The five-year-old Jet Master mare Fly By Night, winner of the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint two years ago, will take on the boys in the R400 000, Grade 2 Post Merchants at the Greyville Night Racemeeting on Friday, June 17.

The Mike Bass-trained sprinter had shown little to get excited about earlier this year but bounced back to something like her best when running second to Real Princess in the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint at Scottsville last weekend. She is one of the 14 runners that will face the starter in the 1 200m clash at Greyville and will undoubtedly be one of the more fancied runners in the race.

Fly By Night (Liesl King)

Also among the acceptors for the race that has a history going back decades, is the Western Winter entire Red Ray from the Joey Ramsden stable that made an encouraging return to racing in this country after an overseas stint when taking fourth place behind Talktothestars in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville. One could expect an improved run in the Post Merchants where he will also meet the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Captain Al gelding Captain Alfredo that was strongly fancied to win the top Scottsville race but ran disappointingly.

Captain Alfredo had previously won the In Full Flight Handicap at the venue and that last run was definitely not a true indication of his ability.

Dennis Drier might have been disappointed with his runners in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but will be feeling that the stable could do better in the Post Merchants where it fields the three-year-old Trippi gelding Ferrie. The gelding is making a considerable step up in class but he has won his three races to date in impressive fashion and with 52kg on his back from draw one he could be a lively contender for top honours.

By Richard McMillan