The Gr 2 Post Merchants will be run over 1200m on Friday night at Greyville and the Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic could be the one to beat.
The four-year-old has lost some of his speed since winning the Gr1 SA Nursery over 1160m, but is still effective over sprints and is the best weighted runner according to official merit ratings. He has a fair draw of seven.
The Charles Laird-trained Gr 1 winner Normanz has landed a plum draw of five. He is officially not well treated at the weights weighted, but his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner.
Aurum Pot’s defeat of Sheik’s Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well, as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, and he will be able to make full use of his considerable early speed from draw three.
In form Mike Azzie runs Isphan, who ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Willow Magic and Tevez. He is drawn fairly well in eight.
Daring Dave didn’t enjoy the best preparation going into the Tsogo Sun Sprint and could do better here from a good draw over a suitable trip.
Brutal Force is drawn wide but is a big, strong horse with plenty of early pace. Nothing went right for him in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but otherwise he would likely have confirmed that he had improved with gelding.
Tevez is known for his exceptional turn of foot from off the pace and is well drawn, although at the weights he has a tougher task than last year when finishing a 1,85 length fourth from a wide draw.
The consistent Moofeed has a wide draw but is capable of a strong late run.
Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and ran second in this race last year from pole position, but is now four points higher in the merit ratings and drawn 15.
Sheik’s Brashee remains on a 103 merit rating despite his Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint third, but Scottsville is his best track and he is drawn 16 here.
Royal Zulu Warrior won over course and distance in March but this is tougher and he is getting a bit long in the tooth.
Showmetheway is ten points higher in the merit ratings than when running sixth in this race last season, but a change of tactics since then has benefitted him so he can’t be ignored.
Diamond King faces a tough task at the weights but is yet to fulfil his considerable potential so could surprise.
Equity Kicker is progressive and could also be a dark horse. Royalsecuritypower is largely kept to 1000m these days and has never faced a field this strong.
By David Thiselton
