Aldo Domeyer’s mount ran a fine race to beat all except Captain America in a most competitive handicap on Met day and he looks the one they all have to beat, particularly as he has been raised only half a kilo for that last run.

“He has won at Durbanville before and he is in good form,” says Stan Elley. “He has been working very nicely and he is fit and well.”

Big Cat opened at an attractive 4-1 yesterday with Betting World who made top weight Surruptitious favourite at 33-10 even though he has been raised a kilo for last time’s good run.

“He is a big horse,” says Mike Stewart, reasoning that the gelding is well able to carry weight. “I think he will suit Andrew Fortune who rides him for the first time and I expect him to go very close.”

Titus (5-1) beat Surruptitious just over a length over this course and distance in September and is only a kilo worse so he also comes into the equation, especially as Mike Bass is on a roll with seven winners at the last two Kenilworth meetings. Stable companion Evening Storm (11-2) steps up from a mile but has Grant van Niekerk who is also in cracking form.

Juddering Angel has been raised 2.5kg for last time’s win over this distance and, while that may not necessarily stop him, it is certainly going to make life a lot harder for the 7-2 chance.

Jo’s Bond, fifth in the Listed race on Met Day, looks better than Noisette in the first and Justin Snaith has few fears about the course. “She is not the type to run green,” he says.

Cosmic Code, who finished just in front of Wednesday’s winner Zubbadubbadoo last month, wears blinkers for the first time in the Moulin Rouge Student Maiden and that should enable him to beat In Full Regalia. One who could run into a place here is 14-1 shot Illinois who showed improved form last time and seemingly there was no fluke involved. “I gave him a break, sent him to a farm and it seemed to work,” says Harold Crawford.

Fortune and Eternal Love look a winning combination in the Grand Prize Maiden as War Declaration and Come Along are both drawn wide.

Arezzo dispenses with blinkers in race four as he is being stepped up from a mile to 2 400m. “It might be jumping the gun but I thought it could be a weak race,” says Snaith. Three Balloons (9-2) gets only marginal preference.

The KZN raider Harry’s Son could win the ultra-competitive Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas as he over-raced last time out in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas. He also spent three hours on the tarmac at King Shaka airport, but still managed a gallant second. He wasn’t suited to the sticky conditions when beaten 4,25 lengths by Unparalleled in the Investec Dingaans over tomorrow’s course and distance so his team will be hoping for lighter conditions.

Mutamakkin could offer each-way value as the best has likely not yet been seen of the progressive colt and he could develop into a genuine Triple Crown contender. He found the 1450m of the Tony Ruffel on the inside track too sharp last time and was outpaced late by the closers having stolen a march for home. His draw of nine is a bit tricky, but Anthony Delpech always rides the standside course well.

The classy and ever improving Unparalleled is 3,5kg better off with Mutumakkin for a mere 0,2 length beating in the Tony Ruffel in which he was dropped out before running on strongly. He was presented in tip top condition for The Dingaans in which the ground was affected by a deluge just before the start.

Zambezi River was a bit quiet in the week of the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas and the yard believed he ran a flat race. This magnificent specimen could make amends as his finishing effort in the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes suggested he should get 1600m.

MLJet has been gelded and this could bring out the best in a horse who has been disappointing this season after promising much as a two-year-old. He should relish the standside course.

The Captain’s Tune represents the Geoff Woodruff yard who won this race easily last year with the hitherto unheralded Louis The King. This horse is improving with experience and might be taken to the front as he tried to duck in behind runners in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, but then won easily when leading from start to finish in a 1600m handicap over tomorrow’s course and distance.

Anjaal is a fine specimen and was only 0,25 lengths behind Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premiers’ Champion Stakes over this trip at Greyville as a two-year-old. However, this run could come a touch too soon after his seasonal reappearance just two weeks ago.

Imperial Gold is a player if repeating his fourth place in the Cape Guineas, but he does have 5,45 lengths to find on Harry’s Son.

French Navy is improving all the time and could earn if repeating his Dingaans third.

