Triple Crown hero Karl Zechner rides at Durbanville for the first time in his career today when he has three booked mounts.

He has ridden over 100 winners this term and says, explaining the visit: “I want to finish off the season with a few more.”

His best chance could be on Persian Silk in the last even though the Glen Kotzen filly has been off since February but on the equine front the most intriguing horse on trial is Argo Solo in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap.

This colt was a 55-1 supposed no-hoper when he made his debut at Kenilworth two months ago yet he ran out an impressive winner, beating hot favourite Oceans Trip by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths. The runner-up boosted the form by winning next time and reopposes here on 2.5kg better terms.

“Argo Solo didn’t surprise me that day – he had been working well,” recalls Brett Crawford. “He has done very well since, he has been to Durbanville and I expect him to run a big race.”

He opened at an appealing 9-2 with World Sports Betting which makes obvious danger Ovar favourite at 3-1, Oceans Trip 9-2 and top weight Kirumbo a 5-1 chance. The Adam Marcus runner ran well here last time and should not be left out of calculations.

Mike Stewart’s surprise first time course winner Blazing Rebel is a 14-1 chance. “He’s a little horse but he has a chance if he can get to the front,” says his trainer.

Harakiri is 3-1 favourite for the first despite her outside draw and she has shown enough early pace to be able to get across. However  Justin Snaith cautions: “It is extremely difficult. She is going to have to be fast early.”

Maybe it would be more prudent to side with 33-10 shot Miss Malbec and Glen Kotzen’s filly probably has more scope for improvement than Moulina (9-2).

Devin Ashby returns in race two for the first time since shattering his ankle and shin in a freak accident going down to the start at Kenilworth at the beginning of the year. Good luck to him on Me-Horse and his other three mounts.

There is not much to choose between 22-10 favourite Kenny Trix and 4-1 shot Black Parrott – and both are badly drawn – but the vote goes to the latter. “He is an improving type and he will like Durbanville,” says his trainer.

Snaith and Richard Fourie should follow up with Miss Hyde 35 minutes later. She was only a head behind second-placed Sandy Bay on debut here four weeks ago but she had to overcome a poor draw, was last away and was still last turning for home.

Snaith’s Figure Of Grey is 15-10 favourite for race four but she could find it hard to beat Emerald Gal (16-10) with Andrew Fortune in the irons.

Michael Clower