The Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200, which will be run at Greyville tonight, is always one of the most exciting races of the SA Champions Season and is not a meeting to miss.

Sunday’s Track And Ball Derby and Oaks meeting will also appeal to the purist.

Watching the horses hare around the turn  in the Post Merchants, followed by the cavalry charge for home, is an exhilarating sight. However, it is never an easy race to analyse.

This year it is even more so, as it falls just two weeks after the Festival Of Speed, so a question is whether those that ran in the latter meeting have had sufficient time to recover.

London Call has only had one run over the Post Merchants course and distance and won with a bit in hand, despite carrying 61kg and giving decent types like Mr Roy and Executive Power lumps of weight. He has drawn perfectly in two, considering his natural pace coupled with his ability to find more gears, and Keagan de Melo knows him well. He will be fresher than most of the other runners and the only downside is his 101 mark falling near the bottom of one of the merit-rating bands, meaning he is officially 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner Fly By Night.

Sean Tarry would have made Buckland his first choice in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint field, but the horse was eliminated by the selection panel. Tarry would have preferred this race to be down the straight. However, Buckland will be fresher than those who did run in the Tsogo Sprint and is an up and coming three-year-old who is going places.

Ferrie is proving to be useful and the form of his last 1000m win on the poly is working out well. However, like Buckland he is 2,5kg under sufferance with Fly By Night.

Fly By Night has become enigmatic, but showed her well-being in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, where she showed pace throughout and stayed on well for second. She is drawn well in five and high-flying MJ Byleveld keeps the ride.

Red Ray was said to be only 80% fit for the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, so did well to finish fourth. He has always been held in very high regard and Anton Marcus can help him overcome a tricky draw over his probable optimum trip, provided the race doesn’t come too soon.

The best weighted three-year-old is Kangaroo Jack, although even then he is 2kg under sufferance with the best in. He is a promising sort and immature looking, so still has plenty of scope for improvement.

Topweight Trip To Heaven will be a big runner if taking his place as he has speed, class and a fine turn of foot. Captain Alfredo has won on the Greyville poly and has a better chance at the weights than he did in the Tsogo Sun, where he showed his usual pace but could not find the necessary extra.

Consistent Aurum Pot was a close fourth in this race last year and although carrying 2kg more he is only 1kg under sufferance with Fly By Night. However, his wide draw makes it tough. Moofeed would be course and distance suited at best, but is still an entire and is coming off two poor runs. Belong To Me has a good record at Greyville, but has to bounce back and is not well weighted.

Amazing Strike has always been well regarded, but has a tough task at the weights and jumps from a wide draw. Asstar is the dark horse having beaten a good field last time despite the race not panning out well and likely needing it too. Old Em has good pace and a good draw, but is 1kg out with Fly By Night and this race is tough for a three-year-old filly.

The selection is London Call to beat Buckland and Ferrie with Fly By Night and Red Ray next best.

On Sunday Cape Speed makes appeal in the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m. He thrives in KZN and has won both of his starts since gelding. Now, for the first time, he tries the trip he has always looked likely to relish. He is officially a bit out at the weights, but is on the up. In form Anthony Delpech can help him negotiate a tricky draw of nine.

Kitty’s Destiny is out of a half-sister by Sportsworld to Cape Derby winner Floatyourboat, and his grandam is a half-sister to Champion Stayer Surfing Home, so he should also relish the trip and can prove himself better than his merit rating suggests. Disco Al will be defending his crown and jumps from pole position, although this is his second run after a rest.

In the Gr 3 Track And Ball Oaks, Gathering Fame flew up for second last time out in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup and will much prefer the Scottsville course, so is selected to beat the consistent Ma Choix and the classy staying type Gallica Rose, who was just touched off in this race last year.

David Thiselton