Amsterdam is the only unbeaten horse in the race, but faces a big step up in class and is widely drawn.

The three-year-old male crop is not a vintage one this year, so it could be wise to go wide in this race, although the horses are selected in the order mentioned.

In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas the stand out is the KZN raider Same Jurisdiction, who is unbeaten in four starts since her debut, including the Gr 1 Thekwini over this trip. She won the latter event despite having been found to have bled and was very impressive last time out when cantering home in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m against older fillies and mares.

Siren’s Call is classy and will relish the step up in trip from her 1400m R2,5 million CTS Book 2 Graduates race win. Kileigh will also be finishing strongly and could offer place value as the Gr 3 Fillies Mile didn’t pan out in her favour and she is better than that. Smart Call will be a big runner and Gr 1 winner Bilateral’s last run can be ignored. Tamanee has 3,25 lengths to find on Smart Call from the Fillies Mile but did beat Bilateral, Kileigh and Olma in that race.  Olma could offer place value as she was hurt in the float when travelling up for the Fillies Mile and is a lot better than that. Pine Princess has class but would prefer further. The improving Trophy Wife could earn but Same Jurisdiction is a banker suggestion.

The Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes could be won by the blossoming Ashton Park. Sabadell, Readytogorightnow, Lockheed Jetstar and Whiteline Fever could follow him home.

The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap is highly competitive and could be won by any of the horses, but the order of fancy is Amber Orchid, who has a lot in her favour, followed by Enchanted Silk, Maria Theresa, Will I Do, Be Mine Tonight, Euphoria and Whatalady.

The Listed Aquanaut Handicap is tough but the fancies in order are Orchestrated, Baracah, Savage Wind, Gold Bank, Qatar Springs, Aki Bua and Henry Higgins.

We’ll look at Thursday first and start with two runners who have been flying below the radar. The first is five-year-old entire Flying The Flag, shown in the photo below winning a Gr3 race over 2000m at the Curragh on 28 June 2013, racing for Aiden O’Brien, his second of two career victories.

Flying The Flag (Johnny Geroudis up) was seen out only three times since, racing for Mike de Kock and a new partnership of owners and just missing the money over 1800m, 2400m and 1600m respectively.   Three pounds below his highest-ever rating, the chestnut gets a chance to show what he is capable of in a 2000m contest on turf –  he’s rated near halfway down the handicap off 106 and what looks like a handy enough 58,5kg.

“Flying The Flag is improving all the while and he’s catching the eye in his exercise gallops. He ran on well after a rest last time and I fancy he’ll be very competitive here,” said Mike on Wednesday morning.

Lightly-raced four-year-old colt Johann Strauss (GB, Pat Dobbs) lines up in the Gr2 Zabeel Mile on turf after being touched off in a Listed race in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago, his first UAE appearance and indeed his first for the stable.

“Johann Strauss is rated 102 in a quality race against the likes of Dark Emerald and Safety Check and on paper looks to have a battle on his hands, but he’s a horse with scope and potential and I think he’s better than he’s rating, so he’s not out of it, he can spring a surprise,” Mike assessed.

Best at the Saturday meeting could be the highly regarded Zahee, set to contend the Nova Stakes over 1200m on turf with Christophe Soumillon at the helm. Zahee drops way back in distance after running on for second in an 1800m handicap last time but this, said Mike, should be of no concern to his supporters.

“It may seem crazy to drop him so far back in distance, but Zahee has a massive amount of pace and he won’t be disgraced against the these sprinters, he won over 1100m and 1200m in Australia as a young horse and he’s very well.  He could be a good value Place bet.”

RUNNER COMMENTS

Thursday (Feb 26)

Race 3: Gr3 UAE Oaks, 1900m on turf Shahrasal (Paul Hanagan) “Shahrasal is well exposed, she stayed on in the UAE Oaks Trial and she’ll get the trip, we’ll be looking for a first-three placing.”

