From barrier one, Christophe Soumillon settled Mubtaahij in the perfect position on the rail, behind leaders Tap That (JPN) and Golden Barows (USA). Soumillon was quite content to lope along, while the Japanese pair reeled off speedy fractions.

Mubtaahij and Jockey Soumillon (Liesl King)

With 300m left to go Soumillon decide it was time to get going and bringing the Dubawi colt around the leading pair, he asked Mubtaahij to step up a gear. The effect was instantaneous as the colt powered away under a hands and heels ride. With the field soon going up and down, Soumillon had time to look over his shoulder at the ever-increasing gap, before easing Mubtaahij down and starting his celebrations.

The winning margin was a staggering eight lengths with Maftool under Paul Hanagan flying up late for second, beating a tiring Golden Barows into third, a further three quarter lengths back. The winning time was 1.58.35 on Meydan’s new dirt surface. Soumillion was very impressed with the acceleration of the colt. “I was going very easily and as soon as I pressed the button it was all over. In the end, I kept some energy for the future, especially if he goes to the Kentucky Derby.”

Even Mike de Kock who has now won this race six times, called Mubtaahij his best winner to date. “He was a length off the pace but he had the run of the race and he quickened magnificently. This performance blew me away. This is the best UAE Derby victory for us. It is the first time I have won it with a Northern Hemisphere horse.” Mubtaahij, an Arqana August Yearling Sale purchase by Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock, was recording his fourth victory from six starts, earning a 100 points towards the famed Run for the Roses in the process. This is enough to ensure him a starting position come the first Saturday in May.

“The Kentucky Derby? It’s not even a question. We are going. The nice thing about this is what it has opened up for us. This horse has given us the opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby”, added a delighted De Kock. De Kock further explained that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, as a global owner, was delighted with the opportunity to have a horse in the Kentucky Derby. “ Sheikh Mohammed is up for anything I am up for. He is a progressive thinker. If it’s on, he will be right behind it.”

Soma helped KZN trainer Paul Lafferty prepare Love Struck for his win in the SA Classic two years ago and might be instrumental in landing another Gr 1 trophy for KZN on Saturday. Same Jurisdiction has been staying at Soma’s Turffontein yard since the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, where she finished a somewhat unlucky fifth.

Howells said, “I always feel that you should rely on these people’s advice. Joe has an exceptional record in preparing horses for big Turffontein races if you look at the stock that he has had, whereas I don’t know the tracks up there.”

It was also on Soma’s advice that Howells kept the strapping Mambo In Seattle filly up on the Highveld after her Gauteng Fillies Guineas run as he felt that would give her enough time to acclimatise to the altitude.

Howells continued, “She is exceptionally well and has improved since the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, she is a big runner. She hadn’t had a preparation before that last race and I got the impression that she needed the run.”

Same Jurisdiction also suffered a bad passage in that Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She was bowled at the start and then clipped heels shortly thereafter. She was left with a lot of ground to make up in the straight and after moving up in the manner of a champion, she ran out of steam in the closing stages.

However, Howells was confident she would stay the 1800m trip on Saturday and said, “She won over a Gr 1 over a mile as a two-year-old and that last race was not about a lack of stamina, it was just a lack of fitness.”

Anton Marcus has replaced Stuart Randolph for the ride and Howells explained, “This decision had nothing to do with Stuart not being capable or any belief that he rode a bad race last time and he is still my stable jockey, but I feel that Anton has a lot more experience of Turffontein and for these big Gr 1 races you need every advantage you can get.”

Same Jurisdiction put up a “phenomenal” gallop over 1400m on the Turffontein turf last Tuesday, according to Howells, although Marcus was not aboard for that workout.

Howells concluded, “I have always told the connections that winning the Classic was her main aim as it is a Gr 1 and I know that she is more than capable of doing it. She has a lot in her favour, I know she is a very good filly, she has a good draw, she has had a good prep, has a good jockey, so it will take a good horse to beat her.”

Same Jurisdiction will jump from a plum draw of two and it would be no great surprise to see her reverse form with the Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Siren’s Call, despite the fact that the latter is clearly looking for this distance.

