Festival Of Fire has been through a bit of a lean patch but her last two efforts have been encouraging and she could be ready to regain the winning thread when she contests the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Friday night. The daughter of Kahal enjoyed a highly successful 3-year-old campaign last season, winning the KRA Fillies Guineas, Starling Stakes and Joburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge and finishing second in this very race as well as the SA Fillies Sprint. Her three runs this season have not been anywhere as impressive but she was not disgraced against strong male opposition when fifth in the Hawaii Stakes, and was conceding 7.5kg to winner Moggytwoshoes when third in a pinnacle event last time out. She should have come on nicely for that run and it's interesting that Bernard Fayd'herbe, who rode her to her Guineas victory last season, flies up for the ride. This is an open event with no real stand-out runner and she certainly has the big race credentials to her name. She is a big runner if she produces her best form.

Stablemate Espumanti is also in the mix, despite a couple of disappointing efforts this season. Second in last year's Garden Province Stakes, she kicked off the current season well by winning a conditions event and the Ipi Tombe Challenge over this course and distance, before travelling down to Cape Town where she seemingly failed to stay in the Paddock Stakes over 1800m. She turned in a  better effort when fourth in the Majorca Stakes over this trip and then returned to Johannesburg, finishing downfield in the Gr 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes. That last run can be ignored as she seemed in need of the run and was taking on some hot male opposition. Back against her own sex, she must have a great chance from a good draw.

Jet Aglow has impressive form, having been placed in successive years behind champion Beach Beauty in the Paddock Stakes. She hasn't been seen out since the 2014 edition of that race, so a lot will depend on her fitness following a three-month break. She's won the Victress Stakes and, in addition to the Paddock Stakes, was placed in all of the Cape Fillies Guineas, Majorca Stakes and KRA Fillies Guineas last season, so she has the form to win here. She is, however, held by Festival Of Fire on their KRA Fillies Guineas meeting, where she couldn't match her rival's finishing speed.

Cherry On The Top is an obvious contender if she can regain the form that saw her win all three legs of the Triple Tiara last season. She started off the current season promisingly when finishing third in a highly competitive pinnacle event against strong male opposition and was not disgraced under a big weight when sixth in the Charity Mile. Unfortunately, the Summer Cup was a bridge too far, but her downfield run there can be ignored as the combination of a poor draw and big weight was too much for her in open company. It's hard to assess her current wellbeing as she hasn't been seen out since but if she can reproduce her 3-year-old form, she could easily blow them all away here, especially as she finally gets a chance to take on her own sex at weight-for-age.

Tip Toe is lightly raced for a 4-year-old but ran a cracker in the Jacaranda Handicap, only edged out late by smart Orator's Daughter. She's done nothing wrong in four starts to date but takes a big step up in class here and, having enjoyed a handy galloping weight in her Jacaranda effort, may struggle here under much stricter conditions.

Looking at the rest of the older contingent, Sea Shadow, Uptothemoon and Classic Illusion have all done well for their connections but look slightly short of what's required to win a weight-for-age contest at this level. The same applies to Jackodore, formerly a tearaway sprinter who has adapted well since trying more ground on the sand, but looks well held in this company.

Negev pops up periodically but has not shown enough to suggest she can trouble the principals here while Luala simply looks outclassed.

Moving on to the 3-year-olds, Arcetri Pink, Not Sulking and Along Came Polly have all contested the first two legs of the Triple Tiara and there clearly isn't much between them. Arcetri Pink, relishing the soft underfoot conditions, won the first leg, the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, in fine style, with Not Sulking second and Along Came Polly fourth. The order was reversed in the SA Fillies Classic, with Along Came Polly a narrow second ahead of Not Sulking and Arcetri Pink. They're all smart performers, but the record books show that the older generation have a much better record in this race, possibly because it comes a shade too early in the season for the youngsters trying to topple them. Also, the Fillies Classic was a ferociously hard-fought affair and a lot will depend on who has recovered the best from that race.

The remaining youngster in the race is For The Lads who established herself as one of the best juvenile fillies around last season but has been beset by problems this season and looks a shadow of her former self on current form.

It's a quality field and the stage is set for a cracking race. The older fillies may once again have the edge, as in most previous editions of the race, with Festival Of Fire selected ahead of Jet Aglow and Espumanti, although there shouldn't be much between them. Arcetri Pink, Along Came Polly and Not Sulking are all worth inclusion for quartet purposes, although a lot will depend on how much their Triple Tiara exertions have taken out of them. The enigma of the race is Cherry On The Top. Her fans will have to take their chances as to whether she's back to her formidable best. If she is, then her opponents will have their work cut out.