Snaith said, “He’s doing well and we will see whether he’s good enough on Saturday.”

All five of the four-year-old Dynasty gelding’s wins have been over this course and distance. The bookmakers are taking no chances and the sponsor have priced him up at 7/1. That is the same price as Copper Parade, who is a Gr 1 winner and is merit rated eleven points higher than Daring Dave.

Daring Dave has not won any stakes races to date, but has impressed with his exceptional speed that has enabled him to win his races from start to finish. However, in a few recent feature races over further, he has shown that he also has a telling turn of foot if held up off the pace.

In his first outing in a stakes race, in the Gr 2 Merchants over 1200m on November 16, he sat just off the pace before bursting through at the 300m mark and looked the winner. However, he was caught late by another Cape Flying Championship contender Tevez.

Daring Dave had the like of Copper Parade and Happy Forever behind him in the Merchants, but will be considerably worse off with them at the weights on Saturday and 1kg worse off with Tevez.

However, he will appreciate the drop back to 1000m. Furthermore, in his last start, when beaten by just a head in the Listed Val De Ra South Easter Sprint over 1100m, he had a below par Happy Forever beaten by 6,25 lengths when receiving only 1kg. He also beat the fancied Cape Flying contender Captain Of All in that race, but it was the latter’s first start for over a year and he clearly needed it.

The Southeaster Sprint on December 6 was Daring Dave’s last run and Snaith then deliberately put him away, realising that he could have him “spot on” for the Cape Flying without having to race him again.

The draw of one could be a concern on Saturday and Snaith admitted he “hated” that draw down the Kenilworth straight.

He added, “But sometimes it’s the right draw if you hit it right. I would say about five times a year they go down the inside. It seems to depend on the wind. If the wind is strong they tend to go to the outside. But I have more to worry about than the draw. My concern is just to have him spot on for the day and he will be.”

Interestingly, according to WindGURU, the wind direction on Saturday will be North Westerly to Westerly, meaning there will be a tailwind or

crosswind of an estimated 12 knots (22km/h) as opposed to the normal stronger South Easterly headwind. This might well favour Daring Dave and the other low drawn horses.

Stable jockey Richard Fourie will be aboard Daring Dave. Snaith has never won this race himself, but used to often work ride the dual Cape Flying Championship winner Cordocelli (1998 and 1999), who was trained by his father Chris. Chris also won the race with Laisserfaire in 2001.

Snaith admitted his three runners in the R1 million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Stakes over 1200m looked to be “outgunned”. He said, “On handicapping they have no chance, but these races are often a lot more open than they seem. But we look to be in trouble and I hope they can run well enough to get a place.”

Snaith did the choosing for Fourie and he will be aboard the Windrush filly Azarenka.

He said, “She’s not the most beautiful specimen, but she can run and her form is good and I thought her last win (over course and distance) was impressive. Sunset Tripp (Trippi filly) has some very good form, including third in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes (1400m), and she should be fine over this distance. Captain Blackwater (Captain Al gelding) has only won a workrider’s maiden and it will be hard for him.”