Turf Talk Newsletter – 18 August, 2026

All Of the Equus Award winners (JC Photos)

The Equus Awards celebrate the champions of the season and all of the winners announced at the ceremony at The Galleria in Sandton on Tuesday night were richly deserving.

See It Again looked to be a certainty for the Equus Horse Of The Year Award and the night’s MC Clyde Basel revealed that the decision for this award was unanimous among the panel of five.

The Drakensberg Stud-bred Twice Over gelding was the only horse of the season to have won two open weight for age Gr 1s over  classic distances.

Buffalo Storm Cody also won two open Gr 1 wfa races, but even if the two Gr 1 wfa sprints carried as much weight as See It Again’s two Gr 1 wfa wins over classic distances, then See It Again would have clinched it with a further second and a third in open Gr 1 wfa races.

See It Again gave Justin Snaith a seventh Horse Of The Year title following Legislate, Futura, Oh Susanna, Do It Again, Captain’s Ransom and Eight On Eighteen.

See It Again’s owner Nick Jonsson received his third Horse Of The Year trophy as he was a part-owner of both Eight On Eighteen and Do It Again.

It was a second Horse Of The Year title for the sire Twice Over, who was also sire of Do It Again.

Snaith was champion trainer for the seventh time.

Hollywood Racing were Champion owners for the second time in succession.

Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein were champion breeders for the fourth time.

Craig Zackey was champion jockey for the first time and Blaine Marx-Jacobson was the champion apprentice for the first time.

 

The panel consisted of some of the most respected horseracing  aficionados in the land, so there was confidence there wouldn’t be any highly contentious awards.

The panel was made of Karel Miedema, Robert Bloomberg, Darryl Maree, Aveen Sewpwersad and the chairman Graeme Hawkins.

See It Again was also named Champion Middle Distance horse and Champion Older Male.

He was the only horse to win more than one award.

The first award was the Champion Two-year-old filly and it was probably the only one that could be considered contentious with Get Up having comfortably beaten Palace Of Arvernia in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m to add to her Gr 3 win on the Highveld over 1100m, but Palace Of Arvernia then went on to win two further Gr 2s over 1400m and 1200m respectively and the weight of the two Gr 2s versus her being beaten by another nominee saw her being given the award.

The RA sent out the following press release about the awards:

2026 EQUUS AWARDS CELEBRATE SOUTH AFRICA’S RACING CHAMPIONS

Johannesburg, South Africa — The 2026 Equus Awards were hosted by 4Racing at The Galleria in Kramerville on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.

The awards recognised the outstanding achievements of the 2025/26 racing season, with champions honoured across the country’s racing, breeding and media communities.

It was a night of celebration for Justin Snaith, who was named Champion Trainer and collected further honours for his charges Wish List (Champion Three-Year-Old Filly), Double Grand Slam (Champion Older Female) and dual Gr1 winner for the season See It Again, who took the honours for Champion Older Male, Champion Middle Distance Horse and the coveted Horse Of The Year title. Additionally, See It Again’s handler, Sokhe Mwelase, was named Groom of the Year.

It was a 7th National Trainers title for Snaith, who first claimed the title at the age of 39 for the 2013/14 racing season. He followed up in 2017/18 and added a third title in the Covid-19 ravaged 2020/21 term.

Paul Peter set a new SA season winner benchmark of 221 and grossed R23 431 563 in 2021/22, but Snaith was back in the driving seat the next year and has been the reigning National Champion Trainer for the last four consecutive seasons.

The evening also celebrated a first Apprentice Jockey title for Blaine Marx-Jacobson, a first Champion Jockey title for Craig Zackey and a second Champion Owner award for Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech).

In the breeding categories, Palace Of Dreams was named Champion Broodmare, Vercingetorix was crowned Champion Stallion for a second successive season, and Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein added another Champion Breeder award to their trophy cabinet.

The event also recognised the contribution of racing media, with Charl Pretorius receiving the award for Print Media for his submission, ORMOND FERRARIS – A portrait assembled from moments, with special mentions for the submissions from Michele Wing and Ravi Naidoo.

In the category for Still Photography, Chase Liebenberg took the honours with his entry titled A Moment To Remember. Newcomer Julia Marnewick received a special mention by the judge.

Chad Karstens received the Videography Award for A Day in the Life – Paardeberg Stud Farm, with special mentions to Owen Greeff and Dyllan Govender for their entries.

