Kenilworth hosts four  feature races on Saturday and racing fans can look forward to a thrilling afternoon as the summer season kicks into top gear. The biggest names will go head to head in the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes, which takes place over 1600m, and sees the return of two high-class sons of Dynasty, the reigning Horse of the Year Legislate (pictured, pink cap) and the most likely-looking challenger to his crown this season, Futura.

The two have only clashed once before and that was on the biggest stage of all, the Vodacom Durban July, won by Legislate after a controversial objection. Futura, meanwhile, caught the eye as he was the only horse to run on from off the pace in what was a farcically slow-run affair and he duly justified confidence in him by romping home in the Gr 1 Champions Cup at the end of July.

Legislate's victory in the boardroom generated heated debate after the July and opinion will probably remain divided forever and a day, but it would be foolish to use the circumstances of that victory to detract from the genuine brilliance of Justin Snaith's charge. Even if the original result had stood, his narrow second would have represented a fine performance from a bad draw, especially after leading in the early stages of the race and following a gruelling win in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, where he won from wide out and covered more ground than any of his rivals. Prior to that, he had posted comfortable victories in the Gr 1 Cape Derby and Gr 2 KRA Guineas (a race which effectively attracts a Gr 1 field)  so his credentials are not in any doubt. What is of concern is that he has had to recuperate from a hairline fracture and will be returning from a break of over four months but his sheer class means that he will be in the thick of things if anywhere near his best.

While attention will be focused on the Dynasty pair, there are others worthy of consideration. Snaith has more than useful back-up in the form of Readytogorightnow and Jet Explorer. The former looks held by Futura on their Champions Cup meeting, where he finished fourth, beaten nearly three lengths, but he does have a clear advantage in terms of race fitness, having posted two easy wins this season and he has never been far off the best of them. He could well upstage his more vaunted rivals here and Piere Strydom is a noteworthy jockey booking.

Jet Explorer, meanwhile, returned to action after a horrifying accident in the Gold Challenge last season saw him fall and break his jaw, and he shaped encouragingly when fourth to Readytogorightnow over 1400m. He'll prefer the extra and is capable of making the frame on his best form, which includes a flying third in the Gr 1 Queens Plate over this trip.

Punta Arenas deserves an honourable mention after running really well in defeat in the J & B Met, July and Champions Cup last season, all races in which he pulled horrible draws. He really deserves a change of luck but he is anther one making his seasonal debut and whose fitness has to be taken on trust.

3-year-old Afrikaburn is thrown into the deep end here but he did show ability when flying up late to win the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe as a juvenile and was not disgraced when running on for second in his first run of the current season, that being in the Matchem Stakes. He's up against some heavy hitters here and this may be a case of too much too soon but trainer Dean Kannemeyer is not one to throw his 3-year-olds into the fray lightly and a forward performance here will boost his Cape Guineas prospects.

The balance face a tall order on bare form and will be looking for the bigger guns to fluff their lines. Consistent mare Jet Aglow is well drawn and may be best of the rest while the enigmatic but talented Captain America should also be watched with interest as he looks to restore a slightly dented reputation.

The Gr 2 Selangor Cup, also to be run over a mile, has attracted a small field of seven but it boasts plenty of quality and potential and will be used by the protagonists as a dress rehearsal for the Cape Guineas. The race sees a renewal of rivalry between Act Of War, already a triple feature race winner, and the highly-vaunted MLJet.

Act Of War holds undoubted bragging rights after a brilliant weight-carrying performance in the Gr 3 Cape Classic, where he gunned down MLJet despite conceding 4.5kg to his rival. With ct Of War now 3kg better off, MLJet would appear to face a thankless task in trying to reverse the form, especially as he was beaten fair and square on the day. However, one cannot shake the impression that MLJet made during the winter, especially his flying third in the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes where things did not go his way and he may well tear up the form book on Saturday.

Kingvoldt, ironically, looked the juvenile star of trainer Joey Ramsden's stable last season before things went awry and he was upstaged by Act Of War. He needs to restore the faith after two disappointing runs and it's difficult to see him toppling Act Of War and MLJet on those efforts but a competitive effort here will go a long way towards getting his career back on track.

Generalissimo has won three in a row and looks hugely promising. He is up in class and has never raced beyond 1200m but Dennis Drier and Sean Cormack are a formidable combination and the son of Var could well be up to the task.

Balance Sheet is another one up in class but he has hinted at some genuine ability with two wins from three starts and this race will establish whether he is graded material.

Catkin and Cotton Hill have some decent form to their names but may find it a shade too tough in this company.

The Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, presented by CTS, does not carry any black type due to it being restricted to graduates of the CTS yearling sales but it does boast the biggest stake on the day, a whopping R2-million. It looks wide open and there is little form to go on, a situation exacerbated by the fact that many of the runners are lightly raced and open to any amount of improvement.

The highest-rated runner is Belong To Me, the only horse with a graded race placing to his name, having finished fourth in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein. He had three smart-looking sorts ahead of him that day, the winner being last seasons champion juvenile Harry's Son and, as far as exposed form goes, that looks a shade above anything his rivals can muster.

Technically, The Captain's Tune can counter that argument as, although he has not run in graded company, he did finish third to Bezanova in a Graduation Plate last time out and that one went on to win the Charity Mile, having already run some excellent races behind the likes of Legislate and Louis The King. Piere Strydom rides for Geoff Woodruff and they have drawn favourably. As with the rest of the large Johannesburg contingent, a lot will depend on how well he's travelled, but if the form of that last run can be taken literally, he must have  a big chance here.

Zambezi River comes into the race unbeaten in two starts while Alexis has won two in a row - fluently - after a debut fifth and has the benefit of a 2.5kg sex allowance. Both have drawn well in a race where barrier positions will be of paramount importance, and they could go very close here.

Brutal Force enjoys a big reputation and shed his maiden at the third time of asking. He has a wide draw but has a top jockey on board in Bernard Fayd'Herbe and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him using a big action to overcome the draw early and possibly dictate terms if the race situation demands it.

Shimmering Leaves deserves a look despite sitting relatively low in the merit ratings. She took on older fillies and mares last time out when third to the very smart Acrostar and she also finished fourth to Act Of War in the Winter Juvenile Stakes last season. Granted, she was well beaten on that occasion, but she has had some genuinely competitive racing in her short career and is well drawn. She could prove a nice-priced each-way bet.

Two daughters of Trippi are also worth keeping an eye on. Sunset Tripp represents the powerful Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie combination and has shown good improvement with each start this season. She didn't beat much last time out but showed promise as a juvenile,  is well-drawn, in form and race fit.

The other is Jeweller's Joy who has won two in a row and won in open company last time, beating Earth's Orbit who has run well against some of the top fillies and mares around over the last few seasons.

Imperial Gold is difficult to assess, posting a handsome win on debut last season before things went amiss in the Premiers Champion Stakes. He has not been seen out since the end of July and is awkwardly drawn so it's not easy to work out what to expect.

None of the others can be completely ignored and this a race where punters will have to go very wide to survive.
 
Earlier in the day, the stayers will get their chance in the listed Kenilworth Cup over 3200m. Only seven run and any number of tactical scenarios are possible. Trainer Vaughan Marshall holds the aces with his pairing of Desert Swirl and Gothic. The latter is overdue for a win and is weighted to reverse the form with his stablemate, who beat him narrowly in the Woolavington Handicap last time out. On form, they should dominate the finish, but everything depends on how the pace unfolds and there isn't a genuine outsider in the field who can be written off.