Race 4: Listed Meydan Classic, 1400m on turf Tannaaf (Oisin Murphy);  Toscanelli (Wayne Smith); Mastermind (Dane O’Neill) “We’re preparing Tannaaf for a race in the UK in April, he will need it being short of peak fitness and this is too short for him.  Mastermind won an excellent race over the course and distance last time with Toscanelli two lengths behind him.  It won’t be easy for Mastermind to repeat that feat as we have to contend with a wide draw this time and Paul Hanagan will be jumping on a horse for David Hayes in preference, so we’re not too sure what to expect. He’s well, however and so is Toscanelli who has come on steadily in the last few weeks after not showing too much when he joined us.”

Race 6: Gr2 Zabeel Mile on turf Anaerobio (Geroudis);  Johann Strauss (Dobbs); Darwin (Soumillon) “Anaerobio keeps earning his way, conceivably he has a place chance again. Darwin should put up a better showing this time.  He’s a much fitter horse and he’s better on turf.”  (Johann Strauss discussed above).

Race 7: Handicap over 2000m on turf Mushreq (Hanagan);  Flying The Flag (Geroudis) “Mushreq was disappointing last time, but he had too much exposure during the running of the race. He’s a horse that likes to race almost buried behind others, to put up a strong effort and run on late. We’ll look for cover and a better performance. ” (Flying The Flag discussed above).

MEYDAN SATURDAY

(Feb 28)

Race 1: Handicap over 1600m on dirt El Estruendoso (Soumillon) “His rating has dropped a bit now, but probably not enough and this is the last roll of the dice for El Estruendoso, we’ll be fitting him with blinkers and a tongue-tie.”

Race 3: Handicap over 1400m on dirt Royal Ridge (Hanagan) showed pace last week over a mile, he had to race wide however and faded out over the last 300m. At the shorter he must have place prospects.

Race 4: Nova Stakes over 1200m on turf Zahee (Soumillon); Fountain Of Youth) (O’Neill) “Fountain Of Youth was slow into stride last week and then got trapped behind others in the straight and had to switch.  With some luck he may have finished in the money. He’s doing nicely and should run well.” (Zahee discussed above).

Race 6: Gr 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, 2810m on turf Almoonqith (Hanagan) and Star Empire (Soumillon) “Almoonqith has been in good form this term up to 2000m and we’re putting him over ground now, trying the 2810m. On pedigree he should see it out, he’s by Dynaformer and I believe he will enjoy the journey and make the frame; has a first-four chance. Star Empire hasn’t been running to the level of previous carnivals, his age is starting to show.”

Race 7: Handicap over 2000m on turf Mujaarib (O’Neill) and Atomic Rush (Soumillon) “We’ve got Mujaaribn as fit as we can have him for this race, he is well and has improved with every run this season.  Atomic Rush is a horse I really like. He hasn’t had the best of preps for this race, we’ve had one or two problems with him and not enough training time, but he shows ability and should run a good race, we’re looking forward to see him in action.”

The Geoff Woodruff-trained SA Triple Crown winner has an excellent record on the Turffontein standside track and this weight-for-age event should be ideal for the four-year-old son of Black Minnaloushe who won last year’s Sansui Summer Cup over the course and distance.

However, Mike de Kock has some strong entries, including Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal and Grade 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas champion Majmu. However, they may well go for other races on the day – Ertijaal for the SA Derby and Majmu for the SA Oaks, also both Grade 1 events.

Majmu could also be aimed at the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and if she wins the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic on 28 March, the Oaks is the more likely option.

De Kock has also entered Anjaal, Akii Bua, Pine Princess, Mutamakkin and Raaees.

Woodruff has backed up Louis The King with four other runners – Summer Cup runner-up Killua Castle, Sabadell, Shadow Ofhis Smile and Tellina.

Heavy Metal, winner of this race in 2013, is also among the nominations. The son Of Silvano had an unsuccessful campaign in Dubai and could be making an attempt at winning this race for the second time.

Tarry has also entered Halve The Deficit and Cagiva.

Some Cape trainers could be heading north to contest this race. Joey Ramsden has nominated King Of Pain, who ran third in Saturday’s Cape Mile behind Ze Kaizer, Mike Bass has entered Paterfamilias while Vaughan Marshall has nominated Gothic.