Additionally, the Equus Committee awarded Special Achievement Awards to Vaughan Marshall and Raymond Rhodes.

The full list of winners are below:-

Equine Awards

· Champion Two-Year-Old Filly: Palace of Arvernia

· Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Haute Couture

· Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Wish List

· Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Star Major

· Champion Older Female: Double Grand Slam

· Champion Older Male: See It Again

· Champion Sprinter: Buffalo Storm Cody

· Champion Miler: Questioning

· Champion Middle Distance Horse: See It Again

· Champion Stayer: Holding Thumbs

 

Media Awards

· Print: Charl Pretorius

· Still Photography: Chase Liebenberg

· Videography: Chad Karstens

 

Special Achievement Awards

· Vaughan Marshall

· Raymond Rhodes

Vaughan Marshall was acknowledged for his achievement of saddling thirty-two Gr1 winners – including six Cape Guineas, two Cape Town Mets and a L’Ormarins King’s Plate title – over his 45 year career to date, and his reputation as a stallion maker with the likes of Captain Al and his sons in particular.

Raymond Rhodes was honoured for his illustrious career in the saddle, which spanned the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Big race wins included two Durban Julys and two Queen’s Plates and he was Champion Jockey for the 1970/71 season. He was associated with great horses such as Numeral, In Full Flight and the mighty Hawaii and rode for trainers including Henry Eatwell, George Azzie, David Payne, JF ‘Cookie’ Coetzee, Ormond Ferraris, Syd Laird, Nic van Tonder and Bert Sage. He regarded the late Coetzee as the best trainer he worked for.

 

Breeder Awards

· Champion Broodmare: Palace Of Dreams

· Champion Stallion: Vercingetorix

· Champion Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

 

Racing Awards

· Champion Apprentice: Blaine Marx-Jacobson

· Champion Jockey: Craig Zackey

· Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith

· Champion Owner: Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech)

· Horse of the Year: See It Again

· Groom of the Year: Sokhe Mwelase

ENDS.

Kikkuli (right), by Kingman and a half-brother to Frankel, only just failed to win Royal Ascot’s Gr 3 Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs (Picture Supplied)

Sarah Whitelaw

A number of exciting new stallions will make their presence felt in breeding sheds around South Africa in 2026. The new recruits to the South African band range from blue blooded siblings to champions, to G1 winning stars, and local champions, ensuring there is a new stallion for every breeder.

These new sires hail from a range of different sire lines, and hail from outstanding local and international families.

Below is a brief description of each sire covering their first book of mares in South Africa this season.

Danon Scorpion: Lord Kanaloa Lexie Lou

Winner one of Japan’s great races, Danon Scorpion is by a topclass out of a Canadian Horse Of The Year. A stakes winner at two, Danon Scorpion won the G1 NHK Mile Cup at three. Notable NHK Mile Cup winners include such stars as Seeking The Pearl, El Condor Pasa, Admire Mars and multiple champion sire King Kamehameha (the paternal grandsire of Danon Scorpion). Danon Scorpion is one of more than 60 stakes winners for his sire Lord Kanaloa, Japan’s Horse Of The Year in 2013, with Lord Kanaloa’s stars including such top international gallopers as Almond Eye, Satono Reve, Panthalassa and Tagaloa. A full-brother to this year’s G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) runner up Garavogue, Danon Scorpion is out of Lexie Lou -Canada’s Horse Of The Year in 2014.

Danon Scorpion will stand his first season at Wilgerbosdrift this year.

 

Kikkuli: Kingman Kind

One of the best bred stallions around, Kikkuli showed smart form at three when finishing second in both the G3 Jersey Stakes and Listed Chasemore Farm Stud Staff Heron Stakes. In finishing second in the Jersey Stakes, Kikkuli was beaten a short-head by the top-class Haatem. (The latter finished second, beaten a head, in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. By an exceptional racehorse and sire in Kingman (whose sire sons include such proven stallions as Palace Pier and Persian King), Kikkuli is one of five black type horses produced by legendary broodmare Kind. The latter, a stakes winning daughter of Danehill, will forever be remembered as the dam of legendary, unbeaten champion and multiple champion sire Frankel. Kind also ranks as the dam of Frankel’s champion full-brother Noble Mission, whose progeny includes US dual G1 winner Code Of Honor and G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals. Kind’s daughters have also proved hugely successful at stud, with her daughter Chiasma the dam of this year’s G3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes winner and G1 Betfred Oaks runner up Legacy Link. Kikkuli will stand his first season at Paardeberg Stud in 2026.

