The first "big one" of the Summer Season sees the Australian bred MAC DE LAGO coming into the race with a strong claim after his comeback run in the Grade 2 November Handicap. The one big concern would be that he may need another run to reach peak fitness. Nevertheless, he has raced over 2000m at Greyville in the Grade 1 Daily News in May and stayed on well that day which is promising. He is a lightly raced four year old. He has met FRENCH NAVY on two previous occasions and last time close the gap enormously. The Weiho Marwing trained MAC DE LAGO looks to be ready to win a Grade 1 sooner rather than later. The wide draw of 17 should not pose that much pf a hindrance over the lengthy 2000m. There should be a good pace in this race and that will suit him very well.

The obvious threat will be in the form of FRENCH NAVY. They meet on level terms from the November Handicap and that day FRENCH NAVY finished one length behind MAC DE LAGO. At level terms there should not be a change in the order. He has disappointed ion the odd occasion before but you can expect his trainer Sean Tarry to have prepared him to a T for this race. He has a tendency to lose ground at the start, but has the ability to finish well. Expect another strong finish. Jockey Raymond Danielson has a very good rapport with this horse and has ridden in all but one of his twelve starts which includes all four of his wins. An exciting race in the offing.

One cannot ignore the chances of POWER KING, winner of this year's Vodacom Durban July. He meets FRENCH NAVY at level weights for a three length victory in that race, but this will be his first race visit to the track. He did have a very good preparation run over a distance far short of his best. He is reunited with the jockey who was aboard in the July, Stuart Randolph. Horse and jockey will not go down without a fight.

DEO JUVENTE takes on stronger that she class of field he beat last time. He has raced against stronger before. Not out of it this afternoon.

DISCO AL was not disgraced in the marathon "Gold Cup" two runs back. Another Cape Town runner, POWER KING, one of four others, has a shout. Is a t5hree time winner over the distance. One with a claim could also be MASTER SABINA.

1st - MAC DE LAGO (8); 2nd - FRENCH NAVY (1); 3rd - POWER KING (2); 4th - DEO JUVENTE (10); 5th - DISCO AL (13)