Princess Of Gaul is the favourite for the Debutante (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
R1
I Salute You has a pole position draw and comes off a good run over this course and distance in the Listed Thukela on Hollywoodbets Durban July day when possibly short of room late, so he should go close from a likely handy position. Busstopinhounslow has improved tremendously and goes well for Piere Strydom, so he should be running on as strongly as usual, although this is his first time at this track and he might be better suited to a more galloping track. Winter Games is a capable sort and from a good draw over a suitable distance, he is a big runner as he came from last from a wide draw in the Thukela to finish fifth, just 0,30 lengths behind I Salute You and they meet on the same terms. Guy Gibson has been in fine form over shorter and stays this trip, so from a good draw with Gavin Lerena up, he could be a big runner. Narina Trogon has a good record over course and distance and although he has yet another wide draw he did win the Thukela from a wide draw last year. Cherry Ano has a better draw than he had last time in the Thukela, so from a likely more handy position he is capable of being in the shake-up. Diani enjoys this course and distance, but has drawn widest of all and will need some luck getting into a good position and he does return from a three month layoff. Imilenzeyokududuma returns from a lay-off, but can be right there if producing his best. Money Heist is capable of being in the shake-up if at his best, but this is his second run after a one-year lay-off. Teflon Man is interesting stepped-up in trip as he is capable of a strong finish. Down to Business returns from a lay off and this trip is sharper than ideal, but he might run well fresh. Sundance Kid is usually thereabouts and if at his best could earn a cheque, although he is 1.5kg under-sufferance and widely drawn. The Africa House is capable of earning a check although he is 2kg under sufferance. Hats pride is usually thereabouts, but has a tough task being 1.5kg under-sufferance.
Selections: 1) 1 I Salute You 2) 7 Busstopinhounslow 3) 2 Winter Games 4) 3 Guy Gibson 5) 13 Narina Trogon 6) 5 Cherry Ano
R2
Princess of Gaul made a fine debut when winning effortlessly by 9,50 lengths over 1100m and the form has been franked to some extent. Elegantrix was disappointing on Hollywoodbets Durban July Day over 1400m, but she went close in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over this trip and should appreciate the step back in trip and is a big runner. Mystical Miss won easily on debut and the form has worked out exceptionally well, although her time was not great. Keukenhof has done well against the very best in her last three starts and if able to overcome a tricky draw could be right there. Captain’s Envy has also done well in her last three starts against top opposition and if able to overcome a wide draw could be in the shake-up. Serengeti Sun is held by Princess Of Gaul on formlines, but she does have a lot of scope for improvement. Infinity Edge won a good race on debut, but has a wide draw to overcome. Hierarchy won easily second time out and could earn a cheque. Clairwood Rose has not been disgraced in her last two starts against top opposition and could earn a cheque. Let’s go Lola will have to lift her game to be a runner in this line-up although she does have a good draw. Silver City is a raider from the East Cape and has a tough task here. Smart Star looks completely outgunned in this line-up.
1 Princess Of Gaul 2) 6 Elegantrix 3) 3 Mystical Miss 4) 8 Keukenhof 5) 10 Captain’s Envy 6) 9 Infinity Edge
R3
Aristocratic looks to be a classy sort and should be running on strongly. Rachel Wall is very quick and will enjoy the step down in trip, so from pole position she has a shout under Gavin Lerena. Zalatoris has good form on the Highveld and was beaten just 1.35 lengths in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion over this trip, so should be right there. Titan Of The Turf made a good debut and did it in a fair time, so from a good draw has a chance. Vanakkam ran a cracker over course and distance in her penultimate start and from a similarly wide draw is an interesting runner here. Sylvan Warrior disappointed last time, but is capable of better and from a good draw can’t be discounted. Might Zambezi won well last time over this trip and the time compared compared favourably on the day. Shadow Fax won well over 1160m in his second start and will appreciate the step back down in trip after disappointing over 1400m last time, but he does have a wide draw. City of Love won easily on debut, but it was not the best time. George’s Magic won easily over this trip on the poly last time and was not disgraced in his previous start on the poly, but he will need to step up on his turf form. Dante’s Bond is a first-timer by Rafeef out of a Captain Al mare, but it will be tough from the widest draw of all on debut.