 

Lucky Lad: Gimmethegreenlight – Imperial State

An R850 000 yearling buy, Lucky Lad showed brilliance at two and trained on to be a topclass three-year-old. He won his first four starts at two, this winning streak including wins in all of the G1 Gold Medallion, G2 SA Nursery and G3 Protea Stakes. He was especially impressive when romping home to land the Gold Medallion by more than five and a quarter lengths, leaving subsequent multiple graded stakes winner Outlaw King gasping in his wake (Gold Medallion fourth, Egyptian Mau, would not only go on to win the G3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes but also won in the US). At three, Lucky Lad again proved to be amongst the best of his generation when finishing first or second in four graded races. His wins at three included a sparkling win in the G1 Golden Horse Sprint (a race whose past winners included multiple champion sire Jet Master). By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, and bred on similar lines to the Gimmethegreenlight sired G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes winner, VJ’s Angel, Lucky Lad is a full-brother to G3 Fillies Mile winner Follow Me. Lucky Lad is set to begin his stud career at Hopes And Dreams Stud in 2026.

 

Proceed: Gimmethegreenlight – Xplosive Kiss

The Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 20232024, Proceed showed plenty of brilliance in a brief career which saw him race only at two (as did such top recent stallions as Dark Angel and Mehmas). Never out of the first four in seven starts, Proceed’s three wins included the 2024 G1 Gold Medallion (where he defeated subsequent G1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed into second) and G3 TAB Protea Stakes. The latter race saw Proceed conquer star sprinter, and multiple G1 winner, Buffalo Storm Cody by five lengths!

One of a growing number of sons of multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight standing at stud in South Africa, Proceed is a half-brother to the hugely exciting Turn It Up winner of three of four starts including the Race Coast Sales Slipper.

Proceed will stand his first season at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds in 2026.

 

Snow Pilot: Lancaster Bomber – Snowdance

A threeparts brother to Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen, an impressive winner of the 2026 G1 HKJC Champions Cup, Snow Pilot has plenty of appeal as a stallion prospect. His five wins, which came from trips ranging from 1400m to 1600m, was headed by a triumph in the 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, where Snow Pilot’s beaten rivals included such stellar subsequent G1 winners as Green With Envy and Questioning. (Past winners of the Cape Guineas included such champion sires as Jet Master and Captain Al). One of 12 stakes winners from just two crops by his G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winning sire, Snow Pilot hails from one of the best families in the South African studbook. A half brother to Listed Lady’s Pendant winner Symphony In White, Snow Pilot is out of the Captain Al sired G1 Cape Fillies Guineas/G1 Majorca Stakes winner Snowdance. From the family of 2026 G3 Langerman winner Aquae Calidae, among many others, Snowdance is a three-parts sister to the Captain Al sired champion All Is Secret, the Captain Al sired G1 winner The Secret Is Out and the Captain Al sired dam of champion Eight On Eighteen.

Snow Pilot stands his first season at Drakenstein Stud in 2026.

Mother and foal are said to be doing well (Picture Supplied) 

Mauritzfontein Stud-based Vercingetorix sire Cousin Casey’s first foal was born on Monday 17 August.

The Mauritzfontein homebred filly is out of the Elusive Fort mare Fort Ember, who beat the useful Gr 1 winner Nightingale when winning the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

This nine time-winning mare also won the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes and finished second in the Gr 1 Summer Cup.

She had a host of other Graded places.

Fort Ember had produced three foals before this one and has had two runners and one winner.

Her winner is the twice-winning Querari mare Hearts On Fire.

If there is such a thing as a proverbial box, flamboyant entrepreneur and racehorse owner Ravi Naidoo is certainly not sitting in it. He doesn’t need to think ‘out of the box’ because that is where he operates naturally – in a world of unusual ideas, creativity, energy and a constant urge to do things differently.

At a time when most advertising is delivered through social media, websites and digital campaigns, Ravi took his unique approach to promoting his Vercingetorix stallion, Cousin Casey. After covering 90 mares in his first season at Mauritzfontein Stud, the second-season sire is now at the awkward stage where unproven stallions invariably find themselves – in need of a second round of support.

Ravi produced a broadsheet newspaper and mailed it to people in the racing and breeding industry. Called The Kimberley Recorder, after the location of the stud farm, it is an exceptionally well-designed, high-quality publication, filled with superb and insightful industry articles built around its central character, Cousin Casey.

