Sabre Charge can show that he is a horse for the big staying races scheduled for Champions Season when he lines up in a Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m at Scottsville tomorrow.

Duncan Howells has taken things slowly with the son of Golden Sword and Sabre Charge is lightly raced, having only his seventh outing. However, both of the gelding’s wins have come over course and distance and although not particularly well in at the weights, he is still getting a lot of pudding from top weight and likely favourite Mr Winsome whose both recent victories have come on this course.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dean Kannemeyer’s runner has been in mustard form of late but does step out over the extra two furlongs for the first time while most of his obvious dangers are proven over the trip.

Howells is two-handed as he also saddles the filly Forbidden Jewel who ran a cracking race behind Sabre Charge over course and distance and is now better off in the weights and also only has 48.5kg on her back. Given that she stays the trip well she must come into the reckoning.

Pace, or the lack of it, is always a concern in races of this nature but Serissa is a confirmed front-runner and with Anton Marcus aboard, the opposition will need to be wide awake.

The Howells-trained Amazon King shows promise and steps up to a ‘mile’ for the first time in another Pinnacle Stakes event. Howells has high hopes for the gelding saying earlier in the week; “He steps up every time I run him. We will see if he stays a mile on Sunday and if he does he will go for the Daisy Guineas. Whatever happens he will go for the Byerley Turk.”

He will certainly be tested as Rikitikitana meets him on the same weight terms as their latest meeting where there was just a neck in it so there should not be much between the two again tomorrow. Of the balance, Caribbean Day was a game winner of his last start and has a chance again while the filly Trini’s Colateral has a handy weight and is useful.

Lunar Rush (Nkosi Hlophe)

Michael Roberts looks to have a promising runner in the form of Marriot who has shown promise in spite of only shedding his maiden last run. The form of his debut when second to Wynkelder has been franked and both of his runs have been over course and distance. Charles Laird is back in form and Good To Give has his third run after a break and looks a lively threat as he started favourite at his last two and can make amends. Also in the mix is Roy’s Air Force who has been knocking at the door and with a four-claiming apprentice up here he should be thereabouts again. If there is to be an upset it could come in the form of Restless Rogue who was in need of his last start and appears better than his form would suggest.

Apprentice Dylan Lerena is another member of the Lerena racing family and Howells has placed a lot of faith in the young rider who has still to record his first victory by giving him the ride on Lunar Rush in the seventh.

Lunar Rush is a talented filly having won her last two in good fashion and is a candidate for the big fillies sprints come Champions Season. The 4kg claim will have been in the back of Howell’s mind with stable rider Keagan de Melo aboard recent maiden winner Rainbowinthesky. Lightly raced and winning from a difficult draw, the stable companion to Lunar Rush looks to have some scope and this race could confirm that view with Respect At Bay and Hot Mambo both tried and tested.

Indian Tractor and Admiral’s Guest are the two most likely to fight out the last and can cut down on PA and Pick 6 expenses.

By Andrew Harrison