Africa's premier sand contest takes centre stage on Saturday with a million-Rand prize up for grabs in the Gr 2 Emerald Cup. A typically competitive field of 14 is carded for this 1450m contest at the Vaal and, in keeping with just about all previous runnings of the race, it has a wide open look about it.  The draw is usually all-important at this track and it is likely to prove fatal to the chances of a few runners once again.

1 JET JAMBOREE: Showed some promising turf form before losing his way for a bit but has returned rejuvenated at the age of seven, reeling off three impressive wins on this surface. Great draw, course and distance suited and looks the one to beat, but won't find it easy under top weight of 60kg.

2 UNCLE TOMMY: Honest veteran who has done really well for his connections and finished an honorable third in this race under a big weight last year. Will give his supporters a genuine run for their money but combination of sharing top weight and a wide draw means that he will do well to sneak into the minor placings in these circumstances.

3 RIO CARNIVAL: Likes this sort of trip and could blow them away if repeating his second to champion Beach Beauty in the Drill Hall Stakes. Hard to work out if he can reproduce his best turf form here, especially as his sole effort on Greyville's polytrack was rather indifferent but, to be fair, that was over 1200m and he will prefer the extra here. Reasonable draw and Anton Marcus takes the ride for Charles Laird and the Joostes, so it would be foolish to completely ignore his chances.

4 WHITELINE FEVER: Holds the key to the race. Has raced against the best of the best on the turf without disgracing himself and would be hard to beat if reproducing that level of form form here, especially from a good draw with Strydom up. Likes this trip, too and has to be included in all permutations, although only the race itself will tell how well he takes to the surface.

5 IN A RUSH: Made his sand debut in this race last year and scored a memorable victory. However, has a poor draw to contend with this time and his recent form is not as inspiring. Clearly has the ability on his day but difficult to assess his chances at present.

6 TOMMY GUN: Much better than last disappointment in Kimberley and looks the dark horse on some of his earlier form at this track. Well drawn and worth another chance, but faces a stiff task at the weights against this calibre of opposition.

7 ACROSS THE ICE: One of the better sand performers of recent years and ran a tremendous race in the August Stakes over his preferred 1200m last time out, defying a near-impossible combination of weight and draw to finish a respectable third. Has never convinced when stepping up to this trip, though, and may have his work cut out, especially as he has once again drawn wide.

8 SHADOW LINE: Good recent form at this track, posting a fluent win over Brooks-Club over this trip last time out. Looks held by Jet Jamboree on their meeting here last month but is clearly in good heart and is drawn well. One for trifectas and quartets.

9 ISOBAR: Moved up like a winner in the August Stakes but had no answer to the fighting qualities of Anger, who rallied to regain the lead just before the line. Looks well set to turn the tables on that rival over this longer trip, to which he is more suited, but they've both drawn out in the wilds and will require plenty of luck in running.

10 STORM SURF: Has won twice on Greyville's polytrack and, although taking a serious step up in class, comes in off a handy galloping weight and will jump from a decent draw. Could offer good each-way value here at what are likely to be tempting odds.

11 ANGER: Brilliant all-the-way win in the August Stakes over 1200m at this track and there was a lot to like about the way he fought back under pressure that day. Horrible draw, though, and his race will probably be decided in the first furlong, as everything will depend on him getting across without expending too much energy. If he does manage to get a soft lead early on, could well pull it off.

12 KILLUA CASTLE: Has some very decent turf form to his name and looked a natural on this surface a year ago, winning his first couple of starts here with some aplomb. Hasn't seemed to be enjoying it as much in his more recent outings, though, and others make more appeal on current form.

13 TAPTAP MAKHATINI: Reasonable form, good draw and handy weight, so not entirely out of it. However, looks held by the likes of Jet Jamboree and Uncle Tommy on their recent meetings and may struggle in this field.

14 BROOKS-CLUB: Another one who has taken on some really strong company on the turf, while also showing form on this surface, having won here by nearly ten lengths last season. He's not short of ability at his best and, with a middling draw and light weight of 50kg, coupled with a reasonable prep run when second to Shadow Line over this course and distance, could just be ready to notch up that really big win that he hinted at earlier in his career.

VERDICT: Whiteline Fever holds the key, but his supporters will have to take it on trust that he can reproduce his best form on this surface. If he fails, then it falls to those with more proven sand form, of which group Jet Jamboree looks the one they have to beat. However, Brooks-Club comes in off a very light weight here and has shown just enough in the past to suggest he can take full advantage and pull off a big win here, repaying trainer Mike Azzie's (pictured) faith in him.. Isobar and Anger have sound chances if overcoming poor draws while Rio Carnival may also be worth another chance over a trip which will be more to his liking.