S A DERBY (Grade 1) - ERTIJAAL to make amends for last run

ERTIJAAL lost his unbeaten record last time in the Grade 1 SA Classic at this track when she was badly interfered with when breaking from the starting stalls. She was a short priced favourite to win that race that day. He has the class to make amends for that run and restore the faith that his supporters have for him. He has impressed wherever the has run. Two runs back he trounced ACT OF WAR by almost five lengths at Kenilworth and we know just how good and as highly rated ACT OF WAR really is. It is going to take a supreme effort from the rest of the field to lower his colours for the second time in his career. Strangely enough Anthony Delpech returns to the saddle of ERTIJAAL. This will be the first time he has been aboard the colt since he made his debut at Greyville on the polytrack in November.

LEGAL EAGLE takes on much stronger this afternoon. It is not often that Anton Marcus rides for Sean Tarry, but he does ride for Markus and Ingrid Jooste, whose horse this is. He does look promising and his last win last time was despite him not being himself.

Sean Tarry sends out his better fancy for this race in FRENCH NAVY, who won the SA Classic last time when starting at only 8/1. He did beat ERTIJAAL by a distance last time. He could be the one to scuttle ERITJAAL'S hopes again. AMSTERDAM has run against top fields in his last two and was impressive when finishing a close up second to FRENCH NAVY last time. He will need some luck to beat both FRENCH NAVY and ERTIJAAL but could be another surprise package this afternoon.

DEPUTY JUD is in very good form and he too was hampered at the start along with ERTIJAAL last time. His run was a very good one under the circumstances when finishing a most creditable third with that effort. Definite money chance

1st -  ERTIJAAL (3); 2nd - LEGAL EAGLE (7); 3rd - FRENCH NAVY (1); 4th - AMSTERDAM (2); 5th - DEPUTY JUD (4)