A broadsheet is the traditional large-format newspaper, the sort of publication once associated with serious journalism and substantial stories. Turning one into a piece of stallion advertising is about as far removed from the usual racing advert as you could get – and in an age when almost everything has moved online, it is wonderfully old-school and completely original.

It is also a pretty good introduction to Ravi Naidoo.

We tracked him down earlier this week, 38,000ft above the Atlantic on a Boeing bound for New York City. We correctly assumed that he had turned left upon boarding and was sipping vintage red wine while plotting his next big idea.

Ravi wasn’t travelling just for business, though. On Wednesday, 12 August he celebrated his 62nd birthday with his New York-based sons, Rahul and Rohan, a pair of Harvard-educated lads who have clearly inherited their dad’s grey matter and entrepreneurial acumen.

Ravi’s own journey began with an MBA and BSc (Hons) from the University of Cape Town, followed by a stint at advertising agency Young & Rubicam.

He describes his “biggest kicker” as pitching the idea for Vodaworld Magazine to telecoms giant Vodacom and landing the contract for his company, Interactive Africa. The free quarterly publication ran from 1994 to 2010, eventually reaching a circulation of more than a million copies across South Africa and parts of Africa.

Click here to read Equus Champion Journalist Charl Pretorius’ Full Article

Ombudsman is generally an even money favourite to win the Juddmonte International (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

At The Races

Clash of the Titans – Ombudsman and Constitution River all set
Juddmonte International showdown promises to be a York blockbuster.

The Juddmonte International is always one of the most anticipated races of the British summer – and this year excitement levels are through the roof as defending champion Ombudsman faces off against budding superstar Constitution River in a York blockbuster.

John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman etched his name alongside equine greats like Giant’s Causeway (2000), Sea The Stars (2009) and Frankel (2012) with a scintillating display on the Knavesmire 12 months ago.

He looked better than ever when successfully defending his Prince of Wales’s Stakes title at Royal Ascot, but now the five-year-old must concede 7lb to Ballydoyle’s next big thing, a colt who has lived up to Aidan O’Brien’s billing by blitzing his rivals in the Dee Stakes at Chester, overcoming adversity to win the French Derby and then rubber-stamping his prodigious talent in the Coral-Eclipse.

When asked what gives Constitution River the ‘X-factor’, O’Brien told Racing TV: “I suppose it’s his power and his scope, the way he stays and quickens – he was always a very unusual horse.

“He has a great mind and he’s developing really well every month, so every time he runs we’re really looking forward to it and we’re obviously looking forward to York again.

“John and Thady’s horse is there and that will be the acid test.”

O’Brien does at least have some idea of what it takes to get the better of Ombudsman, having done so with Delacroix in last year’s Eclipse before that form was reversed at York the following month.

“I suppose this is a different horse to Delacroix – he’s big, powerful and straightforward and strong,” O’Brien continued.

“Delacroix had a great quicken, this horse is relentless but can quicken as well. He doesn’t have to have things go his way, he’s very happy to do things himself or get a lead. He’s a very, very exciting horse.

“Our horse would be better with a frenetic pace, there’s no doubt, because there’s every chance that he would get a lot further than a mile and a quarter. The pace will be strong and even and I think that’s the way you can gauge a horse.

“Obviously Ombudsman is a very good horse, which is great, but we’re looking forward to the meeting really.”

Ombudsman made an early start to his campaign, winning the Dubai Turf at Meydan in late March, leading the Gosdens to sidestep an early clash with Constitution River in the Eclipse and instead keep their powder dry for his return to Yorkshire.

“His year started very early – he was training in late December, January, February in order to run in the Dubai Turf at the end of March. He had what you might call a winter-spring campaign,” said John Gosden.

“We backed off a little, came back, ran in the Brigadier Gerard as a prep into Ascot. Then the plan was always to back away again, give him time between races. They need to be let down, freshened a bit and come back.”

William Buick has steered Ombudsman to each of his four Group One wins to date and is relishing the opportunity to add to that tally.

“I sat on Ombudsman the other morning and he felt his usual self,” he told the Godolphin website.

“It is a competitive race, it always is, and one of the great races. You go into it with plenty of respect, but we have all seen what Ombudsman can do.”

