RACE  1: 8 SHIELD MAIDEN   2 PRINCESS SABRINA   3 WINTER JOURNEY   6 RIDE THE LIGHTNING

Preview: SHIELD MAIDEN (8) made the required improvement at her second start and should be ready for this. PRINCESS SABRINA (2) was narrowly beaten at her last two on the poly and now switches to the turf. She must still have a big chance. WINTER JOURNEY (3) has shown flashes of ability while RIDE THE LIGHTNING (6) improves with each outing. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-6-3).

RACE  2: 1 BRISTOLBEAUFIGHTER   12 COIN SPINNER   5 PASHTUNWALI   2 MY LORD AND MASTER

Preview: BRISTOLBEAUFIGHTER (1) takes a major drop in trip but has shown some promise. He has the best of the draw here and can still improve. COIN SPINNER (12) made a smart debut but has not been out since April – that and a wide draw are a concern. PASHTUNWALI (5) raced green on debut and should come on from that. MY LORD AND MASTER (2) is struggling for his first win but his best recent effort has been over this distance and the stable appears to have turned a corner. (Andrew Harrison: 1-12-5-2).

RACE  3: 4 MASHARI   2 DESOLATE ROAD   8 GIMME A RAINBOW   9 PARKTOWN

Preview: A few were due to run at Scottsville last Sunday. MASHARI (4) has been knocking at the door of late. Goes well this course and distance. DESOLATE ROAD (2) found his best form last run although it was on the poly. He should be good enough in this field. GIMME A RAINBOW (8) sprints well and has been in good form on the poly. PARKTOWN (9) has his first run for a new stable. Not the easiest ride but can go close at best. (Andrew Harrison: 4-2-8-9).

RACE  4: 1 ROHA   3 UMKOMAZI   4 MARIA COROLINA   6 TIME TO ROLL

Preview: ROHA (1) took on much stronger last Highveld run. Down in class with corresponding rise in weight but should go close from a good draw. UMKOMAZI (3) has shown up well in both starts since shedding her maiden. Only win this course. MARIA COROLINA (4) has consistent form to weaker, all her recent form on the poly. TIME TO ROLL (6) showed some improvement from a wide draw racing in ear-muffs. One to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-4-6).

RACE  5:  7 ELECTRIC SURGE   3 SILVER MARIA   1 MAMA PYJAMA   5 GARDINIA

Preview: Open race. ELECTRIC SURGE (7) has shown good recent form in strong company. She will have a bright chance. SILVER MARIA (3) has been knocking on the door for her past few starts. She steps up in trip and has a handy weight. MAMA PYJAMA (1) ran well below form in a feature last start. But was close-up prior to that. She will be competitive on her best effort. GARDINIA (5) was due to run on Sunday. Step up in trip should suit if she runs. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-1-5).

RACE  6: 6 JACOBS LADDER   4 UPLIFTED   5 QUERARI’S COWBOY   10 SPACE NEWS

Preview: JACOB’S LADDER (6) was much improved last run and may now be showing what he’s capable off. A repeat will see him close again. UPLIFTED (4) has been close-up in both starts since his maiden win. The tongue-tie goes on and he should have a strong chance with this weight. QUERARI’S COWBOY (5) has been taking on slightly stronger of late. His best recent form has been on the poly which is of concern. SPACE NEWS (10) can do better than his last run and has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-5-10).

RACE  7: 1 SHAVOUT   8 SIR MICHAEL   7 AFRICAN SUNRISE   9 SEA MASTER

Preview: SHAVOUT (1) is fairly well weighted in this line-up and has the form to go with it. He should be right there. SIR MICHAEL (8) has been costly to follow but may well be looking for this extended trip. He looks the biggest threat. AFRICAN SUNRISE (7) is struggling to win again but always threatens. He has it tough at these weights. SEA MASTER (9) came good back in blinkers. His consistency was rewarded last run. (Andrew Harrison: 1-8-7-9).