Another interesting entry is Wylie Hall, who was first past the post in last year’s Vodacom Durban July but lost the race on an objection. Weiho Marwing’s charge has an excellent record at Turffontein and could be a massive contender if he runs.

Second entries close at 11am on Monday 23 March, third entries at 11am on Tuesday 7 April after which the weights and draws will be announced. Declarations close at 11am on Wednesday 15 April.

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In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas he leans towards Siren’s Call as his leading contender, but would not discard any of Tamanee, Trophy Wife or Bichette as things have gone well for all of them. Siren’s Call touched off Trophy Wife last time out in the R2,5 million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Book 2 Graduates Race over 1400m at Turfontein, but did get jostled on the turn and also showed that she would palpably prefer further. She and the continually improving Tophy Wife have both come out of that race well.

Tarry reckoned Trophy Wife ran to about a 90 in the sales race, but she remains on an 84 merit rating, as he has decided not to take the optional penalty in case she flops in Saturday’s race and reverts to handicaps.

Tamanee won well over course and distance last time out during a deluge and is now rated 97, while Tarry felt that the 93 merit-rated Bichette, being out of a Badger Land mare and being a half-sister to Woolavington winner Viva Maria, would relish the step up in trip. In Bichette’s previous two starts she first won well over 1400m and then finished a 3,5 length third to Fillies Guineas contender Sensible Lover in the Gr 3 Three Troika Stakes over 1450m. She will be 2kg better off with Sensible Lover, but will be 5,5kg worse off with runner-up Lazer Star, despite being beaten 3,3 lengths. There is rain forecast through to Saturday this week and Tarry believes that softened ground might affect the chances of Trophy Wife in this race.

The yard run the classy trio Zambezi River, Imperial Gold and French Navy in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas. Tarry said that Zambezi River had been “quiet” in the week before the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, where he finished a 6,2 length fifth, and believed it may well have been a “flat run.” He said that this Trippi colt needed to be tried again  to tell whether he had not stayed the Guineas 1600m trip, especially in the light of his good finish before that to win the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m.

Imperial Gold ran on well to finish fourth in the Cape Guineas and then finished eight lengths back in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m, also at Kenilworth. However, Tarry said that considering he had been brought for his run down the wrong side in the latter race and was carrying joint-topweight and had also over-raced, the run might not have been as bad as it seemed. He should also appreciate the step back to 1600m. Imperial Gold was scratched from his last intended start in the Tony Ruffel, but has “come good” since then and has been working well.

French Navy will be the only one of the trio to go for all of the Triple Crown races. Tarry said, “I am leaning towards Zambezi River as he is a much better work horse than Imperial Gold. French Navy is a much better racehorse than he is a workhorse and is improving all the time.”  Zambezi River is indeed a magnificent looking specimen and would not be a surprise winner and neither would the good-looking Imperial Gold, although the pair to beat will be the Investec Dingaans winner Unparalleled and the Dingaans and Cape Derby runner-up Harry’s Son.

Tarry has Whiteline Fever and Halve The Deficit in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes and said, “Whiteline Fever loves the course and distance and I am disappointed about his draw as I would otherwise have been upbeat about his chances. Halve The Deficit ran a really good race last time over course and distance and I am running him here to see whether I can run him in the Horse Chestnut or not. Both horse won’t mind the sting  out of the ground.”

Tarry felt that the Gr 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m is  typically tough and is just glad to have three contenders, Enchanted Silk, Elusive Spirit and Amber Orchid, who are all “doing well.”

He also has three runners in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m, the six-year-old Baracah and the pair of four-year-olds Orchestrated and Gold Bank. He said, “Baracah is drawn nicely and has come down in the weights. Gavin Lerena has won on him before. If the two younger horses stay they could be exciting and they have given me the impression that they will stay. Orchestrated was an immature horse, but is now getting his act together. Gold Bank is 2kg under sufferance but can overcome it as he has improved a lot since gelding.”

Tarry has 18 runners on the day and should be in the winner’s enclosure at some stage.