Dennis Drier has already won an incredible five Gr 1’s this Champions Season and could add another two on Super Saturday this weekend, so racing historians could well be sifting through the archives to see whether he has broken any records in this regard.

His best chance of Gr 1 success on Saturday could be with the Horse Chestnut filly Chestnuts N Pearls, who won the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m on July day in the manner of a top class sort, and now has a plum draw of five in the Thekwini Stakes over 1600m. The postponement of the Super Saturday meeting to this weekend would have also aided her cause because  it would have given rider Sean Cormack an extra week to recover from his nasty fall on Mercury Sprint day.

Drier’s assistant trainer Stuart Ferrie said, “She will have no problem with the trip and if she repeats that last run she will be the horse to beat.” She is not a big filly so the yard have been able to just keep her ticking over. She has seven horses held on form from the Golden Slipper, so the dangers could be the two unbeaten fillies  Flying Filly and Persian Rug, although on a line through Lauderdale she comes out slightly ahead of both of them.

The Miesque’s Approval gelding J’s Outsider has his third run for the yard in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m, having finished fourth in the Gr 2 Gold Vase over 3000m on July day. Ferrie said, “He is getting better and better and must have a chance. The wide draw (17) is a bit of a hassle but on his last couple of runs he is on the improve.” He will have no problem with the trip having proven he stays every inch of it when winning the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over the tough Turffontein 3200m in slightly soft going. Sean Veale rides him work every day and felt he would have been “a massive runner” if better drawn. However, Veale said he would “take his chances” from this draw, meaning he would probably drop him out. J’s Outsider is 2kg worse off with Solid Speed from the Gold Vase, despite having been beaten by him by 1,75 lengths, but he is 1kg better off with Gold Vase runner-up Wild Ash for a 1,9 length beating.

The yard run the Jet Master mare Gathering Fame, who turns five on Super Saturday, in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She has a tough task at the weights but is lightly raced and could surprise from a good draw of five.  However, she is 4,5 kg worse off with Gallica Rose, despite being beaten 1,5 lengths by her in the Listed East Coast Cup over course and distance, so will have to show considerable improvement. Ferrie said, “She‘s shown enough to take her chance and this is her trip.”

They run Barbosa in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack and he showed his liking for course and distance last time out when finishing a two-lengths third in a MR 104 Handicap on July day. He is 2,5kg better off with the winner Tiger Territory and 2kg better off with the runner up Mod Barley who beat him by 1,75 lengths, so he has every chance. Ferrie said, “He ran well on July day and Scottsville and he is a big strong horse so he can carry big weights. He shows plenty of pace and is drawn well so will run another honest race.” Barbosa hasn’t had a lot of racing for a now six-year-old so looks to have a bit left in the tank.

They run Space Launch over 1400m on the poly in the first race, a MR 78 Handicap and Ferrie said, “It’s his first run on the poly but we rate him. In his last two races (both at Scottsville) we thought he would win both times so he has been a little bit disappointing but he definitely has the ability.” He should enjoy the poly being by Jet Master out of a Western Winter mare and should also enjoy the step up in trip. He has drawn well in six. This is his third run since a bit of a layoff after winning twice over 1200m at Kenilworth and he should be cherry-ripe, although Ferrie said he had not needed those last two runs.

The yard run the Trippi filly Trick in the second, a MR80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m on the poly. Ferrie said, “Trick shows good work at home but has disappointed plenty at the races.” He added that she had been doing well at home but said it was difficult to know what to expect from this slightly temperamental filly.

The yard run the Var filly Black Velvet in the eleventh, a MR 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1100m on the poly. Ferrie said, “She ran a cracker last time. She was given a bit of a chance (from a high draw of eleven over 1000m at Scottsville) and ran on nicely. She’s usually handy so let’s hope she gets a bit of a lead.” She is drawn well in five but faces Easy Game on the same terms at Scottsville despite being beaten 1,4 lengths.

Drier has already recaptured the KZN Trainer Championship this season, being well clear of reigning champion Duncan Howells, and his perennial rival Mike de Kock will finish third.

By David Thiselton