Visiting Western Cape trainers have already started to make their presence felt and while this has not been good news for the locals, the improved quality of the fields has led to an upturn in tote turnovers which is good news for all.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brett Crawford is already off the mark in KZN this winter and his filly Clifton Sunset looks to have a bright chance in the Racing.it’s A Rush Middle Stakes that makes up a well filled card on the Greyville poly this evening.

It is also a late start but with just 20 minutes between races punters will need to do their homework early and be on their toes in the two-and-a-half hours or so that it takes to run the nine races.

Clifton Sunset takes on males and makes her poly debut but she comes off some smart Cape form including a close-up second last time out and as Anton Marcus is a master on the poly, Clifton Sunset looks set to open her KZN account.

Joint top weight Zloty Potok is back in blinkers after trying seven furlongs on the turf. Although well beaten he was taking on much stronger than what he meets this evening. He also goes very well on the poly so looks the obvious danger. Lil Red Rooster and Sister Cosmos are others to consider.

In the card opener, He’s A Keeper could become the first juvenile to win in open company. Alyson Wright’s gelding was a close-up second to subsequent winner Sniper Shot last time out and that form looks good enough in a field that is no great shakes.

A-Rod and Light Indigo are the two obvious choices in the second with the former possibly the pick of the pair having done well over course and distance and having her third start after a break while Light Indigo steps out for her new stable for the first time and although arriving with some useful Highveld form behind her name, it has been over a touch further.

Charles Laird holds the whip-hand in the Kidzone Handicap with Rockefeller and Team Guys with the former the likely ante-post favourite. But Byron Forster, KZN assistant to Andre Nel, could put one over them in the form of Keep On Chooglin. The lightly raced son of Trippi steps up to ten furlongs for the first time and the rise in trip could bring out the best in him. All of his recent form has been over 1400m where he has been caught for finishing speed come the final furlong but the gelding has been in good form over the shorter trip. There is no reason why he should not stay the extra and he will be a major contender.

Anton Marcus has kept faith with the three-year-old Rockefeller but Team Guys appeals more as he was finishing strongly to win his last race and could also enjoy the step up in trip although Marcus’s choice must be respected.

By Andrew Harrison