If there is a horse to upset the big two, the most likely candidate appears to be Andrew Balding’s Item, who has already shown his liking for the track by winning both the Dante and the York Stakes this season.

The Juddmonte-owned three-year-old did disappoint in a soft-ground Derby in between those two victories, but with conditions more in his favour this week jockey Colin Keane is hopeful he can at least make his presence felt.

“He shouldn’t be underestimated. Obviously he’s coming up against tough opposition, but I think he deserves to be there and I’m looking forward to getting back on him,” said Keane.

“It’s very easy to forgive his Derby run, I could tell early doors he wasn’t going to be effective on it to be honest but you’d love the way he bounced back the last day.

“To be riding a horse owned by Juddmonte in a race they sponsor with the three-year-olds taking on the best older horses, it is what it’s all about.”

Almaqam broke his Group One duck in the Tattersalls Gold Cup before finishing fourth behind Ombudsman at Ascot. His trainer Ed Walker will be hoping some ease in the ground might help him close the gap.

There is an interesting challenger from France in Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zaydann, who has won his last five starts but faces a steep rise in class.

Nemone Routh, French racing manager and director for owners the Aga Khan Studs, said: “We thought it would end up being a fairly small field and thought why not have a go?

“He’s won his last five and the last three were stakes races. It was a slowly-run race last time, it developed into a sprint and he was still able to outsprint them in the end.

“He’s got a very good turn of foot and he’s a pretty straightforward ride, it’s just whether he’s of that level or not and we’ll find out.”

The highlight of the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting on Tuesday were doubles for Rachel Venniker and Damyan Pillay and the Lucinda Woodruff satellite yard got off the mark since becoming an official entity managed by Lucinda’s brother Tim.

Venniker’s mount in the second race, The Doug Campbell-trained Erik The Red gelding In The Red, had ahown his inate ability in his second start by finishing a 0,90 length second to the subsequent Gr 1 runner up Kazenoyoni in a 1200m event at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, beating the like of subsequent Gr 2 SA Nursery winner Better Never Ends and subsequent Listed winner Viking Leader.

He had subsequently tended to overrace in front or handy and had not enjoyed soft going on two occasions.

He started at 17/2 in Tuesday’s Open Maiden over 1200m, despite having to carry topweight minus Venniker’s 1,5kg gender claim, and it was no surprise to see him in front.

Venniker held him within himself on a nice long rein and he was thus able to find extra in the closing stages when she changed whiphands and gave him a couple of smacks.

He was 1,10 lengths clear of the second favourite Owner Of Creation.

Venniker was aboard the Lucinda Woodruff-trained Master Of My Fate filly Wedding Vow in the next race, a handicap over 1200m, and rode another fine race.

The 33/10 shot jumped from draw four and she settled the big filly on the rail in midfield.

Wedding Vow showed a fair turn of foot in the straight and after finding a gap one off the rail she stayed on resolutely, fending off the challenge of Her Ladyship by 0,25 lengths.

Tim Woodruff pointed out the Master Of My Fate’s kept on improving and he felt there was a lot more to come from this filly, who has won three out of her four starts since moving to KZN from Cape Town. All of her starts in KZN have been on the poly, so it has provided her with a new career after ten starts in Cape Town for one second and two fifths.

Damyan Pillay did well to just get up on the Time Thief mare Roy’s Grace in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1600m, as he had to ease and switch the six-year-old mare halfway down the straight.

In the next race he made it two wins in successive starts on the Kumaran Naidoo-trained six-year-old Lancaster Bomber gelding B Fiftytwo, with both races being over 1000m on the poly in D Stakes events. B Fiftytwo led from start to finish on both occasions and Pillay did well to keep the horse going today to win by 0,75 lengths, a more comfortable victory than last time.

Apache Son looks to be competitively weighted in the 5th (JC Photos)

A Middle Stakes race over 1800m is one of the highest rated races at the Vaal today and it is not easy to select a winner as nothing stands out.

In the races down the straight on the day the low draws will not be unfavourable, as the outside rail is in by ten metres.

In the Middle Stakes race Apache Son showed a good turn of foot over 2000m last time to hit the front , before the talented Mission To Mars ran away with it. Apache Son found little late on and was beaten 8,75 lengths into third, with second-placed Prince Of Kildare 5,25 lengths ahead of him. However, he will enjoy the step down to 1800m and in fact the last time he went this trip at Turffontein Standside he did experience some traffic problems in the straight before running on well late. He is three points lower in the merit ratings since then and under the Middle Stakes conditions of this race he carries only 50kg and is only half-a-kilogram out with the best weighted pair King’s Express and Olympian Gold. He has a fair draw of three out of seven and should make a bold bid.