RACE  8: 6 CAPTAIN FONTANE   7 PETRA   3 QUICK STAR   5 HARD TO PLAY

Preview: CAPTAIN FONTANE (6) goes around the turn for the first time but appears to be way above average. He needed his last run but takes on much stronger here. PETRA (7) takes on males but is smart on her day and she may just have needed her last outing. QUICK STAR (3) is always dangerous and his light weight from a good draw will be an advantage. HARD TO PLAY (5) is coming down in the ratings but is never far back. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-3-5).

David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track stages an interesting meeting comprising of eight maiden races today.

The first over 1000m Lulu’s Boy showed fine gatespeed and early pace last time when having a tough low draw over 1160m at Turffontein. He then stayed on well to finish second, beaten one length by the hard-knocking Who’s That Star, with the rest of the field 3,50 lengths further back. He should enjoy the step down to 1000m and he has placed five times over this trip before. Kaptein Martiens was 1,55 lengths behind him the last time they met over this trip but has plenty of scope and could improve enough to be a threat. Frontline Fighter showed pace last time over 1000m but found no extra late so will be vulnerable in the closing stages, although the current fast conditions will make him dangerous. Maraca Ginger has only a quarter of a length to make up on Frontline Fighter. Stepintospring is by King Chapel and is a full-brother to the competitive four-time winning sprinter Pillaroftheearth but there has been no significant market support for him yet.

In the second over 1000m Abalus will be suited to this trip having shown pace over 1200m last time before being run out of it. She has finished second in her last five starts including twice over this trip. Mary Kate is an interesting first-timer and could chase Abalus home. She is by Global View and is a half-sister to the five-time-winning Eastern Cape sprinter Mary O’Reilly. Quick Run and Smelting have good enough form to be threats. Stolen Kiss beat Abalus when the latter made her debut but has not run since May 8 so might need this.

The first-timers might dominate the third race over 1200m. Cosmic Rush is by Wylie Hall out of Cape four-time-winning sprinter to 1400m mare Cosmic Flower (National Emblem). Magnum P I is by Elusive Fort and is a half-brother to seven-time winning handicapper Battle Creek. Rafanetti, a half-brother to the Grade 3-winning stayer Masai Warrior, is by Futura out of an unplaced Jallad maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Natural Selection. The best of the raced runners are Coming In Hot and Samuel Salt and the former can be included in the PA alongside Cosmic Rush and Magnum P I, whilst the best way to play the Pick 6 could be just to include all four of the raced runners.  

Icy Night has some pace in the context of the next race over 1200m and jumps from a plum draw.  Namibsroos and Amazon Orchid have the potential to show more and can be included as raced horses in the Pick 6. The first-timers do not make a lot of appeal. Hydrangea is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a three-time-winning USA-bred Dixieland Band mare who has not produced a winner from two runners to date. Tripplethetigress is by Where’s That Tiger and is a half-sister to a What A Lover who won second time out over 1000m at Kenilworth having finished third behind Missisippi Burning on debut.

In the next race over 1700m Nice Move caught the eye on debut as a big, rangy sort with plenty of scope. He is by Visionaire out of the Grade 1-winning sprint-miler On Her Toes so he should enjoy this trip up on pedigree too. He looks to be a banker in all exotics. 

In the sixth race over 1700m Joe Harman has been knocking on the door over 1800m and gets a good opportunity to record a win. Secret Link is an interesting runner as he was not at all disgraced last time in a fair field over 1400m and he should enjoy this step up in trip on pedigree being by Galileo stallion Global View and a half-brother to 2000m winner Interstate. Bit Of Fun is also an interesting runner as he took a good hold in front over 2000m last time before finishing a well beaten third and he should enjoy the step down in trip. Those three should be enough to get through the exotics and for wider Mister Blue Sky and Passing Shot can be considered.

