Africa's richest race. the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup shares centre stage at Turffontein on Saturday and 16 runners are carded for this 1400m event for 3-year-olds, restricted to graduates of the sales after which the event is named. It's a race that has already thrown up its share of upsets in its eight-year-history and the combination of a large field and guesswork required to work out which runners are improving at the right time means that punters will be left scratching their heads right up until the starting gates open.

Trainer Mike de Kock looks to hold the aces with  strong-looking quartet, but working out which one is the pick is not an easy task. Jockey bookings suggest that Dreamuponadream (pictured), with Anthony Delpech up, is the stable elect and he certainly looks the part, having won fluently last time out and jumping from a good draw - the latter could prove decisive over this course and distance.

However, stablemate Lava Flow, with Bernard Fayd'Herbe up, has also drawn well and he may just have the edge here. An easy winner at the second time of asking, he then took on older horses in a Graduation Plate and was not disgraced in finishing fourth behind Bezanova, a horse with good form behind the likes of Legislate and Louis The King. Back against his own age group, and reverting to the trip over which he shed his maiden tag, he could prove a formidable proposition.

Of the remaining de Kock runners, Kingmambo's Legacy is difficult to assess as he returns to the track after a break of nearly five months and a disappointing second effort, having won easily on debut, while Kosava looks a big runner if she can overcome a poor draw, having also posted a runaway win on debut. It's worth noting that fillies have a decent record in this race having on more than on occasion made full use of their sex allowance.

The Elmo Effect won impressively on debut (whether punters were impressed is another story as he went off at 40/1) and he could well follow up here if he can overcome a wide draw.

Tamaanee showed good improvement to power home at the second time of asking and has landed a plum draw at 3. She looks a big runner here.

Rich Girl can add the word "very" to her name if she prevails here, and she does have arguably the best credentials in terms of feature race form, having won the Strelitzia Stakes and finished a gutsy second in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson last season. However, it is a concern that she failed in her only attempt beyond 1200m and she has to overcome a wide draw here.

Brett Crawford makes the trip up with Bella Spumante who won well on debut in July but has not been seen out since. She could be anything but is another one faced with overcoming a bad draw.

Johan Janse van Vuuren, who saddled last year's winner, sends out a brace of runners of whom Silver Class could prove the pick, having won her first two starts and followed up with a couple of third placings.

Duncan Howells sends out Saratoga Dancer who followed up his maiden win with a decent third in open company. He jumps from pole position and could well make it count.

Pioneer Spirit, a wide-margin maiden winner, followed up with a fair fourth next time in Progress company and is not without a chance from a good draw.

None of the remaining runners can be completely ignored and, with the draw likely to play a key role, one could well see one or more unfancied runners popping up, given sufficient luck in running.

It looks a bit of a lottery and the safest bet may be to stick with the de Kock runners. Lava Flow gets the (tentative) vote, although stablemate Dreamuponadream should be right there in the thick of things as well. The Elmo Effect and Tamaanee look the biggest threats, while Kosava and Saratoga Dancer are also worth a look.