RACE 1:

Keep an eye on the first timers, especially the two two year olds, one being the Australian bred, SEVEN TAILS. STRAW MAN began his career with two wins but has done very little since. Needs improvement. HIGH MAINTENANCE has some good form but tends to weaken late. CORRESOLVE also weakens but is never too far away. VANESSA'S PRIDE makes his debut as a two year old. Watch the betting.

1st - SEVEN TAILS (12); 2nd - STRAW MAN (6); 3rd - HIGH MAINTENANCE (3); 4th - CORRESOLVE (2); 5th - VANESSA'S PRIDE (11)

RACE 2:

ONE VAR DREAM had good form before taking a rest from June. If she doesn't need the run then she should be the one to beat on these two runs. MIDANSWER ran a good run two runs back and was unlucky that day. She never showed last time. Chance in this weak field. APOSTLE ADVANCING has the form to win if finding a good finish. RASTA'S JET showed some improvement two runs back. NICE LIKE THAT may show more if more consistent.

1st - ONE VAR DREAM (1); 2nd - MIDANSWER (2); 3rd - APOSTLE ADVANCING (3); 4th - RASTA'S JET (4); 5th - NICE LIKE THAT (6)

RACE 3:

IN FULL FLIGHT HANDICAP (Listed) - ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR goes for the hat trick

The first of six feature races gets under way at the "country" course in "Sleepy Hollow", There will be nothing sleepy about this race and it could produce a tight finish. ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR won his last two when leading for most of the way. The distance should suit and there is every chance of the hat trick this afternoon. S'Manga Khumalo rides.

SHEIK'S BRASHEE has the form to go close and he has been racing in similar. He will need to break on terms this afternoon if he wants to come close to winning though. GULF STORM, from the Cape Town based Brett Crawford yard, makes his seasonal debut. He beat the decent KINGVOLDT last time at Kenilworth. Coming into the race with a run like that, he must have a good shout. GARIBONDY takes on stronger but he does have Anton Marcus aboard. Current form has been good.

After yesterday's successes at Turffontein for the Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech combination, can one realistically ignore his chances?

1st - ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR (3); 2nd - SHEIK'S BRASHEE (6); 3rd - GULF STORM (8); 4th - GARIBONDY (7); 5th - MOOFEED (10)

RACE 4:

STRELITZIA STAKES (Grade 3) - The unbeaten ROYAL PLEASURE could have the class

ROYAL PLEASURE, trained by Glen Kotzen, makes her feature race debut this afternoon. She was well backed in both starts and duly won impressively in both starts. This daughter of VISIONAIRE has only run at this track and she should hold the advantage over the balance of the field. She has no doubt being prepared for the Grade 1 features at this track in late May. She does look hard to beat but she will have some keen opposition. Anton Marcus has the ride.

Stable companion, PRINCESS ROYAL has also won twice, but from three starts. She makes her KZN debut with one win in Cape Town and one in PE. She also has a classy look about her and this daughter of CAPTAIN AL will have her supporters. Could be an interesting tussle.

MAYFAIR won her maiden at the third attempt last time and will have to confirm. This is her part of the world though and she did show decent maiden form before the win. MISS NIGHTINGALE ran a good post maiden run last time. She lost ground in both starts but she will have the services of Bernard Fayd'Herbe.

Of the balance, MIRACLE RISING, makes the journey from Gauteng along the N3 for this race. She is still a maiden and the fact that she has made the 520km road trip says that she could have a money chance.

1st - ROYAL PLEASURE (2); 2nd - PRINCESS ROYAL (1); 3rd - MAYFAIR (6); 4th - MISS NIGHTINGALE (7); 5th - MIRACLE RISING (12)

RACE 5:

GODOLPHIN BARB STAKES (Grade 3) - SEVENTH PLAIN has the class to win

SEVENTH PLAIN made his winning debut for the Dennis Drier yard in Cape Town during their Summer Season. He followed that up with a creditable second to BUCKINGHAMPSHIRE, one of the fancied horses in the Grade 1 SA Nursery at Turffontein yesterday. Interestingly, SEVENTH PLAIN beat BUCKINGHAMPSHIRE on debut. He may need the run but is certainly the one

RED HOT POKER made an impressive debut last time when he won his maiden by over five lengths at this track. That was an impressive win and there should be more to expect from this two year old son of BRAVE TIN SOLDIER. He was well backed on debut which suggests that he had shown something at home prior to that race. Bernard Fayd'Herbe has the ride.

BEAT THE RETREAT also made an impressive debut last time despite being slow away. That could cost him in the sprint against some speedy sorts. Must have a winning chance.

