The trip will be on the sharp side but Beach Beauty may still prove too good when she contests the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday. The race is a traditional pipe-opener for some of the country's middle-distance big guns, many of whom would prefer further, while the field is, as usual, augmented by a few runners who are distance-suited but jumping up in class.

Beach Beauty hasn't been seen out since finishing third in the J & B Met three months ago. That capped a very successful summer campaign which saw her win the Premier Trophy and Paddock Stakes and stamp herself the country's top middle-distance female. She is pretty versatile, as she showed when finishing second in the Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m to kick off her winter programme a year ago and she can race fresh. Regular pilot Sean Cormack is on board and she may be on course to add another graded win to her already impressive list.

Divine Jet has always been highly thought of but has had his share of problems, having spent nearly the whole of 2012 off the racetrack. He returned in December to run a reasonable seventh under a big weight in the Southeaster Sprint and was then only touched off by Tipo Tinto in a Pinnacle event over 1000m at Clairwood at the end of March, that run itself coming after a four-month break. He's looked a sprinter thus far and has copped a horrendous draw here, so a lot will depend on luck in running. Chances are that Karl Neisius will produce him as late as possible, but he does have a serious finishing kick and could produce the goods here if things go his way.

Happy Archer showed a welcome return to form when running on late for third in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein three weeks ago. She seems to reserve her best for Greyville and could be a threat here if she reproduces her best form.

Captain's Secret was touched off in this race in 2011 and has finally regained the winning thread of late, winning twice in his last three starts. He has a reasonable draw and the services of Bernard Fayd'Herbe and he must have a chance here.

Always Al is a game front-runner who comes into the race with consistent recent form. He is up in class here but he's been conceding chunks of weight in some of his recent handicap efforts and may enjoy racing at weight for age terms. This course and distance will suit his style of running and he could have a say in the finish.

Hill Fifty Four ran the race of his life when touched off in the Met, having earlier won the Algoa Cup and Peninsula Handicap. This trip looks too sharp for him but he is one of the most consistent horses in training and doesn't seem to know how to run a bad race. His sheer class could see him making the frame here.

Bulsara is another one who makes his first appearance since the Met. He was placed in this race last year and although he comes into the race off two well-beaten efforts, he has proven himself at the highest level in the past. It's impossible to predict his performance from race to race, but he is a definite trifecta prospect if he decides to raise a gallop.

Ice Machine found the going too tough in Cape Town during the summer but he did show some promise earlier on and is well drawn here. He could be worth a place bet at what are likely to be long odds.

Run For It never showed in the Met but a number of horses ran below their best that day and he is much better than that. He needs further but has a surprisingly decent record over this trip, having chased home such  top performers as Variety Club and Capetown Noir - significantly when racing fresh after a layoff. If they go a good clip early on, he could sneak into a minor placing.

Viva Maria is a decent filly but is likely to find this trip too sharp while Lake Arthur jumps from pole position and has a good record over this distance but has looked well off form in his last three starts and looks to have a few questions to answer at present.

Occhi Du Lupo and Excuse My French have some fair recent form and are distance suited but are up in class and poorly drawn, making their task a difficult one.

Bielorusso and Hammie's Dynasty complete the line-up and they are difficult to fancy on current form.