Trainer Michelle Rix and owner Ashwin Reynolds combined for a memorable win in the Durban July two years ago and whilst they might not have a runner in the big one this year they are favourites to win the first race at the meeting, the BSA Sales Cup over 1300m for fillies.

However, their charge Secret Identity is not going to have it easy facing the horse they only just beat last time, Dolcezza, as well as the like of American Graffiti, The Charleston and Oriental Bouquet.  

Michelle said the R130,000 Canford Cliffs filly Secret Identity had given her the feeling of being a feature class horse from day one and she has duly proved it.

Having faced the crack filly Winter Cloud on debut over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and being beaten by a not-disgraced  8,55 lengths in a race that has worked out very well, she showed her class second time out when winning by three lengths over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville under Richard Fourie. 

Then in the Listed Devon Air Stakes she was dropped out from a wide draw before mowing them down in the straight.

Considering she did not settle too well in that race she should not mind dropping back to 1300m.

Michelle said, “She is a nice filly and has come on from that last win and is a big runner.”

However, she will have to overcome another wide draw of 11 out of 14.

Dolcezza was drawn four last time and beaten half-a-length by Secret Identity.

However, she actually came wide into the straight too, so did not enjoy much of a draw advantage.

She was a bit keen early too, so should also enjoy the step down to 1300m.

She is now drawn three and big race rider Richard Fourie is now aboard.

He is sure to make full use of the draw advantage.

Trainer Robyn Klaasen is confident. 

The Sean Tarry-trained American Graffiti won her first two starts and nothing went right for her in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery.

Tarry said she had been doing well but he pointed out it was a hard race to assess because in the Devon Air Stakes the two horses who fought it out were on the outside and avoided the melee on the inside.

American Graffiti is drawn in pole and she will be ridden by  Christophe Soumillon.

Soumillon set Hollywoodbets Kenilworth alight on WSB Met day and could do the same on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

This filly is by Silvano so should be improving and will relish the step up in trip.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained The Charleston has possibly the best form in the race and will be going for a BSA Sales race double.

However, she has only been back in training for just over a month after having to be hospitalised for eight days for illness, so Candice said it will all depend on how much she is going to need it.

The Duncan Howells-trained Oriental Bouquet has to be considered too as she was favourite for the Devon Air but had nowhere to go on the inside when coming from last. She is much better than the form of that race suggests and now has a plum draw.

It would be no great surprise if an outsider popped up in this race, because there are other horses in the race with talent and it is well known that two-year-olds improve at different rates.