Of the rest, MR ROY will need to confirm his maiden win last time. SILVAN JAZZ won her maiden at the third attempt last time. The Corne Spies yard has raided well in KZN, although this two year old filly appears to be very much out of her depth.

1st - SEVENTH PLAIN (7); 2nd - RED HOT POKER (5); 3rd - BEAT THE RETREAT (1); 4th - MR ROY (3); 5th - SILVAN JAZZ (10)

RACE 6:

POINSETTIA STAKES (Grade 3) - RICH GIRL has rich vein of form

The three year old daughter of ROCK OF GIBRALTAR , RICH GIRL looks to have the edge on her rivals in this, the fourth feature on today's card. She was not disgraced last time when finishing second to top sprinter and favourite for yesterday's Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein, albeit 7½ lengths back. This will be against weaker and her form against similar fields has been impressive. Her form reads five wins from nine starts and three seconds. Anton Marcus has the ride once again.

MAYBE YES contested far stronger in Cape Town and this four year old filly from the Brett Crawford yard will have something of a say in the outcome of the race. She has won three races over the distance. Watch for improvement, especially with S'Manga Khumalo aboard for the first time.

The Glen Kotzen trained, JET BELLE has finished ahead of MAYBE YES in her three feature race runs. She has had her problems of late but can always spring a surprise or two.

ROSIER also drops in class and has always had an air of class about her. Were she to win it would not come as much of a surprise as she did finish fourth to ALBORAN SEA at this track in May last year. That was in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson for fillies.

RED FLAME has been running well in Cape Town and has also ran with distinction against stronger fields. She has placed second at this track before.

1st - RICH GIRL (10); 2nd - MAYBE YES (2); 3rd - JET BELLE (1); 4th - ROSIER (6); 5th - RED FLAME (4)

RACE 7:

THE SCARLET LADY (Listed) - ACROSTAR to lead "out of town" trainers home

Visiting trainers look to have a major say in the outcome of this feature. Of the fourteen runners, only six are based in the home province. There is a strong Cape and Gauteng assault and that should be led by the Justin Snaith trained ACROSTAR. She ran way below par in the Paddock Stakes last time when soundly beaten by INARA. Prior to that her form was very good and in her career she has won four from fourteen with five seconds, most of which have been close up. S'Manga Khumalo rides for the first time.

The Mike De Kock trained three year old, ALICE SPRINGS makes her KZN debut. She won her last four and in fine style as well when finding good finishes. She meets a similar field this afternoon and will definitely be involved at the finish.

Stan Elley sends his four year daughter of HORSE CHESTNUT from Cape Town for the race and no doubt the season as well. She has been a consistent sort and runs well over similar distances. She was not disgraced when finishing five lengths behind INARA in the Paddock Stakes. The yard has done well in KZN.

EUPHORIA came back to form with a very good second at Greyville last time. She has raced against good sorts and was only six lengths behind PINE PRINCESS in a feature at Turffontein in October.

ASH CLOUD, stable companion to ACROSTAR, finished just over two lengths behind KINGSTON MINES in Cape Town last time. Could surprise.

1st - ACROSTAR (1); 2nd - ALICE SPRINGS (8); 3rd - PECAN NUT (9); 4th - EUPHORIA (4); 5th - ASH CLOUD (2)

RACE 8:

THE SLEDGEHAMMER (Listed) - COLTRANE to cause the upset

COLTRANE has been racing against far stronger. She has been rested for only under three months and this run could be short of her best. She is probably being aimed at the Gold Cup late in July and this will more than likely be one of his prep runs. Watch over the shorter distance as he has the class. he finished second behind KINGSTON MINES last time. In my opinion, he is the class horse of the field and at 25/1, looks to be excellent value, even for places. He has run at this track before and the Joey Ramsden yard has been in fine form in Cape Town.

KRAMBAMBULI is yet another Justin Snaith runner on the day. He finished fourth to ERTIJAAL last time in a Grade 1. Has the credentials to win. AUCTION KING ran on strongly late last time. That was against stronger. He does give the KZN trainers something of a chance in this race, albeit a small one!

DYNAMIC last rain in the J & B Met. He did not show against FUTURA. He does have the class to win and this Justin Snaith runner, with Sean Cormack aboard again, should not be ignored.

CANDY MOON is talented but ran below par last time.


1st - COLTRANE (2); 2nd - KRAMBAMBULI (9); 3rd - AUCTION KING (11); 4th - DYNAMIC (5); 5th - CANDY MOON (3)