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)