Race-8 (Turf / Night) R 2 000 000 1800m 17:25 Grade 1 S A CLASSIC For 3 year-olds (2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown) - Seasoned traveller HARRY'S SON to edge out ERTIJAAL

From Greyville to Turffontein to Kenilworth and back to Turffontein, the three year old colt HARRY'S SON will have his work cut out when he faces the unbeaten ERTIJAAL. Both are drawn widest of all  of the sixteen runners, but over 1800m the draw should not pose many problems for jockeys Piere Strydom and Gavin Lerena of  HARRY'S SON and ERTIJAAL respectively.

Trainer of HARRY'S SON, Paul Lafftery, has opted to miss his first Dubai Cup in eleven years, to be with his highly rated son Haradasun. He has never been out of the top three in ten starts with four wins. Jockey Piere Strydom has won three of these races. Gavin Lerena with four from four has been ridden to victory in his last three by the jockey. One cannot underestimate the qualities of both riders but one may want to side with Piere, one of the very best that this country has ever produced.

Mike De Kock, trainer of ERTIJAAL, has another champion in his ranks and is certainly not going to go down without a fight. Whatever the outcome, this race has the making of being a real classic living up to the name of the race. In his favour could be the fact that HARRY'S SON has travelled extensively in recent times and this could be one journey too many.

The stable companion of ERTIJAAL, MUTAMAKKIN, has quite a bit to make up to catch HARRY'S SON, who beat him by over four lengths last time. They meet at level weights. One cannot underestimate the value of jockey Anthony Delpech.

FRENCH NAVY was running on behind HARRY'S SON last time. Expect another late burst. He should earn something, especially with the form that the Sean Tarry yard is currently experiencing.

Cape Town conditioner, Vaughan Marshall, sends out MLJET who weakened late over 1600m last time. He should be better suited to the extra and is a classy sort with a proven record.

1st - HARRY'S SON (1); 2nd - ERTIJAAL (2); 3rd - MUTAMAKKIN (8); 4th - FRENCH NAVY (3); 5th - MLJET (4)