In the seventh over 1500m Lingamore looks to have plenty of scope and can build on her 1400m fifth where she had no cover throughout. She does have a tricky draw but if finding cover should mow them down in the closing stages.  There are two interesting first-timers. Dame Of Flames is by Futura out of a four-time winning Listed runner up by Jet Master and Hewitson is an interesting booking.  Miss Otis is by Judpot and is thus a three-parts sister to Grade 1 winner Along Came Polly (Judpot), who is a half-sister to Miss Otis’s one-time winning Gimmethegreenlight dam. Ontheverge is the early favourite but will have to improve on her moderate third over 1200m last time and the jury will be out on her stamina capacity as she is by miler Where’s That Tiger out of a Toreador sprinter. Eshraaq is interesting as he is big and rangy and was outpaced over 1200m on debut and will relish this step up on trip, so he can be included in wider exotics.

In the last race over 1500m the hard-knocking Flinders Range is proving moderate but has a shout in this uninspiring field. Leeson looks to have scope for improvement after staying on from a tough low draw over 1200m on debut. JP Two Thousand made a fair debut, although not a convincing one, and he will be suited to this step up in trip on pedigree being by Elusive Fort and a half-brother to a couple of winners over 1600m. First-timer Rosso Corsa is by Querari out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and is a half-brother to the like of winners Imperial Ruby and Ragoon. Twosidestoastory has shown enough to also be considered here.  

Andrew Harrison

The weather could play a leading role at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today if the predictions of some early spring rain materialise. However, the early forecast of 35mm plus for today has dwindled to 16mm – if only we could keep changing our selections!

Paul Peter hasn’t quite made it to the top of the tree as yet, finishing runner-up to Justin Snaith in the national championship and third the previous season, but over the past few years his stable has become a formidable force, boosted by the likes of Triple Tiara champion Summer Pudding.

He makes the trip to Scottsville tomorrow where Warrior Captain and Space Race can pay their way for the stable. Warrior Captain makes his seasonal debut in the sixth where he faces some useful older sprinters in what will be a searching test of his ability.

Warrior Captain was rested after a well below par run in the SA Nursery behind the filly Sheela. However, he did show smart early toe that day before hanging out under pressure, an indication that all was not well.

His form prior to that run was promising and Peter is sure to have him back and firing.

Should he not run up to expectations, then there are a host of runners there to take advantage. Winter Flight improved nicely second time out for his new stable and with a claimer up can make the necessary improvement. Blaze Of Silk loves this course and distance and there should not be much between Princekresh, who got a hefty four-point shunt up the ratings for his last win which could be enough to compromise his chances, and second-placed Fly The Coup cannot be written off lightly. Di Mazzio moved up like it was ‘race-over’ at his last run on the poly but was run out of it late while Sir Pom is another to consider.

In the seventh, Peter saddles Space Race who arrives with some consistent Highveld form over the trip and was a beaten favourite last run when in first-time blinkers but finding one better. She does tend to lack extra when it matters which could leave the way open for the likes of Arctic Princess.

Gary Rich’s mare was narrowly beaten over course and distance last start when back on the turf and was closing quickly on the winner. She is useful on her day and a repeat will see her go close again. My Saving Grace has been up against stronger since shedding her maiden and has done well on this course.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Path To Fortune improved nicely when going a bit of ground last start. She is well drawn and should make further improvement. Go Sandals is lightly raced but caught the eye last run over course and distance. This will her third run after a break and should strip at her peak.

The next is a minefield but Fort Wylie has run two smart recent races on this course and now has a 4kg claimer up which could make the difference. Duquesne Whistle is also holding form and is course suited and these two could be the ones to fight it out.

There are many in with chances in the fifth. Macara showed lots of promise for Wendy Whitehead , winning three of her first five starts, before a lengthy break. You could not read too much into her recent comeback sprint and she should much prefer this trip.  Twicethequality boasts some promising Cape form and has her first outing for a new stable. She has a handy weight and can feature while Gardinia had her last win over a sprint but showed up well when tried over a little ground last start and rates a strong chance.

The last could rest between Northern Warrior and Radames. Northern Warrior has been up against much stronger at recent outings and the extra should suit. With a 4kg claimer up he must have a strong chance. Radames took time to shed his maiden but that form has since been franked and he was consistent before that.