5 Aristocratic 2) 1 Rachel Wall 3) 4 Zalatoris 4) 2 Titan Of The Turf 5) 9 Vanakkam 6) 3 Sylvan Warrior
R4
Golden Palm has proven class and this Gr 2 winner is drawn in pole position over a step up in trip which she should manage, so she is the one to beat under Richard Fourie. A Bit Of Class won well second time out and is an interesting runner in a slight step up in trip which will suit her. Tina Lovelace has faced the best over 1400m without at all being disgraced and she is an interesting runner here. Limitless Sky ran a cracker in the group 2 Splash Out Golden Slipper over 1400m to finish a three length third behind two top class fillies and if able to overcome a wide draw she should be a threat. Alta Capitana has good form on the Highveld and although this represents a tougher task it is not a vintage Gr 1 field and she could be involved, although ieally she is looking for further. One Fine Winter has fine form over sprints, but she is very speedily bred and there is a stamina doubt here, although she has given the impression over 1200m that sprint trips are too sharp for her. Back From War was not disgraced against a promising colt last time, and from a good draw could earn a check. Jordash was not disgraced last time when beaten just 0.6 lengths by Tina Lovelace from a wide draw and she could earn. Charge It won well second time out over 1400m, although this is a harder task and she has a wide draw. Wings of Ice was just ahead of Tina Lovelace last time, but there is a reversal in draw fortunes. Allanah won easily last time over 1400m and is an interesting runner, but does have a wide draw to overcome. Celestial Diamond is still a maiden, but has been knocking hard over sprints and tries a step up in trip which she might enjoy being by Fire Away, although her dam was a speedy sort.
1 Golden Palm 2) 6 A Bit Of Class 3) 4 Tina Lovelace 4) 12 Limitless Sky 5) 2 Alta Capitana 6) 3 One Fine Winter
R5
Jan van Goyen is a promising sort who is drawn well here and as he has plenty of scope for improvement he could be right there. Chronicle King comes off a fine win in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at this course and he should handle the step up in trip and is well drawn again. World of Royalty impressed last time out and did it in a good time and he has a scope for plenty of improvement and has a fair draw of six. Tin Pan Alley has 1.6 lengths to make up on Chronicle King from the Golden Horseshoe and has a better draw than he had there. Soldier Boy was beaten just 2.5 lengths in the Golden Horseshoe from a very wide draw and is now drawn in pole so could be a big runner here. Malmesbury Missile was beaten just 1.1 lengths in the Golden Horseshoe, but now has a tougher draw. Count of Rouen is well regarded and alhough he has 4.1 lengths to make up from the Golden Horseshoe he has a much better draw. Blizzard Quest has 3.9 lengths to make up on Jan van Goyen, so this is a tough task. Charming Cheetah has 7.3 lengths to make up on Chronicle King so will need to improve. Blackjack Randall won well last time, but this is a much tougher task. Ziyan’s Pride will need to improve on his last start. Bruh won well last time when stepped up to this trip, but his time was more than a second slower than World of Royalty on the same day. Porridge Boy has 4.3 lengths to make up on chronicle King, but Piere Strydom does stay aboard, albeit from a wide draw. King Harald has 5.25 lengths to make up on Tin Pan Alley and has drawn widest of all, but Gavin Lerena stays aboard.