Harry’s Son has the very outside berth in the 16 horse Gr 1 SA Classic field, but Ertijaal is only one inside of him. Ertijaal is a galloping type with an apparently huge engine, while Harry’s Son is a hold up type who possesses plenty of speed and a terrific turn of foot. Ertijaal did it from the front when easily winning the Investec Cape Derby over 2000m easily but has shown he can produce a sustained finish from behind too and the latter could be the best way to approach tomorrow’s race considering the long Standside straight.

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, if Harry’s Son is able to find cover early his turn of foot will be a potent weapon and it could win him the race. Considering he overraced in the Cape Guineas yet still stayed on well all the way to the line, he should get the trip. French Navy will relish the step up in trip and has another good draw, so could be a big threat as he is improving all the time and only has 0,5 lengths to make up on Harry’s Son from the Gauteng Guineas, although the latter did go for home early there and was being eased before the line.

Forest Fox came from way back in the Gauteng Guineas for third and is now drawn better with Anton Marcus up. Sean Cormack switches to Illuminati, who appeared to relish the blinkers being removed in the Guineas and came from last for fifth. MLJet was caught wide in the Guineas before being taken to the front so not surprisingly faded. However, he is now drawn in pole position, has one run under the belt on the Highveld and it is his second run after gelding. He could at last realise the enormous potential he showed as a two-year-old. Mutamakkin was rated a big runner by Anthony Delpech before the Guineas so his sixth place was a touch disappointing, but he should prefer this trip and could earn. The selection is Harry’s Son to beat Ertijaal with French Navy, MLJet and Forest Fox next best.

Ertijaal (Liesl King)

Same Jurisdiction will definitely strip fitter for the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and might pack too much class from a plum draw of two under the experienced hands of Anton Marcus. Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Siren’s Call will relish the step up in trip and won’t mind the draw of seven in the ten horse field as she is a hold up type. However, the draw might still be just enough to swing it in Same Jurisdiction’s favour. Banbury is a classy type who looks likely to enjoy the sting out of the ground and she might get those conditions so she could be a big threat and is selected for third ahead of Smart Call and Pine Princess, who should both relish this trip.

Louis The King returns to his old stamping ground in Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m and always runs well fresh, so will take a power of beating from draw 2. Ashton Park was finishing strongly in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m and has blossomed into a classy sort. All of King Of Pain, Captain America and Heavy Metal are capable of winning this race on their day and all will enjoy the long straight. No Worries is not as forward as he was before his second place in the Charity Mile but is drawn a lot better and could also be a threat. Unparalleled showed what he is capable of in the Dingaans and might get similar rain affected conditions here, so also has a chance despite a wide draw.Tellina never runs a bad race on the Standside tack and could earn again. Whiteline Fever hung a little bit in the Hawaii, which is a slight concern, but at his best he could earn.

King Of Pain (Liesl King)

Entisaar looked full of class when winning cosily on debut over 1000m and will enjoy the extra 100m in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes. It looks to be between her and Speedy Suzy although a betting move on the first-timer Old Em should be respected.

Redcarpet Captain created a fine impression on debut over 1000m and could beat Buckinghampshire in the Gr 3 Englezakis Protea Stakes over 1100m, which is a very strong contest.

The Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m is tough, but Erin has some class and could be the one to side with, although she does have a wide draw to overcome. The Gr 1 winner Bilateral should be cherry ripe and should also go close. She pulled in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas but the blinkers are now off and she should enjoy the trip. The under sufferance Sisters Of Mercy ran a good race last time and could present value, especially if the sting is out of the ground, and topweight Vino Veritas keeps on improving so must have a shout. It’s very open and cases can also be made for Santa Carolina, Lertasha, Casha, Amber Orchid, Touch The Sky and just about the entire field.

The top class filly Carry On Alice is packed with speed and could beat Belong To Me in the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint.

The Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup could see the improving Supertube, despite being under sufferance, beating Wild Ash and Raees. Rodeo Sioux, Sky Rise and Kingston Mines must be respected in this very open race and it would be advisable to go wide in the exotics.

Louis The King was handy in the running in the Met and turned for home in second place. However, he found little extra when it counted and finished a disappointing sixth, despite having been backed into 18/10 favourite.