David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN INSIDE stages a nine race meeting today and there is some good class racing to look forward to.

A MR 104 Handicap over 1450m is the highest rated race on the card and forms the last leg of the Pick 6.

The classy Riverstown has two wins and two seconds in five starts over this course and distance and he showed himself to be in fine fettle a month ago when winning over the too sharp 1160m. He was well weighted in that race but beat a promising sort in Full Velocity with ease and the latter followed up with her fourth win in seven starts. Riverstown is drawn wide but is capable of running on and has Gavin Lerena up so has a shout despite having to carry 61kg. Full Mast has won over this course and distance before and is drawn in pole. He showed signs of a form return last time over 1600m and is just as effective over this trip so has a shout off a merit rating which has dropped another two points to 98, two points lower than his last winning mark. Trend Master has come into his own lately albeit over middle distances. However, as a horse who is on the up he is interesting stepped down to a trip he was effective over in the past and he has a fair draw. Cornish Pomodoro will also find this too sharp but his best run was when returning from a four month layoff over 1600m in October last year so he could have benefited from another four month layoff here. Approach Control has a win and a second in two starts over this course and distance and is off a competitive mark but does have to overcome the widest draw of all, although he does have Warren Kennedy aboard and the latter is way out in front in the early season national jockeys log. Captain And Master has class but has been disappointing in his career and his last three runs have been poor. He is distance suited and a three month layoff might have been of benefit. Seven Patriots has front-running capabilities so in the current fast conditions is hard to ignore, although he would prefer further. Snow Palace was Grade 1-placed as a juvenile but has not won since December 2019, but she has dropped to a competitive mark now and comes off a third place finish over 1400m, although that was in a Progress Plate where she was well weighted.  They are selected in the order mentioned although going wide in the exotics is the suggestion.

The second race is an intriguing Graduation Plate over 1200m as there are three promising sprinters lining up and some useful horses who need further. Ultra Quick was a shock loser last time after an impressive maiden win and Gavin Lerena is now aboard the equally promising stablemate Tuscan Winter, who only just failed from a tough low draw over 1160m on the Standside last time. He is drawn five around the turn here compared to Ultra Quick’s six and they will have to fend off the speedy younger horse Super Excited, who was touched off by the progressive Super Agra last time and now has a plum draw of two. Leopold is 5kg better off than any other horse in this race according to official merit ratings and although suited to further he won his maiden over this course and distance so is interesting from pole position. Eagle Alley, bred to stay, is promising and returns from a wind operation. 

The seventh is also an interesting race over 1200m and the scopey Big Eyed Girl is taken to beat the progressive Warship and the promising Paityn’s Pride. 

In the eighth over 1450m topweight Captain’s Pride is interesting having always been well regarded and having proved last time he stays this trip. He is only two points higher but it is a competitive race.    

In the fifth over 1450m Wave Warrior looks to have potential and scope for further improvement so from a good draw is taken to beat Successful Ruler and the well bred Slings and Arrows.

In the third over 1200m Meteoric can make amends for her loss on objection last time although About To Storm looks to have ability and should improve on his debut in which he ran on well after a slow start.  

Andrew Harrison

With Covid playing havoc at Fairview and jockeys from other centres not permitted to travel, there were not enough riders available to hold the meeting scheduled for Fairview today.

However, Gold Circle stepped into the break and at short notice, KZN trainers have co-operated and have put together a decent card for the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

It will be a busy weekend for local trainers with meetings scheduled for Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and again on the poly at Greyville on Monday.

Newly crowned national champion Justin Snaith can get the meeting off to a profitable start with Allaroundtheworld. He makes her local debut and has her first run on the poly but could prove to be a cut above the opposition. He improved nicely at his second outing in the soft at Kenilworth and the firmer going can bring out the best in him.

Mama’s Boy and Guy Fox look pick of the balance.

 In the second, Rodriguez takes a big drop in class after taking on feature company from a coffin draw last start. Gimme A Rainbow goes well on the poly and was runner-up at his last two. He has the best of the draw and should feature prominently.