3 Jan van Goyen 2) 4) Chronicle King 3) 6 World Of Royalty 4) Tin Pan Alley 5) 1 Soldier Boy 6) 10 Malmesbury Missile
R6
Tenango is a top class sort who is unfortunately widely drawn but his style of racing is to come from well off the pace with a blistering finish, so he could still do it. William Robertson is a top class sprinter who is a Group 1 winner this season and if enjoying more luck from another wide draw than he had in the Post Merchants, when beaten 8.9 lengths, he will be a big factor as he possesses a very strong finish. I Am Giant won well over course and distance in the Grade 2 Post Merchants last time out and although this is a tougher task this is now his third run after a layoff. Mia Moo won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint last time out and is now drawn in pole, so has a chance. Mrs Browning was beaten only a head in the SA Fillies Sprint and from a plum draw of 2 with Richard Fourie up she is a runner. Asiye Phambili was only just touched off in the SA Fillies Sprint from an unfavourable draw and she now has another unfavourable draw, but she has the class and the turn of foot to overcome it. Cafe Culture won the Gr 2 Post Merchants last year and if able to get into a nice handy position from a wide draw he could be a factor. Surjay won this race last year, but that was from draw two and he now has the widest draw of all, although he is not out of it as he is still holding form. Questioning is classy and is 4kg better off than I Am Giant for a 4.4 length beating in the Post Merchants and he now has a good draw too as opposed to a bad draw in the latter race. Whistle the Tune was beaten just 1.4 lengths in the SA Fillies Sprint and is in fine form, so from a good draw she could be a factor despite it looking to be a tough task at the weights. Minogue has class and is well drawn, but this is a tough task at the weights. Buffalo Storm Cody enjoys this trip around the turn and Gavin Lerena aboard gives him a chance, but he does have 1.65 lengths to make up on I Am Giant from the Post Merchants and he is 1,5kg worse off. Cats Pajamas has won a Gr 2 over course and distance before. but has a tough draw to overcome. although Piere Strydom up will give him every chance. Just Be Lekker has class but has 3.25 lengths to make up on Mia Moo from the SA Fillies Sprint.
13 Tenango 2) 8 William Robertson 3) 4 I Am Giant 4) 1 Mia Moo 5) 2 Mrs Browning 6) 11) Asiye Phambili
R7
Shoot the Rapids was unlucky to lose this race last year and is better than his last run when beaten 4.85 lengths by King Pelles in the Gr 3 Gold Vase over 3000m, so he could bounce back here. Madison Valley ran a cracking fifth in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and from a fine draw has a fine chance considering he ran on superbly last year from well off the pace. King Pelles is a top class stayer and goes well for S’Manga Khumalo, so is the one to beat in his bid to win a fourth Gr 3 staying race for the season. Holding Thumbs is a classy stayer who has finished second to King Pelles in his last two starts and as he is now 1kg better off with King Pelles for a three length beating in the Gold Vase he could get closer. Future Swing has been a bit off form, but at his best he could be a factor in this race and just needs to repeat his run last year to be right there. Field Marshall was beaten to 3.6 lengths in the Tote Derby and that gives this progressive sort an outside chance as he is 1kg better off with King Pelles, although he does have the widest draw to overcome. Nebraas is a former winner of this race, but he has 7.65 lengths to make up on King Pelles from the Gold Vase and he is only 1,5kg better off. Cape Eagle has 7.1 lengths to make up on King Pelles from the Tote Derby over 2400m and is 3kg better off and he is interesting stepped up in trip. Blackberry Malt ran well over 2200 meters last time and should stay the trip so could be a factor. The Positive Attitude has some good staying form, but has a very tough task at the weights. Tax Haven won the Gr 3 Gold Bowl over this trip at Turffontein at 100/1, but he has 11.7 lengths to make up on King Pelles on Tote Derby form over 2400m. Bournemouth brings fine staying form from the East Cape and under Richard Fourie could spring a surprise. Navajo Nation has faced some good horses throughout the season without ever being disgraced and now tries a staying trip for the first time and as he is by a Galileo sire out of a mare by Ashaawes who won over 2000m he might enjoy it.
