated event is a MR 104 Handicap over 1200m.

The talented Champagne Haze has plenty of pace and has been seen to over race around the turn before, so he is interesting dropped to this trip. Andrew Fortune has abandoned the evergreen Pivotal Pursuit to pilot Champagne Haze They are drawn one away from the outside so it won’t be easy. The speedy Greasepaint has the outside draw but will make a bold bid as he has some outstanding recent form from 1000-1200m. Roy Magner puts the blinkers on when he runs over 1000m and takes them off over this trip. Piere Strydom is aboard so he should be right there. British Royale is a progressive sort who has won his last three in succession and he should be involved carrying a nice galloping weight of 53kg off his 97 merit rating. Pivotal Pursuit can never be written off, although he was given four points for his win last time.

African Ruler has a Gr 1 runner up finish to his name over this trip and Gavin Lerena should get the best out of him, although carrying 61kg off his 106 merit rating won’t be easy.

African Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the 8^th race, a MR 93 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m, Nother Russia makes plenty of appeal as she is likely to love this trip, being out of the star mare Mother Russia, who was an unlucky loser of the J&B Met. Nother Russia has some class and should rise above her current 87 merit rating. This is also her third run after an eight month layoff.

Earlier, in race 6, Nother Russia’s Mike de Kock-trained stablemate Red Pomegranate is an interesting runner in a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. She has speed, as well as ability, and is likely to be right there. However, the tip to beat her is Cape Orchid as she looks to be on the up and will be receiving 2kg. She will be race fit too, while Red Pomegranate is returning from a 123 day layoff.

In the first leg of the PA over 1800m, Magic Sword has run two fair races over 1600m and 1800m respectively and has little to beat, so should go in from a good draw.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a weak maiden for fillies and mares over 1800m, Prada Princess, Sheema and Quintessa should fight it out.

The fifth race over 2600m is very tough, but Talbec is interesting without blinkers from a good draw as he has tended to be a bit strong in the running in his races and yet has still always been right there. Commodore Al beat Talbec by 0,25 lengths over 2400m recently, but is now 2kg worse off.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 and PA over 2000m, End Game won her maiden fluently over 1800m and will enjoy the further step up in trip, so can follow up off a reasonable merit rating of 77. Turn Back Time and Barcelona Babe have to be considered too.

By David Thiselton

Dennis Drier will be sweating on the performance of Miss Frankel at Kenilworth tomorrow where the much-hyped filly makes her debut. However, the veteran trainer will be immediately concerned with the performance of Heir Line at Greyville this evening. The colt has had a couple of warm-ups for this maiden event and should strip pretty much close to his peak. With Anthony Delpech up from a plum draw he will have his supporters.

Dennis Drier(Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Highveld raiders are seldom less than competitive and Johan Janse van Vuuren is raiding with two runners, the first of which is Captain Rockhopper who takes on Heir Line.

Like his rival, Captain Rockhopper has only has a couple of outings but stretches to this trip for the first time. His pedigree suggest that he will enjoy every yard of the trip and with Anton Marcus booked for the ride the inference is obvious.

Both horses make their poly debut but Master Shogun is familiar with the surface and improved nicely when sent over a ‘mile’ at his last outing. Apprentice Denis Schwarz takes 2.5kg off the back of Alyson Wright’s charge and this trio look the pick of the Pick 6 opener.

Sean Tarry is in such hot form of late that he could saddle the stable cat to win and he sends out Lonely Arethebrave in the Soccer 6 Handicap. There was only a nose separating Tarry’s runner and Breakfast Club last time out but the former spread a shoe in running so one could possibly add a length or two to that showing. Dean Kannemeyer sends out Tanjiro and Night Circus with the latter possibly pick of the pair with stable rider Anthony Delpech aboard and blinkers on for the first time. Tanjiro has not been out since early November but is never far back and Eric Ngwane has dine well on him before so cannot be written off.

Janse van Vuuren saddles the Australian-bred Readforyourlove in the fifth and the switch to poly could be exactly what the front-running daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown could be looking for aided by a light weight and a pole position draw.

By Andrew Harrison

Marinaresco put his run of bad draws behind him when rider Grant Van Niekerk stepped in to pick the plum number two position at today’s Sun Met draw ceremony at Kenilworth.

Marinaresco Liesl King

The second favourite earlier worked well over a mile with leading Investec Derby hope Horizon, ridden by Belinda Haytread of Pocket Power fame, and Van Niekerk’s mount stretched clear in the final 400m.

“It was just easy pace work,” said Candice Bass-Robinson while her jockey added: “I was pleased with Marinaresco, it was a good gallop and he is doing very well.”

Legal Eagle drew nine, not that it matters with Anton Marcus – he is so quick coming out of the pens – but the four-time champion was pleased with his mount’s work with stable companion French Navy (Weichong Marwing) although neither horse was asked to do that much.

“It was probably more for the well-being of the public but Legal Eagle is in a good place,” Marcus reported while Marwing added: “French Navy has definitely come on since the Queen’s Plate and he will be better over the Met trip. I think he can finish in the money.”

French Navy is drawn one and it was mostly outsiders who were hammered with wide berths. Even The Conglomerate, almost perpetually blighted with bad draws, has a decent spot in seven.

The Durban July winner was ridden by Jannie Bekker in his work with Macduff (Donovan Dillon) and the retired jockey got off saying: “If Frankie Dettori decides he doesn’t want to ride him I will be happy to take over!”

Bela-Bela Liesl King

With the big race only nine days away hardly any of the horses were asked to exert themselves in earnest and several worked on their own. Perhaps the most eye-catching of these was Bela-Bela (Anthony Delpech). The grey filly went a mile with her tongue lolling out. “She loves her work and she is doing well,” said the well-pleased rider while an impressed Justin Snaith added: “She has to have that come-on look and she was very impressive.”

Whisky Baron also looked good in his solo spin over 1 400m and rider Greg Cheyne said: “I couldn’t have been happier with that – he is maintaining his form beautifully. There are some top horses in the race but mine is on the up and on the way he won a Grade 2 last time he is definitely reaching their level.”

One who did not gallop was the Cape Guineas second Gold Standard and Glen Kotzen reported: “I galloped him over ten furlongs here ten days ago, the ground was very firm – they are watering but the South-Easter dries it up – and he was jarred afterwards. I will have him fit and fresh on race day.”

By Michael Clower