In the third, Austen is lightly raced but needed her last run badly. However, the stable showing signs of returning to form. Unconditional Love, Venturous and Lady Yusra are others to consider.

There should not be much between Purple Operator and Silver Stardust with little separating them when last they met. They look to be the principal runners in the fourth. Purple Operator has come on with each run while Silver Stardust had the worst of the draw last run and was finishing strongly when less than a length behind Purple Operator.

The fifth looks open by In Auro has been in consistent form of late in stronger company. He’s down in class here and should be thereabouts in an open race. The Appeal could be the danger as he has been doing well on the poly and with a claiming apprentice up should be competitive.

The sixth looks tricky but Smart William has good form to weaker on the poly and his last run on the turf is best ignored. Straight Up did well from a wide draw last start. He stays the trip well and should have a big say in the finish. Twice The Flight found his best form in blinkers and goes very well on the poly. Can Lime ´N Soda improved when stepped down in trip. Takes on stronger again.

Heaven Sent found good market support on debut and won well. She meets little of note in the seventh and can follow up. Opening Shower has contested two strong features at recent outings and takes a big drop in class.

The Dennis Drier stable, after a spell in the doldrums, seems to have turned the corner and Master Of Destiny can round off the meeting. He was a close-up second in a strong field last start and a repeat should see him close again. Greenlighttoheaven has found some form in blinkers and although he looks held by Master Of Destiny his turn will come and he could turn the tables.

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH was crowned National Champion Trainer for the third time at the end of last season, scoring a personal best 208 winners in the process, and this week he spoke about two issues which he believed were having a negative effect on racing, firstly the date on which the weights are set for the Vodacom Durban July and secondly the African Horse Sickness control measures instituted by national veterinarians which are having a severe impact on the Western Cape equine fraternity.

Snaith said, “The Grade 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is losing a little of its glitz because a lot of horses are just using it as a preparation and other horses are not running in order to protect their merit rating for the Vodacom Durban July. In the past the Gold Challenge result had no effect on the July weights. An example was Flaming Rock, who won the Challenge (he won the Schweppes Challenge on June 15, three weeks before the July) and was still able to get into the July carrying 52.5kg. I realise this point is debateable because it could make a certain horse a shoe-in at the weights in the July. However, being a racing purist I regard the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as by far the superior Grade 1 weight for age mile in the country because everybody goes for it, they don’t go in using it as a prep, and the winner is usually fancied to go on and win the Met. On the other hand I don’t run my well weighted July runners in the Gold Challenge, or at least I have to choose which of the two races to target.”

The July weights used to be set before the Gold Challenge and Gold Circle should consider re-instituting that regulation.

When it was in place the Gold Challenge was attracting exceptional fields, which were in fact generally better than the Queen’s Plate fields for the simple reason that three-year-olds are mature enough by the June of any racing season to be lively contenders. 

In 2007, for example, the season’s champion three-year-old Jay Peg ran in the Gold Challenge alongside contemporaries Kildonan, Biarritz and Dynamite Mike and they took on the like of Pocket Power, Succesful Bidder (the winner), Hunting Tower, Jagged Ice, National Spirit and other top older horses. There was not a single three-year-old in the Queen’s Plate that season, although it was run that year on December 30, a week before the Cape Guineas.

A three-year-old did win the Queen’s Plate this year, Jet Dark, but he was only the second sophomore to have won it since Yataghan in 1973, the other one being Gimmethegreenlight in 2012.   

Horses who avoided this year’s Gold Challenge to protect their July weight included Do It Again, Belgarion and Got The Greenlight.

The three-year-olds Kommetdieding, Linebacker and Rascallion, might also have been considered as Gold Challenge entries as an alternative to the Daily News 2000 but it would have been madness to take on Rainbow Bridge and risk a big merit rating raise. 

The Daily News 2000 took place a fortnight before the Gold Challenge, so the three-year-olds could feasibly have run in both races, although this would have been unlikely due to the closeness in time and the drop in trip before stepping up again for the July. 