Olympian Gold won a fine race last time over 1600m , coming back at the decent sort Ariovistus to get up late. Before that he had decent form over middle distances between 1800m to 2000m. He was raised six points for his last win and has to carry 54kg here off a 91 rating. A draw of six out of eight did not effect his chances last time, so he should manage a draw of seven out of seven.

Hawkbill goes well for champion jockey Craig Zackey, who is experiencing a dry spell and has not had a winner this season yet in three meetings. Hawkbill has pole position and could make a bold bid, although he is 1kg out with the best weighted runners.

Dark Silver is in good form and although offifially 1,5kg out at the weights, he has a good draw of two and has champion apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson aboard. The latter carries half-a-kilogram overweight, but that means an effective 1kg claim puts the horse in the picture.

KIng’s Express has to carry 62kg and has a tricky draw of five but the 2,5kg claim of Girish Samo-Burthia will help. He was well clear of Hawkbill under the same relative weight conditions last time, although the latter did not have Zackey aboard in that race.

The first race is a MR 95 Handicap over 1400m and Master Christmas makes plenty of appeal from the number one draw as he has been knocking hard and his last win was over this course and distance off just a one point lower mark.

Salute The Flag is distance suited and could be the chief danger.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1400m, Korcula is the obvious choice. She has been knocking on the door from trips of 1400m up to 2000m, and altough this is sharper than ideal, she does have second time blinkers on under Calvin Habib. She has a draw of ten, which might be the wrong side on the day

However, it might be worth siding with the Hawwaam filly, TotheplaceIbelong, who made a belated debut as a four-year-old this month and was not disgraced over 1160m. She has a draw of five and Kyle Strydom rides.

Takeachanceonme has some reasonable form, although any draw bias in the earlier races must be monitored as she is drawn eleven out of eleven.

In the next race over 1800m Future Red made a good Highveld debut over 1400m after three fair runs in Cape Town and being by Futura she should not only be improving all the time, but she should enjoy the step up in trip. She has pole position under Kabelo Matsunyane and gets a 3,5kg gender allowance, which makes her well in on official merit ratings.

The Heavenly Blue two-year-old gelding Uncle Bob has good form over 1600m and will be a big threat. He stayed on resolutely over 1600m last time and should enjoy the step up to this trip, although he does have a tricky draw of six out of seven.

Echo Of The Wild is held by Uncle Bob, but could finish in third place.

In the sixth over 1800m Culturati won well last time, pinning his ears back and showing fine resolve to get up late in the 2000m contest. He has plenty of substance and should have come on from that run, so can carry topweight minus the 1,5kg of champion apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson.

Force Publique caught the eye staying on well over 1600m last time and was beaten only two lengths by the useful Tintin. He hasn’t raced since that June 7 outing, but he has performed well off a longer break before and the form of that aforementioned race has worked out well. He wears first time cheekpieces and has a tricky draw of eight.

Diesel’s Shadow is 1,5kg better off with Culturati for a 1,95 length beating and could be in the shake up.

In the seventh over 1600m Sea Shanty only just failed last time from a wide draw over 1450m. He looks ready to handle a 1600m trip and being drawn in pole with Callan Murray up will help his cause.

Itsnowornever is in fine form and appears three days after just failing on Sunday over 1800m. He has a tricky draw of nine, but should make a bold bid if able to find cover.

Redlightgreenlight has the advantage of Keagan de Melo up and has the form to be a contender from a good draw.

Snow Moon has a wide draw too, but is capable of a strong finish.

Silver Comet improved last time when comfortably winning his maiden over 1500m and he could earn off an 83 merit rating, although he will have to overcome a wide draw.

In the last race over 1200m Nkandla Gold has been knocking on the door and can make a bold bid from pole position. There is little between him and Valieva. who also has a good draw. Concordia is versatile and should make a bold bid from a middle draw of eight.

In the second race over 1400m Campo Formio has Craig Zackey up and can beat home Seventh Fleet.

The first-timer Special Envoy is by Master Of My Fate out of a five-time winning Captain Al mare, who is a full-sister to Snowdance and she won two Listed races apart from being from one of the best familes in South Africa, the Mystic Spring family. Special Envoy could make an impact on debut.