Later, in the barrier draw ceremony he landed a favourable starting position.

Legislate was given a lead by Astro News in the gallop and showed good acceleration when asked the question at the top of the straight before striding out well all the way to the line.

He will now have to pass a veterinarian examination before being allowed to line up.

All fifteen of the contestants looked to be in good shape and did little wrong with the exception of Astro News, whose saddle slipped forward meaning he couldn’t be given the required assistance.

There were a number of eyecatchers, including the favourite Futura and third favourite Louis The King, who both looked in peak condition.

Jet Explorer always impresses with his long stride and there was no repeat of the shoe pull which injured him at the gallops last year.

Dynamic strode out particularly well and Gold Onyx worked very enthusiastically, defying his seven years of age.

Last year’s surprise third-placed Punta Arenas looked nice and relaxed and should be primed by race day.

Legislate’s much anticipated draw was pulled by part-owner Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud and she could not have asked for a better one than his barrier position of four.

Louis The King and Futura drew side by side in positions eight and nine respectively.

The luck of the draw will have an effect on the result and as the forecast predicts a North Westerly to Westerly wind, as opposed to the prevailing South Easterly headwind, the low draws could well be favourable.

Carry On Alice has travelled well from Johannesburg according to trainer Sean Tarry and as one with good cruising speed and a fine turn of foot, she will be right there from an ideal looking draw of six as she should be able to sit behind the speedy Normanz, who jumps from barrier five.

The Yvette Bremner-trained Port Elizabeth raider Copper Parade proved in last year’s Gr 1 Computaform Sprint that if able to stride freely behind a strong pace before unleashing his devastating finishing kick he is world class. He should get a fair pace tomorrow and Piere Strydom has reportedly said that the seven-year-old gelding has felt even faster this season than last. From a draw of seven he will have plenty of options.

Daring Dave has been prepared for this race from day one of the season and as a speedy sort who can kick on this trip will suit him down to the ground. His draw of one might be favourable on the day.

Alboran Sea has tremendous natural speed and is another capable of kicking on. The three-year-olds start coming into their own at this time of the year, so she will be a major threat from draw two if the low draws indeed turn out to be favourable.

Captain Of All will be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and he should be able to use his early speed from draw nine to find a good position. He is capable of quickening from the front and is a big runner.

Trip Tease is a courageous horse who not only has the winning habit, having won nine of his last ten starts, but he is also suited to this minimum trip and he has a nice low draw.

Fly By Night beat Copper Parade in the Mercury Sprint over 1200m when producing a late burst. This tall mare has really come into her own and has the sort of uncomplicated action that makes her a reliable runner in the highest classes, but if low draws are favourable she might be in trouble from draw eleven.

Normanz is a speedy frontrunner who is able to sustain a good pace throughout when at his peak as he will be, but his Gr 1 win did come when carrying a light weight under handicap conditions.

Last year’s third-placed Tevez and his stablemate Castlethorpe would have preferred a headwind as they will be doing their best work late.

Asstar has proved himself capable of upsetting horses of this quality but is none too reliable.

Happy Forever is a handy runner who has run just behind the best but his draw of ten might be tough on the day.

Dressed In Cotton looks outgunned at the weights.

The selection is Carry On Alice to beat Copper Parade with Daring Dave, Alboran Sea and Captain Of All next best.

The draw might play a part in the R1million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Stakes over 1200m, but the classy Kingvoldt has an excellent record over this trip and his fantastic turn of foot might be too much for the opposition to match.

The classy filly Alexis bounced back to her best last time out when dropped back to this trip and also possesses a terrific turn of foot.

Zambezi River won the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes and trainer Sean Tarry believes his Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas run was “not his run”. That was his first de feat and he will be a big player, although his high draw of 15 might be a concern on the day.

Brutal Force finished second in the Ready To Run Stakes from a wide draw.  His only win was over this course and distance and this big horse is improving all the time, so he will be a big runner from a nice low draw.

Beloved Country has matched it with some of the best three-year-olds in KZN and will also be running on strongly over what should be an ideal course and distance and a possibly ideal draw of six.

Equity Kicker beat two horses, Castlethorpe and Happy Forever, that are involved in the Cape Flying Championship and jockey Grant van Niekerk

knows now that he is better when ridden from off the pace. He should see out the trip if those tactics are repeated and he has a low draw.

Spanish Dawn needed her last start quite badly and as a big striding, speedy sort could earn.

The selection is Kingvoldt to beat Alexis with Zambezi River, Brutal Force and Beloved Country next best.

Music App should beat the horses to have raced in the fist leg of the PA, but the three first-timers all have interesting pedigrees and must be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Bella Espumante looked like a promising sort on debut and can be forgiven her last outing when having to travel to Johannesburg. Al’s Bonanza should also be included.

