Race 1
Race Summary: CHIEF RUNNER caught the eye when running on well to finish 2nd on debut over this trip in KZN and that experience will stand him in good stead for his Cape Town introduction. SUMMER SNOW, KING'S QUEST and GREEN OKRA have fair sprint form and are open to improvement over this extended trip. Older rivals ROYAL PORT LOUIS, TERMINATOR and MR BELVEDERE have also shown enough to acquit themselves competitively.
Selections:
#1 Chief Runner, #3 King's Quest, #8 Royal Port Louis, #11 Mr Belvedere
Race 2
Race Summary: Well-bred SYMPHONY IN WHITE was last seen finishing 2nd in a 1200m 2yo Grade 1, having beaten KINDA WONDERFUL over 1000m on similar weight terms in her previous outing and she is open to improvement on her reappearance. The latter franked the form of that meeting by winning a 1500m Listed race in her last start. SOUTHERN SKIES made a winning course-and-distance comeback in her first start with blinkers fitted but re-opposing rivals GIRL LIKE US and KYALAMI GIRL are weighted to turn the tables. Best-weighted GO LIKE FLO is unbeaten over track and trip but steps up in class so will be tested.
Selections:
#2 Symphony In White, #1 Kinda Wonderful, #8 Kyalami Girl, #3 Southern Skies
Race 3
Race Summary: BE MERRY wasn't winning out of turn when scoring on her seasonal debut in a course-and-distance maiden and she is open to further improvement so could follow up. HEAR MY VOICE, consistent LOVE SHACK, last-start winner EASY MONEY and speedy PALO QUEEN, with the benefit of her rider's 4kg claim, are hard-knockers with the form and experience to challenge the selection. DAFNES DAUGHTER won a 2yo Eastern Cape maiden in her first start with blinkers fitted and also has scope to improve.
Selections:
#1 Be Merry, #5 Love Shack, #10 Palo Queen, #2 Hear My Voice
Race 4
Race Summary: O'TENIKWA ran on to make a winning comeback over 1000m and should have more to offer over this extended trip, despite a wide draw and 2-point penalty. AIR RAID and WORLDLY showed promise as 2yo colts and are likely to progress as 3yo geldings. Fellow sophomores DEFINITELY MAYBE, BANK STREET and DAWN TILL DUSK are also open to improvement so they shouldn't be underestimated. MONUMENTAL and WISSA'S ON FIRE didn't go unnoticed last time, despite finishing unplaced, and are dangerous to discount off their current marks. Good race - go wide in the Pick 6!
Selections:
#11 O'Tenikwa, #12 Air Raid, #6 Wissa's On Fire, #5 Monumental
Race 5
Race Summary: Tricky. Stablemates ALADDIN'S LAMP and SUDDEN SONG are better than their disappointing last starts suggest so shouldn't be written off. TWICE THE MASTER and MOHANDAS have maintained their form and consistency at this level and should again acquit themselves competitively. JOIN THE DOTS bounced back to form when staying on to finish 3rd over 1800m, suggesting the extra 200m could be more to his liking. FLY FUTURA, who would've tightened up after a pleasing comeback, and IGNATIUS, with blinkers refitted, should play leading roles. Last-start maiden winner GROOVEJET is open to further progress.
Selections:
#4 Ignatius, #10 Groovejet, #5 Fly Futura, #6 Join The Dots
Race 6
Race Summary: Tricky. Stablemates UNICORN ALERT and SONG TO THE MOON finished hot on the heels of last-start conqueror BIG UNIT and are 1kg better off with that rival but are drawn wide. The latter was making his first start after a rest during which he was gelded so could improve to confirm his superiority despite the weight turnaround. However, preference is for unexposed INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH who is lightly raced, probably better than rated, and open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip. BARDOLINO, recently gelded SOUND OF THE SEA, TRIPPI'S SILK and SHAVOUT aren't without chances either.
Selections:
#10 Industrialstrength, #4 Big Unit, #16 Song To The Moon, #12 Unicorn Alert
Race 7
Race Summary: Cracking Diana Stakes renewal. GIMMIE'S COUNTESS showed considerable promise as a 2yo and was unlucky at Grade 1 level. She is likely to prove better than rated as a 3yo and is an attractive betting proposition on her reappearance under just 51.5kg. MISS WORLD and DIXIELAND BAND are also open to improvement after promising juvenile campaigns but have a bit to find on official ratings. As such, a bigger threat could come from PRINCESS IZZY and RAINBOW LORIKEET who are consistent, distance-suited older rivals with superior fitness on their side. SUMMER LILY and MY FLOWER FATE aren't discounted.
Selections:
#5 Gimmie's Countess, #4 Princess Izzy, #7 Rainbow Lorikeet, #1 Summer Lily
Race 8
Race Summary: Best-weighted GIMME A PRINCE finished 2nd to Charles Dickens in this race last year off his current mark but hasn't been seen since. However, Craig Zackey's decision to ride Dean Kannemeyer's charge instead of fitter, consistent feature-race performer AT MY COMMAND suggests the former is likely to acquit himself well on his reappearance. MONTIEN and QUESTIONING are unbeaten at this venue. The latter showed his form and well-being with a recent 1250m success so should pose a bigger threat to the principals. SUGAR MOUNTAIN and ZAPATILLAS should get closer to that rival over this extended trip.
Selections:
#4 At My Command, #10 Questioning, #8 Gimme A Prince, #9 Sugar Mountain
Race 9
Race Summary: NIGHT BOMBER won a similar course-and-distance race earlier this month and should be competitive under a resultant 4-point penalty. SOOTY is 2.5kg better off for a 1.90-length beating so poses more of a threat on these terms off a 1-point lower mark. SPEED RACER earned a 3-point penalty for filling the runners-up berth but could turn the tables off his career-high mark given a 1kg swing. Best-weighted WINTER RAINFALL (only filly in the race) improved with a tongue-tie fitted to finish 2nd over track and trip last time and should have a say. MAURITIUS KESTREL and SURGE OF POWER have claims too.
Selections:
#2 Speed Racer, #5 Night Bomber, #3 Sooty, #6 Winter Rainfall
Race 10
Race Summary: BECKY SHARP has been drawn widest of all in her last 2 starts, finishing unplaced on both occasions. She has dropped in the ratings as a result and is now ideally positioned in gate No 1 so could redeem herself. JET GREEN opened her account with a course-and-distance success and she should remain competitive out the maidens in a race of this nature despite her tricky No 12 stall. BENEATH THE MOON is 3kg better off with that rival for a 2-length beating so will pose more of a threat on these terms. Hard-knockers ON BOARD and VERONIQUE also have legitimate eachway credentials.
Selections:
#1 Becky Sharp, #12 Jet Green, #3 On Board, #10 Beneath The Moon
Best Win: #2 SPEED RACER
Best Value Bet: #11 O'TENIKWA
Best Longshot: #11 O'TENIKWA