1-10-3-8-5

A NEW DAWN made a good debut last time when staying on over slightly shorter. WILLIAM LONGSWORD found a good finish when finishing third on debut last time. GRAY FROST showed some improvement second time out last time. STUDIOLO also showed improvement second run last time. RASTA REBEL will need a stronger finish.

RACE 2:

6-5-4-9-1

This could be the best race on the card, in terms of competitiveness. There will be many with good chances to win. ROCK ON WOOD has had two good runs. First time this far. Time to win. NOT ON MY WATCH has steady form. Has a winning chance on form. MOONSABALLOON has shown potential in both runs.TRIP THE WILLOW has also had two encouraging runs and demands respect. DESERT DREAMER is battling to win.

RACE 3:

14-1-12-9-3

HERNANDO’S PROMISE ran his socks off last time and just about won. Looks to be the one to beat on that effort. Ignore the latest run by IMPERIAL DANCER. He was returning from a lengthy break that day and would have needed the run. Should be coming back to form. JAY'S CLUB could be ready to show further improvement. ARCHIE has had enough opportunities. Needs to do everything right today. SWINGING CAPTAIN is never too far back.

RACE 4:

1-9-11-3-2

BAQUEIRA has been expensive to follow. Has to win her maiden soon. FLYING MONARCH showed huge improvement in her second start last time. SILVER LAUREL has had two fair runs. May improve now. GOLD FORCE needs a smarter finish while DANCE AT DAWN also weakens late.

RACE 5:

11-5-7-4-2

CHEVAUCHEE won on debut three runs back and then followed that up with two very good post maiden efforts. Should be the one to beat on that solid form. HOIST THE MAST the mast has been a different horse over this C & D with two wins and two seconds from four attempts this C & D. Will be finishing strongly. ROYAL CHIAN will also be finishing smartly. FEAR NOT finished a mere 4,15 lengths behind INARA two runs back in the Majorca Stakes. On that run, she must have a chance. JO'S BOND has a money chance.

RACE 6:

11-2-1-7-8

LIBERAL SALLY lacks consistency but may enjoy the extra. ST ELMO’S FIRE showed good improvement last time when running on. Top yard. JINGLE BELLE did find something very late last time. BRINKLEY only has a chance on penultimate. MERITOCRACY needs a stronger finish. Yard in good form.

RACE 7:

7-2-5-1-6

KRYPTONITE has very good post maiden form and finishes well. Has run well this C & D. ICY FIRE was returning from a break last time and would have needed the run. Chance on previous form. MULHER DE BRANCO looks to be coming back to form. JEWELLER’S JOY drops in class but has a hefty 63 kg to carry. Almost four months since last run. TRIPINTHEMIST has been running on. Won maiden and post maiden in her last two.

RACE 8:

12-8-6-3-14

RAVISHING LAD ran very well in his post maiden last time and can go close despite not being fancied. BANDEROS had good form before winning his maiden at the eight attempt last time. Can follow up. CHESTNUT WILD runs his best races this C & D. Watch for another decent run. There is nothing wrong with the form of MEGAMIND, but he failed to run on last time. HARRY DA WHEELS comes from a strong yard. Will be staying on but is drawn wide.

RACE 9: THE PREMIER'S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1) - LEGAL EAGLE to soar again?

1-12-10-11-2

Last year on this day the then three year old son of GREYS INN, LEGAL EAGLE, won the Grade 1 SA Derby. His class has never been in question and looks to be the one to beat. A win this afternoon will see his earnings to just under R6 000 000. His last run was in the over 1600m Grade 1 Horse Chestnut, a name synonymous with the Triple Crown, when he won easily after having come under pressure momentarily with about 400m to go. This ran was a very good run after his disappointment in the J & B at Kenilworth. He was expected to win that race but was upstaged by the smart filly, SMART CALL. he likes to race handily but more often than not, has something to offer in the latter stages. The Sean Tarry trained runner looks to be a worthy short priced favourite and will once again be ridden by Anton Marcus. What gives him the edge over the rest of the field is that he ran well in both last year's Vodacom Durban July as a three year old and this year's J & B Met as a four year old.

BRAZUCA, from the Johan Janse Van Vuuren yard, is still improving. His last four races were in top graded races and even though he has yet to win at this level this three year old Australian bred colt could go close. Anthony Delpech rides. he ran a very good second last time in the SA Classic when beaten by ABASHIRI, which in itself, is no disgrace, by under four lengths. He will be running on late and is a strong candidate to run second to LEGAL EAGLE.

MAC DE LAGO will be facing his biggest test to date. The Weiho Marwing trained four year old will have former champion jockey, Richard Fourie in the irons. Could be good value for the trifectas and quartets. Mike Bass represents one of the Cape Town horses in the race with the top class filly, INARA. She looks to be up against it in this race. She has the class and won well when winning the Empress Club but that field was not quite as strong as today's one. Grant Van Niekerk has ridden her in all but one of her seventeen starts. The other Cape Town runner is CAPTAIN AMERICA who has three and a half lengths to make up on LEGAL EAGLE when he finished second in the Horse Chestnut. The Brett Crawford trained horse won the Horse Chestnut last year. Regular pilot, Corne Orffer rides.


BEST BET: RACE 1 NUMBER 1 A NEW DAWN