Perini looks to be the right one in the first leg of the Jackpot as he ran on well after a slow start over 1000m last time and should relish the extra distance.

In the 8^th race over 1400m the consistent Dangerous Liaison comes from some strong formlines and is off a competitive merit rating. He is drawn well over a suitable trip.

The last race is open and Revved Up, Fort De Oura, Count Dracula, Three Balloons and Arctic Teon make the most appeal.

The J&B Met Barrier Draw ceremony followed the gallops and Legislate drew virtually perfectly in stall four.

Legislate was given a lead by Astro News and after striding out well around the bend he turned it on down the straight in fair style and appeared to be enjoying himself. His participation will now depend on how he comes out of this workout. Astro News’ saddle slipped forward so his below par workout can be ignored.

The standouts of the gallops were the big race favourite Futura and the popular Gauteng stalwart Louis The King.

Futura wasn’t asked to do a lot but strode out well and was clearly in magnificent condition.

Louis The King worked with his stable companions Tellina and Killua Castle and without being asked to do a lot they all strode out well, but Louis The King was doing it easily and his superiority was clear to see.

The seven-year-old Gold Onyx, given a lead by Serissa, had the bounce of a two-year-old and clearly gets on well with Grant Behr, who rode him to third place in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and has retained the ride.

Jet Explorer worked out enthusiastically and showed off his big stride.

Paterfamilias and Helderberg Blue worked together and didn’t give much away but did nothing wrong.

Punta Arenas caught the eye working with Big Cat and looks to be peaking at the right time as he did last year when running third.

Dynamic has a nice action and strode out well on his own.

Johnny Rockets, who is not the soundest and has a high head carriage, had his ears pricked throughout in an easy workout.

Arion worked within himself but certainly caught the eye.

Power King only worked over 800m with Blackmore. He will be having his third race after gelding and looked in good shape and moved well.

The draw was all important. Power King was the first out the hat and drew well in seven.

The three market leaders Futura, Legislate and Louis The King all fared satisfactorily in barriers nine, four and eight respectively.

Helderberg Blue was arguably the unluckiest, drawing widest of all in 15.

Jet Explorer drew the pole position berth, which is not always regarded as the best draw but is never complained about.

Dynamic’s draw was awaited as he is a possible pacemaker and if those tactics are indeed the plan then he could hardly have drawn better than his barrier six berth.

A good crowd attended the gallops and were treated to the traditional free coffee and sticky buns as well as being given a complimentary entrance ticket to the J&B Met.

However, every person who purchases a general entrance ticket for the big day at www.computicket.co.za will stand a chance of winning a diamond pendant valued at a breath taking R500, 000.

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.”

Trainer Mike De Kock has saddled the winner in each of the last three seasons and six times in total, while compatriot Herman Brown won the race in consecutive years with Linngari.

De Kock saddles three of the ten declared runners this year, including Anaerobio, winner of the race last year when it was contested over 1400m for the first time – the trip having been reduced from 1600m.

Stable jockey Christophe Soumillon rides him with Wayne Smith aboard stable companion Zahee. However, it could be Red Ray, the trainer’s third runner, who will prove the best of the trio throughout the season.

“Red Ray was with Joey Ramsden and is, hopefully, the ideal type for the Dubai World Cup Carnival,” said De Kock. “He is a Grade Three winner at home and finished last season with two seconds in Grade One company.

“Anton Marcus knows him very well and flies in to ride. The horse has always had a big reputation and has shown us plenty in his work. That said, he has shipped in from South Africa and our new arrivals have been needing a run. However, he seems in really good form.

“Anaerobio is just a tough and genuine horse. He has had a nice break since last season and will run his usual honest race. Ignore Zahee’s last run as he did not take to the dirt. He will run much better back on turf.”

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Godolphin’s Safety Check is already a Dubai World Cup Carnival winner this year having landed a course and distance handicap two weeks ago.

“The handicapper put him up to 110 for that win,” said Appleby. “So basically we have to try him at this level. He won well and has been working nicely since so we just need to see where we stand with him. The 1400m on turf appears ideal so this was the obvious race for him.” Stable jockey, William Buick, takes over from apprentice Cam Hardie.

Paul Hanagan rides Shaishee for his main employer, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trainer Musabah Al Muhairi. Winner of his first two starts this season, he was an excellent third on his most recent outing. Those three outings were all on the Meydan dirt and this, interestingly, will be his first turf start in the UAE and since July 2013 in England. Connections could have aimed him at Friday’s Jebel Ali Mile but he does appear to relish this 1400m trip and he has a great draw in stall one.

Irish challenger, Eastern Rules, was a dual Carnival winner for Michael Halford last year, including over course and distance and will, as usual, be ridden by Shane Foley.

“He has been in good form in his work,” said Halford. “This looked a good spot to bring him back out. It is a good race as you would expect but he should run well.”

– DubaiRaceNight.com