Snaith went on to speak about the immense obstacles created by the movement restrictions imposed on horses in and out of the Western Cape by state veterinarians due to African Horse Sickness control.

He said the irony was the only region that did not have AHS i.e the Western Cape had become the “whipping boys”.

He spoke on behalf of all members of the Western Cape equine fraternity, including showjumpers, polo players, warmblood breeders and endurance racers.

He said, “I would love to see the export protocols being changed and hope they do, but it is coming at a huge cost for us in the Western Cape while the rest of the country is not effected at all. After ten years it had become costly and after 15 years we are now asking when is the end? If it is going to be ongoing they must come up with a better solution so equine practice can resume as normal. Otherwise I can see there being an uprising in the Western Cape. It is killing equine sports down here. I think it is one of the major influences on the drop in horse population in the Western Cape and they have got to give us some leeway.”

He reiterated, “It not that we don’t want exports. We are just starting to question the practicality of some of the measures being taken when we are not getting any further in export. There are a lot of excuses, some I am sure are valid, I just hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel because it is costing the industry millions.”

Snaith’s purchases from the National Two-year-old sale are currently sitting in quarantine “in the middle of nowhere” waiting to come home to the Western Cape.

He provided another example, pointing out he was unable to move horses from May through July into the Western Cape. Furthermore, once his KZN string was decided upon he was unable to run any of them in any Eastern Cape feature unless he was prepared to quarantine the horse somewhere “in  the middle of nowhere”.

Snaith acknowledged the racing operators had enough of their own concerns but said he was nevertheless disappointed by the lack of support from them in looking for ways to circumvent the restrictions placed on racehorse movement.      

Andrew Harrison

A national championship behind your name opens many doors when it comes to race riding in other jurisdictions. It is not a passport to fame or fortune but given the opportunity it widening one’s horizons is an invaluable lesson in the university of life.

Muzi Yeni was involved in an acrimonious race to the line three season’s back where he blew his chances, giving Lyle Hewitson his first championship and copping a lengthy suspension in a pique of frustration.

Down the lane, newly champion Hewitson suffered the tribulations of the cut throat Hong Kong circuit but also the subsequent highs of Japan.

Hewitson returned home a more accomplished rider and with the pick of some of this country’s top trainer’s strings he cemented a second national championship last season, a further rubber-stamp on his CV.

He was due a return to Japan later this month but the dreaded Covid appears to have put those plans on hold.

A second championship gave further credence to Hewitson’s abilities and it’s all on the line this season for Warren Kennedy.

Kennedy landed the Championship following Hewitson’s overseas stint and was also planning a tilt at an international career, but that is also on hold given the global Covid mess. Kennedy has ‘pinged’ the gate in the first month and boasts a substantial lead but with 11 months of the season to run nothing is guaranteed.

Yeni was successful in the first three races at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, the first two for Kom Naidoo and another polished ride on Var Aglow for visiting Candice Dawson to land the first three on the card.

The amiable Naidoo has the largest string in Ashburton and is never shy to take on the big guns. The late scratching of the favourite Ancient Epic in the first will have made things a tad easier for Future Princess although the 20-length defeat at her previous start in a feature will have put many off, hence the generous starting odds.

Naidoo’s filly Aunty Lizzy had similar credentials after a fair showing in The Debutante on July day and the drop in class was all that she needed as she quickened away from her field to win as she liked.

Crimson Causeway looked to have a lot in her favour when taking on males in the fourth but all went awry at the start as blew the gate and then had to check. She finished a game third as Irontail ran her out of it while Different Face showed pace before being swamped as Herecomestherain, ridden to perfection by Keagan de Melo, quickened out of the pack to win comfortably.

Shane Humby is patient, his owners more patient than Job, but patience paid dividends as the seven-year-old gelding Double Gemini took them on from the jump and kept the opposition all gasping for air as Donovan Dillon kept him hard to his task in the seventh.

David Thiselton

THE VAAL CLASSIC track stages an eight race meeting today where there should be some opportunities for punters. 