1 Shoot The Rapids 2) 2 Madison Valley 3) 4 King Pelles 4) 11 Holding Thumbs 5) 13 Field Marshall 6) 5 Nebraas
R8
Dave The King comes in nice and fresh and as a horse with a giant stride who is capable of unwinding a finish from 800m out he is hard to beat at this track as he proved when winnning the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 16000m for the last two years and winning this race last year. The Real Prince proved his class in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and will be a big runner if at his best from pole position as he is equally effecive over this trip, although the July is a tough race and he will not be as fresh as Dave The King. Fire Attack comes in nice and fresh and possesses a tremendous finishing kick, but he does have to overcome a wide draw. Gladatorian was a touch unlucky when beaten just 0,35 lengths by Dave The King in the Gold Challenge and he should be equally suited to this trip and he has good draw for a change so he could be right there, although he also ran in the July, which could have taken something out of him. See It Again missed the July with an abnormal blood count, so comes in fresh and as he had returned to his best form before the July he looks to have settled down after gelding at the beginning of the season and will be a big runner if at his best. Montien has had a disappointing winter in KZN but lands a good draw at last and if able to reproduce his Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr 1 WSB Met runs he is the dark horse coming in fresh. Royal Victory is an honest sort who never runs a bad race and he must be in good shape after his strong-finishing Hollywoodbets Durban July fourth place as he is a supplementary entry, but he does have a tricky draw and has to make up 3,10 lengths on Dave The King from last year and this is a stronger field. Son Of Raj looks a touch outclassed here.
4 Dave The King 2) 1 The Real Prince 3) 8 Fire Attack 4) 2 Gladatorian 5) 5 See It Again 6) 7 Royal Victory
R9
My Soul Mate has the advantage of coming in fresh having not run on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and as she has a plum draw she could reverse form Little Suzie from the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000. Lock And Key has always looked full of promise and was impressive over 1750m last time so should stay this trip and could well be better than her rating suggests. Little Suzie is on the up and comes in nice and fresh but she does have a tricky draw. Rainbow Lorikeet is capable of winning this as she was unlucky in the Woolavington and she has a fair middle draw, but running in the Hollywoodbets Durban July might have taken a bit out of her. Mocha Blend comes off a good 1,50 length third in the Woolavington 2000 and is 1,5kg better off with Little Suzie but does have a tricky draw. She’s A Bomber comes off a fine win in the Gr 3 Tote Oaks over 2400m, but she is 5kg worse off with My Soul Mate for a mere 0,30 length beating. Knockout was a one length third in the Tote Oaks and has a plum draw here but she is 3kg worse off with My Soul Mate for a 0,70 length beating. Let’s Go Now is better than her last start and can be a factor if bouncing back. VJ’s Angel is a Gr 1 winner over 1600m at this course but has become unreliable. Red Maple has won a Gr 2 over 2400m at this course before, but is unreliable and returns from a seven month layoff. Miss Platina looks held at the weights. Ice Rain beat Lock And Key on the poly over 1600m recently but has a tough task at the weights. Soldier’s Eye comes off a good run over 1600m here but this is tougher and she has a wide draw. Indian Ocean does not necessarily need to be ridden from the front because she has run on well from off the pace before so if being dropped out from a wide draw she could have a chance as she does have class.
3 My Soul Mate 2 8) Lock And Key 3) 11 Little Suzie 4) 7 Rainbow Lorikeet 5) 10 Mocha Blend 6) 4 She’s A Bomber
R10
Outlaw King has plenty of ability and should be right there from a middle draw. Future Variety is on the up and his class could pull him through from a wide draw. Symphony In White has good Gr 1 sprint form and off a reasonable merit rating should be in the shake up. King Of The Gauls has a lot of pace and could repeat his win in this race last year from a similarly wide draw, although there is a lot of pace in this race and he will find it harder to get to the front this time and he has a big weight. Lion Rampart is a capable sort and although a wide draw makes it tough he is capable of being involved. Chocolate Soldier has a lot of pace and could be a factor if able to overcome a tricky draw. Un Bel Di comes off a good run and from a good draw should be a factor. No Filter has a lot of pace and from pole position and a reduced merit rating can bounce back. Donquerari is another well drawn horse with a lot of pace and a low weight. Mover And Shaker has a lot of pace and has a chance from a good draw, although he has a big weight. Rodeo Drive has been a disappointment this season and needs to bounce back. Hitemhardsunshine could be a factor if repeating his run here in May, but he does have the widest draw of all. Address The Nation is half-a-kilogram under sufferance and will need to improve on his last three runs.
7 Outlaw King 2) 9 Future Variety 3) 11 King Of The Gauls 4) 12 Lion Rampart 5) 4 Un Bel Di 6) 1 No Filter