Geoff Woodruff

Woodruff said, “He doesn’t run that way. He likes to bide his time and come with a nice sustained run and if you ran in front with him I doubt he would even win a weak race. He has been training nicely and will be ready for the run and I hope it will bring him on for the Champions Challenge. The aim is always to win and although I would not say he is 100% he is certainly fit enough to run his best race. He has had a couple of very nice grass gallops.”

Tellina ran a good fourth in the Met and Woddruff said that he was as forward as Louis The King was for Saturday’s race.

He said, “Tellina is also doing well and has had a couple of nice grass gallops. He doesn’t show much at home but I hope he performs well on Saturday and he usually does.”

Woodruff brought both horses back from Cape Town on the Tuesday after the Met and gave them a “little break and took it easy with them for a bit” as well as giving them their vaccinations. He added, “But we have had plenty of time since then to get them fit.”

Louis jumps from a plum draw of two with his regular rider Piere Strydom aboard. Tellina has the widest draw of all in the 13 horse field and his regular rider Gavin Lerena is up.

Louis The King (JC Photo)

The yard run the talented four-year-old Jet Master filly Touch The Sky as well as the four-year-old Greys Inn filly Sisters Of Mercy in the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m.

Woodruff said, “Touch The Sky was back to form in her last race. I don’t know why she went off form but she looks much more like her old self at the moment. I would have preferred the race to be 200m further but I think she will be competitive. Sisters Of Mercy ran a much better race last time over a distance short of her best. She will like the sting out of the ground and I think she might get it as there is a bit of rain forecast. She ran a very good race in the Yellowwood, she never got a run, and it looked like she could have even won it.”

Touch The Sky is drawn eleven with Lerena up and Sisters Of Mercy, who is 3,5kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings, is drawn ten with Ryan Munger aboard.

The yard’s other runner on the day is the four-year-old Dylan Thomas filly Wild Ash, who runs in the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m from draw three with Ian Sturgeon aboard. She is the second best in at the weights according to official merit ratings and Woodruff said, “She had a very good win last time (won over 2450m). I don’t know how she will go against males over this trip but she is a big strong girl herself and if she runs her best race she will go close.”

Lafferty said, “All is well and everything he has done since his Gauteng Guineas win has been good. We ran him a little overweight in the Guineas. We have kept up his work program between races, his work has been good, he is doing well, I am very happy and he will weigh much the same for this race.

Harry’s Son and trainer Paul Lafferty

“I have looked at Ertijaal’s runs and he a very good horse. He is extremely talented, is a real galloper and looks like he will go further. But I think we can beat him. We have a great rider, we will need some luck in running, but we have a very good horse and I hope he can beat Ertijaal with his speed. But there are a few horses that I have the utmost respect for in this race.

“Our wide draw is an obvious concern, but what must be remembered is that if there is any race you would want to be drawn deep in at Turffontein then it is over the 1800m. There is a lovely run in before the bend and I think this is where Striker (Strydom) will use his ability in such a way hopefully to tuck the big boy in and position him.

“We have always felt that he would go ten furlongs. You can’t tell me that a horse that wins a Gr 1 over a mile as a two-year-old doesn’t go an extra furlong. So we have no doubt he will go the 1800m and 2000m. He relaxes well and quickens well so we firmly believe he will get the trip. In the Cape Guineas he over raced early but still stayed on and he was a bit keen early on in the Gauteng Guineas and went for home early too.

“He had that race won at the furlong mark and without disrespect to the second horse (French Navy) I think he only got as close as he did (0,5 lengths) because our horse was eased before the line. If you look at the form French Navy finished 2,5 lengths behind Ertijaal but we could have beaten French Navy by further.”

Harry’s Son has had an exacting season on paper as he has already travelled to Johannesburg by float three times and to Cape Town by air once. However, the Australian-bred colt by Haradasun is the most laid back of characters and is an extremely good traveller, so this will be of little concern. He follows the same travel plan as usual and will leave his Summerveld base at midnight on Friday, arriving at Turffontein on Saturday morning which will allow him enough time to stretch his legs and familiarise himself.