The meeting starts with an uninspiring maiden over 1200m in which Ashley Fortune fields five of the seven runners. However, she might not win it because Johan Janse van Vuuren introduces the Querari filly Insatiable who is by Querari out of the Listed Oaks Trial winner Inaninstant, who was by the late great Silvano. Fortune’s best hope could lie with Runaway Princess who showed a lot of pace on debut over this trip, although she was beaten 7,75 lengths. Second time out she was caught wide over 1200m from a wide draw on the Turffontein Inside course. Thai Treat has scope for improvement after being beaten ten lengths over 1200m on debut. He has a nice pedigree being by Duke Of Marmalade out of the dual Grade 1-winning sprinter Rat Burana but he started 50/1 on debut. Merlins Boy by Willow Magic finished a length behind Thai Treat on debut but showed pace and has scope for improvement. The first-timer Edward Longshanks is by William Longsword out of a Var maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Paterfamilias.

In the second race over 1000m Abalus has pace and will appreciate the step down from 1200m but might well have to settle for a sixth successive second place finish because Alula’s Star was eyecatching on debut and looks the likely winner. This Red Ray filly has substance and coming from the Stuart Pettigrew yard should be progressive. Alula’s Star’s first-timer stablemate Miss United States is by the promising new sire The United States out of the Grey Eminence mare Madrisa, who was precocious and won five of her first six starts including a juvenile Listed sprint and a juvenile Grade 3 sprint. However, at time of writing Miss United  was quoted at 25/1, which does not augur well. Another first-timer Meadow Beauty is by Flower Alley and is a half-sister to the like of Grade 3 winner Mount Laurel and to three-time winner Foreign Field. First-timer Iphiko is by Trippi out of a Listed-winning Western Winter mare.

In the third race over 1600m Lilliana had blinkers fitted second time out over 1400m and led  before being run out of it to lose by just 0,30 lengths. She is a full-sister to the fair sort Nartjie who has won over 1600m and 1800m so she should relish the step up in trip. Code Zero goes from sprints up to 1600m but this Master Of My Fate filly should enjoy it on pedigree. Gilda Gray has 2,20 lengths to find on Lilliana. Covermeinsunshine is an interesting outsider having not been disgraced over 1450m in her penultimate start before being tried in the BSA Sales Cup where she was beaten 15 lengths. Inexperienced pair Cap Estel and Monoshada are not out of it either on their best runs.

In the fourth race over 1450m Rapid Charge, a full-sister to Surcharge, looks likely to enjoy the step down in trip having moved up last time over 1700m and not finding enough in the closing stages. The cheekpieces are replaced by blinkers and this could be her day from a fair draw of three out of six. Time Request was only 1,75 lengths behind Rapid Charge in that last race over 1700m and is also improving. Kissed By Fire has improved this winter and is also a contender.

In the fifth over 1800m Splash Of Green won her penultimate start over 1600m well and although it was just a maiden she was subsequently not disgraced in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes. She should enjoy the 1800m trip and although running off a 90 merit rating she only has to carry 52.5kg and the flying Muzi Yeni is aboard. Ideal Jet is distance suited and is improving being by Ideal World so will be a threat. Last Cheer is a bit in and out but is capable and can’t be ignored. In form Opera Glass is also hard to ignore and Rock You and Consol Queen are not out of it so it could be a race in which to include the field.

In the sixth race Wedding Bliss has been disappointing but drops down to a 64 merit rating and this trip from a good draw should suit. However, it is another race in which to go wide with Fasinada, Lady Of The Flame, Rabia The Rebel, Tinder Dry and Senescence all having chances.

A chance is taken with two bankers in the last two races, Funky Music and Elusive Swann.

Funky Music is honest and highly consistent and with champion jockey Lyle Hewitson up over an ideal 1600mm trip can get it right despite a tough draw.

In the last race Elusive Swann has caught the eye in his last two starts over 1400m and 2000m and now runs over his optimum 1600m trip from pole position so he should be finishing strongly and can get up under Jeffery Syster, who was aboard in his last race.