Australian bred Zodiac Ruler will bid to maintain his unbeaten record in Saturday’s Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville.

The son of Irish sire sensation Zoffany was a most impressive winner of the G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe on July where he accounted for fellow Champion Stakes runners Misty Birnam (2nd), Gunner (3rd), and Palladium (5th).
Zodiac Ruler, who produced a devastating turn of foot, holds all of the above mentioned runners, and he should again account for them in Saturday’s contest.

To be ridden by ever dangerous Piere Strydom, Zodiac Ruler (who has drawn at pole position) should go very close with a little luck in running. He does, however, try the 1600m trip –and is from a fast family but should get the 200m extra.

Champion trainer Sean Tarry will send out recent debut winner Africa Rising, who has drawn nicely in three. A son of the very fast Visionaire, Africa Rising is another who tries the 1600m for the first time, and it remains to be seen quite how strong the form of his maiden was. He takes a huge step up in class here and needs to improve on exposed form to feature here.

Corne Spies saddles the very promising Lotus Elan –who ran a good second to unbeaten colt Heavenly Blue last time out.
Another trying the 1600m trip for a first time, Lotus Elan had impressed when making a winning debut over 1160m in open company and he could provide a useful pointer to quite how good Heavenly Blue is.

Champion trainer Mike de Kock saddles Australian bred Qeyaadah, who broke his maiden last time out. The son of Magic Albert (who has a wide draw of ten here) needs to improve to feature prominently here.

The blue blooded Rivarine (a son of Var and Met winner River Jetez) has already enjoyed plenty of racing this season –he is the most experienced runner in this field, having made 6 starts. A cracking runner up finish (to unbeaten filly Cloth Of Cloud) in the G1 SA Nursery was his best effort, and Rivarine won a good race last time out when landing a juvenile plate at the expense of fellow Premiers Champion Stakes runner Without A Doubt. He should be competitive here.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall has enjoyed another superb season with his juveniles, and he is represented by the promising Horse Chestnut colt Step Up. A winner of two of his four starts to date, this colt was most impressive last time out when waltzing home by three and a half lengths over the same course and distance of today’s race, Step Up looks a colt of considerable promise but this will be his toughest test to date.

Both Ryder and maiden Without A Doubt need to improve here to feature in this Grade One.